When is it time to take them off leash for trails?

darlinggrl7

I am working on loose leash training my two, and they seem to geting it pretty well, but when is the time appropriate to take them off leash on trails?

When they are on a leash they are very calm and pay lots of attention to me, but as soon as I turn them loose, (like in the back yard) they are off. Its like they're saying "WE'RE FREE!!"

When at the dog park they do their playing when it is time to go home all I have to say is 'Lets go home' or 'to the gate' and they stay with me and focused on me while we walk to the gate to get their leashes.

I'd like to take them to an open field and test out coming back to me with no distractions, but then again, that is still off leash and unfenced.

peppernaei · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 10:38 am Post subject:

I guess you have to know your dogs. Will they chase objects, people or other animals? How are their distracted recalls? What do you think would happen if you tried one off and one on for the beginning?

I like to use a long line (check cord) at first. Initially, I'd hold on to the end and then when comfortable I let the dog drag it (on a standard flat collar). Therefore you can grab it or step on it if you need to. I also like a strong whistle because I find it often gets the attention of a distracted dog better than yelling at them.

jaspersfam416 · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 10:47 am Post subject:

We just gave Jasper a chance and he did fine. We trained Jasper to come back to us and sit when we blow a whistle and he gets a very tasty jerky treat when he does. I was a nervous wreck, but it was ok and after a few days of hiking without his leash my husband and I are perfectly calm and so happy that we gave it a try. Honestly it is one of the most enjoyable things we do as a "family" and Jasper is so tired when we get home that he can hardly hold his little head up! Did I say how much I LOVE HIKING! Wink

Kiarazoom · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 8:35 am Post subject: Off leash

Hi,

New to forum Very Happy

Im not sure how old yours are but our training class had great advise and at the first class said get in a secure field and let him off now before he gets confident. It worked! Hes 15wks and although we do have to work hard to maintain his attention hes managed 1/2hr off leash with a family playing football and picknickers etc.

The first time we let him off he came back through lack of confidence, as hes confidence has grown we have had to work a little harder at keeping his attention but we always take chicken (he is only allowed chicken when off the leash) and have a toy (again that he is only allowed off leash).

The biggest issue we have is joggers/runners and he did jog off on one occassion but as he was about to go out of sight stopped and turned back, since then we have practiced getting people to jog passed while we keep his attention etc.

Guess you have to play around with what you know their 'weakness' is when off leash.

Sorry I cant do more than share my experiences as my daughter and I are first time dog/weim owners Smile

freespiritmom · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 8:40 am Post subject:

We took our Sam to a well lite park late one night there were only two others there at that time. We tried it for about 15 min the first time and gradually built up the length of time and how early we could go.

Also welcome to Kiarazoom.

DoubleTrouble · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 11:15 am Post subject:

Another thing that helped us a lot when we first brought Josie home was that we took her out with Cache. She just wanted to play with him and he is very reliable off-leash. I think he taught her a lot-- like "bye bye" means you better go! I have heard of other people borrowing a trained friend's dog to help keep your pup in line, but I think the danger is if your dog gets more interested in a bird or something.

DanniGirl · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 11:41 am Post subject:

darlinggrl7 · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 2:43 pm Post subject:

Thank you all for the tips.

Rosko · Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 8:34 pm Post subject:

Since 12 weeks Rosko has been off leash at dog parks (some here are huge canyons with miles of trails mind you).

At first he would stay within 50 feet... then 100 feet. That's about his range right now with one very major glaring exception... Beaches.

I was in SoCal for a few weeks last month with him and did the Long Beach Dog Zone (Beach) and Huntington Dog Beach (massive beach) as well as a totally unknown INCREDIBLE beach that is off leash but may not be if people knew it existed so no one talks about it apparently (not sure why I even bothered saying all that).

He was okay at LBDZ for the most part until he saw a large group of seagulls WAY down the beach (far past the cones that mark the limit) and decided to trot over there.

He was fine at HDB until he found a dog he liked and would not leave alone... following it (trying to play) for literally hundreds of yards down the beach (away from me). Ignored everything I tried calling him with (didn't bother with emergency recall as there wasn't any real threats).

The super secret beach went fine because there aren't many dogs, but he definitely had a larger range there going a few hundred feet away easily (and even climbing out on rocks at tidepools).

I have no idea why his range is so unlimited and his attention on me so lacking at the beach, but boy it is.

We also discovered a new issue at the beach (where there are no bushes or trees and it's just open sand)... Rosko likes to lift his leg on people. Well, not just any people... Hispanics. He didn't pee on any other racial group. My Mexican friends were laughing there asses off and I was completely embarassed (the Carlos Mencia jokes were flying). I have no idea how to break him of 'finding' pee spots on people. Apparently, it's quite common (aside from the racial issue) with male dogs at the beach, but none-the-less very embarassing. I guess that is for another topic though...

anne · Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 12:40 am Post subject:

So where is this super secret beach?????????????????

(And I think all of us in So Cal need to be ultra insulted that you didn't even tell us you were coming our way!)