protection line - Page 1

I am having some trouble with my 15 foot line while doing protection work. It is always bunching up or I am getting it caught around myself or my dog. I just started SchH, so is this something that will come with time and practice? I know a line wrapped around my leg or something is dangerous.

After awhile...you will learn how to keep the line straight and able to work with it and not have it get messed up....I only use a 30' line while doing protection work...and I must admit that you do have to be very careful not to get it wrapped around your legs or you could end up with a broken leg or worse...

The best suggestion I can offer is before you go out to do some protection work...be sure the line is not knotted or wrapped around anything...be sure that it's straight...After your dog gets a bite and you run around with him...and you "Out" him...and you're getting ready to start over....once again be sure to have your line straight and not tangled or wrapped around anything....the two things to be really careful of is to be sure the line isn't wrapped around your legs...or the dog's legs...either one could result in an injury...

The good news is that the more you do it and the more practice you get at it...the better you are at it...I guess in my case the more times I screw up and get knocked down with my dog going for the bite...the more I learn too...I've broken a couple of fingers getting the lines wrapped around them....but luckily I've never broken a leg or worse my back...But with nylon lines you can also get very nasty line burns on your legs...so just be very careful to straighten the line out before you start the work and you'll be on the right track...

One other note about this subject...I...from time to time use 2-30' lines at one time...and you think one line is bad...try 2 of them at once...Good Luck with your training....

~Bob~

Thanks! I should know, I came from horses where long lines are used often. You get one of those wrapped around you and the horse takes off, you are royally screwed! I guess I will keep working at it! It doesn't help my fingers were frozen either.

Well I just moved from Florida to Michigan...so I'm still working the the "frozen fingers" thing...but sometimes I used to wear gloves when working a long line...because of the burn effects...It just takes a little time and practice and you'll pick it up just fine...Just be careful and before going out to work your dogs...just make sure the lines aren't knotted or wrapped around anything...What I always do...is lay out the 30' line on the ground before bringing the dog out....then I bring the dog out and hook him into it....that way I'm ready to go....It just seems that if and when you bring your dog out...everything just gets into a blur and things start to happen that shouldn't be happening...You're EXCITED...You're dog is EXCITED...and then things go wrong...so just get your mind clear before starting off...You will be just fine...

The real good news is...that horse people make some of the best dog trainers in the world...so if you can handle and/or train a horse...you will have a head start on training/handling a dog....

~Bob~

 Don't know if either of you have tried using a biothane line instead of the nylon one? Much easier on the hands and less likely to burn:-)

Yes, I use a gripper. Nylon hurts!

The gripper is nylon...but I understand...I do use 30' nylon lines...but there's different kinds...some very hard and some soft...and you do have to get used to them...and be careful...

I use a lunge line as my protection line - yep, it's nylon but the hardware is meant to support the force of a horse at the other end. I learned many many years ago about the burn from the line (horses can really strip one of those out of your hands). I wear a pair of riding gloves when I handle the line(s). They're lightweight, and have leather or rubber palms...

Why are you guys using such a long line for protection?  I would think a 10 foot line would be adequate.  For gloves we use baseball batting gloves or football reciever gloves.

Kyle

FYI, yes be careful.  I have a metal plate and 5 screws in the smallest leg bone just above may ankle. 

Not protection work, but teasing up a trailing dog at the end of a search problem.  All I can say is I am glad we had ended someplace a pick up truck could get to :) - I won't reward a ball or tug crazy trailing dog without unclipping them anymore.