If a dog for whatever reason must wear a long line forever, I’d rather E-Collar train the dog.
Long lines can be inconvenient and impractical.
Some dogs are slow, don’t charge ahead and only need a long line for that 1 in 100 moment*, in which case I’d likely stick with the long line and simply grab the end if in doubt.
But other dogs have genetic prey drive, or a genetic desire to follow a scent (ahem, spaniels!).
I’ve seen plenty of dogs who only achieve 75% neutrality to dogs even with the best training; these dogs will ALWAYS welcome interaction and are genetically friendly. An e collar works well for these dogs too.
It’s unsafe to give these dogs free time without some sort of tool, and no one likes their arm being yanked out of the socket when their energetic dog hits the end of a long line 🙈
We all want our walks to be as harmonious and as enjoyable as possible; it’s okay to choose convenience in this case…
…although admittedly buying & conditioning an e collar isn’t convenient – you must choose a quality brand and you must carefully condition a recall response!
Not every dog needs an e collar, but I personally prefer fully wireless freedom in cases where a long line will be necessary forever
What do you think?
* your dog should only be fully off the lead or without an e collar if their recall is 100% reliable
