Has anyone ever used a long line in the house? Harry is doing well with house breaking, and crate training, but tethering with a 6ft is not working for us, as he cannot get into the kitchen to have access to water. He would with a long line, have access only to us in the living room and kitchen.
If I let him drag the 6ft, he will play keep away, and be silly or bark if you block areas he cannot be near,and tethered to me, unless I sit on the floor, would not have ample space for playtime . I want him to enjoy the freedom of access to his water when he is out, but refuse to have him off a lead, so that he knows he cannot run off when he feels like it.
The long line would also help with supervision in both rooms, as I am usually in one and Jim in the other, that way if he tries to get near the stove, where he is not allowed, he can't take off and zoom around playing keep away, but he would still be able to have access to an adult when out of the crate. His marker training started today with the food bowl, and a sit til it is down, moving on to teaching the actual word sit this weekend, as for him, he knows the action gets him the food, but not the word to the action. He has great potential!
And flat collars are not working for him. He does not mind paddling at the end if a lead and choking, but a dd collar I think would just hurt him if he had the zoomies outside. We use a retractable during the day, using the brake to keep him off snowbank for potty time, and I use a 6ft at night, so I can grab him quick if wildlife appears. With both leashes, he will run, hit the end, flip, and repeat. I just stop and wait for him to head my way, praise him for coming. I was wondering if I should just use a harness on him. I want him to explore and olayvwhen it is safe, but the harness does not help if he grabs something like willows or spruce needles.
Boy that is a mixed up ramble!

With furniture in the rooms I see the dog getting tangled up when trying to get away from you.

That can cause a panic situation.

Work on a uber solid recall with markers.

Make being with you the absolute best place in the world!

A harness will only encourage pulling.

Ed has an excellent video of Michael Ellis's training leash control.

As with any of these excellent Ellis videos you really need a solid understanding of the basic marker training videos.

Thanks Bob. I really did not like the harness. We are lucky, and no more diarrhea today, period. So on to the fun stuff!

Ellis day tmrw!

Are you asking about tethering to you indoors as part of potty training and keeping him out of trouble in the house?

I'm not clear, because you also mentioned playing keep-away and grabbing evergreen needles and having zoomies outside ...

To me, the recall and tethering a puppy or a new-to-the-house older dog to me indoors are kind of different issues ...



For example. here's a thread about potty training and tethering to you indoors:

http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=34108&page=1#389878

That was very informative! I tethered him last night on the long line. He did well, and did not come near the stove at all.

Connie, that link was the key, I believe he is an over stimulated puppy. He only naps for 45 min every morn and afternoon, so today I crated him from 9-11, and he woke up a calmer pup.
The long line is def working for us, I had to rub Vicks vapor rub on all the leashes and let them dry, so now he does not chew any of them, as he doesn't mind the taste of bitter apple. I didn't realize a pup may have to be forced to rest!

A time out in the crate with a bone was life saving for me when my dog was a pup.

Can he go out of your sight when he's tetherd on the long line?

No, and when he goes for water, I am always in view, the other rooms are closed off, and the front porch is blocked with a board. He has enough room with the tether to go I to the kitchen, and has maybe 2 feet past his water bowl as extra leash.
I keep hawk eyes on him every time he is out if the crate, so has zero opportunity to put his mouth on anything but the toys or chews I give him. And the long lead gives him access to the door we use for potty, when he dies have to go, he walks right to it. Anytime I have to do something that requires him to be unsupervised, I crate him with a toy until I am done.