Speling, Trixie tracking lead, 5 m

A 5 metre flat lead with a clip at one end and a padded hand loop at the other. A long line, and a good one.

Made for small to medium dogs, up to about the size of a Spaniel or a Border Collie. Anything heavier and stronger should have the wider version, since a big dog hitting the end of 5 metres puts real force on a 15 mm strap.

This is the lead for dogs who can't be off lead yet, or ever, and still deserve a proper walk. Puppies who haven't learned to come back. Dogs who lose their head at a hare. Dogs who are simply not allowed off lead where you walk. Five metres is enough to sniff, wander and make their own decisions, while you keep hold of the other end. For recall training it is the honest middle step between "on lead" and "gone", and most dogs get a lot more out of a walk this way than on a short lead.

The flat webbing lies on the ground without tangling the way rope does, and the padded loop is there for the moment they do take off. It is light enough to trail behind a small dog all afternoon and tough enough to take a proper pull.

Clip it to a harness, not a collar, because a dog at full speed on a long line stops hard. Hold the loop, never wrap the line around your hand, and let it trail rather than keeping it taut. It will come home muddy. That is what it is for.

Material: nylon webbing, padded hand loop, metal snap hook
Length: 5 m, approx. 15 mm wide
Colour: black
Size: M, for small and medium dogs