It is nearly every dog owners dream to let their dog run freely without being tied down, fenced in or stuck on a leash next to their owner. All dogs love to run, and most dogs need it to really burn off their pint up energy. All of that energy builds and builds until it is expressed in behavioral problems like destructive chewing or excessive barking. Running freely can bring a dog great joy and make him a tired, yet calm and relaxed pet at home. However, few of today’s pet dogs can safely enjoy a good off-leash run or play session simply due to a lack of training. You and your dog must be prepared and always on guard during such a risky endeavor.
Reliable Recall
No dog should ever go off leash, even in a fenced area without a solid recall. Recall is the command in which you call your dog to come to you and he does at the drop of hat. Any dog should be able to immediately stop anything he’s doing, whether it’s in mid run to catch a ball or rolling in dirt to come to you when you ask him to. This is a major safety net that any dog should be able to do, but very few actually have been trained to do.
Set backs in training a reliable recall usually fall on the shoulders of the owner who has no idea where to start. Training recall can begin with an average 6 foot leash attached to your dog, either in your living room or backyard. Just walk backwards in a cheery way calling to your dog. Encourage him to follow you, and reward him when he catches up to you. This is the first baby step in teaching him that you are the most rewarding thing to be around, even during off leash play. When it’s time to raise the criteria, investing in a long line of 15 to 20 feet can be a great help. It gives your dog the chance to make the right decision to come to you while keeping him safe from wondering.
Only when your dog is fully trustworthy on the long line can you begin trusting him without it. This means practicing a stop, down, and stay in the middle of recalls. Imagine your dog has wondered across the street or chased his ball bouncing out into the road. A car is barreling down the road towards him. If you can yell “Stop! Down!” and he automatically follows your voice commands he is safe from running into the road and getting struck by that vehicle. This is a necessity for off leash safe play.
Not All Breeds are Equal
Sometimes off leash play is just never an option for certain breeds of dogs. This is because these specific breeds were purposefully bred with a strong instinctual trait that makes them unreliable off leash, no matter how good their recall can be. Some may have the strong urge to simply run while others may be easily and quickly distracted due to an intense prey drive that can never be trained out of them. These breeds include Siberian Husky, Greyhound, and many terriers that had been bred specifically to hunt small game animals. These dogs may be seemingly reliable with extensive training, but all it takes is for them to catch sight of a squirrel and their instincts take over leaving all that training behind.
Not every individual dog of these breeds fits the mold, however. There is the occasional, rare Siberian Husky that will heel easily off leash and never stray from his owner. These are exceptions, though, and definitely not the rule! If you question your dog’s reliability off leash, just don’t do it!
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