Walking off-leash

Bevo, Chyna, Brinxx, & Shooter have 100% reliable recalls.  I can call them off of anything without issue & as soon as I say our recall word, they are in a dead sprint back to me.  They are rarely leashed, & when they are, their leashes are usually resting on my shoulder as opposed to being in my hand.

Schatzi is 100% reliable, but she's not as quick on her return as the other dogs.  Since she's a little slow, she is leashed when we are in public areas. 

Angel is very close to a 100% recall.  Occassionally, she has a brain fart, but they are few & far between.  I keep her leashed in public, & under my control because of these brain farts.

Then there is Brutus.  He has no recall.  Zero. Zip. Nothing. Nada.  He thinks that it's fun to turn around like he's coming back to me when I recall him, then when he's about 15 foot from me, he darts off, constantly looking back at me, taunting me, & shooting me the finger all at the same time.  Luckily for him, I love him a whole lot, so I'm ok with keeping him on leash.

 Maggie used to be allowed off leash in our unfenced front yard for potty breaks, but she went after a cat across the street about 2 weeks ago and took her time coming back (i.e. about 2-3 minutes) so she's leashed now.  She'll likely gain that freedom back after a while, but it scared the bejesus out of me.  She's usually quite velcro, but her prey drive is HIGH and for whatever reason she just has never had a truly reliable recall - she came to me at 11mo with an anti-recall (i.e. yell come and she sprinted away) so perhaps that's why, dunno.  I will likely not trust her offlead on hikes, etc. until she's too old to run fast lol.  When other dogs are off lead she's on a flexi or a 30' line.

Ziva I trust a lot.  She is off lead in the unfenced front yard, in the school field we take the dogs to play in, from my car to the training building, etc.  She will recall off most anything (birds, other dogs, people, etc.), though on the cat it took about 90 seconds and on deer it's been as much as 5 minutes when Maggie was along - we're still working toward more reliability.  I think her recall is so good because she was let off leash early on in relatively safe park land and we've reinforced checking in and recalls heavily.  She does occasionally test still, so every once in a while we go back to recall bootcamp (like Sunday ).

Kes I'm not sure about.  At agility class we're now working mostly off lead around the other dogs and he's starting to call off them, but every once in a while he gets a wild hair so I'm not ready for off lead work outside a fenced area for now.  He came to me just as tick season started and so he's not gotten the offlead time as a pup that Z got and that totally bums me out. I'm hoping the RRR video on its way will help.  In the field he's on a 30' line and his recall is quite nice, plus he's starting to check in more frequently, so I think that bodes well for the future.

I have a bit of a difficulty understanding why so many people want so badly to allow their dogs off lead.  Personally I think many people want to allow their dogs off lead for the wrong reasons.  Because they are jealous of someone else whose dog is off lead.  Because they want their dogs to enjoy the freedom of being off lead.  Dogs don't make the best decisions when it comes to their own safety and I will always advise people to err on the side of caution when it comes to off lead romps.  There are lots of things dogs would enjoy doing that are unsafe.  It's up to us humans to determine the level of "freedom" our dogs are allowed.  Those decisions should be based on reality and the dog's true level of training and reliabilty.  Maybe I've been around dogs too long and seen and heard too many times the sad regrets of people who thought they could recall their dog.

JackieG

Those decisions should be based on reality and the dog's true level of training and reliabilty.  Maybe I've been around dogs too long and seen and heard too many times the sad regrets of people who thought they could recall their dog.

Truer words were never spoken.  My dogs have near perfect recalls (they have never failed to come when called, but I call it "near" perfect to keep myself humble and not assume they always will).  However, they are only off lead in the safest possible scenarios, and even then, I am always just a tad nervous.  They are, after all, dogs.  And, their understanding of hazards is limited.  The puddle of anti-freeze, the poison mushroom, the seagull carcass loaded with bacteria, the car that suddenly appears on the mostly deserted country road, the coyote at the edge of the meadow...

JackieG

Personally I think many people want to allow their dogs off lead for the wrong reasons.  Because they are jealous of someone else whose dog is off lead.  Because they want their dogs to enjoy the freedom of being off lead.

 I wouldn't say that I have the wrong reasons for wanting Hugo to be off-leash -- I am fortunate to live in a city with lots of trails, open fields and dog parks, and I would just like to feel more comfortable letting him have more freedom, with the knowledge that he'll come back to me when I call him.  I know he's not a velcro dog and never will be (that's part of the reason we got a malamute), and I have no problem walking him on a leash, but there are times when I think it would be nice for him to be able to explore the trails, etc.  Thanks for all the tips, everyone -- I think doing some long-leash training will benefit him a lot.  And hopefully this recall class will get us on the right path.

 As a general personal policy, I don't do it. I had a dog killed by a car. I don't know if I'm gonna get over that any time. We really don't have any area unfenced that is far enough from the road to do it. In fences, Luke is pretty reliable, but still a puppy. He likes to fetch though, so that works in our favor. He'll go for a half hour running the ball back to me. If I were going to let him off leash somewhere, I would definitely have two kong squeaker balls on my person. If he hears the squeak, he comes racing for it. Pigeon is not trustworthy at all right now, or maybe. She is pretty velcro, either to a person, or she sticks with Luke.  I wouldn't let her off anywhere, and in the fence, I leave her leash trailing so she's easy to catch.

We have a smallish fenced front yard.  For real exercise, the dogs run around the unfenced back area.  Our yard is quite deep and bordered by woods on 2 sides and a gravel driveway on the 3rd.  They know their boundaries and no one has challenged them, even with deer romping around.

I do NOT take my dogs off lead for regular walks off our land despite the fact that they are reliable.  However, out of our yard?  Too much danger and the possibility that they will suddenly have the dog urges overtake the training.

Honestly, off lead in the yard is the only way the dogs can get the exercise they need.  I'm too old to run with them for long!

IMO there is off leash walking then there is off leash exercise.  I have seen (not so much now with leash laws) people walking their dogs down the sidewalk, around the block without a leash. I have to admit, I am somewhat envious at the thought of a dog being so reliable - not the least bit distracted by people, squirrels, cats and of course other dogs. I have no idea how you ever get to that level of trust. For the thousands of times the dog was perfect I would still be terrified of that one moment they decided to react unexpectedly and stepped off the curb and be hit by a car. Maybe I just paranoid.

Off leash exercise is very beneficial for most dogs but it requires a safe and sizable space. My dog is only released when I know they are far enough away from roads, railways or dangerous bodies of water and never off leash if I am not supervising - except the fenced yard. It's not just enough to know that your dog has a 100% recall. A recall may ensure your dog will not run off but it isn't much good if your dog gets injured.

I let Dahlia off leash a lot.  In our front yard (we have no back yard...lol), sometimes on the sidewalk when we meet other dogs, sometimes to run down the sidewalk to greet her "Daddy."  We've been letting her off leash almost since we first got her and discovered she's a pretty serious velcro dog.  The first time she got out of the house by accident she simply wanted to be at our side, we started to figure out that she wouldn't be a problem off leash.

She does have a great recall, but more than that, she has an instant "stop" command.  Saying "Dahlia stop" will get her to come to a fast halt.  It works great in any number of situations: chasing the ducks into the pond (I allow her to chase but don't want her going into the pond because it's icky!), chasing squirrels, wanting to rush off to another dog, or stopping when crossing the road.  If it were legal I might consider just walking her around the neighborhood off leash.  Though she tends to follow me and not sniff anything.  She's weird about that.  Off leash she'll follow behind me and I practically have to beg her to go and explore on walks.  On leash she'll walk at my side or out in front and check everything out.  It's really strange.

MalOwner

JackieG

Personally I think many people want to allow their dogs off lead for the wrong reasons.  Because they are jealous of someone else whose dog is off lead.  Because they want their dogs to enjoy the freedom of being off lead.

 I wouldn't say that I have the wrong reasons for wanting Hugo to be off-leash

I should have chosen a better word but I do think you said you were jealous of your friend's lab mix being allowed off lead freedom.  Maybe I got that wrong.

The point I was making is that I value my dog's safety over their freedom.  All it takes is a momentary distraction on the owner's part for the dog to get in trouble. It's not always that the dog can't be recalled, it's often that the recall is seconds too late. Seen it with my own eyes on more than one occasion and heard it more than I care to remember.  Those types of regrets can be heartbreaking.   All of you who feel your dogs are 100% on their recall, proof, proof and proof some more and never take your eyes off your dog when there is the slightest chance he could be hurt, killed or get lost from your sight.

denise m

  I have seen (not so much now with leash laws) people walking their dogs down the sidewalk, around the block without a leash. I have to admit, I am somewhat envious at the thought of a dog being so reliable - not the least bit distracted by people, squirrels, cats and of course other dogs. I have no idea how you ever get to that level of trust.

I walk with Bailey off leash somtimes, if we are on a back road or on trails in the woods. No, Baileys recall is not 100%. BUT, his recall has nothing to do with walking him off leash. Letting him run off leash is a different story. Walking off leash with him is different. Even though his recall isnt perfect, i am %100 confident that if i am walking with him off leash, no matter what he will not bolt off or go after anything unless i give him the "OK"(his release word) We've had squirrels and cats jump out no more than 5 feet in front of us, on back roads or trails, and most of the time he wont even pay any attention to whatever it was. Even though i trust him walking next to me off leash, i always have him on leash when its an area where there are people or cars. Not because im worried he wont listen, more worried about stupid people, cars that come out of no where that go 40 in a 25 zone (my road is treated like a racetrack even though its a residential area) and other dogs, which most of the time arnt that friendly and running loose. When he is walking off leash next to me, hes in his "working" mode, and his job is to walk next to me and ignoor everything else. When i let him sniff i have him in front of me, on leash with a harness, but when i want him to be calm and behaved, he is leashed on the collar next to me, or off leash next to me depending on the situation. His recall isnt that good because once i give him the "OK" to run around and play he turns on his selective hearing

I think you have to start at an early age when a dog is very dependent on its owners.  We let Gemma off her leash as soon as she was allowed to put her paws to the ground and she trotted along behind us, never letting us out of her sight.  We only ever let her off where it is safe and never near a road but it's an absolute delight to watch her running free.  We always keep treats in our pockets and give one to her now and again when she comes back to us but not all the time.

madmadge

I think you have to start at an early age when a dog is very dependent on its owners.

Actually, you don't.  We adopted our dog when she was 2 1/2 years old and she's awesome off leash.  To the point at which we could walk her off leash on the sidewalks right next to a busy street and she would be fine (we don't, only because it's illegal and I figure better safe than sorry).  We hike through the woods and walk around our pond and through the soccer fields at our local park with her off leash.  It's really just a matter of training, no matter what age you start at!

Actually, starting early isn't all that much of a guarentee.  As the dogs mature they get all sorts of "anti mom urges" just like human kids.

I do think you can start at any age IF you are willing to work hard, be consistent and always always ALWAYS focused 100% on the dog.

denise m

IMO there is off leash walking then there is off leash exercise.  I have seen (not so much now with leash laws) people walking their dogs down the sidewalk, around the block without a leash. I have to admit, I am somewhat envious at the thought of a dog being so reliable - not the least bit distracted by people, squirrels, cats and of course other dogs. I have no idea how you ever get to that level of trust. For the thousands of times the dog was perfect I would still be terrified of that one moment they decided to react unexpectedly and stepped off the curb and be hit by a car. Maybe I just paranoid.

Off leash exercise is very beneficial for most dogs but it requires a safe and sizable space. My dog is only released when I know they are far enough away from roads, railways or dangerous bodies of water and never off leash if I am not supervising - except the fenced yard. It's not just enough to know that your dog has a 100% recall. A recall may ensure your dog will not run off but it isn't much good if your dog gets injured.

You are not paranoid. My dogs all have about as close to 100% recall as any dogs ever get (in fact, none of them have ever failed to come once they heard me call), but, just as humans are not infallible, neither are they.  Therefore, they are off lead only in safe areas designated legally for off leash use.  I'm lucky to have two acres of my own, but if I didn't, I would drive to find suitable areas rather than take chances.  I trust my dogs, because I have put in the training to help insure their quick, reliable responses, however, there is always the niggling little voice in the back of my head that says "what if..."  Plus, when herding dogs walk with you off leash, they often "weave and gather", unless you have them in a formal heel, and what the heck is the sense of that if you are just seeking an enjoyable walk?  So, like you, I stick to places far off the beaten track, as dog safe as possible. 

Bevo, try teaching Brutus a whistle recall.  Simply, you just get a whistle, and then pair a really good food with it for about a month.  Important - during that first month's time, you don't use it to call the dog.   So, just whistle, hand him roast beef; whistle, tripe; whistle, chicken.  It becomes a conditioned stimulus.  After doing that a couple of times a day for a month, take the whistle out and blow it when your dog is preoccupied.  If he comes, he gets a jackpot of at least twenty tiny pieces of (name the cool food).  Next, for dogs that like toys, substitute a game every third or fourth time you blow the whistle.   When you get to that point, put the whistle on your key ring and use for emergencies (have a stash of cheerios or biscuits in your pocket, but for a time, carry a piece of roast beef, too, and use it every few times you call your dog.  Then, he never knows if the roast beef is coming, but will keep trying to get you to produce it by arriving at your feet when he hears his favorite signal;-)