Walking off-leash

     I agree with spiritdogs and JackieG, better safe than sorry! My 7 border collies are all very reliable off lead, but I keep them on if there is any chance of cars, people, or other dogs. The dogs get a lot of offlead time behind our home (1/4 section of field), and we often work in very isolated, rural areas so I can usually find a safe place to let them run.

     Even when working stock, I am aware of the chance that a vehicle may come down an isolated county road or turnrow, and have to be prepared to drop my dog in a heartbeat. It can be very scary sometimes when you know that your dog may need to go into the road to get around the herd to stop a run off, and the fact that most motorists drive with their heads up their butts.

I think maybe we have to differentiate between off lead walking/exercise and off lead walking in public places.

We often walk the less than a mile down to the lakeyard and stroll around the lake.  My dogs are ALWAYS leashed for walks off our property UNLESS we release them in a safely fenced area where we have permission to let them romp.  I *could* let them walk off leash, but they are still dogs at the very heart of it and like children, don't always control their impulses.

When we take the dogs off lead it's in our woods, or the fields at the station, and because of their training they always, always, always keep us in sight.  BUT, these areas are safe areas where I don't have to worry about cars, people or traffic.

No matter how well trained they are, I never for a second forget that they are dogs.  And, as I said, so long as the owner is completely and totally focused on the surroundings and the very well trained dog, why not?

glenmar

I think maybe we have to differentiate between off lead walking/exercise and off lead walking in public places.

We often walk the less than a mile down to the lakeyard and stroll around the lake.  My dogs are ALWAYS leashed for walks off our property UNLESS we release them in a safely fenced area where we have permission to let them romp.  I *could* let them walk off leash, but they are still dogs at the very heart of it and like children, don't always control their impulses.

When we take the dogs off lead it's in our woods, or the fields at the station, and because of their training they always, always, always keep us in sight.  BUT, these areas are safe areas where I don't have to worry about cars, people or traffic.

No matter how well trained they are, I never for a second forget that they are dogs.  And, as I said, so long as the owner is completely and totally focused on the surroundings and the very well trained dog, why not?

I would like to get Luke to this point, where we can go off leash in safe areas. We're never going to do it near roads, at least not by choice. I still need him to be able to do it, just in case it should ever happen. He was about 95% today dragging a long line during class. I was blown off once, while he was eating deer poop. I still need to do some more work in low distraction places, where I will have a higher value reward than what the environment has to offer. He was able to go from racing ahead of me to racing back to me, even when he was playing with another dog. I didn't even bother to call him though when he was running around with a ball. That's something I wouldn't let him go with, and I think if I were going to let him off leash, I would definitely have the kong squeaker ball, or a cuz. Those seem to be his highest value rewards. 

I guess the thing is for me is knowing that I could, and probably without issue.  But,there remains in the dark shadows of my mind the fact that they are STILL first and always, dogs.

glenmar

I guess the thing is for me is knowing that I could, and probably without issue.  But,there remains in the dark shadows of my mind the fact that they are STILL first and always, dogs.

Exactly how I feel. I need to know that I could, but I don't ever need to test it. He'll always be a dog, and I'll always be a human. Either of us can make a mistake. The sight of my dog being hit by a car will always remain in my mind. I made a mistake and didn't latch the gate when I went out. I could just as easily sneeze, and miss him bolting off into the road.