The Power of Choice: How Long Lines Support Reactive Dogs by Allowing Natural Sniffing
I love using a long line for walking my dog, Bodhi. I learned the magic of the long line first hand. When Bodhi was an adolescent and I was just beginning my learning journey with him as a leash reactive pup living in the city, I used a 6 foot leash, and I tied knots in it to make it shorter. I just wanted more control over him! If only I could control him and everyone around us, maybe he would stop lunging, barking and reacting aggressively while on leash. I learned lots of training games to play with him, but it was only when I started to give him a little more freedom that I began to realize what a huge impact the lack of agency that a short leash was having on Bodhi's mental health.
A trainer that I was working with at the time came with me on one of our walks. She attached a 15 foot leash to him, and he was a different dog. Unprompted, he was checking in more with us. He was able to see more triggers without lunging and barking. I saw him choosing to sniff more in the presence of triggers when he would otherwise have been barking and lunging.
This increased sniffing wasn't just a distraction—it was actually helping Bodhi's nervous system. When dogs are able to stop and sniff freely, it helps them feel more comfortable and confident in their environment. Research shows that sniffing can actually lower a dog's pulse rate*, creating a calming effect that helps them better cope with stressful situations. The long line gave Bodhi the freedom to engage in this natural stress-relieving behavior when he needed it most.
Now, I'm not saying that these leashes are going to solve all of your dog's behavior challenges. Bodhi had a good learning history of being rewarded for checking in with me, and we had already spent time learning how to deal with triggers together. There is never going to be a one-size-fits all solution for a reactive dog. But the long line certainly was a game changer.
Why is this? If we reflect about what it means to have choice and control in our own lives, and what opportunities our dogs have for choice and control in their lives, we quickly realize that our pet dogs just don't have much of this precious ability. We decide when and where we take them for walks, we decide when and how much food they get to eat, and where they get to live and reside in our homes. Now, I'm not advocating that our pets should get all the decision-making power. But what I am saying is that, when it is possible, and when it is safe, we should give them more agency. And the long line is one of the ways that I do that for my dog.
Check out my video tutorial for learning more about why and how to walk your dog on a long line.
Introduction to using a long line for dog walks