Off Leash?

 Your dogs go out of sight for five minutes? I'd be scared to death! Especially if one dog had a questionable recall.....

Mine almost never go out of sight, and if they do, I call them. I'm paranoid. Ena is a target to be stolen, and Emma has a bite history.

Misha used to be allowed off leash in areas close to home and in the pasture. But he gets distracted by ... well, everything. I am terrified he will run off and get lost (not so much get hit by a car since he seems to be afraid of them). He will not come back when called once he's run off. And since he started this he has not been allowed off leash except in fenced areas. When he was off leash, he wasn't out of sight at all. I like taking him on hikes and walks, but he remains on leash for those activities. (Though my dad is buying a 15 ft lead for me to give him more roaming room, I'm not sure in a heavily wooded area that that'd be an option.) 

I think all dogs should be trained to recall to a whistle. Even if you never plan to deliberately let your dog off leash a whistle recall to guide the dog back to you can be a life-saver- dogs can hear a good whistle for miles.

I let my dogs offleash quite often but they aren't allowed to go out of sight, are expected to stay within 30 feet of me, and recall instantly or do a drop on command. A lot of people unfortunately accidently teach their dogs that the second the leash comes off the dog is "at liberty" and free to ignore the owner. "control unleashed" has some good exercises to avoid this problem, and leslie nelson's "really reliable recall" is a goldmine of useful information. and it is controversial of course but a properly used remote collar, whether it shocks, beeps, or vibrates, is a very successful way to put a life-saving good recall on a dog.

oh, just wanted to add: whether you think your dog is "safe" enough with prey animals off-leash is your choice, but the most important part of the decision: does your dog approach strange dogs that you meet and you can't stop your dog from doing so?  nothing irritates me more than people who let their off-leash dogs approach and greet other peoples off- or on- leash dogs.

It was just a gut decision for me to let Sam off leash.  He is real good with commands and wants to please so I figured he would not take off on me if off leash.  I started by letting him off leash in the school yard near us.  It is a pretty good size school yard all fenced in.  He would run from tree to tree but never just tried to take off.  He would also catch up to me if I kept walking.  We eventually just started letting him off leash on our walks which is in a wooded area.  He's not a big people dog so he has never ran up to people to sniff.  He loves other dogs though so I either leash him when I see another dog approching or now put him in a heel now that he knows it.  He does have a high prey drive and will run after a rabbit or squirrel.  I have to give the verbal command within a few steps of him taking off or else there is no stopping him.  Because of this, he is not allowed off leash near a road. 

Due to Sam's energy level I think it's a must for me to allow him to roam and chase and tucker himself out at his pace not mine.  He never goes out of my sight but does try to push the limit.  I just call him back and make him touch then he's off again.  Maggie can't be trusted yet, but I do walk her on a 20ft lead so she can roam and sniff too.  We are currently working on her recall with a whistle.  We had her offleash for a few minutes today and worked on recall.  She did real good but dont see her being an offleash dog for quite some time.

 One of the reasons Tootsie is so trustworthy off leash, is because she will approach no one, dog or human.

stardog85

I know she is highly bonded to me and DH as well as Ziva and does tend to stay close unless something catches her attention. On past off leash hikes she would chase her dog friends but would return immediately if she couldn't see or hear me (if I call her she will stay gone, but if I get quiet she comes running).

I use to do off leash walks across the street with my dogs until the area was turned into a golf course with a lake.  It was a pretty secluded area with some prey animals and occassionally there we would come across kids or another owner and his dog......ATV's for sure on the clay mountains.  The dogs would always check in with me, meaning they would walk ahead and then at certain distance, stop, and let me catch up.  If they found something interesting they would go after it.  I would keep track of them and when they realized they lost sight of me, they lost interest in what they were chasing.  I would watch them retrace their path, going back and forth searching until I would hear them whine.  Thats when I appeared and we had a great reunion.  The checking-in was then strengthened. 

We are in the middle with Coke being off leash right now.  It's to the point where we want to try, but living within the city a block from one of the busiest streets in the state, it would not be prudent to risk it here.  We take him to larger fence areas and let him off leash there so we can work on recalls.  He has gotten a lot better but will still ignore a recall under very high distraction (say...a rabbit on the other side of the fence and we are trying to call him back from 200 feet away).  I think dogs know when they are leashed, even on long lines, so I work with long drag lines AND having the dog off leash in a fenced area.  I can take Coke pretty much anywhere and have him drag a line and he won't run off, but that's not good enough for me in the long run.

Kenya has always been off leash, but I do not allow her out of my sight and she does not move within 20 feet of me or so, unless we are at a park/field where the point is playing with other dogs.  She's allowed off leash because she stays close and I can call her back if another person or dog approaches.  I don't let her wander up to strange people or dogs on her own, even if they try to call her over.

Liesje

I think dogs know when they are leashed, even on long lines

I have no doubt that mine know when I have complete control with a leash or long line; and when I don't.  Heidi's recall is excellent (now!), but making that transition from long line recalls to offleash, she definately tested the waters.  They can be quite savvy.  The only time she is off leash, however is when we are at the dog park (twice now).  I don't want the stress on myself when on walks.  Granted 99 % of our walks are on our road  Well, there is one other time I allow off leash outside the property, and that is to go across the road to the neighbors...gate is about 100 feet from mine.  Other than that, always leashed.

Buddy, is a natural heeler and a velcro dog.  I'll allow him to walk offleash sometimes, but he never goes far and only goes off for a bit of sniffing.  When he is finished...he makes his way right back to my left side.

5 mins really isn't often and I do get a bit worried, but Z does come back every time and it's not like she's sprinting away (then 5 mins could get her a lot further) - her recall isn't spotty imo, just Maggie's and she's still leashed.  Z is very appropriate with all dogs, humans and horses she meets so I don't worry at all about that aspect of off leash privilege; Maggie will avoid dogs and is good with people, horses I don't know about (on leash only right now of course, but very reliable in that sort of thing).

The longline is of limited use both due to the "leash-wise" aspect as well as the heavy brush we hike in.

After getting a tongue lashing from the people on another board I'm on, I think we're going to work more on Mag's recall before dropping the leash.  I just wish it weren't so dang hard to find a safely fenced but wooded and large area to practice and hike in.  Dog parks are out for us because Maggie is uncomfortable in confined spaces with other canines and the nearest one is still 15 miles away and charges for entry (out due to my *very* tight budget right now). 

Any tips on training a recall off prey and/or moving down or stand?
 

mudpuppy

 but the most important part of the decision: does your dog approach strange dogs that you meet and you can't stop your dog from doing so?  nothing irritates me more than people who let their off-leash dogs approach and greet other peoples off- or on- leash dogs.

Just the point I was going to make! Many dogs are leash reactive and even aggressive. A offleash dog that approaches walkers with no recall is not only rude but very unsafe. I have customers who an amazing aussie but becomes very fearful and reactive if a offleash dog approaches and it takes serious and emotional damage control to get her to relax again. Especially since they have taken a lot of years and enegy rehablitating her after being abused. And thats not even mentioning other dogs who are in training or may be aggressive. Despite their behavorial issues if thier owner is being responsible they have as much right to thr trails as everyone else.

 Maggie's leash reactive herself so I totally respect the need for space.  We rarely meet anyone on the trail, but in the past, Z hangs back unless a dog approaches her first.  I don't like dogs running up to Maggie so I'm glad Z is respectful.

 Emma's moving down was formed with a frisbee Does Maggie go nutso for any sort of toy? What I did.... was start to send her out, then ask for a command. It's a big part of *all* of our distance obedience work. I hold a toy, and either leave her in a stay and call out commands, or send her out and call them. She slowly became super reliable, with regular work. She has a fantastic, all four feet flying out from under her, moving down. She also has a great recall. I worked both out with a frisbee in my hand.

When I start to teach the puppy this stuff, it's probably going to be totally different, just because she wants to be a pain in my behind. It worked for Emma, though.