Letting Max off the lead

[SWEETBREW]

I too have had a "perfect recall" dog run after years of training. Sometimes instinct just takes over. Thank god in my case he was found and brought home, but since then my dogs are only left off leash in controlled areas it is a very scarey thing to have "lost" your new best friend. With my new pup I have been trying to work recall with a 20 foot lead but he wants to be by myside all the time or playing with the long lead for now, so it will take longer than expected, he is almost 6 months now, and I know eventually he will probably test wings on that lead and we will practice recall then. I will not set him up to fail.

[steph_21]

Thanks for all your advice , I meant to write that the nearby field that is enclosed, it has fences all around it with a gate, silly me lol, my German Sheperd x Rottweiler was only 7 months when I left her off the lead in a nearby field which wasn't enclosed and i was really surprised that she stayed by me, although she did run on a bit, but she would always look back to see if i was still there, but she did used to follow me everywhere and would cry if i went out of the room, which she still does now

I will take a long lead with me and try it, although he does come to me when i call him sometimes, depends if he wants to come to me or not.

[BullDaisymom]

I will take a long lead with me and try it, although he does come to me when i call him sometimes, depends if he wants to come to me or not.


That's the point we are making...."sometimes he comes". It should be ALWAYS. Do alot more training before you attempt off lead. He should be safe and in a controlled place to do this. Being still young, they will try to test the "waters" when you least expect it. It may be the one and only time he gets the chance....by then it's to late. Good luck and keep training.

[FeralAhriman]

About off-leads near the road, I definitely wouldn't do it. In the city I always keep Ahriman on a leash, doesn't matter that he sticks by my heel most of the time I keep between him and the road when we're walking in the city. It's only in gated parks and on the trail I let him off lease (but not so much the mountains or trails anymore since the cougars and coyotes are coming down early due to the lovely weather we've been having. He's too small for either of the animals! =|)

[myst]

I am so lucky as I have a field to run my dogs in. As I posted earlier they are off lead. Zeke more than Molly as Zeke does not run off. Molly will (she is a story unto herself). I do keep an eye out for anyone else that may come to enjoy the field..mostly as Molly is dog agressive.
but the OP was speaking of a field not a place near streets and such. I think it is great to be able ot let them off lead.

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by steph_21

Thanks for all your advice , I meant to write that the nearby field that is enclosed, it has fences all around it with a gate, silly me lol, my German Sheperd x Rottweiler was only 7 months when I left her off the lead in a nearby field which wasn't enclosed and i was really surprised that she stayed by me, although she did run on a bit, but she would always look back to see if i was still there, but she did used to follow me everywhere and would cry if i went out of the room, which she still does now

I will take a long lead with me and try it, although he does come to me when i call him sometimes, depends if he wants to come to me or not.

And this is the reason for the line!

It does your training no good to call a pup to you off lead if he hasn't learned the command in the first place.

As pointed out earlier, dogs don't generalize learning the way humans do. So...... if your pup has a recall at home, it doesn't mean he has one anywhere else - especially with tantalizing smellsand sounds, birds flushing from the grass, and small furry woodland animals poking around... so, using this time in the field is a fantastic opportunity to practice recalls in a new environment. Make a game of it.

Others have mentioned setting the pup up for success.... a very important point.

It's much better to be able to reward a pup for a job well done, than imprint a pup unwittingly into loving the 'chase me' game.

In a fenced field, the pup should be safe - however, if the pup is far away from you, do not give the pup your 'formal, must obey, drop everything and get to me now' recall command. Use a 'throw away' command instead - as you don't want the pup unlearning the things you've worked hard to establish up to this point.

Have fun.