Disclaimer: I am not a certified dog trainer. I am simply a dog walker who uses biothane long lines to make hikes in the forest more enjoyable for everyone.

Admittedly, I purchased my biothane long line on a whim. My intention was to just buy a leash system from tinyhorse.ca so I can walk multiple dogs at one time hands-free. 

It was only when I was perusing other products on their website that the long line stuck out to me. 

I thought it would be very handy to use a long line when I take small packs of dogs to the woods for a hike and not all of them are off-leash ready.

The long line would provide a good opportunity for newer pooches to get used to each other and be in the woods as well as be able to run with the off-leash dogs.

And…I would be right!

In my experience, the biothane long line has been amazing!

Why I Started Using A Biothane Long Line

One dog in particular that I walk had not previously been off-leash, so after a few walks with a regular length leash, I could tell that she wanted to run with the other dogs.

So, I hooked her up to the long line and tied a loop in the end so I could have a handle.

Boy, did she love it!

The long line that I have is the shortest length at 15ft but let me tell you, those are 15 glorious feet when you are used to about 3 feet of freedom!

She absolutely loved it!

For the first while, I don’t know, maybe 5 walks, I held onto the long line and she got to explore off the trail, and run and sniff with her dog buddies.

I should mention that I always reinforce recall when I am walking all of my dogs.

So I was always calling her back to me and giving her a treat or pets.

When I felt she was ready and her recall was strong enough, I started dropping my end of the leash. This meant she was running around with one end of the long line clipped to her harness and the other end flopping around on the ground.

Wow! Can I say that the changes in this pooch since I first started walking her are amazing! She absolutely loves running with the other dogs.

She checks back regularly, waits for me, or comes and finds me if I am out of sight (usually just around a corner).

Her recall is improving every time we are on the trails.

I still leave the biothane long line attached to her harness, with the loop tied in one end, and let me tell you, she runs and jumps through the trees and weeds and the leash follows.

Only a few times have I had to ‘unstick’ her when the long line has gotten stuck. The handle that I put in the leash sometimes gets stuck under roots somehow and I need to just slide it out. This doesn’t happen all the time mind you, only on occasion.

Keep in mind that there is not supposed to be a handle on the long line so it can move freely through the terrain. I just keep it for convenience’s sake.

The biothane material is fantastic. It is lightweight so it’s not like the pooch is bogged down with the weight of the leash. 

It also rarely gets stuck on anything. I’m pretty sure that if I did not have the handle tied into the end, it would never get stuck.

The biothane long line also provides me with a sense of security. I know that I have 15 feet of leash that I can step on if the pooch decides to take off after something. 

So far so good, but you never know!

What is a biothane long line?

A biothane long line is a long leash, typically between 15 and 50ft long. It attaches to your dog’s harness or collar.

Long lines can be used in many different settings, including your local park, and my favourite place- on the trail.

Ideally, there should be no other dogs or people around that your dogs will run up to if given freedom, as other dog owners and pedestrians may not like your dog as much as you do.

Also, keep traffic in mind as well, the last thing you want is to find your pooch with their newfound freedom checking out the cars up close and personal.

Biothane is a lightweight, durable, waterproof material that is rubber-like in its appearance and feel.

I mean, it’s not the most eco-friendly material in the world given it’s made from polyester webbing coated in TVU (thermoplastic polyurethane) or PVC (polyvinyl chloride). 

However, this leash will last a lifetime if your pooch doesn’t eat through it first! 

How long should a long line be for dogs? 

The answer to this question depends on what you would like to achieve using the long line.

Personally, I use a 15-foot length long line while out on the trails. 

Truthfully, I have not tried a longer line because I don’t need to.

I am very comfortable with the 15-foot length and it suits my purposes just fine. 

Just to recap, I use the long line for new dogs who are not used to an off-leash small-pack setting. 

I am not doing training officially per se, but I work on recall with all of my dogs every time we are out whether they are on a long line or not.

Essentially, the longer the line, the more freedom your pooch will have. 

So if you’re working on retrieving, for example, a 50ft long line may be more appropriate because the pooch will most likely be traveling further away from you.

The length of lead will ultimately be determined by your training goals and how comfortable you and your pup are with recall and distance away.

Why is biothane good?

I like biothane because it is lightweight, does not get tangled up in the woods, is durable, and is waterproof.

Biothane long lines are also easy to keep clean(ish) as once they dry, the mud and dirt that accumulated on the hike easily just falls off.

If you like things cleaner, you could even wipe it off while it’s still wet and the long line will come clean with minimal effort.

Compare this to traditional leashes made from nylon which are heavier, and harder to clean.

Summary

To sum up, if you are a dog walker in any capacity (professional or dog owner) I would 100% recommend getting a biothane long line.

I really enjoy watching the dogs that I walk have a great time with the off-leashers. The added freedom and bit of peace of mind knowing that I can fairly easily corral the pooch if necessary has led to some amazing hikes.

Honestly, I truly love watching this one pooch, in particular, run through the tall weeds and chase (and be chased) by the other dogs.

Given the fact that she had never been off leash before walking with me, I get an extra sense of pride when she is having the time of her life playing with the other dogs.

It’s awesome to see!

I personally love my 15-foot biothane long line from tinyhorse.ca. However, the length you decide on will be based on your intended purpose and comfort level. 

If you’re not sure, maybe start with the 15-foot and work your way up in length if necessary.

Now, go take your awesome pooch for a walk!

Have you used a biothane long line? Let us know about your experience in the comments, please!