Category Archives: Product Reviews

Rosie Pup

Meet Rosie

Rosie, helping with the baling

Fetching Her Home

We had met her before, three weeks earlier. She was a bold little pup with her mum and dad to back her up, but when we came to collect her, she was very timid and quite nervous. We scooped her up and loaded her in the car, in the crate that had been painstakingly prepared for her. Sadly, she didn’t make it the few miles home without bringing up her breakfast.

Rosie on her way home

Introducing her to the others

Now it was our turn to be nervous! Both Jack and Archie had welcomed a few pups in their time, so we weren’t too bothered about them. Toby’s only pup experience was with Tilly; he was a bit snappy with her until he got to know her. Tilly had no pup experience, and her eyes stood out on stalks on her first sighting!

We were cautious with all the introductions and are still vigilant now. We don’t ever leave them completely alone together.

Toby does love to play

She loves them and is determined to join in with their games, but we are aware of the huge difference in sizes and so take the utmost care to ensure she’s properly supervised, as once the small puppy teeth start snapping, things can get a bit wild. At that point, she goes into her crate for some time out.

Naming Names

We had initially decided to call her Lily. However, after a confusing few days of Tilly and Lily, we saw the error of our ways and renamed her Rosie!

Vet visit

On the second day, at around six in the evening, we noticed that her eyes were swollen almost shut. We guessed that she had suffered an allergic reaction but to what? Was it our grass, her food, or had she been stung? After bathing her eyes, we decided we should speak to a vet to be on the safe side. Within the hour, we were at the surgery. By that time, the swelling had gone and she was practically back to normal. While we were there, the vet checked her thoroughly and recommended we gave her half an antihistamine tablet.

The following day her ears were puffy and red, so she had another half tablet and was fine. Since that time, we have had no more allergic reactions, thank goodness.

Toys

All toys had to be thoroughly examined and any squeakers surgically removed – all toys seem to have squeakers these days – so as not to upset Toby. We found the soft treat dispensing toys were the most popular and useful, especially the Lotus Ball. We also ensured we always had some sort of toy near to hand so that when she started biting with those sharp puppy teeth, we had something to divert her attention and protect our limbs!

She enjoys slurping lots of water, so we introduced her to the Chilly Penguin.

Music by:  Music Unlimited Hip-Hop Is

Fun and Games

In the evenings, after a busy day, the dogs all like to chill out while we watch TV. Rosie, of course, hasn’t quite got the hang of that yet and thinks it’s a great time to wind everybody up.

We have found the Sniffing Carpet for smaller pets is perfect for her. By the time she has finished foraging for the treats, she is ready to lay down and relax.

Music by:  Music Unlimited Uplifting Piano Is

Each night we fill treat dispensing toys and put them in her crate. She literally skips towards the crate at bedtime and has been known to sit outside impatiently howling to get in!

Clicker training

It really is quicker with a clicker!

We waited a week before we started clicker training. As we had changed Rosie’s diet, we wanted to give her a chance to get accustomed to the new food before we started feeding her lots of treats. Tuning her into the clicker was easy since she is very food oriented. We spent one day on that and the following day started training properly.

The first thing we taught her was eye contact. Called her name, which she barely knew at that point, and when she looked at us, clicked and treated.

The sit followed, and then down. All of which were straightforward and learned in minutes.

She has now learned settle on an old car mat, and it literally took three attempts for her to get the hang of it.

She is so enthusiastic when it comes to clicker training and initiates the training herself.

Puppy Training Treats

We used a variety of treats, all especially recommended for puppies. The only problem was the size of them.

For clicker training, you need small, tasty treats that can be quickly eaten so you can treat and move on.

All of the puppy treats had to be chopped into tiny pieces for her initial training. Now she is having slightly larger pieces.

Rosie loved them all and was happy to work for any of them!

She has settled in well

Rosie Loves: All tested and approved!

From left to right Lotus Ball, KONG Ballistic, Puppy KONG, Chilly Penguin, Sniffing Carpet for Smaller Pets

Click Your Cat

Spring Training

Dog Training Clickers

Clicks for Everyone

We have dog training clickers galore to choose from. Which one will click with you?

The traditional BOX Clicker is a great positive reinforcement training tool for pets, including dogs, cats, birds, chickens, horses, and MORE! This is our loudest clicker. Perfect for training inside, outside, and at a distance.

The TEARDROP Shaped Clicker has an ergonomic design for a comfortable fit in your hand and is complemented with an easy to press button which prevents missed clicks.

The QT CLICK is better for sound-sensitive animals because it has a more muted click than the traditional box clicker.

A Fresh New Look

Doggone Good Rapid Rewards Special Edition Navy Polk Dot Treat Bag

Doggone Good SPECIAL EDITION Polka Dot Rapid Rewards Training Treat Pouch

Our gorgeous new Doggone Good SPECIAL EDITION Rapid Rewards Treat Pouch in a fresh, stylish Navy Polka Dot fabric is just perfect for training sessions this spring!

As with all the Doggone Good range of treat bags, it is packed with features. There is plenty of space for treats, a second compartment for those ‘jackpot’ moments, and your essentials and keys can be tucked inside. The magnetic clasp means you can open and close it with one hand whilst holding your clicker in the other.

Belt sold separately.

Doggone Good Rapid Rewards Training Treat Pouch

*All​ Colours Back in Stock*

The Doggone Good Rapid Rewards Training Pouch is designed for serious dog trainers – but don’t let that put you off! If you are new to dog ownership or training, you will soon find out why trainers recommend this treat pouch time and time again.

Packed with features, hardwearing and washable – you’ll wonder how you ever did without it!

And there are plenty of stunning colours to choose from. Can’t decide? Buy two and get a discount!

Belt sold separately.

Karen Pryor Clickers and Treat Bags

Karen Pryor is a leader in the field of animal training and a recognised world leader in the science and application of marker-based positive reinforcement, or what is often called “clicker training.” She believes passionately in the power of the clicker training approach to enrich the lives of pet owners, animal professionals, and the animals they live with or work with. The Karen Pryor Clicker Training line of products has been specifically created to help promote the tools and techniques of clicker training – the i-Click and Terry Ryan Treat Bag are amongst our most popular items with trainers and owners alike.

 

Clicker Training is not just for Dogs

Clicker Train Your Cat

Karen Pryor Clicker Fun Cards for Cats, Clicker Training for Cats, Terry Ryan Clik Stik

A little training with your cat goes a long way. It will help deepen your relationship, provide mental enrichment, and is a valuable tool for teaching your cat fun new tricks and for helping to manage unwanted behaviours. Most of our clicker training products can be used with horses, cats, rats, birds, or bats!

Clicker Training is for all species

Give yourself a “CLICK” for choosing Pawsitive Training!

Dog with Tennis Balls

Having a Ball!

How much does your dog love a ball?Balls – the Ultimate Toy

There are many toys available for pets today in all shapes and sizes to cater to all needs, but some just prefer the humble ball.

Even so, with so much choice available, how do you choose the perfect ball for your pet?

Balls you can’t pick up

Not all dogs like to fetch and chase.  Some like to squeak or seek out treats.

Our boy Blitz loved any ball, but once he had it clamped in his jaws, it was game over. He wasn’t releasing it for any reason. However, he had one ball that he couldn’t clamp and that was the Boomer Ball.

Nevertheless, he loved that ball. He would play with it for hours on his own until we had to pull him away because he was so over-excited.

Blitz with his Boomer Ball

Blitz with his Boomer Ball

Balls to Chase in the Dark

We have wasted plenty of hours traipsing around a pitch-black park searching for the ball that one of our dogs has dropped. But for dusk and dawn playtime, the Chuckit! Max Glow Ball is ideal – no batteries required!

Chuckit! Max Glow Ball

Chuckit! Max Glow Ball

Balls that go beyond Fetch

The Hol-ee Roller Ball is probably more fun on land. This ball can be used for tugging and tossing, but also filling with tasty treats.

Dog with Hol-ee Roller Ball

Photograph by SETH CASTEEL @ LittleFriendsPhoto.com

Balls with Catnip for the Canny Cat

Cats love to chase too, and so these animal print Jungle Catnip Balls are fun and bring out the Tiger in your Kitty – they can’t resist the Catnip!

Jungle Catnip Balls

Jungle Catnip Balls

Boredom Busters for Horses

Horses love balls too, and these Jolly Balls are perfect not just for horses, but also for dogs. They come in scented varieties to make them more attractive to your horse.

Horse with Jolly Ball

Horses love balls too and are available in scented varieties

Ball Toys for Dogs, Cats and Horses

Why not take a look at our full range of Ball Toys and see if you can spot one that could be your pet’s new favourite?

Ball toys for dogs

From left to right, Chuckit! Breathe Right, Bad Cuz, Mini Fetch me Fido, Orbee-Tuff Fetch Balls, Chuckit! Rope Fetch Toy, Tug n Toss Jolly Ball, Ball in a Ball Puzzle Toy, Biosafe Puppy Treat Balls, Chuckit! Fetch Medley

The Trick is in the Click

Teardrop clickers

SPECIAL EDITION Teardrop Clickers

They’ll be no tears with these clickers!

What is a clicker?

A clicker is a small, plastic, (usually) hand-held noisemaker.

What do you use a clicker for in dog training?

You use a clicker as a marker. It marks the exact moment that your pet did what you wanted them to do.

Clicker Training your dog

Clicker Training your dog – total focus

What happens after the click?

You give a treat – always, no questions asked. Even if you clicked at the wrong moment.

How does it work?

Clicker training is a reward-based (positive) training method, so your pets generally love it. In the early stages, they associate the click with a treat. Once this concept is learned, every time you click, they know a treat will be forthcoming, so they work hard to achieve that “click”.

Do I have to carry a clicker forever?

No. Once the lessons are learned, you can put the clicker away until you want to teach the next trick.

It’s as simple as that.

And it really is quicker with a clicker!

Types of Dog Training Clickers

A few of the varieties available – Teardrop Clicker, Box Clicker, i-Click, Clik-R

Clickers come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and volumes. The box clickers tend to be louder, and the button clickers quieter. Remember, your pets have amazing hearing, so they don’t necessarily need loud.

For the first-time clicker trainer, buttons are usually best as it is much easier to locate the clicking part. They can also be used with your foot.

Special Edition Teardrop Clickers

SPECIAL EDITION Teardrop Clickers

We happen to love these teardrop clickers. They are lightweight, fit nicely in the hand, have a good substantial click, and the button is easy to locate without being too prominent. So, we have created two fun SPECIAL EDITION varieties with pawsitive training messages!

  • Orange Teardrop Clicker – Trick & Click & Treat
  • Blue Teardrop Clicker – It’s Quicker with a Clicker

There is a small hole near the edge for fitting your favourite attachment to ensure that your clicker is always close at hand.

They make lovely gifts for your dog training pals!

Approx measurements: 6 x 4 x 2cm

Halloween Special Edition Bundle

Halloween SPECIAL EDITION Bundle

Our Halloween SPECIAL EDITION Bundle is available for a limited time only and includes the Doggone Good Rapid Reward Treat Pouch in Orange, Black Webbing Belt, SPECIAL EDITION Orange Teardrop Clicker, and Black Wrist Coil. Save over 10% on individual prices!

 

Walkin’ Wheels Second-Hand Wheelchairs

Dog wheelchairs

Does your dog need a wheelchair?

How do you know when your dog needs a wheelchair?

This is a difficult question and one we pondered on for quite a while, probably too long. It can be a big investment, so it needs to offer a lot of benefits.

With Daisy and her DM, we knew only too well the progression of the illness, but we had no idea whether a wheelchair would help her or if she would even accept it.

We eventually decided we would go ahead and try one when she still had use of all 4 legs. DM was creeping along, and she was already unsteady on her back legs but could still run and walk about indoors.

If you are struggling with this same conundrum, why not read this article for some inspiration: Dog Wheelchair – Independent Dog Wheelchair Reviews – Canine Compilation

Which is the best wheelchair for my dog?

Walkin' Wheels Wheelchairs

Walkin’ Wheels Wheelchairs

Another difficult question. We started out buying a second-hand Eddies Wheels wheelchair that wasn’t the ideal size for Daisy. However, we spent a lot of time and effort customising it to fit her needs. We pretty much took it apart and put it back together again in a way that suited her best. It was perfect for a few months but then started to deteriorate. We found ourselves constantly repairing it on every outing.

Her second wheelchair was from Best Friends. It was also used and on loan to us from a charity. This one was a much better fit, but our customising options were limited since it didn’t belong to us. Several other dogs had used it before we got it, so again, it was in constant need of repair. When we noticed that Daisy was struggling on her front legs, we looked around for something more suitable.

We came across Walkin’ Wheels and purchased the 4-wheel option to future-proof it. This wheelchair was the perfect fit. We were impressed by how customisable it was out of the box and the sturdiness of the frame. She seemed far more comfortable in this one than the previous ones.

Will my dog take to a wheelchair?

Daisy in her Walkin' Wheels Wheelchair

Daisy in her camo Walkin’ Wheels Wheelchair

For us, this was the most critical question and one that could only be addressed the first time we put her in it.

At first, the answer was no! She refused to move. Remember, she still had the use of four legs. She much preferred being walked in a sling where she would run around quite happily with one of us trying to keep up with her.

By combining her sling with her first wheelchair, we finally got her to use it. Once she realised she had her freedom back and could chase her beloved Puller, there was no stopping her – all she had needed was the right motivation.

Wheelchairs are not just for dogs

Walkin' Wheels Wheelchairs for cats

Other animals can benefit from a wheelchair

We’ve seen cats, goats, sheep, and even ducks benefit from a wheelchair, whether it be long-term or short-term, to cope with surgery or injury.

Take a look at our range of second-hand, hardly used wheelchairs

Second-hand Walkin' Wheels Wheelchairs

Second-hand Walkin’ Wheels Wheelchairs

If you face this dilemma and are undecided, we are now offering a range of second-hand/hardly used Walkin’ Wheels Wheelchairs for sale.

We may not have the ideal size available for your dog, so if you don’t see what you need or would like further advice, please contact us, and we will be happy to help.

Daisy

We never did use the front wheels. We lost Daisy in December 2019 and miss her every day. She was such a character. One thing we don’t ever regret was getting her that wheelchair. Watching her run around in her Wakin’ Wheels wheelchair was our greatest pleasure and left us with many happy memories. It gave her back some of what DM had taken away, and you could see on her face how happy and contented she was pottering around the field, sniffing out rabbits – just one of the gang and being a normal dog in her last few months.

Daisy in her Walkin' Wheels Wheelchair

Daisy – just one of the gang!

Licking Mats – Simple but Smart

What is a licking mat?

First and foremost, what is a licking mat? A licking mat is a plastic or silicone mat that can be smeared with a variety of different treats. These can include wet food, pastes, peanut butter or plain yoghurt – anything really that is spreadable and enjoyed by your pet. They come in a wide assortment of shapes and sizes but all of them have patterns of cavities and grooves to hold the treats.

Why would you want a licking mat?

Both dogs and cats find the act of repetitive licking soothing which can calm an anxious pet, so by participating in an activity that causes them to lick, they are releasing cortisol into their body – a hormone responsible for relaxation. Licking mats are a great way to help promote calm behaviour.

If you have pets that eat too quickly, you can extend their feeding time with a licking mat making them eat more slowly, produce more saliva and aid digestion. This also aids dental health helping fight off bacteria in the mouth.

And of course the big buzzword at the moment “enrichment”. The licking mat can provide mental stimulation which promotes mental health. A mentally stimulated pet is a healthy pet.

Licking mats can also be frozen thereby extending the game longer by presenting a greater challenge or maybe provide some much-needed refreshment in the hotter months.

When should you use a licking mat?

As a distraction. Maybe you’re still working from home and need time to make that Zoom call in peace.

How about bath time, nail trimming, grooming? You can get licking mats that stick on the wall, and on windows when out on a car journey.

Perhaps on Bonfire night? Something to soothe an anxious pet and take their mind off their fears.

If your pet is confined to a crate due to illness or an operation, and they need a low-impact boredom buster.

Trixie Junior Licking Plate

Trixie Junior Licking Plate

To distract and entertain your new puppy or kitten.

As a slow feeder, and of course, as a reward. At the end of a great training session, for example.

Just because you love them!

A useful addition to your toolkit

Aquapaw Feeding Mat Licking Toy

In summary, you may already have a whole stash of puzzle toys to keep your pet entertained but we believe it’s worthwhile adding this simple yet effective soothing slow feeder to your toolkit.

Bear in mind that these mats can be a chewing hazard so should only be used when supervised.

Our range of Licking Toys:

Licking Toys

Licking Toys range from left to right: iQuites Lick Treat Mat, Trixie Lick n Snack Ball, Junior Licking Plate from Trixie, Trixie Lick n Snack Platter, Aquapaw Feeding Mat Licking Toy

iQuites Treat Lick Mats

Trixie Lick N Snack Ball

Junior Licking Plate from Trixie

Trixie Lick n Snack Platter

Aquapaw Slow Treater Dog Feeding Mat Licking Toy

Calm Dog Games

Calm Dog Games

What is Calm Dog Games?

Calm Dog Games is a beautifully presented pack of cards, wonderfully illustrated with different dog breeds. It contains 52 individual challenges for dogs, along with a guide booklet to help you on your way.

As has been proven, mental stimulation can be just as engaging and demanding as physical exercise for the active canine. In situations such as our current lockdown or maybe for disabled dogs, or dogs recovering from surgery, or even just bad weather, these cards are the perfect solution.

The five categories

Calm Dog Games categories

The cards are divided into 5 different categories; Puzzle, Bond, Focus, Calm and Play, so you can quickly select an appropriate activity for your mood or desired aim. The categories are a mixture of scent games, stealth training, brain games, enrichment activities and bonding exercises to strengthen your relationship.

Whether you are training a pup, settling in a new rescue, or just spending time with your four-legged bestie, these games are great to help you bond, train and have fun together. Add joy, stimulation and enrichment to their day while developing positive behaviours such as calmness, confidence and connection with you.

How to play

  • PICK A CARD – Select from a category or choose from the whole deck.
  • FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS – Play the game for 60 seconds to 5 minutes max.
  • PLAY AGAIN OR CHILL – 3-5 games over the course of the day is sufficient.

(Some games require additional equipment)

From the creator

Creator of Calm Dog Games

Calm Dog Games is, first and foremost, for the love of dogs. Inspired by my own spaniel, Cam, my desire was to give him an interesting and enriching life.

Dogs really are the best of us, and they deserve to be listened to and heard. I believe many behavioural issues can be remedied through clear communication, gentle understanding and positive reinforcement. In essence, a calm default.

My aim is to help empower other people who have a dog in their life with the tools and strategies to communicate and connect with their dog, develop calmness and build upon that all-important bond.

Calmness isn’t just for dogs, it’s for us too.

What people are saying about Calm Dog Games

Calm Dog Games

“Great for any dog lover. Lovely cards with some great games on them. Simple ideas well thought out. Glad I bought them. I feel I have an ace up my sleeve with these.”

“A handy resource for enrichment and training. These cards are a great way to find games that will help you boost the behaviours you want from your dog.
Being able to pick a card at random is an easy way to make sure you include variety in your play.

They’re great for rainy days and handy for holidays, and they include lots of ideas that would work for dogs who are on restricted exercise.

I especially like the little book that explains the thinking behind the games and how to take them to the next level as your dog becomes an expert.

On top of that, they’re very pretty and easy to wrap, so I am working out who I can buy them for as a gift.”

“Honestly brilliant!

These are great little fun games to help focus, calm bond and play with my dog, and I love the fact that it has a little book that has higher levels of you can train further. It’s compact to carry around and to just whip one out, I really enjoy doing the focus games with my pup while out walking!”

To squeak or not to squeak

Dog looking at squeaky toyTo Squeak or not to Squeak, that is the Question?

Do your dogs like squeaky toys, and if so, why?

The theory is that your dog is motivated by an instinctual drive and the squeaky noise is not unlike the sound of prey that’s frightened or injured. When the squeak stops, your dog has successfully killed its prey.

Or maybe there’s another explanation; dogs get an immediate reward from the sound that’s emitted from the toy. The feedback tells them that their bite is effective, thus spurring them on to continue, unlike with a silent toy which doesn’t provide the same gratification.

We all know what it’s like when a dog is obsessed with a squeaky toy and it can drive us nuts, until, in the end, we take it away, much to the disappointment of the dog.

Not all Dogs love a Squeak

With our dogs, we have to be very careful. Tilly absolutely loves a squeaky toy. Archie and Jack aren’t bothered one way or the other, but Toby dislikes them intensely. More than that, they actually upset him.

He is not particularly sound sensitive. He loves the sound of a clicker! Thunder or fireworks don’t bother him in the slightest, but anything that squeaks or beeps will have him running for cover.

We once took him to agility classes and at first, he did well until another dog in his class came along with a squeaky toy. That was the end of it for Toby. He couldn’t concentrate and he spent the whole time cowering behind our legs.

When Tilly was confined to her crate after her surgeries, we gave her a fluffy lamb to keep her company, but first, it had to be operated on to remove the squeaker. We couldn’t risk traumatising Toby.

When new toys arrive in the warehouse, we are very wary about testing the squeak and usually wait until Toby is out of earshot otherwise he’ll be upset and fearful for hours.

It’s not that he doesn’t like toys, he loves the treat dispensers, especially Starmark and of course, KONG. Then there’s his all-time favourite, the Puller, but anything that makes a noise is a no-no for him.

It’s a good idea to take the time to find out what toys your dog likes and dislikes and what stimulates or comforts them. A squeaky toy can be a great motivator and grab your dog’s attention, thereby making an excellent training tool but beware it doesn’t have the opposite effect.

Regular Checking of Toys is a Must

Supervision with a squeaky toy is advised especially with dogs that get overstimulated easily. Squeaky play should be confined to short sessions and ask your dog to do something like sit or down before rewarding them with the toy.

Squeaky toys can be fun but inspect them regularly to make sure they are not damaged and that your dog doesn’t have access to the squeaking mechanism, which could become a choking hazard.

If you discover their favourite squeaky toy is damaged, then repair it or replace it with a new one.

The Ultimate Squeak

If you have a squeaky-obsessed dog, The Petsafe Ricochet is an excellent choice. These paired toys will have your dog going back and forth chasing the squeak. Tilly was enthralled with them but sadly cannot play with them in our home!

Petsafe Electronic Dog Toy Ricochet

Petsafe Ricochet: The ultimate squeak

The Thrill of the Chase or Food Fun

For those, like us that have a dog who is upset by a squeak, here are Toby’s Top Tips for squeaky-free fun:

Archie wearing Julius K9 Saddlebags

Dog Backpacks – The Positive Benefits

 

Dog wearing Julius K9 Saddlebags

Archie wearing Julius-K9 Saddlebags

The positive benefits of a backpack

Dog backpacks can have many positive benefits for your canine and can turn a basic walk into a rewarding experience.

It gives your dog a job

Many types of dogs like to be engaged in activities, and a dog backpack can help to give your pup a purpose. When they’re wearing their backpack, they know they’re helping in a tangible way, which will make them happier and ultimately, healthier. If you have a small or ageing dog,  an empty backpack is just as effective. They will still feel they have a job!

It calms them down

A bit like a pressure wrap for anxious dogs, a backpack can help to calm your dog and make them feel more secure.

Helps them focus

Is your dog distracted on walks? Maybe it’s other dogs, cars or bikes. A backpack can set them into work mode and help them focus and disregard the distractions.

They carry their stuff

Poop bags, for instance! You never have enough hands or pockets so why not fill the backpack with a collapsible bowl, water bottle, tasty treats and even a basic first aid kit?

It’s a workout and can build muscle

An extended hike with a well-balanced backpack can result in a good workout and help build muscle, and even on those dismal days when ‘walkies’ time is shorter, they will still get a decent amount of exercise.

Walking together strengthens your bond

Put the backpack on whether it’s a long hike in the woods or a quick trot around the park, walking together strengthens your bond and both of you will sleep better for it.

Dog wearing Julius-K9 Saddlebags

Improves physical and mental health

Walking is good for the body and the mind for both you and your pup. Not only does it increase stamina, but during regular exercise, dopamine levels in the body increase, which is associated with improved mood and a happier outlook on life.

Top Tips to teach your dog to wear a backpack

Step 1: Choose the right backpack for the job. Is it for long hikes or a quick jog around the park?

Step 2: Measure your dog to ensure you get a good fit.

Step 3: Get them used to the backpack. Let them see it and sniff it before attempting to put it on.

Step 4: When they wear it for the first time, let them get used to the empty weight of it on their back and adjust to walking through gaps with it on.

Step 5: Start slowly and add items to the backpack so that they get used to carrying a bit of weight. Do short walks at first.

Step 6: Gradually add items so they can get used to balancing and manoeuvring with the filled backpack in place.

Step 7: When they’re comfortable with it, go off and have adventures!

Adventure Hund also have some excellent advice on How to Train Your Dog to Wear a Backpack.

Dog wearing Julius-K9 Saddlebags

Archie, ready for an adventure!

See our range of Dog Backpacks and start your adventures here!

Training with a Long Line

Tilly on a long lineThe beginning of the line

Many years ago, we attended a number of workshops for reactive and aggressive dogs. Throughout the workshops, long lines were being used as training aids and at that time, they were hard to come by. We realised there was an unmet need, so began making those long lines and hence the name of our company, Training Lines.

We used climbing rope to make the original ones, and we are still using our prototypes today!

The use of a long line has been brought home to us again just recently because Tilly has been on restricted exercise following her elbow arthroscopy. We have also used the same long line in the not too distant past when Tracking with Toby.

Scent Work with Toby

In short, they are useful tools, training tools, and not to be confused with long leads or extending leads.

We prefer to use them with a harness rather than a collar and advise you should always, no matter what the weather, wear gloves. Rope burns are painful.

Why use a long line?

Well, although they could be used as a long lead, they take some management to prevent both yourself and your dog from becoming hopelessly entangled.

Managing a long line

It’s easy to get tangled up, especially when other dogs are around

They are useful for young dogs to give them a sense of freedom while still retaining that all-important control, or for teaching a recall. They are also essential in BAT (behaviour adjustment training) in reactive dogs and provide a physical connection to your dog as a back-up for your mental connection.

And of course, there are various ones for use in Scent Work or Tracking.

Our preference is no handle. A dog can get up a good turn of speed on a long line, and the last thing you want is a dislocated wrist. It can help to tie knots near the end so that you know when you are running out of rope.

Before buying a long line, you should decide first of all what you want to use it for and then how long you want it. As mentioned above, the lines can be very unwieldy if too long.

Although we no longer make them ourselves, they are now far easier to obtain and here is our pick of the ones available.

CLIX Puppy House Line

Puppy House Line

Puppy House Line

The Clix Puppy House Line is a lightweight lead that can be used in the house to interrupt a dog’s undesirable behaviours without the need for confrontation or misunderstanding. 

Preventing undesirable behaviour is always more effective than stopping it once it has started because your dog will not get a chance to find out how much fun it is to be ‘naughty’.  You do have to think ahead and predict what your dog might do next.

The house line helps you to get to your dog before he makes a mistake. If your dog is about to do something undesirable, pick up or step on the house line to restrain him.  Distract him from what he was about to do by calling him, encourage him to show the behaviour that you want instead and then praise and reward him for getting it right.

Can be used to stop jumping up, stealing, chewing, digging, chasing, play biting, pestering other dogs in the household, climbing onto furniture or running out through an open door.

It should never be left on an unattended dog.

Company of Animals Lightweight Recall Line

A lightweight recall line

Lightweight Recall Line

The Clix Lightweight Recall Training Line is ideal for puppies and young dogs as it is made from an ultra-light yet durable fabric. The recall line allows the dog to be seemingly free and yet remain under control, combining security with freedom. An essential tool for recall training and ideal for controlled socialisation of puppies and aggressive dogs.

The perfect training tool for outings in a public place and the soft padded webbing makes the recall line comfortable to hold.

Clix Recall Line

Recall Training line

Recall Training Line

As with the lightweight version, the Clix Recall Training Line allows the dog a feeling of freedom while ensuring that you have control. For teaching a reliable recall, the long line is an excellent proofing tool for testing your dog’s proficiency and doing it safely.

Two lengths are available (5m, 16 ft 8 inches, & 10m, 33 ft 4 inches).

Trixie Tracking Lines

Tracking Lines: Tracking Line with Ball (cord), Tracking Line (cord), Tracking Lead (webbing)

Tracking Lines

The Trixie Tracking Lines come in several different varieties and can be a powerful communication tool between the dog and handler. With proper use, the communication flows back and forth all the time during the track. A handler’s primary job is to keep the line from distracting the dog, keep it out of the dog’s way and do not let it get tangled. The correct tension on the line will keep it straight in the air from the dog’s harness to your hand.

Tracking leads can be used for scent work or as a long line for recall training. They come in various lengths and styles.

PVC Coated Tracking Lines

Tracking leash with a PVC coating or integrated shock absorber

The Trixie Easy Life Tracking Leashes are available with a PVC coating which is resilient and durable, and easy to wipe clean. Available in various lengths, they offer freedom of movement while training or walking, and are also ideal for tracking or searching.

You can even get one with an integrated shock absorber that helps to cushion any sudden pulling making it kinder on you and your dog.

Excellent for tracking, scent work and distance or recall training.

Lining yourself up for success

We hope that gives you an insight into why, if used correctly, a long line is such a valuable training aid and although we haven’t gone into detail on how best to use them, a lot of the products come with basic instructions which are well worth reading before getting started. Alternatively, it’s worth doing some research online before deciding which one is best for you and your dog.