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Teaching your dog to walk on a leash is one of the most important steps in a pup’s development, but what about when they are ready for the next step? Off-leash dog training offers your dog greater freedom when out and about, allowing them to explore the world around them and have new, stimulating experiences.
Who wouldn’t want to run free through a field, hair blowing in the breeze?
However, safety is a big concern for many pet owners, and so making sure that you can properly recall your dog when they are off-leash is vital for both the safety of your dog and of others.
In this blog we are going to take an in-depth look at how to train your dog to walk off leash, what the benefits and risks are of a dog walking without their leash and how best to implement this new training into your dog’s daily routine.
Dogs are naturally curious and have a deep love of exploration and adventure; walking off-leash gives them greater freedom to meet new friends, explore different environments and run free for a while!
Off-leash walking may not be suitable for every dog, and so it is important to consider whether the benefits outweigh the risks when it comes to your individual pup. It is vital that your dog has received adequate off-leash training before they are allowed to roam free, and even then some dogs may still struggle with this type of training.
It is often found that certain breeds - for example those that are natural hunters or ratters, or breeds that may be prone to aggression - may not mesh well with off-leash training, as their instincts can take over when they smell or see something they want to chase, making recall particularly difficult. If your dog is especially anxious or doesn’t mix well with other dogs or people, it is always best to keep them on a leash when walking.
While off-leash training does have its benefits, there are also some potential risks to consider if you are thinking about walking your dog off-leash:
Even the most well-trained dogs can be prone to distraction should something exciting come their way, and so it is important to know you can effectively recall your dog in these situations. Your dog may be enticed by certain smells or the prospect of chasing another animal, which can land you and your dog in hot water if you cannot get them to come back.
Environment is a huge factor when it comes to off-leash walking, for example letting your dog walk freely around a busy city is incredibly dangerous, and could end up causing harm to your dog or others if they were to get in the way of traffic and busy roads. Some outdoor environments can also be dangerous for off-leashing, such as areas with lakes and rivers or steep drops.
Letting your dog off-leash can not only be a risk for their safety, it could also be detrimental to those around them. Not all people like dogs and could become angry or anxious if approached by an off-leash dog. If your dog got over-excited or felt threatened, they could knock someone over or bite them out of fear, and this would get them and you in considerable trouble, especially if they lashed out at a child or vulnerable person.
If conducted thoroughly and properly, off-leash training can be an effective way to offer your dog more freedom and stimulative experience when out and about.
Here are some of the most important steps to remember when training your dog to walk without their leash:
Before you even consider letting your dog walk off-leash, you must be confident that they can follow basic training commands consistently. If you want to train an off-leash dog, you must be prepared that this does come with risks and you will never be able to 100% guarantee their safety. If they can follow basic training commands, this at least adds a layer of control for you, and you know that you should be able to recall them or stop them from running off too far if needed.
Your dog should be able to ‘heel’ and be effectively recalled, especially in an emergency. They should be able to ‘drop/leave it’ without you having to repeat yourself too often, as well as be able to ‘stay’, ‘watch’ or ‘look’ at you when you need them to and get them to go to a certain place, such as their bed or other safe area.
Your dog should also be confident with loose-leash walking and be able to effectively heel and follow commands whilst out walking. Once they have mastered this, you can then begin the process of introducing off-leash training.
The foundation of any successful off-leash dog training is effective recall and ‘stay’ commands - you no longer have the safety net of being able to pull on your dog’s leash to get them out of trouble, and so you need to be sure you can effectively communicate with your dog.
‘Heel’, ‘come’ and ‘stay’ commands should be a priority; these commands allow you to recall your dog and stop them getting into dangerous situations. ‘Leave’ allows you to stop your dog getting into or pursuing things they shouldn’t, and the ‘Down’ command comes in particularly useful if your dog is approaching someone; by getting them to stop and crouch/lay down, it can make them seem less threatening and reduce the anxiety of the person or animal they were going up to.
Always begin your training indoors or in an enclosed area where your dog can’t escape and run off. It will help your dog to begin in a safe and familiar environment while they get to understand the new rules. Find somewhere quiet with minimal distraction where you can secure the foundational commands that will later benefit your pup out in the world.
Once you feel confident that your dog is consistently and effectively obeying the commands you give them, you can start challenging them by adding in a few more distractions. Perhaps rope in other family members to walk around and cause distractions or change location to somewhere still secure but a bit noisier such as a small park or garden area.
Positive reinforcement is always the best way to keep your dog receptive to training and to let them know they are doing a good job. Be sure to regularly reward your dog throughout the training process with treats and fuss to keep them interested and maintain their focus on the task at hand.
Practice makes perfect as they say, and dogs thrive off of repetition. The more you implement off-leash training into your dog’s routine, the quicker it will become natural for them; they will get to know that this is now something that they are allowed to do within the parameters of your command.
While you and your pooch grow more confident with the basics of off-leash training, here are a few things to keep in mind to include as your pup progresses:
Frequently walking your dog and changing up environments will help socialize them and get them accustomed to other people and places, helping reduce anxiety when out and about.
This is an excellent command to pull your dog’s focus back to you when you are out walking. The aim is to get your dog to ‘look’ or ‘watch’ you wherever they are, either they are close to you or have walked further away - similarly to the recall command, this stops your dog in their tracks and gets them to fully focus on you and what you want them to do next.
This is an important part of any training process, as it allows us to get to know our pet and tailor their training to their individual needs or problem areas. Once you can see where your dog may be struggling with certain commands or areas of training, you can focus on these and fix the issue.
If you are determined to teach your dog to walk off-leash but are struggling to manage the training, don’t be afraid to ask for extra assistance or guidance. Professional dog trainers, canine behavioral experts or even other friends or family members can lend a helping hand to get your dog on track.
Like with any new training routine, problems may arise that need to be dealt with, and when it comes to off-leash walking these are more often than not to do with your dog’s safety and how to minimize risk.
What should I do if my dog:
If you’ve got a chaser or avid adventurer on your hands, it is important to focus on recall and ‘leave’ commands. Many dogs will have natural instincts to pursue or chase smaller animals, and so knowing you can recall them no matter how exciting the distraction is paramount.
Just like people, our dogs have different personalities; some may be more calm, excitable or easily agitated than others, and so if you know your pup has a tendency to bound up to people or become reactive around various stimuli, you need to be confident that you can recall them or stop this behavior immediately before letting them off-leash.
At the end of the day, some pups just might not enjoy having a wider range of freedom, and may be more comfortable on a leash and safely by your side. Never force your pup to go out of their comfort zone if they are having adverse reactions to certain training practices - their comfort, safety and happiness should always be the priority.
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