When off lead when it's your first dog?

[Goingtobeawesome]

She is only four months and I'm in no hurry but it needs to be what is best for her.

In the garden she is off lead, except when it's dark and if she has been particularly naughty had a dead mouse this week, thanks cat and it is secure and 25m by 20m.

There is a huge meadow where we sometimes have a walk but I'm not sure if it is secure and there are lots of places she could hide or get lost.

Her recall is not 100% and I wouldn't expect it to be given she's only young but if I lost her....

Her recall is brilliant. The issue is she'll love where we take her and everyone loses will power when presented with a cream cake!
We've been doing recall since day one. Hence her being good. It's just not been tested outside of home and garden, except once last weekend when dh was four metres away.

Our pup was let off the lead the first day we could take her for a walk after her vaccinations, so 12 weeks.
We went to a quiet beach where there was no one about, nothing much to look at except sand, no real distractions. Two of us present, one of us held the lead while the other walked a few steps away then called the puppy and clapped hands against knees, the other then let go of the lead (without removing it completely so there was always something to grab hold of if necessary). We gradually increased the distance between us.

We've kept working the same way, at the beach or the park or whatever. If there are lots of other dogs about we're a bit more cautious but our pup isn't massively adventurous so doesn't like to stray too far from us anyway.

I look at the puppy the same way as a baby; If someone told you to shout at a baby or hit their nose you wouldn't do it so why do it to a baby dog?
And also like a baby: people will give you heaps of 'advice' whether you want it or not! Instinct and gut feelings count for a lot I think, your friend might know her dog but no one will know your dog like you do.

Thank you. I'm feeling much happier now I've decided to trust in my own decisions. Awesomedog and I have had a lovely day today playing fetch loads, cuddles, a little walk and I'm proud she follows her commands. Thursday is the day...

We let our puppy off lead at 4 months in a country park which has mainly fenced fields so fairly safe. We play 'come' running between 2 people or DS runs away to encourage Dpup to chase him. Dpup will run ahead a bit but always turns to check we are there. We were told that you should let your puppy off lead by 5 months as they are less independent. Actually our dog is better behaved around other dogs when off lead as he is always submissive to them off lead but a lot more exitable when he spots other dogs on his daily round the block walks.

Another vote for 'total recall' especially as you have a gundog breed. I know you say you are already doing it, but she builds everything up in steps so that you will be able to call away from distractions which is really important. This is my 4th dog and it still gave me loads of new ideas!

Don't let her off for a couple more days - get the book, digest it and find out what food she values enough to give up sticks and leaves for. Buy a long line and harness too. I let mine trail on the ground the first few times I let my puppy off (at 13 weeks) and it really took the anxiety away.

If you can find an enclosed space that's helpful too, then if the worst happens and he gets scared and runs off, you know where he is.

With puppy classes, most will let you sit in and watch before you start going. Try the ones you know of and go with your gut.

You sound as if you're doing every absolutely fine. Just one point, you might be aware of this so apologies if you are, but if she run away a bit don't chase her, she'll think it's a great game and run even faster. Just entice her back with the tasty treats.

And ditch the milk in her food, she doesn't need it and it could cause runny poos. If you want to moisten her food just add some warm water or something like chicken broth but nothing with salt.

I don't put milk in her food. The milk is in the bonio biscuits.

I'm so proud of her. She was in the garden and I was watching from the door. She did her wee then went a found a big twig. I moved out of sight but I should see her, called her and she immediately dropped the twig and came in. I know that might not happen while out but these last few days she has been brilliant with coming every time I ask her too.

Where we plan to go is huge but she can't get out and I'll have dh with me. I wouldn't do it alone.

Oh sorry about the milk, the way I read it I thought you added it.

Well, sounds like she's getting to know you and what you want. It is lovely when they get what you're trying teach them. I used to get so proud of my dog when I saw her making progress, still do when she's learned something new.

A well trained dog is a lovely creature, you'll get so much pleasure out of her :). Getting my dog was one of the best things I've ever done.

She sounds as if she is doing really well! With recall, if she gets the idea that you only call her to stop her doing something fun, then she won't want to come back. Always have some really yummy treats with you, she is a retriever so food is always good. Tiny bits of cheese, liver cake, garlic sausage all good. She's got a fantastic stick? You've got a better game! Make it worth while to return to you and she will soon learn. somewhere quiet away from roads and livestock is ideal.

A good training class is vital imho. I have taken all my dogs to "school" and it really helps. Look for a class that does positive reinforcement (rewarded behaviour is repeated behaviour) and avoid one's that talk about dominance, pack theory and punishments. Don't be afraid to go and look, go to a class to see if it suits you and not go back if it doesn't. With my Jess I stayed at the second class I tried, and ended up taking my oldie Goldie as well as it was great fun. As well as basic training, we went on to simple agility, lots of fun activities and tried "dancing " to music. We were pretty rubbish at that to be fair, but it's fun!

PisDOfly, no need for apologies. I appreciate your comments as it could well have been we were doing something wrong and given we were told the wrong thing to do by the breeder we are happy to learn from anyone willing to help.

I think we will try some classes. It's been hard these last few weeks to try and go as we've been poorly or else the children have needed us.

She's adorable. But can't understand the people who don't want to stop what they ar doing to come and meet her..

Forgot to say, she does have different treats she loves but while I'd love to give her fun things I thought she was too young for human food.

She should be okay with things like cheese and chicken but keep the pieces small, introduce them slowly so you know what causes it if something upsets her tummy. My trainer also suggested ham and things like seafood sticks but my dog wouldn't touch them, I don't like them either. :)

I found dried chicken liver, made by Thrive' really helped my dog with recall, most dog love it, but, that has to be given very sparingly as it can upset them. Think it's probably one of those things that you bring in when you need the 'big guns'.

I've tested her today. I normally always go in the garden with her but today I've let her out and watched from the door. She looks sometimes. I then decided to go in the next room and watch her from the window so I could see her better. She looked for me at the door . I called her and she looked and then had another sniff about. The test was when I saw her with a big twig on two occasions. I called her, first time she came straight in, the second time I called her and she carried on chewing so I shook the treat bag and called again. She came straight in. Does that sound as good as I think it does in relation to training and bonding?

Well, she's learning what the treats mean and that you've got them so yes, sounds like you're getting there.

I can't believe how well she's doing. It's like we've gone on to the next page. She's my little buddy .

That's lovely. It'll just get better and better.

This morning I took awesomedog for a walk. I really needed to post a card and she wasn't keen as wanted to play in her bit. Almost to the post box and she sees her doggy friend🐶. We end up walking with him and she is very happy and confident and we get to the big field. Nice little walk and sniff and then we see daddy coming. My friend encouraged me so I let go of the lead and daddy called her. She ran straight to daddy and got a big cuddle and fuss. I called her and she ran straight to me but I couldn't catch her. She ran back to daddy though. She had three runs and loved it. Perfectly happy to walk home on the lead.

This afternoon we went out again but just to the end of the road then she wanted to come home .

AwesomeDog just had some off lead time. She played with two bichon crosses and had a great time. She went to daddy on demand every time and played nicely. She also played on lead with some big setters. She's sleeping now .

Sounds like you're heading in the right direction OP.

I've only skim read the thread so not sure if anyone answered your Q on what to do if she doesn't recall when off lead. In my experience, walking or running in the opposite direction (depending on how distracted ddog is) has always had the desired effect. I tend to give the recall command whilst doing it (we have both verbal and non-verbal commands due to a lot of seaside field walks where the wind can be really high & loud).

She has had a lovely play with her doggy friend and two new ones. So proud of her. She was the youngest dog there and the only one who would come to us when called. She's had lunch and is having a sleep now.

Before letting her loose in an open area, by that I mean a cycle track, open field, anywhere with any kind of risk, teach her Stop as well. Saved my dog's life once. We were out and I didn't know the area and didn't realise there was a road there on the other side of the hedge and she shot off and ended up on a crossing and I just screamed at her to stop and luckily she froze where she was. If she had tried to come back to me, she would have been run over. It was totally my fault, I should have been paying attention to where we were and how far ahead she was but got distracted. The book is right about teaching Leave too since she might not be in grabbing distance when she picks something up.

I normally use kids play parks late in the evening when teaching recall as they are closed in and dog can't escape. Just make sure not to leave any mess behind, not even wees.

We've already told her stop, wait and leave. I can put a treat in the floor and she won't take it until I say okay.

Yesterday she ran towards a small dog she wanted to play with but I knew the owner didn't want that so we called her back and she came straight away .

Don't leave wees?!

Not in a kids play area no. Bottle of water just to wash them away. If I'm somewhere I'm not strictly supposed to be I make sure not to leave any mess at all.

I wouldn't take her to a kids park anyway.