50' lead/chain that can handle a 80lb dog?

[Ritz459]

I can't find these ANYWHERE!! I want to get one for Blackie so I can clip it on him and let him "wander" while we are outside with him and so this winter I can just clip that on him and let him exercise on that so I won't freeze my butt off and so I won't have to trek through 3 feet of snow to walk him. (I will probably still walk out on the roads, but for when I can't, or when I normally walk around our feild.)
I saw one somewhere that was used for hunting dogs or whatever. It was bright orange so you could see it, and it was burr resistant. But I can't remember where I saw it at.

And I also have a question. If I got one of these for Blackie, I'm worried that he'll flush a rabbit or whatever, chase it, and then break his neck when he reaches the end of the lead and gets whiplash/being clothslined. I've seen those "break away" collars, but that kinda defeats the purpose of me having him on lead, but I'm thinking that that is what I'm going to have to use to protect his neck.
Is there any other way to keep him from clothslining himself?
I was thinking about boundering training him with a shock collar (sorta like a invisable fence only not having it be a fence) along with the lead, but I don't really like that idea...I don't know if it will work or not.

[kazkirkpatrick]

I wouldnt use a tie out without supervision. Its just not safe enough. As for running and breaking a neck, you can get the ones with the spring at the base, which allows for some cushioning of the force before it finally comes to a complete halt. That will save poor blackie a spinal cord injury

[flyndog]

Ritz, I think you're talking about check cords. You can buy them at outdoor specialty stores that carry hunting supplies. I make my own out of braided polypro (bright yellow) clothesline that you can buy at Home Depot. The strength of the rope is listed on the package, so buy the size you need. You have to be able to tie a good bowline to attach an appropriately sized swivel hook to the end. You can buy those at Home Depot, too. Total cost is around $5. You can use a harness instead of a collar to keep him from hurting his neck while you work on voice commands.

If you need a stronger rope, look for other braided polypro rope. Go to a marine store.

[Ritz459]

Originally Posted by flyndog

Ritz, I think you're talking about check cords. You can buy them at outdoor specialty stores that carry hunting supplies. I make my own out of braided polypro (bright yellow) clothesline that you can buy at Home Depot. The strength of the rope is listed on the package, so buy the size you need. You have to be able to tie a good bowline to attach an appropriately sized swivel hook to the end. You can buy those at Home Depot, too. Total cost is around $5. You can use a harness instead of a collar to keep him from hurting his neck while you work on voice commands.

If you need a stronger rope, look for other braided polypro rope. Go to a marine store.

Thanks for the replies! Would it be better to tie the end to a swivel hook or to tie it around a tree?
And what kind of harness would be good to use? Just a walking harness or something else?

And don't worry Kazkirkpatrick, I would most definitally NOT use a tie out without supervision. I'll only put him on this when we are all outside (or most of us are outside) and we can be supervising, or when it is really cold out and then I'll stand at our kitchen window and keep an eye on him untill it is time to put him up.
When it was really hot out on day, we tied both of the dogs up to a tree in the shade that was really nice, cool, and breezy, along with a bucket of water, and I sat out there with them half of the time, and then I sat in our livingroom the other half. (And our living room is like, right by the tree, so I could hear every move or sound they made.)
So basically, I freak out when the dogs are tied up. lol

[flyndog]

Originally Posted by Ritz459

Thanks for the replies! Would it be better to tie the end to a swivel hook or to tie it around a tree?
And what kind of harness would be good to use? Just a walking harness or something else?
l

Yes, just a walking harness. The swivel hook is for clippling to the harness. I tie a loop in the other end for a handle. I didn't realize you wanted to tie the dog to a tree with it. I use it to train for control at a distance and as a transition to off lead work. Is your intention to teach boundary control with a shock collar so that the dogs can be left loose outside?

[rottnpagan]

Personally I'd just get a good strong horse lunge line, and use it to tie to something.

As for the clotheslining, he'd catch on quick after the first one, I'd bet.

[Ritz459]

Originally Posted by flyndog

Yes, just a walking harness. The swivel hook is for clippling to the harness. I tie a loop in the other end for a handle. I didn't realize you wanted to tie the dog to a tree with it. I use it to train for control at a distance and as a transition to off lead work. Is your intention to teach boundary control with a shock collar so that the dogs can be left loose outside?

Well, my plan was to tie the end of the lead to something at the edge of our yard by the field, whether it be a chain hook thingy, or a tree (and these are smaller trees too...not great big ones. They are about...8ft tall?). Then he can "wander" around out in our feild, and be in our yard too.
I want to do the above so that when we are outside, I won't have to mess with a retractable leash in my hand, and Blackie can still come out of the kennel while having freedom. I normally just let Rose run loose because she'll stay in our feild, and won't go anywhere unless Blackie does. And she'll also listen to me pretty well offleash. (Maybe not on her "come" comand, but if I tell her stop, she will.)
I also thought of it as a plus when this winter comes, so then Blackie can run around and be a goofball in the snow (he LOVES snow ), and I won't have to be out running through who-knows-how-many feet of snow trying to keep up with him and freezing to death.

I was thinking about getting a shock collar for Blackie and teaching him the stay in the yard with it so he could be let off leash with the shock collar on when we are outside to supervise him, but I don't know how well that will work since he has such "thick skin" and if he sees something he wants to go after, I highly doubt he's going to care about being over the boundery. (Just like I don't think a invisible fence could keep him in. It would work for Rose, but not for him.) So I dunno. *shrugs shoulders*

[Jenny]

I would recommend against the e training collar. You have to be with the dog to use them. I don't really like the invisible fences either since the dog isn't being given a command before getting shocked. I would think they could make dogs skittish not knowing when it is going to get shocked.

What about just fencing in part of your yard?

[Ritz459]

Originally Posted by Jenny

I would recommend against the e training collar. You have to be with the dog to use them. I don't really like the invisible fences either since the dog isn't being given a command before getting shocked. I would think they could make dogs skittish not knowing when it is going to get shocked.

What about just fencing in part of your yard?

That is what I thought about the e collar too, but I wasn't sure. With the invisible fence, you outline the place with flags...so this shows him where he will get shocked at, and you can also get one that beeps when he gets close to the fence. So they will just be deathly scared of flags, and beeps! lol *shakes head*

And I'd LOVE to fence in our backyard (and so would my mom), but my dad doesn't want to ("It would be a pain to mow around"...ya ya, I'll mow it for crying out loud!), and it is also too expensive for us at the moment. Even a invisible fence wouldn't be so good if we put it around our whole yard (which is three acres).

[Jenny]

Honestly, I think you should just buy some really comfy winter gear and head out into the snow with your dog. If he has a problem with recall, get a retractable leash and have some fun!

[Ritz459]

Originally Posted by Jenny

Honestly, I think you should just buy some really comfy winter gear and head out into the snow with your dog. If he has a problem with recall, get a retractable leash and have some fun!

Well, yes, I'll do that too. We had a lot of fun last winter because I'd bury treats in snow drifts and they had to find them. lol They were so funny trying to dig through the snow trying to find inch long peices of treats!

[gaddylovesdogs]

I was thinking a harness too...to make sure he doesn't hurt his neck.

[Giny]

Originally Posted by Ritz459

Well, yes, I'll do that too. We had a lot of fun last winter because I'd bury treats in snow drifts and they had to find them. lol They were so funny trying to dig through the snow trying to find inch long peices of treats!

ROFL, what good idea! I'll try that with my dogs next winter *eek did I say winter, hates snow* Boomer loves to stick his head in the snow, it would be great to see him actually get something from doing this. I'm sure he'd be quite the happy puppy too. hehe!

[Ritz459]

Oh, and if I got Blackie a harness, would I want one sorta like this:


Or like this: ?

[Pugdawg1]

I like the harness idea. I think it would be safer for the dog. And that sounds fun, burying treats in the snow. I might try that with my boys this winter.