To train my dog off leash in our back alley?

[ShinyAndNew]

I couldn't decide whether to put this in pets or not. But I want unbiased advice.

Last night, our dog escaped without our knowledge. Our back gate is around a corner and is always wedged shut. It is broken so we cannot lock it properly. But it's never normally a problem as the dog cannot open it. You need to go into the alley and kick it in from the outside to get it to open. However, fixing the gate has been bumped to the top of our to do list and will most likely be done tomorrow. In the meantime I am checking the gate is wedged properly before letting the dog out there and checking he hasn't escaped regularly while he is out there.

Obviously it is unreasonable that he was out in the alley unattended. I can only think that some one has slipped on the ice and tried to 'save themselves' on our backgate iyswim.

Anyhow, my question is...as he couldn't get out of the alley gates, and was still in the alley having a joyous time, when I went upstairs and noticed through the window that the gate was open.

So would it BU if I trained him recall in the alley, sans leash. Obviously I would be there with him. And he would be releashed if anyone came into the alley. He is not an aggressive dog, but he is 'jumpy'. The alley is very quiet. People are rarely out there. No children play out there.

As long as you're not bothering anyone else I don't see a problem. I guess it depends where the dog could end up if it decided to do a runner (as my dog does frequently, much to my annoyance!). If it could end up on a main road or anywhere where it could put itself or anyone else in danger, then I'd probably be inclined to find somewhere safer.

No it couldn't get past the gates. It would be stuck in the alley. Which is why I thought it might be an idea.

Go for it then.

you could put him on a tracking lead if it would make you feel happier, then you could reel him in if necessary

Yes I have been looking around for those. I might try the pet shop later today. Atm peoples bins are out there, so people are going to be in and out, so I'd be waiting untill tonight anyway.

I'm not sure - what do you mean he's jumpy? If you're still at the training recall stage then it might take you a while to get him back on the leash.

Does he jump up at people?

I don't know if he jumps up at people off leash. He's never been off leash. He now has little interest in attempting to jump at people while he is on his lead as he quickly learnt that this only results in him having a short lead. But he is a very over friendly dog and jumps at people who enter my house. He does however stop as soon as I ask him to and while his recall is truely awfull his down command is pretty god and his sit command is perfect.

So it would take me a while to get him back in his lead yes, but I am confident I coud stop him jumping instantly should he try it.

I was only thinking of doing it late at night, when there is likely to be no one at all out there. As it is I have only ever seen my next door neighbour out there and he knows my dog.

But if I BU to train him this way, I'll just bu one of those tracker leads and/or wait untill we get the trainer out to him. We are making an appointment with him as soon as the ice melts to deal mainly with recall and the in house jumpiness.

It sounds like you're being responsible by training him- as long as you're there it's a good idea. However if anyone objects whom you come accross whilst training him I'd knock it on the head

a bit of washing line can do the same job (securely fastened to dog's collar of course, perhaps with 'carbine' hooks?)

as a precursor to this you could start by conditioning him to respond instantly when he hears his name

so 'rover?' and the moment he looks at you pop a sweetie in his mouth (bit of kibble?)

you can't really overdo this stage

Shiney - sounds like a great plan to me and hardly likely to bother anyone... I'd go for it!

Mitchy he already does that. His in house recall is pretty good, but not perfect if he is distracted by something i.e. the cat or some he is currently slobbering all over. However if you shout 'down' to him, or sit, he will stop jumping at the person. He just won't return to you. Instead he will sit at the guests feet slobbering all over their shoes instead

I think I will tie some rope/washing line to his collar, just incase we do happen accross any unsuspecting people in the alley.

I was planning on using hotdogs to reward his return to me.

yum

cheese can work wonders too

good luck!