First off I do not believe in unattended dogs. I explain tethering on the ‘Create Training’ page which is basically tied to you and attended.
A tied up or fenced in dog becomes territorial if unattended. This results in a more aggressive dog. The dog does not want to be left outside, they want to be inside with you. You can train a dog to accept being left alone unattended but it does not promote the temperament I strive for in a dog- which is to be dependent on the humans and have all behaviors decided by them and trained by them.
When a dog is unattended they become masters of their domain. Imagine a dog in a fenced in yard that is teased by the neighborhood kids. They will become aggressive and could even want to bite those children. Same thing when they see a squirrel or rabbit. When you are present those behaviors can be trained to be appropriate instead of letting the dog decide how to act. Appropriate behavior is determined by you. Perhaps chasing rabbits is OK with you, perhaps not. You train as you want, not as the dog’s instinct tells it.
The short lead, used inside, is about 10 or 12 feet long. The long lead, used outside, is about 30 feet long. One end is left dangling, the other is clipped to the dog’s collar. By simply stepping on the lead you can prevent the dog from going where it is not supposed to go – outside of the yard limits, in the garden, etc. Bonus points are given if the dog is running towards somewhere off limits and you step on the lead while not facing the dog. The dog reaches the end of the lead and is knocked off it’s feet. When she looks at you she sees you aren’t even looking and doesn’t blame you- the gods made her stop.
The short lead is perfect when people come over or you want to keep the dog out of the house plants. Without searching around for the leash you are in complete control.
It is surprising how quickly the dog learns to be on the lead and seldom trips or gets tangled.