Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

If you can’t let your dog off the lead is it an issue?

60 replies

Mangomelongrape · 04/11/2022 15:55

I’m looking at rescues. I’m drawn towards sight hounds plus there are loads in rescue. I’m eyeing up a lovely lurcher atm.

His bio like many sight hounds says he has to be kept on a lead. I’m used to going on dog walks with friends and we get a lot of pleasure from watching the dogs chase round and its obviously a great way for them to use up energy and they seem to get a lot out of playing with each other.

My question is firstly do you feel like you and your dog are missing out at all only being able to lead walk ? Also do you have to go on much longer walks to try and give them the exercise needed ? We do have a garden that we would fully fence.

OP posts:
Colacoco · 04/11/2022 17:38

I think for me it makes a huge difference also if they are bad on a lead. My dog doesnt have lead reactivity or pull so i dont think my amble round the park is any different to someone with an off lead dog. It doesnt impact on my enjoyment at all

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 04/11/2022 17:47

Ds1 and his dw have two sighthounds - a whippet who they got as a puppy and a rescue greyhound. The whippet can occasionally be let off the lead, but the greyhound never is, and honestly I don’t think he is missing out. He enjoys his walks - they take him to the local parks, and further afield to the beach, and he seems really happy.

He seems to spend most of his time at home, lying on his back with all four paws in the air - he does Olympic standard relaxing! He snuggles up with you on the couch too.

Pumpkinpatchlookinggood · 04/11/2022 17:52

My 3 sight hounds are great off lead. Wr also have 2 dcats. No issues at all.

Gubu · 04/11/2022 17:54

I have a retired greyhound and am in Ireland where there is legislation specifically to say they can only be off lead in a secure area. This morning I took him for a 5km sniffy walk around a park then let him off lead for a bit of the beach walk back to the car. The tide was very far out so i was slightly concerned he'd end up in Wales 😂but the sea wall and steps stop him getting to the road . We have a park near us with a fenced in dog area where I try to bring him 2-3 times a week to let him run fast and play with other dogs. He's equally happy with a 30 minute sniffy walk around the block but there's always more of a spring in his step for a new route to stop every 20 yards.

SirenSays · 04/11/2022 17:56

I'm not allowed to let my fosters off. It keeps me fit running with them on short leads and we rent a huge field a few times a week.

RedBonnet · 04/11/2022 17:57

Mine is a 5mo springer with high prey drive and 60% recall so not trusted off lead unless we're with my 4 yo dgd because he does everything she says. Even then only on an empty beach. We use a long line - 10m - so that's enough for him to wander. We also have a free enclosed dog field near us where he can run free like a nutter lol

Cleome · 04/11/2022 17:57

I can't let my dog off because he's stupid and won't always come back, I still love having him and don't find it a big problem! There's a couple of fields where I sometimes can but rare. He has a long extendable lead

Original poster
Mangomelongrape · 04/11/2022 18:00

Just another thought. My teens often leave the door open or the gate to the garden open. I’m assuming there’s a risk a sight hound would scarper. That would need addressing with them !

OP posts:
CoffeeFanatic · 04/11/2022 18:00

Personally I love to see them on an empty beach or forest, racing around. For that reason we didn't get a retired greyhound (couldn't find one with low prey drive). Just depends what your preferences are.

thelobsterquadrille · 04/11/2022 18:01

Mangomelongrape · 04/11/2022 18:00

Just another thought. My teens often leave the door open or the gate to the garden open. I’m assuming there’s a risk a sight hound would scarper. That would need addressing with them !

100%.

Dogs go missing from gardens on a daily basis.

Purplecatshopaholic · 04/11/2022 18:03

I have two rescue sighthounds - Spanish Podencos. They don’t go off-lead on walks - too nervy, and no recall. On-lead works for them, they feel safe and secure and don’t go off at pace and get lost, at the whiff of a rabbit (I might have experience of this!) They go for a run about in my fenced garden and at the dog park but they are pretty lazy dogs, happy for a walk to be a lot of sniffing, and dawdling rather than a lot of racing around. Love sighthounds - awesome dogs.

Purplecatshopaholic · 04/11/2022 18:03

Mangomelongrape · 04/11/2022 18:00

Just another thought. My teens often leave the door open or the gate to the garden open. I’m assuming there’s a risk a sight hound would scarper. That would need addressing with them !

Yup! My back gate is locked securely

SpentDandelion · 04/11/2022 18:09

My lurcher goes against the grain, she is cross collie/greyhound, always been very energetic, you can't wear her out, even now at 13, she will still want to walk miles. Never been a sofa surfer, very easily bored, extremely intelligent. l let her off the lead 3 weeks after rehoming her at 18 months, never had an issue regarding recall. I walk her in fields and woods off lead, anywhere else on the lead because not so much now but she used to be able to literally run 100 mph , a very powerful dog and capable of knocking someone over.

LittleCactus · 04/11/2022 18:11

My Rommie rescue has never been off her lead in a public space. This is because she would run up to every single dog she sees and although she is friendly, you never know how dogs on leads might react. I do sometimes wish I could let her off and we have tried to practice her recall but...yeah. We have long way to go with that!
She's only little and doesn't need a ton of exercise and she loves her long lead which gives her the chance to explore. She runs round our garden and we have friends and family with dogs so she gets lots of off lead socialisation there. So although I sometimes wish I could let her off, I don't think she's missing out really.

Quveas · 04/11/2022 18:19

Sighthounds are bred to run. So I understand the reason for leads only, especially with rehomes. But it wouldn't suit right with me so I'd be thinking dog fields... a dog like that gets joy from the run. And you can combine it with training. I know several people who have successfully trained such dogs to effective recall, and someone currently working on it.

scochran · 04/11/2022 18:20

My lurcher type rescue is always on a lead, had him 11 years now. I wish I could let him off like my labradors but he can be reactive to unneutered males so I've been cautious. When he was younger we used to run to keep him fit. I go out very early and use a flexi lead so he can get more exercise without tripping anyone up and he likes that. We've managed and ithink he has had a good outdoor life despite it all. He is a real cuddler at home.

Flaunch · 04/11/2022 18:21

Watching a dog do its thing is such a pleasure and I think a dog must find being on lead all the time seriously boring!

Recall is easy to train if you do it from the very first walk. My bedlington whippet was off the lead from his very first walk and has 100% recall now. Lurchers can absolutely be trained to recall, they’d make shit working dogs otherwise! But once you’re dealing with someone else’s training failure you’re up against it.

This is one of the main reasons I wouldn’t want a rescue dog tbh.

Shortandsweet20 · 04/11/2022 18:22

I have a 5m long lead, you can get them even longer and it means my girl can have freedom but I can still control her! It works well for us

Velvian · 04/11/2022 18:24

I don't let my rescue sighthound off the lead, only in a hired dog park. If she saw a rabbit or, she would just go.

We walk with other dogs and she is fine, although, it did take many months to get her used to other breeds.

bjjgirl · 04/11/2022 18:26

I have 2 frenchies that don't like other dogs so have to be on the lead at all times, we have a large garden which they zoom about in and walk on the lead daily but they don't need much walking at all.

To be honest I prefer them on the lead as you can never trust other peoples dogs and I have seen so many dogs savaged by out of control dogs I wouldn't want to risk it

RunningKatie · 04/11/2022 18:35

Our rescue lurcher is only let off in a secure field. On the times he's been let off elsewhere he's disappeared, vets bills have been astronomical to repair his scrapes and scratches from brambles etc. They have very thin skin so can be a liabiity!
He has good sniffy walks and zooms around the garden. I would love to let him off but it's just not wise.

fannyfartlet · 04/11/2022 19:03

I don't let mine off the lead and hire a local field to let him have a safe run around

woohoowoohoo · 04/11/2022 21:27

fannyfartlet · 04/11/2022 19:03

I don't let mine off the lead and hire a local field to let him have a safe run around

Same here
I think mine would rather be on lead than muzzled, even though he's used to it from birth, and he is muzzled trained.
I think he would walk better off lead but I can't take the chance as he has very high prey drive and is also very nervy

woohoowoohoo · 04/11/2022 21:29

We went to a hired field today and he did one 5 second gallop and then 25 mins sniffing alongside me so he's definitely not missing out!

KendrickLamaze · 04/11/2022 21:41

If the experienced rescue say it can't be off a lead, don't try and second guess them. They're saying it because they know.

I have an American Akita who cannot be let off the lead. He is very happy on his walks. I have a long lead so he gets to look around where suitable. Most dogs like that shouldn't be off lead unless they have had more training than most people people are capable of giving. People get dogs they don't understand and suddenly there is a prey incident, a lost dog or a dog fight and they don't understand how it happened.