It doesn’t have a squeaker and it won’t entertain your dog on its own. But finding the best long line for dogs is crucial as its possibly the single most important piece of gear you will ever buy for your spaniel. It’s the bridge between those heart-stopping moments when your “angel” disappears into the distance and the calm confidence of watching them range freely, knowing they’ll actually come back when called.

In fifteen years of working with spaniels, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard “We tried recall training, but it just didn’t work.” Nine times out of ten, they tried to go from lead to complete freedom without the crucial middle step – and that middle step is a proper long line.

In this review, we’re cutting through the noise and the marketing fluff. We’ve tested the most popular long lines available on Amazon UK to identify the three best long line for dogs specifically for spaniel owners, focusing on what actually matters: durability, handling comfort, and genuine value for money.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. We also earn a small commission if you purchase through our other links, at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep providing free guides for our beloved spaniel community.

Why Every Spaniel Owner Needs the Best Long Line for Dogs (Trust Me on This One)

Here’s what most people don’t understand about long lines: they’re not about restraining your dog – they’re about managing their choices while they’re still learning what the right choices are.

Your spaniel isn’t being naughty when they leg it after a rabbit. They’re not being spiteful when they pretend not to hear you calling. They’re just doing exactly what their breeding tells them to do, and until they learn that coming back to you is more rewarding than whatever fascinating thing they’ve found, they’ll keep making the wrong choice.

A long line changes this completely. It’s like having a safety net that allows your spaniel to feel free while preventing them from learning that ignoring you works. As we covered in our complete guide to rock-solid recall, the biggest mistake in recall training is allowing your dog to self-reward by successfully running off. Having the best long line for dogs is essential.

I always tell my clients: you can’t train recall properly without a long line. It’s like trying to teach a child to ride a bike without stabilisers – technically possible, but unnecessarily stressful for everyone involved.

The best long line for dogs serves multiple critical functions:

Training Tool:
It allows you to enforce recalls without chasing, shouting, or creating negative associations with coming back.

Safety Net:
Your spaniel can’t disappear over the horizon, run into traffic, or get into confrontations with other dogs.

Confidence Builder:
For both of you. You relax knowing your dog is safe, and they learn that having freedom doesn’t mean losing connection with you.

Transition Bridge:
It’s the essential step between on-lead control and reliable off-lead freedom.

Without a proper long line, most spaniel owners are stuck in a frustrating cycle: keeping their intelligent, energetic dog on a short lead (leading to frustration and pulling) or letting them off (leading to anxiety and recall failures). The best long line for dogs breaks this cycle entirely.

---

The Best Long Lines for Dogs: Our 2025 Top Picks

We’ve put these lines through their paces with actual spaniels in real training situations. Here are the three that survived the spaniel test and earned their place in our recommendations.

🥉 Budget Option:
Church Products UK Standard Webbing Line (15m)

Get the Church Products Standard Line on Amazon UK →

Right, let’s start with the no-nonsense option. This is what I recommend to clients who want to test whether long line training actually works before investing serious money.

Why it’s perfect for beginners:

• Sharp price point (usually under £15) – less than a decent bottle of wine
• Available in lengths from 10m to 20m (I’d go for 15m for most spaniels)
• UK-made, so you’re not waiting weeks for delivery from somewhere unpronounceable
• Lightweight enough that smaller spaniels won’t feel like they’re dragging an anchor
• Solid brass fittings that won’t rust the first time it gets properly muddy

The reality check: Look, it’s a basic webbing line. It gets heavy when wet, it’ll probably tangle more than you’d like, and after a few months of proper use, it’ll start looking a bit shabby. But here’s the thing – it works. I’ve got clients who’ve successfully trained brilliant recall using nothing but one of these basic lines.

Best for: Anyone who’s never used a long line before, garden training, owners on a budget, or experienced trainers who want a “muddy conditions” backup line.

This is one of the best long lines for dogs and proves that you don’t need to spend a fortune to start proper recall training. Many professional trainers still keep one of these as their “muddy conditions” backup.

---

🥈 Comfort Option:
Church Products UK Padded Air Webbing Line

Get the Church Products Padded Line on Amazon UK →

This is where most of my clients end up, and for good reason. It’s the sweet spot between “cheap enough not to worry about” and “nice enough to actually enjoy using.”

Why I recommend this to 80% of spaniel owners:

• Proper padded construction: None of this thin webbing that cuts into your hands after ten minutes
• UK-made reliability: Church Products have been making dog gear longer than most of us have been alive
• Built-in comfort: The 4mm thick cushioning makes long training sessions genuinely pleasant
• Multiple colours: Because apparently we all have opinions about what colour our dog gear should be

What actually makes the difference: After an hour-long training session with a standard line, your hands feel like you’ve been doing some sort of medieval punishment. With this padded version? You could probably go for another hour. That comfort factor isn’t just nice to have – it’s what makes the difference between training regularly and finding excuses not to bother.

The honest downsides: It still gets wet (shocking, I know), it’s slightly bulkier to carry than basic lines, and it seems to attract every bit of fluff and dog hair within a five-mile radius. But honestly? These are pretty minor complaints for something that transforms training from an endurance test into something you’ll actually look forward to.

Best for: Anyone who plans to use their long line more than occasionally, owners with sensitive hands, and people who’ve discovered that cheap gear often ends up being expensive gear in the long run.

This is the line I recommend to 80% of spaniel owners. It transforms long line training from an endurance test into something you’ll actually enjoy doing regularly.

---

🏆 Pro Option:
Jim Hodges Biothane Training Line (15m)

JIM HODGES DOG TRAINING Gummy K9 Biothane Long Line on Amazon UK →

Right. This is the line that makes every other line feel like a compromise. It’s what the professionals use, and once you’ve tried it, going back to anything else feels a bit like trying to cut your steak with a butter knife.

Why this is the ultimate investment:

• Proper Biothane construction: This stuff is basically indestructible
• Weather-proof: Rain, mud, snow – it all just wipes off
• Temperature tested: Works in everything from heatwaves to proper British winter misery
• Zero absorption: Doesn’t get heavier when wet, doesn’t hold smells, doesn’t grow mysterious substances
• Professional grade: Used by working dog handlers who need gear that simply cannot fail

The Biothane difference (and why it’s worth the money): Picture this: it’s been pouring down, you’ve just finished a muddy training session, and everyone else is wrestling with heavy, sodden, tangled lines that’ll need a proper wash before they can be put away. You? You give yours a quick wipe with a cloth and coil it up. Done.

That alone makes it worth the extra cost for anyone who trains regularly. But there’s more – the smooth surface doesn’t catch on brambles, doesn’t pick up every stick and leaf it passes, and maintains exactly the same feel whether it’s bone dry or soaking wet.

The investment reality: Yes, it costs three or four times what a basic line costs. But here’s the thing – I’ve got clients still using Biothane lines they bought five years ago, and they look practically new. Meanwhile, those same clients have been through multiple cheaper lines that frayed, stretched, or just fell apart.

Best for: Anyone who trains seriously, works in challenging conditions, or has discovered that buying cheap often means buying twice. Also perfect for owners who just want the best available gear and don’t mind paying for it.

One warning: once you’ve used a proper Biothane line, everything else feels a bit rubbish. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

---

The Verdict: Which Long Line Should You Choose?

Product	Material	Best for	Price Guide	Durability
Church Products Standard	Webbing	Beginners/Budget	£10-£15	2-3 Years
Church Products Padded	Air Webbing	Most Owners	£20-£25	3-4 Years
Jim Hodges Biothane	Biothane	Serious Training	£40-£50	5+ Years

Our recommendation: For most spaniel owners – the ones who want to train properly without breaking the bank or turning it into some sort of equipment obsession – the Church Products Padded Air Webbing Line is spot on. It’s comfortable enough for long sessions, reliable enough to trust, and reasonably priced enough that you won’t lie awake at night if your spaniel decides to have a chew.

But if you’re training regularly, working in all weathers, or you’re just the sort of person who likes having the best kit available, the Jim Hodges Biothane Line is genuinely transformational. Yes, it costs more upfront, but it’s one of those purchases where you’ll still be pleased you bought it years later.

And for those just starting out or working with a tight budget? The Church Products Standard Line proves that good training doesn’t require expensive gear – it just requires commitment to actually using what you’ve got.

Essential Long Line Safety and Usage Tips

Proper Handling Technique

• Never wrap the line around your hand or wrist
• Use the sewn-in handle or wear gloves for extended sessions
• Let the line drag rather than holding it constantly
• Learn to “feed” line out gradually rather than releasing all at once

Maintenance for Longevity

• Standard webbing: Rinse after muddy sessions, air dry completely
• Padded lines: Hand wash occasionally with mild detergent
• Biothane: Simply wipe clean with a damp cloth
• All types: Check fittings regularly for wear or damage

When to Replace Your Line

• Visible fraying or weak spots in the material
• Damaged clips or fittings
• Lines that have stretched significantly
• Any line that’s been heavily chewed

Beyond the Basics: Advanced Long Line Training

Once you’ve mastered basic recall with your long line, these advanced techniques will take your training to the next level:

Directional Recalls: Teaching your spaniel to come to your left or right side on command Emergency Stops: Building an instant “freeze” response for safety situations
Distance Stays: Using the line to proof stay commands at increasing distances Distraction Training: Systematic exposure to triggers while maintaining control

Just Pick One (Seriously, Just Pick One)

Look, I know I’ve just given you three different options with various pros and cons, and you’re probably sitting there thinking “Great, another decision to agonise over.” Here’s the thing – they all work. The best long line for dogs is the one you’ll actually use consistently.

If money’s tight, get the standard webbing line. If you want something comfortable for regular use, go for the padded version. If you train seriously and want the ultimate in performance, invest in Biothane. But whatever you do, stop researching and just buy one.

Your spaniel’s recall training isn’t waiting for you to find the perfect piece of equipment – it’s waiting for you to start training. And you can’t start training until you’ve got a long line attached to your dog.

Choose your long line based on your reality, not your aspirations:

🥉 Church Products Standard Webbing Line → – For testing the waters without major investment
🥈 Church Products Padded Air Webbing Line → – For regular training in comfort
🏆 Jim Hodges Biothane Tracking Line → – For serious trainers who want the ultimate tool

The transformation from anxious, lead-dependent walks to confident off-lead adventures starts with your first training session. Your spaniel has been waiting to learn that freedom and connection aren’t opposites – they’re partners. But first, you need to give them the safety net that makes learning possible.

Stop reading. Pick one of the top 3 best long line for dogs and start training. Your future self (and your spaniel) will thank you.

---

Ready to put your new long line to work? Follow our complete spaniel recall training system or discover 5-minute brain games that build focus and attention for better training results.

---

Affiliate disclosure: We earn a small commission if you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps us a little to keep working on the website and providing advice, guides and reviews completely free to our beloved spaniel community.