How far away do you let your dog go when off lead?

[Stackers382]

Just that really. I know it’ll be different in different situations but if you were walking through a quiet wood with no livestock, how far would you let your dog go?

Our dog is 10 months old, he used to stay within 10 feet of us-just sniffing the sides of the track ahead. He’ll now disappear into the forest, we keep walking and he’ll suddenly pop out ahead of us. He keeps his eye on us but I can’t always see him. It’s different in a park (I don’t actually let him off in parks at the moment) but this is in a forest that’s very quiet, often just 1 or 2 other dog walkers.

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

Mine can be 100 yards away. He’s absolutely no company on a walk. We live very rurally, open fields, no livestock and he’s not a chaser so it’s not a problem. His recall is really good.

He’s only a pain in the arse when he’s on the lead and we have to pass another dog. I have to constantly growl ‘Leave it! Leave it!’ at him just to vaguely keep his attention on me. Nine times out of ten he’ll still leap at the other dog just as we pass it and nearly have me over. He’s an absolute sod with other dogs, totally obsessed.

[LadyEvelynBagley]

Mine have never tended to go further than about 50m or so, and check-in with me every minute by running back to me then back off again.

Mostly their choice - though obviously the result of plenty of reinforcement (happy talking and praise) each time they do.

Plus, a tendency for me to take an unknown path or head off into the woodland or start jogging etc means they watch pretty closely to see what I'll do next.

[Pinkginhelps]

Sorry sight not site!

[Pinkginhelps]

A good habit is to hide whenever your dog is distracted. It will learn very quickly to keep checking where you are and to track you if you are out of site. Bear in mind that in the spring and early summer there are lots of young animals so either avoid woods or keep calling your dog back.

[MissDollyMix]

We have a needy spaniel so I just let her roam. She has excellent recall and is never out of control. Sometimes I turn and walk in the opposite direction when she’s not looking and I hear this thundering of paws behind me as she races to catch up and stop me escaping without her. I always carry a pocketful of biscuits. That probably helps

[Giggorata]

I also keep mine in sight in woodland, and don't go into the woods at all when pheasants etc are nesting.
I let them range quite far ahead when I am in an open space, like the riverbank. They are whistle trained, with excellent recall, but even so, I am alert for trouble and try to anticipate... they ignore cyclists for example but get too interested in other dogs, so I get them on the lead to pass by. There aren't any livestock about on this walk, either.

[PollyPolson]

Always in sight but depending on terrain that can be different distances.

They have excellent recall but for many reasons I always like to know where they are.

[Samster45]

If it’s around ours she’s allowed off. It’s open fields here and it’s fine. There’s no livestock here either.

However, if we go to the woods then she’s on lead at all times as she’s squirrel obsessed and would chase. There’s also a lot of deer and rabbits and she would literally jump off a cliff if she saw anything

[GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman]

I usually keep mine in sight in woodland but on open ground I will let them range, especially the younger one who has good recall and will come away from eg deer. The important thing is situational awareness: knowing your dog and being alert to what is going on, the walkers with a small child approaching on the other side of the valley, the fact that the cows might be out in the next field, that you're approaching the back of the playing fields and you have a dog who is a chronic ball-thief.

[okiedokieme]

Collie owner here, he constantly watches us but often is 2-300m away. He understands hand signals as well as voice commands and ignores everything around him - concentrates on his ball! They are far from typical dogs though so unless your dog is completely trained I wouldn't advise. (He's ok around animals too though I do put him on a lead as it's a legal requirement, he particularly likes watching chickens)

[vanillandhoney]

I have a beagle.

How far I let him wander depends on where we are. At the beach at 6am? Quite far as there's nowhere he can really run off to and there's rarely anyone else there. Up the woods I'm a bit more careful and keep him in sight because otherwise he could catch a scent and vanish and I'd never know where he'd gone!

Generally between 20-50m away though, but it depends on how busy the area is, if there are other dogs, the weather and whether I have to be back for a certain time or not

[Sostenueto]

My present dog great at recall but is never far from my sight as she is in love with her ball! Loves the beach and will run ahead a good distance but always checks where I am ( bit of a mummies dog). If I see other dogs I call her to me and she comes as she has had a few bad experiences with other dogs attacking her or chasing her.. Without excellent recall I would not let her off lead.

[GeraltOfRivia]

Mine's off lead most walks as he needs to be able to look about. He likes to mooch ahead but constantly goes back and forth so I can see him and is rarely out of sight. He is 14 months and recall is improving all the time. I can trust him not to jump up these days and m, unless people have food, he's more interested in sniffing grass and trees.

I do only walk him in the local dog park or nearby woods and trails. I'd never let him off in the "people park" where everyone picnics. That would be a disaster, he'd eat everything. We're working on that!

[StillMedusa]

Mine's off lead in our local country park or woods; we both know the exits and pretty much every hunting spot (she only ever catches shrews and then has no idea what to do with them so I take them and let them scamper away!) Recalls to my whistling, but can take a minute or two to return. I can usually hear her in the bushes as her tag jingles! She's 13m old.

I clip her on if another dog approaches on a lead or I don't know them.
I do have a tracker on her harness..just in case!

I can't imagine keeping my dog on a lead all the time.. her joy is in running free and mine is in seeing her gallop and race and snuffle freely!

[Ylvamoon]

mine really just trott a few steps in front or behind me... ok, sometimes they get distracted and fall further behind or run ahead to say hallo to an other dog. But they soon catch up and are back in 'formation"!
... Ahh the joys of companion breeds, no need to train this kind of behaviour either!

[Honeyroar]

I only let them run ahead when I can see them and see what’s coming/ ie, bikes, horses other dogs etc. Their recall is mostly good, but I think it’s a bit rude to let them run ahead where I can’t see them, sometimes people are scared or their dogs are worried by off lead dogs. I’ve had nervous/reactive dogs before, I guess I’m just wary. They still get plenty of hurtling around when it’s clear.

[dogwithmohican]

My last dog had 99% recall (deer were a weakness) and I would let her go out of sight and some considerable distance safe in the knowledge that she would return immediately when called. She would also stay at heel if asked. Current dog has selective deafness so I keep him in sight and put him on the lead if I see dogs or people approaching.

[BurtsBeesKnees]

I have a border terrier and if she gets a scent if something she's off. I live in a very rural area with little farm land so I can let her go without worrying about farm stock, land or roads. But she does worry me sometimes but so far has always popped up next to me, so she obviously knows where I am. I'm thinking about a tracker onto a collar, so if she does go missing I know where she is. But I've heard horror stories about terriers getting their collars stuck etc and owners finding dead dogs.

[HogDogKetchup]

Unless you have ample land it’s very cruel to keep a working breed on a lead. Everyone should be able to understand this more after lockdown. Besides, OP wasn’t asking for a judgment but opinions of people who are like minded.

[Pipandmum]

One of my dogs is not trustworthy - he'll always come back but after he's run after any other dogs, jumped all over the owners and kids. My other dog is very obedient and in 8 years she has never not come when called, and is hesitant when approaching others. First dog is on lead unless I'm on my own (he loves his ball). Second dog is off all the time when not on the street. But she never goes far away.
If you are confident in your dogs recall and behaviour around wildlife/people fine. If you are near farm animsls always keep your dog on a lead - you do not know how they will react to its presence.

[loopylindazdaughter]

@Disfordarkchocolate totoally diagree, a dog gets more exercise off lead, it builds trust between you both and allows the dogs to learn trust and relax on a walk.

My dog can be abit shouty on a lead, he seems to be super protective when on it. Off he just leads the way, sniffs around and tends to have a lovely time. Of course recall needs to be excellent

[AmberRoseGold]

My 10 mo lab seems to have zero interest in chasing any wild animals. Will return and check in with me on walks every couple of minutes but I do now let her go out of my sight. But she will return upon my whistle. Plus I am currently trying to train her to stop to a different whistle pattern using a ball. And she is so keen on the ball that she doesn’t want to stray far from it atm.
But if we are near children - not mine- or a dog on a lead I will have her to heel or on the lead. She is behaving really well atm and I feel like we are finally benefiting from all the training slog! Lovely to feel proud of her (PFD)

[HogDogKetchup]

Spaniel too and he’s extremely needy and loyal! He disappears into hedges and bushes and pops out from a totally different direction than you’d expect. I feel totally relaxed about it. If I whistle he’s by my side.

[DramaAlpaca]

I do exactly as @SlightyJaded does, also with a spaniel. He has excellent recall, whatever he's doing it only takes one whistle and he's by my side in an instant. There are lots of places for safe off lead walking where we are.

Our other spaniel, however, has always had to be kept on a lead or she'd be three fields away before I could stop her. Now she's older she can be let off after a few miles when she's starting to get tired, and she's grateful to be recalled because it might mean we are going home Also, if she's off lead when she's still feeling frisky she encourages the other dog to forget all about his excellent recall and he listens to her, rather than us. So on the lead it has to be, most of the time.

It's funny how some dogs have brilliant recall and others don't. Both of ours were trained the same way by DH who's an experienced working spaniel owner, but one always wants to please and the other is a feisty wee thing.

[DeborahAnnabelToo]

I've been wondering about this. I get edgy if our dog is out of sight but dh doesn't seem fussed. Her recall is reasonable but she loves to thunder through the undergrowth. Is it OK if your dog goes feral (without killing wildlife etc) for a few minutes?