"Never to be trusted off-leash...."

In Texas, there is a law that states that all domestic animals will be contained, whether that be leash, fence, remote collar, or voice command. But even K-9's are kept on leash unless in active pursuit and they are some of the most highly trained dogs.

ron2

Snownose once shared a video of her recall with her Husky mix, Ronin. There was the slightest hesitation on close approach and someone thought that was a broken recall. No, for a Husky, that was outstanding recall. And it is possible to have some recall, it's possible to win off-leash obedience awards involving distractions and obedience. And that one moment, when you aren't "working" for the title or the next event, zoom, see ya ...

Yes, there was a slight hesitation at close approach.......just to point out that I was standing between a 6' privacy fence and a car....I really don't think that any dog would be charging at full speed towards an owner in a small area......but, I pretty much trust him....he even runs with us when we go in the woods on foot or when we are on a four wheeler......

I wouldn't trust Max off leash except at the dog park where I know he's fenced in and can't actually get anywhere.  He likes to stand in the doorway and watch while we're bringing groceries in or unloading other stuff from the car and he's very good about "staying" ... but I have to keep reminding him every couple of minutes. I think if I let him off leash in the park he'd be off after another dog, a cat or a squirrel in a tree in a heartbeat and he'd probably be in the next county before I caught up with him.

Joyce

corgipower

I think "never to be trusted off-leash" is a good rule of thumb for almost all dogs. Any dog can decide to go chase something, any dog can decide at one time or another to not recall. That's not to say that they can't be trained to do off leash obedience, but off leash obedience for brief periods of time is much different from off leash free play. Even my best trained dog, who is titled in obedience with scores consistently in the 190's has been known to go deaf under some conditions.

I don't know that this is true. I think most people don't proof sufficiently to make sure their dog *CAN* be reliable off leash. For most people, it's just not worth it. I think it is, so I do proof my dogs to that level. Indy is at that level- at age 6. Mal is not tthere yet- he's 2. His recall is very, very good- but his offleash heeling still needs work.

I had a big long post about the development of sighthounds and northern breeds but the internet ate it and I'm too annoyed to retype the whole thing again. :P      

 If I'm out in the middle of nowhere with nothing around but trees and fields, I can let the Beast go.  He won't come back until he's good and ready, but its about the only time I can be sure he won't get into trouble.  He keeps me in his sight and I don't fear that he would ever leave me, I baby him too much and he's a softer sort of Husky than some.  He's a big momma's boy.  But, that doesn't mean he's all ears when we go out.  We have worked for his entire life on his recall.  He is 100% on his longline.  He KNOWS what come means.  If he can trick his remote collar he does and then that is ineffective until he comes back on his own and I can reset it, so we don't even use that anymore(until I get a better one anyway)  I'll also note that before he was about 16 months old he had a better recall than any one of the labs at the park we went to.  He came to me everysingle time without fail.  And then one day, it was gone.  Just like that.  He hit puberty I guess.

Oh and like someone else mentioned, other people are often used in the capture of the Beast when he does get loose.  He will go to strangers, but only once.  

I think the "never be trusted..." rule does apply to certain breeds, but only as far as a guideline for one's expectations.  One cannot expect a more primitive breed, who has selectively been bred to be a more independent worker and thinker, to be as easy to train off lead than a breed like a German Shepherd, which has been selectively bred to be biddable and work closely with a single handler.  That doesn't mean a dog of any breed can't be trained off leash.  Snownose has huskies and you can see them in pictures off leash.  I have seen Akitas and other such dogs off leash.

Personally, I never trust anything 100%, dogs or otherwise.  I allow Kenya off leash in many situations, but I can't ever trust her 100%.  Likewise, I will ride in the car with my husband driving, but can I 100% guarantee he won't accidentally run a red light or stop sign?  No.  Doesn't mean I don't do it.  Very few things in life are 100%.  I go with my gut feelings and what I believe I can manage. 

Liesje

Snownose has huskies and you can see them in pictures off leash. 

You mean like this.....lol

huskymom

Oh and like someone else mentioned, other people are often used in the capture of the Beast when he does get loose.  He will go to strangers, but only once.

When I lived with my aunt for a few years, she had a husky named Selene, and Selene would take any possible opportunity to run away (which I've come to find out is a husky thing... I thought it was just a Selene thing). She was an extremely nice dog, and she always came back eventually. Then I got Cherokee. And Cherokee was not an extremely nice dog (understatement of the year!), and I don't know that she always would've come back eventually (she would now, but then? I dunno), so Selene knowing how to open the gate became a HUGE deal, but it still happened occasionally.

I knew where Cherokee was 99.9% of the time, but yeah, in that tenth of a percent, the two of them got out a couple times. One time I noticed they were gone, ran outside, and they were WAAAY up the street, so I yelled for them, and Cherokee (who was wearing a leash for some unknown, but much appreciated reason) stopped dead and looked back at me for like a tenth of a second. In the split second she was stopped, someone walking by grabbed her leash. I about had a heart attack, running up the street so sure I was about to see my dog bite this person... But she didn't. She just stood there wagging her tail. Selene was long gone...too seasoned to stop for someone yelling, too aloof to be interested in some stranger trying to catch her.. But I guess it wasn't as much fun without Cherokee, because I ran Cherokee home and then turned around to look for Selene, and she was trotting back down the road... Crazy dog.

Pwca

corgipower

I think "never to be trusted off-leash" is a good rule of thumb for almost all dogs. Any dog can decide to go chase something, any dog can decide at one time or another to not recall. That's not to say that they can't be trained to do off leash obedience, but off leash obedience for brief periods of time is much different from off leash free play. Even my best trained dog, who is titled in obedience with scores consistently in the 190's has been known to go deaf under some conditions.

 

 

I don't know that this is true. I think most people don't proof sufficiently to make sure their dog *CAN* be reliable off leash. For most people, it's just not worth it. I think it is, so I do proof my dogs to that level. Indy is at that level- at age 6. Mal is not tthere yet- he's 2. His recall is very, very good- but his offleash heeling still needs work.

 

I had a big long post about the development of sighthounds and northern breeds but the internet ate it and I'm too annoyed to retype the whole thing again. :P      

Well I know for sure that my beagle can't be trusted off leash. Ever...

If he finds a scent of another animal, it doesn't have to be a wild one, a doggy friend is enough, he loses all the connections between his nose and his brain, and there is no possible way of stopping him. He runs like wild, deaf and blind, it's like his nose and his legs are the only things working... I have given so much time and effort into teaching him to obey, but it's stronger than him... 

I love him to much so I don't want to risk... The first time he ran away following a track was when he was only 6 months old and I can assure you that it is not a nice feeling...

On the other hand, my boxer never went to school, we taught him everything without any help. I think that we've repeated "come" like 10 times and that was it. In walks he is always off leash and I don't even have to call him, he always has one eye fixed on me...

In my opinion there really are breeds that can't be trusted off leash. 

Emma is of a breed that is "not to be trusted". As an individual, though, her prey drive is pretty low, for the breed. She's a soft dog. She's a sweet dog. She's actually a dog who wants to please me (very unusual... she'll work just because). I let her off leash. I let her run free, without fences or spectators (she does it with spectators, too). Just today, we were at the beach, and she was having a blast. She sticks very close, though, and her recall is perfect. I've called her off of anything and everything (including running rabbits, on three occasions, and the neighbor's cat, on many occasions).

If I'd gotten her as an adult, I'd probably feel differently. As she is now? I trust her, as much as I'd trust any dog, to come when I call her. 

I find this discussion very interesting!

Luke, being a Lab/Shepherd, is probably one of the easier "breeds" to have off leash.  I have never once had an issue with him and he has been an off leash dog since he was a puppy.  He only wears a leash when out in public and it's required.  He has an excellent recall and, in general, just wants to stay within a certain distance of me.  He doesn't tend to go very far away.

Kiaser is four months old and because of that I can't really make a definative statement about this subject.  Everything you read online about the Klee Kai breed says that they are NOT to be trusted off leash EVER.  His breeder makes this statement on her web site many times and even recommends in her contract that the dog never be allowed to run free for their own safety.

Well, I very rarely leash Kaiser in our day-to-day life.  He has been doing exceptionally well with his recall training -- but I also have the bonus back-up of him following Luke everywhere.  If the two of them go off for a run, I need only call Luke back to me and they both come running.  Now, I don't know if this will last forever, but I definitely take advantage of it now.

I plan to continue Kaiser's training as he ages and I have faith that I will be able to train him to be an off leash dog.  Quite frankly, I don't really *want* a dog that can't be off leash ever, so I will work my butt off to make sure that he has the proper training.  This is a dog who will be in constant training, too, from now (puppy kindergarten) to his career as an agility dog.

Right now the little fart doesn't *always* let me catch him on recall, but he does come when I call him. 

I don't trust any husky off leash. Dakota had a good off leash recall until the day she realized her instincts to run. She's smart enough not to get too close to strangers when off leash too. She knows that all people will try to end her running spree.

Neiko - I trust him 100%. I've proofed him off leash a ton. Plus he's just the type of dog that wants to stay near by. I can call him off anything mid-run.

Lily - I don't trust her. I only let her off leash at the dog park (all fenced in) and out in the woods while hiking. She ranges out but not too far and always keeps me in sight. The problem with her is that she has no clue about streets and traffic - that is why I don't trust her off leash. 

 For twenty plus years I've been taking my dogs walking almost every day, off leash.  Within this time period are four dogs, the first one for 17 years and the three I have now, ages 7, 5, and 5.  We walk in the woods.  All four have pretty good recall.  I can trust one of my current three completely, the other two have a pretty good recall. For me, a life not lived for a dog (my dogs) is on a leash.  I will continue to take the very small chance that something might happen. I know I am not the norm, but twenty years with no fatalities and fulfilled dogs, I'll continue to run the risk.  I sometimes take risks myself. Gasp