Leash walking
How do I stop a long line tangling around my legs on walks?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Keep the long line gathered into loose loops in your free hand rather than letting all 5 to 10 metres trail on the ground at once, paying out or reeling in slack as your dog moves. Avoid letting your dog circle behind you, and redirect gently with a light hand signal or your body position instead.
Managing slack actively
Rather than dropping the full length and letting it drag, gather the unused portion into loose figure eight loops across your palm, similar to coiling a garden hose. This lets you feed out line smoothly as your dog moves away and take it back in as it comes closer, without a tangled pile building up near your feet.
Positioning yourself to avoid wraps
If your dog tends to circle around behind you while sniffing, turning your body to follow its movement, rather than staying rigidly still, prevents the line from wrapping around your legs in the first place. A step or two to reposition is much easier than untangling a line after the fact.
Choosing the right material
Flat biothane or treated nylon lines tend to tangle less than round cord style lines, and a lighter weight line is easier to manage with one hand while still giving your dog the intended freedom to explore.
Key takeaways
- Gather unused long line into loose loops rather than letting it all trail on the ground.
- Turn your body to follow your dog's movement rather than staying still while it circles.
- Flat biothane or treated nylon lines tangle less than round cord style lines.
- Feed slack out and reel it in actively as your dog moves closer or further away.