5 Reasons to use a Long Leash
One of my favorite training tools is a long leash. There are so many good reasons to use one. Of course they aren’t appropriate for every situation and they take some education on how to use and handle. But they are an absolute game changer for so many dogs, especially reactive and anxious dogs.
Less pulling. If the dog has more leash they are going to hit the end of the leash less. This improves your loose leash walking skills and reduces your dog's frustration about being restrained. Reducing frustration about being restrained can be a huge help for reactive dogs.
More agency. The dog has more opportunities to make their own decisions about where to go and what to avoid. This can be a huge stress reliever for some fearful and anxious dogs.
Better perception. Dogs primarily “see” the world around them through smell. Odors don’t move in a straight line right next to us, they swirl all around us and are greatly affected by space, wind, and temperature. Using a long leash allows dogs to follow odor and better perceive the world around them. Walking right next to us all the time can feel like watching the world go by when sitting in a train.
It’s more natural. Requiring a leash to walk a dog is a relatively new thing. For most of your dog’s genetic history their ancestors have been able to freely move with their humans. They may have chosen to walk with their humans, but that is not the same as being forced to on a short leash. Since this restraint is so unnatural it can cause a lot of big feelings and confusion if it is not done with the dog's needs and perspective in mind.
Necessary to teach recall. You really can’t get a reliable recall without practicing on a long leash.
I’m sure there are even more reasons, but those are my top five. In my experience with using long leashes, even though the leash is longer, your connection with the dog is stronger.