When to let rescue dog off lead?

Laguiri · 2023-12-16T21:57:29+00:00

My rescue dog (around 9 months old) has been with me for 2.5 months. Her recall is pretty good in the garden but still not 100%. We’ve been going for walks for 2 months now. I’m still very wary of letting her off-lead, but am getting pressure from fellow walkers to do so. She’s hyper-attached (e.g. goes nuts if I leave her with someone else while I go for a pee behind a bush), BUT I’ve also seen how she loses it when a fox crossed our path: she would have gone like the wind. She’s a medium-small mongrel, impossible to tell what her genetics/instinct might be, but she’s clearly got prey drive (I also have a whippet, so know all about that 🙄). What have your experiences been? What’s your advice?

Original poster

Laguiri · 16/12/2023 21:59

Sorry, should add that I live/walk in a very sparsely populated, rural area; the problem would be losing her in the hills rather than roads/cars/other dogs.

OP posts:

Peacheroo · 16/12/2023 22:07

Honestly, at that age I wouldn't. They're notorious for being ignorant teenagers around then.

I'd use a secure field until I was confident and only then let them off.

My dog is a breed renowned for their ignorance and prey drive. I use a long line and he loves it.

BumFluffBumFluff · 16/12/2023 22:12

Use a 10 metre long line.
High value treats
Only let her off it when you are confident she’ll come back

AreYouShittingMe · 16/12/2023 22:14

My DDog was on a long line for ages. I was surprised by how many other dog owners seemed to think this was strange. However I didn't trust her (and still don't in certain situations).
Best advice I read was don't set your dog up to fail. This helped give me the confidence to keep her on a long line despite the comments from others. If you think it's best to keep her in a lead, so what you think is best for your DDog

Rocknrolla21 · 16/12/2023 22:14

I was also going to suggest a long line. Also have you got a dog walking/enclosed area you can get to to try it off lead?

Wineisnottheanswer · 16/12/2023 22:16

Try to find a secure field. You can usually hire them very cheaply.

Original poster

Laguiri · 16/12/2023 22:20

Thank you all for your advice, which chimes with my feeling. The kind of terrain around here makes a long line impossible: even on a 2 m lead she gets tangled in bushes and trees (it’s very wild here). And there’s no such thing as secure fields in my country. I shall just keep plugging away at recall in the garden and using a lead while we’re out for a good while yet.

OP posts:

Peacheroo · 16/12/2023 22:23

Well bloody hell, get one started. This time next year you'll be a millionaire!

I've walked my dog in all terrains and never had a problem if there is some sort of path. I'm so intrigued as to how rural it is?!

Still, no off lead until you're certain. 100% infallible ideally.

Original poster

Laguiri · 16/12/2023 22:32

Peacheroo: This kind of rural (today’s walk).

OP posts:

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 16/12/2023 22:34

If she’s dodgy in the garden I’d imagine she’ll be 10000% worse in a low stimulation area.
There are loads of ways to make on lead walks really interesting for dogs - new walks, encouraging them to sniff, level changes (so encouraging a bit of climbing etc)

Creampies · 16/12/2023 22:36

Never , every dog should be on a lead and preferably muzzled as well if it away from home.

Peacheroo · 16/12/2023 22:37

Oh it looks like heaven! Also looks like a place they could be gone forever if they do go! I'd use a long line there - just with a lot of waving it around and hands in the air like you just don't care

Newuser75 · 16/12/2023 22:39

I'd wait until the recall is reliable in the garden, then take on a long line somewhere less rugged (if possible) and practice there then when those are reliable try letting off. Do you have a friend with an older reliable dog to walk with in the hope that they will stick together?

bilbodog · 16/12/2023 22:40

Had our romanian rescue for 4 years now but unless we are in a safe area we keep her on the lead as she has a high prey drive.

Nickinoo22 · 16/12/2023 22:41

I totally understand your dilemma op..I have rescue street dog who was around 18 months old when I got her and although she adapted to home/family life very quickly I was never confident letting her off lead for 2 years !! We walked for miles every day and I booked secure fields. I also had a lot of pressure from people to "oh just let her off " but it's not that simple when you have a high scent driven dog ( my girl is a continental hunting hound) and you haven't been able to get training in as a puppy which I had always done with previous dogs .
Eventually I plucked up the courage and with high reward treats at the ready I started to let her off keeping a very close eye on her and not letting her get too far away from me and getting her straight back if she picked up a scent . It has gone really well which is wonderful but only yesterday I lost her on a squirrel and she was seriously gone !! Heart in mouth 10 minutes! Eventually caught up with her thankfully. Just goes to prove the saying no recall is 100% however hard you work on it .

margotrose · 16/12/2023 22:54

You could use a longline there - just get a biothane one so it's waterproof and strong.

Shannith · 16/12/2023 23:00

Do not bow to peer pressure
If recall is not 100% in the garden it's going to be shit outside
9 months is about where they go teenage for 3-6 months and even dogs with good recall become deaf
Long line as someone said - you can get 10,20m ones - there is a knack to using them, you reel them in an out l- with it always loose
Not a retractable lead - they are dangerous
Train recall properly in the house, in the garden, on the long line - there are loads of you tube and TikTok videos
Use something like Total Recall or sexier than a squirrel so you build a proper bond and can recall from any situation

I work in rescue - I foster dogs and lots of the ones that end up with me have been let off lead with no proper training and are a menace
I walk a lot of reactive dogs and the worst thing that can happen is a dog running up to me with a hopeless owner yelling "it's ok, they are friendly".Ines not and your just put its training back months.

You've rescued - thank you and you clearly care about dogs so do your dog the best thing you will ever do for them

Put in the consistent, repetitive, never ending training until your dog has perfect recall - at this age it can be one step forward and two steps back but never give up because it will click and you'll have a dog who is a joy to own.

Then it can be safely off lead for the rest of its life.

I can recall mine from anything - other dogs, deer, danger. Everyone always says oh she's so good, you are so lucky.

Nope. I've been training that dog since she was a puppy. She's 4 now and I still don't stop. Every walk is at least 10-20 recalls/rewards check in/reward - which means she has a fabulous life off lead 90% of the time and walking her is a relaxing pleasure.

4 years of consistent work that is fun and a habit so it doesn't feel like work.

Sexier than a squirrel is great fun to do - it's a 30 day set of exercises/games that are fun and don't feel like hard work.

Shannith · 16/12/2023 23:01

Like this Taglory Training Lead for Dogs 20m, Reflective Long Dog Rope Lead with Soft Padded Handle for Small Medium Large Dogs, Black amzn.eu/d/7XsfaXH

Icantbedoingwithit · 16/12/2023 23:14

No advice but that area is stunning!

EcoCustard · 16/12/2023 23:26

I don’t have a rescue but my 6 month old spaniel ‘had’ superb recall. He’s now reached the age where he thinks it’s ok to bugger off into the field for 15 minutes and ignore me, he has strong prey drive compared to previous spaniels. He’s straight back on the lead, and we try again. My advice would be let them off & try if not anywhere near to roads, people etc and see, practice and introduce further distractions. My previous dogs were great until 6mths, then occasionally would be unreliable until around 18mths if distracted with scents. I can’t get on with long lines.

Toastandcoldsaltedbutter · 16/12/2023 23:36

Shannith · 16/12/2023 23:00

Do not bow to peer pressure
If recall is not 100% in the garden it's going to be shit outside
9 months is about where they go teenage for 3-6 months and even dogs with good recall become deaf
Long line as someone said - you can get 10,20m ones - there is a knack to using them, you reel them in an out l- with it always loose
Not a retractable lead - they are dangerous
Train recall properly in the house, in the garden, on the long line - there are loads of you tube and TikTok videos
Use something like Total Recall or sexier than a squirrel so you build a proper bond and can recall from any situation

I work in rescue - I foster dogs and lots of the ones that end up with me have been let off lead with no proper training and are a menace
I walk a lot of reactive dogs and the worst thing that can happen is a dog running up to me with a hopeless owner yelling "it's ok, they are friendly".Ines not and your just put its training back months.

You've rescued - thank you and you clearly care about dogs so do your dog the best thing you will ever do for them

Put in the consistent, repetitive, never ending training until your dog has perfect recall - at this age it can be one step forward and two steps back but never give up because it will click and you'll have a dog who is a joy to own.

Then it can be safely off lead for the rest of its life.

I can recall mine from anything - other dogs, deer, danger. Everyone always says oh she's so good, you are so lucky.

Nope. I've been training that dog since she was a puppy. She's 4 now and I still don't stop. Every walk is at least 10-20 recalls/rewards check in/reward - which means she has a fabulous life off lead 90% of the time and walking her is a relaxing pleasure.

4 years of consistent work that is fun and a habit so it doesn't feel like work.

Sexier than a squirrel is great fun to do - it's a 30 day set of exercises/games that are fun and don't feel like hard work.

I 100% agree with you here, have some rescue experience too, and train my just turned 4yr old dog with recall, every, single, day. Will continue this for the rest of her life. We also play games and half her morning kibble is taken with me on our morning walk and used to brain train. I love playing hide and seek, and getting her to use her nose. I still reward every time she looks at me - it's built our bond tenfold. I despair seeing people walking round with earphones in, tuned out to the lovely experiences they could be sharing, if only they would engage with their dog.

Greenshake · 17/12/2023 01:09

Creampies · 16/12/2023 22:36

Never , every dog should be on a lead and preferably muzzled as well if it away from home.

Oh, stop. Just stop.

Creampies · 17/12/2023 01:21

Why, I’m sick of dogs barking in my kids face and jumping up, and making my clothes dirty, whilst a pathetic owner says “he’s only being friendly “ or you see a dog hunting down and killing a small animal in front of you. I’ve seen a dog being savaged by another dog and not let go. How do I know which dog is genuinely friendly or which is a high risk dog. On a leash and muzzled and everyone’s safe.

Breezy1985 · 17/12/2023 01:22

We've had a Romanian rescue 4 years and Ive never let him off lead unless in a secure field. His recall is amazing in the house and garden, but I know he would be off like a shot because his prey drive is off the scale.

margotrose · 17/12/2023 06:24

Why do people who hate dogs insist on coming on a forum about dogs just to be grumpy?

I don't like spiders but you don't see me going on a board about pet tarantulas and complaining about them