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Trained Dogs Have More Fun!

Longe Line Work

You will be walking between two points for this exercise, 40-50 feet apart. Your dog should be on a 15 ft long line, and be wearing a properly fitted martingale or choke chain.

The goal: keep your dog within a 3 ft radius of your left hip.

Start standing on the leash close to your dog. The dog should have enough slack to stand comfortably next to you, but not much else.

Have your right thumb in the hand grip, and a 3 foot loop folded up into that hand as well. Stack both hands at your belly button. The rest of the leash belongs to the dog. Make sure the excess leash is draped off your left side, between you and the dog.

Step off with your left foot and head towards your first end point. If your dog leaves the 2 foot radius before reaching the point, make a turn in the opposite direction of your dog. If your dog is paying attention, they will turn to follow you. If your dog is not paying attention, you both will continue in opposite directions of each other until you run out of leash. You must be moving when this happens. Do not stop once you get to the end of the leash.

If your dog returns in your direction, meet them in the middle and continue towards the original goal.

If your dog makes it all the way to the end of the leash, let go of your 3 foot loop and continue in the opposite direction. If your dog is still not paying attention, they will hit the end of the leash again. Once the dog is moving in your direction, continue towards the original end point.

When you reach the end point, stand on the line again. Choose a new end point and begin again.

What if the dog still isn’t paying attention, and I already dropped my 3 foot loop?

If the dog doesn’t respond to either correction, and you have no more slack left to create another “pulse,” move closer to your dog to create slack, and pick a look up again. Once you have a 3 foot loop again, move away from your dog like you did originally. This should give you two more chances at a correction. Repeat as necessary.

What if there are distractions?

Continue like normal. Do make an effort to keep your dog from reaching the distractions as doing so will be a reward to them for leaving you.

Keep these sessions short (15-20 minutes), and practice in various locations throughout the week.

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