Our Best Tips for Walking a Large Dog Using a Long Line

July 30, 2025

Our Best Tips for Walking a Large Dog Using a Long Line

If you’re a dog guardian with a large or extra large pup (60 lbs and up), you may wonder: Is it even possible to safely walk a strong, powerful dog on a long line?

The answer is yes - with the right gear, proper techniques, and a focus on safety.

At High Tail Hikes, we get this question all the time: Are your leashes strong enough for big dogs? We’re proud to say: absolutely. Our BioThane leashes are incredibly strong and durable, with a tested minimum break strength of 1,000 lbs per inch of width (learn more about the properties of BioThane). That means that an intact, undamaged BioThane leash won’t snap, even if your big dog hits the end of the line at full speed.

But leash strength is only part of the equation. Here’s everything you need to know to confidently and safely use a long line with your large dog—whether you’re hiking, exploring open spaces, or enjoying a sniffy walk.

Use the Right Equipment

Equipment Essentials

For large dogs, equipment matters. Here’s what we recommend:

Use a back-clip harness. We recommend a padded harness with front and back clips. We recommend clipping to the back for most dogs, as it reduces pressure on the neck and shoulders. We love the RuffWear Front Range.
Flat collar with ID. Your dog should always wear a flat collar with ID, even when using a harness. Our integrated ID tag collars are a great secure, no jangle option.
Use a Safety Strap. This backup connection from your dog's leash to collar keeps you connected if your dog slips out of their harness, or their leash hardware fails.
Stay connected: consider a Waist Belt, a Hands Free + Convertible Leash, or a Waist to Leash Strap to help keep your dog connected to you, even if you drop the leash. This is a great option for anyone who may have grip or dexterity issues, for a dog who may pull suddenly, or for anyone getting used to managing a longer leash.
Note that having your leash physically connected to you comes with its own set of safety considerations. Please use with caution and practice situational awareness. For this reason, we designed our Waist to Leash Strap with a quick release buckle in the middle in case you need to quickly and easily detach yourself from the leash.

Choosing Leash Length and Width

When walking a large dog, leash weight and ease of handling are key.

Length:

For neighborhood walks, consider starting with a leash that’s just slightly longer than a standard 6 ft - 10 or 12 feet are great places to begin. It gives your dog more freedom while still being easy to manage.
Our go-to for hiking? A 15 ft long line. It’s our favorite for versatility - long enough to allow sniffing and exploration, short enough to be safe and manageable.
We don’t recommend starting out with anything longer than 15 ft, as it can be challenging to handle safely, until you’ve had more practice with long lines.

Width:

For large dogs and handling comfort, you may opt for a Large (3/4" wide) leash. At lengths under 20 ft, this leash will strike the best balance of comfort, control, and durability for most Large dog guardians.
3/8” and 1/2” widths are lightweight, low-profile, and easy to handle. These sizes are great for dogs who are sensitive to gear or handling, and they’re also nice and compact to use and store. They're also plenty strong for big pups!
For dogs over 60 lbs, thinner leashes can be uncomfortable to hold and may be harder to control - especially if your dog is strong or tends to pull. They can take some getting used to if you are accustomed to rope leashes or 1” wide leashes.

Quick tip: The longer the leash, the more impactful leash width becomes. Even lightweight BioThane adds up - a 30 ft leash in 3/8” will feel much different than a 30 ft leash in 3/4”. Read more about leash and long line sizing here.

Choosing Leash Hardware

We offer two high-quality, durable hardware options for your leash:

Brass: Rust-proof, easy to open/close, and perfect for beach days or humid climates. *Tip: if you’re planning on a lot of beach trips, we offer a “scissor snap” upgrade (also known as a trigger snap) that is less likely to get sticky and clogged with sand.
Sport (Autolocking Carabiner): Lightweight, aviation-grade aluminum. Locks securely and gives total peace of mind, though it can be trickier to open and close with one hand.

Both are excellent choices for large dogs—pick what suits your lifestyle best.

Add a Traffic Handle (Optional)

A built in traffic handle is a handle attached to the main length of your leash that can help you secure your dog quickly and easily. It can be a helpful tool for navigating tight spaces or taking in slack on a long line quickly and safely. We offer:

Standard placements above the leash clip on our Custom Leash pages
Custom placements per your request. For example, placement at 6 ft allows you to secure the leash at a “standard” leash length. 3 ft below the handle is a great option for two handed control at the end of the leash - some people refer to this as a “steering wheel” placement.

To find your ideal traffic handle placement, clip the leash to your dog’s harness or collar as you normally would, then hold the leash as if you were walking. Notice where your hand naturally reaches if you need quick control—that’s a great place for traffic handle placement. Then, let your dog drag the leash for a moment (while supervised). Check where their front and back paws land on the leash—avoid placing a handle there to prevent it from catching underfoot. Check out our Traffic Handle demo video.

Adding a traffic handle is entirely optional, but can be helpful in walking a larger dog, especially when you’re getting started with a long line. You may also consider a Stand Alone Traffic Handle that can clip to your dog's harness and provide quick security when needed. Learn more about our built in traffic handles.

Long Line Handling and Safety Techniques With Your Large Dog

Preventing Leash Burn and Hand Injuries

Preventing leash burn: With enough speed and pressure, any leash can cause a friction burn. Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes when using any long line, especially lines longer than 15 ft. Do not attempt using a 20 or 30 ft line until you’ve gained intermediate or higher skills in long line management.
NEVER wrap or coil a leash around your wrist or fingers - this can lead to injury!
BioThane has a wonderful, supple and slightly grippy feel in the hand, but can get slippery when wet. Grippy gloves (even gardening gloves) can be helpful if it's raining or you're in/near water. Never tie knots in your long line as natural breaks, as this can weaken the line. Some people like to wrap duct tape or other grippy tape around their line at certain points to help with braking and grip.

Basic Long Line Handling

Using a long line is quite a different experience than using a standard leash! Rather than simply holding the leash handle, a long line walk is a dynamic experience, where you are giving and taking slack constantly to ensure everyone’s safety. It’s well worth taking the time to practice a few skills before heading out on your first long line walk.

Use a Safe Leash Grip

We recommend using what we call the “ice cream cone” grip for holding a long line safely and securely. Here’s how:

Pass the leash over your thumb, with the dog end of the leash on the inside of your thumb (the part that rests inside your closed fist) and the human end of the leash on the outside of your thumb. When you close your fist, you’re naturally gripping the dog’s end of the leash - creating a strong, secure hold without wrapping the leash around your hand or fingers. This grip can be used on the leash handle, or anywhere along the length of the leash.

This grip helps prevent injuries, gives you excellent control, and allows you to give or take slack as needed. It might feel awkward at first, but with a little practice, it becomes second nature. We recommend using this as your default leash grip anytime you're handling a long line—especially with a large, strong dog.

Master Your Brake Hand

Hold the leash in your non-dominant hand (with the ice cream grip above), and use your dominant hand as a brake hand to manage slack and slow your dog if needed. It’s good practice to “cover” the leash (hold or hover your dominant hand over the top of the leash to give or take slack or slow down the leash as needed).

Use Bunny Ears to Manage Slack

For leashes 20 ft or longer, you may want to learn the "bunny ears" technique to manage excess slack safely. Loop extra slack on either side of your leash grip hand in a “bunny ears” pattern (instead of loops) to prevent the leash tightening down around your hand.

Keep a Smile in the Leash

Keep a smile in the leash - the goal is for the leash to remain in a loose “smile” between you and your dog - not dragging excessively on the ground and not tight. Unlike a standard leash, you will need to manage your long line dynamically, giving and taking slack along the length of the leash rather than simply holding the handle.

Practicing Skills at Home

Before hitting the trail, practice leash grip and slack management at home. You can hang out with your dog in your backyard or inside your house, or even clip your leash to a chair or stationary object to practice. Here’s what to practice:

A safe leash grip
Giving and taking slack
Keeping a smile in the leash
Bunny ears (for lines 15 ft and up)
Work on using your brake hand confidently.
Covering the leash with your dominant hand and giving/taking slack.

As you move up in length about 15 ft, you’ll want to learn more about how to manage leash slack. 👉 Want to learn advanced leash handling techniques? Check out our colleague Up 2 Snuff’s Long Line Handling Course.

Taking Your Dog Out on the Trail

Set Your Dog Up for Success

Your dog may be excited to have some extra room to move around! You might try playing some recall or “find it” games at the start of the hike to help your dog channel their energy and excitement before the start of the walk. If your dog is not used to having more freedom, be prepared to have them run to the end of their line! Once they settle in, we think you’ll find that most dogs tend to stay within a reasonable distance of their person and offer check ins. If that’s not the case, consider reaching out to a qualified force free trainer to explore what your dog might need to make long line walks successful.

Reward Engagement and Stay Aware

Bring tasty treats and reward every check in - you want to reinforce your dog for choosing to check in and stay close to you! Even though your pup has more freedom, you’re still on a walk together. Engage your pup with games and training moments throughout your walk.

Using a long line requires situation awareness and caution. Be alert, and take in slack when approaching blind corners or passing other trail users. Keep your dog close with slack gathered around other trail users - no one wants to be wrapped around a long line or, worst case scenario, get clotheslined by one!

Special Considerations

If your dog is fearful, reactive, or has other special needs, you’ll want to take extra precautions to make sure you keep your pup and everyone else safe. Take special care to choose a walk location that is quiet and free from triggers. You may also consider a leash wrap or vest that indicates to others that you do not want to be approached (though it is not widely known, a yellow leash indicates that you do not want others to approach your dog). Have exit routes and a back up plan for unexpected encounters, and always prioritize your pup’s safety if you’re unsure.

Final Thoughts

Walking a large dog on a long line gives them the freedom to explore and sniff while staying safely connected to you. With the right setup—including a durable BioThane leash, well-fitted harness, and proper leash handling skills—you can create a safe, enriching experience for both of you.

👉 Ready to gear up? Shop our durable BioThane long lines
👉 Want help learning more advanced long line skills? Check out our colleague Up 2 Snuff's leash handling course!