Off-lead walking

[WhyOhWine]

There are a couple of places near us where walking dogs off lead is pretty common. Ours has good recall so we let him off lead when in these places and he loves it. most dogs I see off lead seem to stay pretty close to their owners, subject to the occasional run around with another dog.
Since ours has hit teenager age, however, when he is off lead he does not always stay particularly close to us. For example, if we are walking in a wooded area, we will be on the path and he will go off running through the trees jumping over branches etc (and probably chasing the odd squirrel) so we can't always see him. He does still come back when called although we are not always sure whether he will appear on the path in front or behind us.
We have been happy to let him do this (in areas we know are safe, e.g. he could not get out onto a road) as he really seems to be enjoying himself (and people often remark on how happy he looks), so we only call him back to check in from time to time rather than making sure he is always right by us.
However, I very rarely see other dogs doing this, so I am now wondering belatedly if we should in fact be training him to stay closer to us more constantly, e.g. by recalling him very frequently.

I have a spaniel and he loves roaming far - it’s a trait of the breed.

I tend to let him off in quiet areas where there aren’t lots of other dogs. He tends to ignore other dogs once his nose is down.

I see quite a few dogs like this when walking. Can't say they really bother me, tbh, even though mine can be reactive. But I've never known the dogs I'm thinking of to bother us. They are too busy off in the bushes having fun. I've been bothered far more by the type that are next to the owner, spot us, and then come running while the owner behind them yells into the wind.

It's not something my own dog does and I am glad of it - I would worry if he was out of sight - but we all make different choices on risk/reward.

I think your dog should always be in sight of you , I’m sure the owners of the golden retriever that harassed my on lead dog in the woods today would be amongst those who say ‘my dog doesn’t pester other dogs’ , I wouldn’t know because I didn’t actually see them .

Interesting points. It's a tough one - I hate the thought of dogs always being on leads and unable to run fast and free some of the time - but appreciate the facts about unwanted attention from off lead dogs.

I've tried to balance that by walking earlier in the mornings when there are few other walkers around and dog can be off the lead running and chasing a ball which keeps him focused on me. I do scan the horizon like a demented sailor and put him on the lead when others wander into view. So far this seems to be working.

@persistentwoman

Interesting points. It's a tough one - I hate the thought of dogs always being on leads and unable to run fast and free some of the time - but appreciate the facts about unwanted attention from off lead dogs.

I've tried to balance that by walking earlier in the mornings when there are few other walkers around and dog can be off the lead running and chasing a ball which keeps him focused on me. I do scan the horizon like a demented sailor and put him on the lead when others wander into view. So far this seems to be working.

As long as you can recall your dog, being off-lead to run free is fine - so it sounds like you're doing fine!

Off-lead dogs that are under control aren't a problem at all, but too many people think their dogs have the right to run loose when they have no recall or control over them whatsoever.

@persistentwoman my dog goes offlead , just not in the woods where he can pester wildlife and potentially get lost down a hole , it’s not a case of dogs running amok out of site of their owners or constantly being kept on a lead there is a middle ground .

His recall is improving sunflowerandbuttercups - it's not 100% - if he sees someone he likes the look of he might still ignore me and go and do his happy dance in front them but we are getting there. Hence me keeping a beady eye out for others.
Trouble is, he wonders where all his 'friends' and people we used to walk with have gone since the last lockdown started and he's a friendly little dog. He's currently standing in front of the cat (who's trying to sleep), repeatedly dropping a tennis ball in front of him hoping for a game. He'll be disappointed

@persistentwoman

His recall is improving sunflowerandbuttercups - it's not 100% - if he sees someone he likes the look of he might still ignore me and go and do his happy dance in front them but we are getting there. Hence me keeping a beady eye out for others. Trouble is, he wonders where all his 'friends' and people we used to walk with have gone since the last lockdown started and he's a friendly little dog. He's currently standing in front of the cat (who's trying to sleep), repeatedly dropping a tennis ball in front of him hoping for a game. He'll be disappointed

Ours does the same one our cats takes refuge on top of the fridge!

I do the same thing when it comes to scanning the horizon - he's a beagle so I do have to be really careful with scents, but overall he's generally pretty good. He's off-lead everyday though so he gets a LOT of practise!

He did once chase a deer in the woods - he was in my sight the whole time so I just sat down and waited. He came back very disappointed

My dog (spaniel obviously!) does large loops when off lead and goes out of sight, but does have excellent recall. At first I was worried about dog thieves/other peoples dogs etc. but she generally runs off path (so not near dogs being walked on leads), shows absolutely no interest in other dogs or people and is trained to run back to us and sit if a bike or similar come along. She also always poos right at the start of the walk. She just loves to run and dash through undergrowth. I will revise where we walk/walk her on lead when it's bird nesting season again but otherwise I dont think she causes anyone any harm. Obviously if we are near any cattle or horses she is on her lead and we only let her off when we know the area.

Another spaniel owner here and he often runs quite far in big loops but is not at all interested in other dogs or people so I know he won't bother anyone.

We only let him do this on rural walks we know well and he always checks in on us so is never out of my sight for long.

People who let their dogs off lead with no recall are the worst. It's basic training IMO and if you can't recall then keep them on the lead. A long line is perfect for when in fields with other dogs if you can't recall.

It depends on what your dog gets up to out of your sight! I quite often walk in the woods and dogs out of sight of there owners do come up to me and the kids and jump up at us and it's not particularly welcome. More annoying is when they join our picnic which has happened more than once (it's also dangerous for the dog when the picnic involves mince pies).

Yes we have a spaniel and he does those long loops. I wouldn't let him out of sight though but he's still pretty young. If a dog is on lead I call him back. If another dog isn't, he'll look to see if I'm going to call him back otherwise he thinks that's the green light to play. His recall is good though but I think it would have to be given how fast and far he can go in a short space of time!

My dog does this - but usually in fields, not wooded areas where we can’t see him at all. He’s not bothered about other dogs or people really so doesn’t get in anyone’s way. I know some dogs that are left to run off and do their own thing and then join you on your walk which I don’t think is ideal. Mine always comes back on recall, and just of his own accord to ‘check in’ is suppose, but like you say runs off ahead unless told to stay or sit. He races around at a fast speed, that’s his breed so plodding along next to us would be boring for him. He went through a brief phase of running too far but I then kept him on his toes by randomly changing direction from time to time.

My dog absolutely loves to go running in woodland to try to catch squirrels etc. Ifeel that she hadn't had a proper walk if she hasn't been off lead for part of it. Sometimes she goes out of sight into undergrowth but always comes out eventually. She doesn't bother other dogs or people so I don't see the problem. She's also small and about the least scary dog you've ever seen.

JayAlfredPrufrock
Spaniel by any chance?

Lol!!! My Sprocker is not allowed off lead for his own safety. He just runs and runs and runs given half the chance.

What breed is he? Because a gundog type is bred to hunt, so expecting a pootler who finds you more interesting than a squirrel is a bit much. Whistle train, get in after them, but if this a Springer then ultimately you’re going against nature here OP, and will need to get comfortable with tracking/do gundog training/ hold the dog on a lead near squirrels!

Like to have mine i sight still so I can see to pick up after him and also with rise on dog thefts etc

Mind you I have a collie and he won't go out of our sight , he always checks we are behind him

To add ours goes off lead but still stays in sight , we tend to go to large fields so he can run far but still in sight, I wouldn't let him go to far ahead of us in woods

If you can't see your dog you don't know if it's going to the toilet, if it's eating something it shouldn't, if it's being bothered by another dog or bothering another dog, chasing a person or bike, being chased, etc.
It's a safety issue. You're responsible for your dog so you should be able to see them at all times. I don't think it's responsible dog owning if you're allowing them to go off wherever and not monitoring them.

@donewithitalltodayandxmas I have a collie too he has to know where we all are at all times! I have been known to hide behind a tree and it takes him 3 seconds to come bolting back to find me.