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ManTrailing and Tracking Lines

The inevitable FAQ

 

My buddy uses a rope. What's wrong with that?

Absolutely nothing... if your only criteria is cheap. I do not like rope lines for a dog. Personal preference.

You can get synthetic ropes that are strong and have a decent feel, and you can DIY (do it yourself).

But...     Rope tangles easily. Rope knots. Rope snags. Rope frays. Didja ever get a rope burn? Ouch-dam!

Did I say that rope picks up blackberry briers, thorns, needles, and all sorts of sharp little nastys and can hold them for when you take your gloves off?

Stay away from cotton. Cotton rots... quick. Cotton rope is not strong. It is not durable. It does not  keep a good feel.

 the list goes on.

 

What's wrong with leather?

Absolutely nothing! Leather is a favorite lead material. It feels good in the hand, and can be supple and strong if well cared for.

$$$   High quality leather is relatively expensive. If properly cared for, it can last a long,long time. If not given the proper care, it can be garbage in a few weeks or months.

Brown . You may have noticed that leather tends to come mostly in shades of brown. Light brown, dark brown, medium brown... drop that sucker on the ground in the woods and you may never find it again.

Edible   (Some) Dogs like to chew leather (damn!), and can turn a 20'-30' longline into leash length chunks in less time than it takes to tell about it. They can turn a leash into puppy poo pretty quick, too.

Performance  Leather feels and performs great when it's new and dry and well conditioned, but can give problems when old and wet and in poor condition. Leather absorbs water. Leather gets stiff when dry. Mold and and mildew are not your friend. If you put a leather lead away wet, mold can attack and seriously weaken it. Leather needs some care to keep it supple and strong and to avoid the possibility of having a cracked, stiff, and weakened tool that will fail when you need it most, and can afford equipment failure least.

 

What about nylon webbing?

Nylon webbing is really pretty good stuff. It's easy to sew. It comes in very pretty colors. It's strong. It's relatively inexpensive. It's washable (that's nice!), it's got a decent feel, and comes in various widths.

Durability. Nylon is somewhat prone to wear. Exposure to sharp edges, constant bending, and prolonged use can and will fray your lead.Examine your nylon leads occasionally. If it frays, it weakens. Replace it.

Nylon fades and degrades in sunlight. Not rapidly, but it does. As it degrades, it weakens. Replace it.

 

OK, so what about Biothane?

Biothane is a trade marked patented artificial material with the feel (and look) of leather, but without some of the problems associated with leather.

Biothane is strong, durable, and pliable. It comes in various widths, thicknesses, and colors. It is low maintenance (I personally like that). When it gets wet, it dries with no ill effects. If it gets muddy or pooped-on or pee-ed on, simply wash it with soap and water and wipe it dry. Want to disinfect it? Wipe it with diluted Clorox  solution (rinse it well, as Clorox is not particularly good for you or your dog. It's just better than the microorganisms that might be there. Also, Clorox is alkaline and gives almost anything a slick or slippery feel - not good.) Biothane leads don't get snagged on the briars and brambles we have here, and they don't tend to tangle as badly as rope.

Tha folks at the manufacturing plant tell be that it gets brittle at -56 Degrees Farenheit. Thats -49 Celsius, and that in flippin' COLD. If you are out with your dog in that kind of weather, you are far more dedicated than I am. I tend grumble when we get a call out in the 20's.

Black and the brown Biothane looks like leather, and until recently they were the long line color of choice for me. I find that I like the high visibility of the bright orange stuff. A brown or black line is too easy to lose in tall grass or woods.

There is also a pimpled Biothane called SureGrip. It is thicker and has a somewhat 'rubbery' feel. It gives a much improved grip (hence the name). 

If you have a big dog who pulls hard, you might consider SureGrip. Due to its weight, I do not recommend a length of more than 15 feet (~5 m). If your trails are mostly in woods or brush, I would steer clear of Sure grip. It does not slide easily around the trees and you will spend more time untangling your line than trailing your dog.

 

What's wrong with Biothane?

So far, heres the list:

  • Its not a Do-It-Yourself product.
  • It's a bear to sew.
  • Brads and snaps work, but they severely weaken the stuff, so sewing is the best option.

Where do I get it?

I sew the stuff for friends and colleagues.

Feel free to contact me, Bud Rogers, at

K9NOZ@Yahoo.Net 

   

 

Longlines, leashes, and the occasional other

odd item in Biothane and Nylon Webbing .

Copyright 2007 by Bud Rogers