Does your dog do better on or off leash?

    • Gold Top Dog

    Does your dog do better on or off leash?

    Example: Tootsie and I were walking today on the track ( off leash) and there were people running, biking, playing catch, etc... and she walked at a perfect heel for 4 laps. I was very impressed. What are everyone elses experience and opinions?

    • Gold Top Dog

    The dog I had before Max would walk right beside me off leash.  If he got a little bit ahead, he'd always stop and look back to make sure I was right behind him.  Max??  If he spotted a squirrel, I'd be chasing him into the next county. I don't feel comfortable letting him  off leash unless we're someplace totally confined by a fence.

    Joyce

    • Bronze

    Julia does better off leash then on.  She is really good about responding to our voices and staying right up against our legs.  On leash is is very hyper and pulls like crazy.  We don't trust Lucy off leash at all.  She has selective hearing!

    • Gold Top Dog

    Luke = off leash

    Kaiser = on leash

    Big Smile

    Kaiser, at only 6 months, sometimes still likes to test his independence -- His recall is not yet to be trusted in high-risk situations such as near traffic, so he goes off leash only when we have plenty of room to run without coming near a road.  Thankfully we have plenty of room/opportunity to do that so that he can get his zoomies out.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Gracie, my Golden walks off leash most of the time, unless we're in a park or public area.  She always stays right with me and will stay next to my leg when instructed.  She does equally as well on leash as off. 

     The three Westies are on leash unless they are in a fenced area.  They will stay with me unless they see a squirrel or rabbit.  Then off they go as fast as their little legs will go.  I just don't want to take a chance that they won't hear me call come, because they are so focused on the squirrel or whatever they are chasing. 

    • Gold Top Dog

     Misha used to be trustworthy off leash. Then he became a teenager and it's anyone's best bet as to if/when he'll listen to you or go frolicking in the woods. I used to be able to keep him on the path with voice control, and tell him to "leave it" and he'd ignore a cyclist. But... alas... he has lost his mind.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Apollo's very good off leash, and he's OK too on leash. When he meets a dog he's much better off leash.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Kaiser is way better off leash, it's weird.

    Wyatt doesn't get to be off leash unless i'm in a fenced area. He will go after things and then  goes deaf when i call for him. 

    • Gold Top Dog

     Teddi = Off Leash. He listens very well, actually alot better than on leash.

    Maggie = On Leash unless in a fenced in area. She picks up on scents and will take off after it, and she has selective hearing and will not listen to me at all when I call for her.

    • Bronze

    Amelia will not even go out the door if not on a leash.  She has always been that way.  The issue has never been forced with her.  Now that she does not have a fenced in yard it would not be allowed anyway.  If I ever get a fence put up, she will hestitantly go out, but won't go far from my side.  I am hoping that since she has made so much improvement in the last 4 1/2 months that this will change whenever I get a fence.  We will see.

    Emma prefers no leash, but that is not possible at this time.

    • Gold Top Dog

     Honor does well off-leash providing there are no animals/people running around...which means she's not off-leash except in a secure area.   The hardest part about it is that Honor actually has an EXCELLENT recall, easily one of the best in the dog park that we go to.  But its in the breed's makeup to run-run-run, and I'm unwilling to take the chance of her getting too distracted and running off.

    As for Nike, he's never been on a leash at all until 2 days ago, so we have a lot of work to do with that. Smile

     

    • Gold Top Dog

    Emma is great, either way. She really only wears a leash for the look of it. I don't have to worry much about her.

     

    The puppy.... is a puppy. She's got a good recall, but no heeling. She stays close enough that she's fine in a wide, open area, but I wouldn't be able to let her off on a sidewalk or anything like that.