How long did it take for you to feel really relaxed and confident on off-lead walks?

[Puppypuppypuppy]

It has taken a really long time for me to feel able to take my puppy off the long lead on walks. His recall is good but not always reliable around other dogs - he always wants to meet and greet and sometimes play depending on the dog. Anyway I have just reached the point where he's off the long lead but I feel pretty tense for most of the walk! Am wondering whether this is typical and when these feelings fade. When do you feel completely confident in your dog?

I once hid behind a tree then jumped out at a complete stranger… I thought he was Spuddog

I have been trying to hide from Spudpup, but he sticks too close for me to get away at the moment 🙄

As well as hiding behind a tree I did the 180 turn and walk away when he ran past me.

At the time you could see him think oi! aren't you meant to be following me? Because of that he never assumes I will follow him and keeps checking to see if I am or have turned. I still do it now just to keep him on his toes because I want him to always wonder where I am rather the other way round.

Mine was off lead from 11 weeks when the vet cleared us for park walks - her advice was to let him off whilst I could still run faster than him, it worked

I also forgot to add that my one is different at the start of the walk, so he usually is a bit overexcited at the start so will bark and try to run up to other dogs/people, when he's a bit more settled into the walk he listens much better

I’ll never trust my whippet off lead if he can access a road.

He gets let off lead at fenced parks and at the beach. Most of the time he does come back but being a sighthound he’ll never be completely reliable.

@lotsofdogshere

It’s all about training. Time consuming, tests patience, confidence and occasionally leaves me feeling I’m doing it all wrong. But, recall can be taught. Pippa Mattinson’s book Total Recall is good. My 10 month old lab is back on lead as his good recall diminished when he hit adolescence. We are working in training groups and He’s allowed off lead in a secure field. My 3 year old spaniel is easy, recall good and she stays close enough to me that I can pop her lead on if on lead dogs are approaching

This.

Training training training. There is no "one size fits all " solution. One dog can be there at 12 months - another seems to be fine then has "teens" that seem to last forever and you go back to basics.

My youngest was like this - and I'm very experienced with dogs and training. We had 18 months where the long line was always in my pocket and used most days. I was beginning to think he'd beaten me . But he didn't!. The final few months we had walks that were a mix of free running, on the long line (trailing ) and back on Lead.

He's now 2.5 and totally off lead apart from the start and end of the walk. He will come in to my side at the "close" command knowing there will be a treat in it for him. It was hard work tbh but totally worth it. My older bitch, otoh, would make anyone think dog training was the easiest thing in the world - she lives to please.

So don't despair - you might have a tough one - it might take a bit more time but if you are consistent you WILL get there.

@Spudlet

I once hid behind a tree then jumped out at a complete stranger… I thought he was Spuddog

I have been trying to hide from Spudpup, but he sticks too close for me to get away at the moment 🙄

Never completely. I scan for “hazards” which in our case are

Livestock. Unfortunately chased sheep twice and thought it was a great game. Am aware of fields with sheep in but always watch out for unexpected locations and local changes.
Picnics. Greedy dog. Revert to long lead on beaches in peak season
Huskies - irrational - will just bark and be defensive

4 year old cocker. Reasonable recall in normal circumstances but not cast iron unfortunately. Keeping on with in-walking training but also need to be realistic with my and her abilities

However I have some wooded walks nearby with virtually no chance of sheep or picnics which are more relaxing - but we are lucky to have a number of different (types) of walks near us where DDog can be off lead