Walking multiple dogs off lead

[WhiteTilesWhiteGrout]

We have two dogs and are planning on adopting a third one (all rescues). If you have three or more dogs, do you walk them off lead in public spaces? We've been looking at those fields you can hire where it's just you and your dogs for an hour or so, so we could let them all run around without worrying they may get into any kind of trouble with other dogs or people (they are great dogs but keeping tab on three at once may be difficult and we don't want to take any chances). Does anyone here use these fields? What criteria should we look for when looking for one, please? Thank you.

2 is my limit having briefly had 3.
With 2, I can easily split my focus and keep a close eye on things. You can also balance their personality quirks alot more. Plus, physically walking them is easier. Two hands.
With 3 it was a nightmare. They just developed this pack mentality, and the dynamics changed. I was constantly on edge about meeting another dog or dogs when out and not being able to safely intervene should they clash.

I was very glad when it went back down to 2.

That's exactly why we are thinking of looking at this kind of facility. Because we want our dogs to continue to enjoy running around off lead. But we feel that we couldn't (and shouldn't) in public spaces. Did you look into these rental fields at all?

I currently have two rescue dogs, the only place they are off lead are at secure fields, which we use regularly. Chances are there will be several fields near you as they are becoming really popular. Some are just a simple field with nothing more than a bin and maybe a couple of patio chairs in. Others we use have agility equipment, wooded areas and other enrichment alongside a shelter. One we use even has a drinks vending machine in! I have spent a lot of time training my dogs but they still have a long way to go and using a field takes the stress out of it. They can have freedom to run but safely.

Thank you @Girlwithapple - any tips on how to select a good field? How do you get access? And do your dogs get bored going to the same field all the time?

I would Google “dog fields near me” and see what comes up. We had a couple within 10 minutes. You book them online for a set period of time. Our usual one has 50-minute slots, to allow for changeover, so we’ve never bumped into anyone else there.

Once you’ve booked at our field they send you a code to unlock the padlock on the gate. As a PP has said, the level of facilities will vary but the peace of mind is brilliant.

Finally - do keep an eye on them and pick up poos, it’s a sore point where we go!

To add, our dog is a whippet so she never gets bored of the same field because she knows there is room for her to run at a million miles an hour! When she sees where we are going she gets so excited.

We used to have 3 dogs, looking back I wonder how I managed. I had 3 leads in one hand,a bicycle in the other. I got onto cycle trails,let the dogs off lead,I cycled they ran. There are well fenced playing fields very near me, but it's just a bit of grass, boring for me and the dogs. We're lucky (well,we chose it specially) near the beach and south downs. Have just 2 dogs now, border collies,so they need a really good run.

As @Yorkshireknitter has said, do a Google search and see what comes up. You may find there are some you write off straight away. We went to one that had the potential to be amazing. On walking round we discovered random bricks in the field..... if you had a dog that wanted a peaceful potter around then it wouldn't have been a problem. When you have two young dogs who are rolling each other around and wrestling, the risk of them smacking their head on a brick was too high.

Also, not all field owners are entirely open about what is next door! We've been to a couple where they've had horses grazing right at the boundary. Our current dogs don't bat an eyelid but our previous dogs.... we wouldn't even have got out of the car, just turned round and driven off!

Mine never get bored of the field, we do use quite a selection though which helps.

I'm a dog walker and take a household of three dogs off the lead every single day. I wouldn't take more than that - in fact, my normal limit is two, but because these dogs all live together I take them as a group.

They all have solid recalls though and I've been walking the older two for four years now so I know them pretty well. The younger one just slotted right in and didn't cause me any extra work, really.

There aren't any secure fields anywhere near me but we go to a big field near the sand dunes that is really spacious and where I can see other dogs coming and act accordingly :)

No experience of walking more than one dog but lots of experience with enclosed fields.

Have a Google for sure. Also have a look on NextDoor. There's a lady in my area who rents out her back garden to raise money for charity. She doesn't advertise - she just does it informally through NextDoor.

It's also worth asking neighbours and other dog walkers. There's a little enclosure round by us but it council owned so doesn't come up if you Google. There's also a derelict play area that dog walkers use for an enclosure but on a map it just looks like a playground so you wouldn't know.

I think it will depend on your dogs and the fields available.

The only secure dog areas for hire anywhere near me are just empty fields (and not particularly large). I have a springer spaniel so they'd be totally unsuitable and nowhere near enriching or large enough compared to what she's used to - I wouldn't even consider getting another dog or dogs if it meant these were her only offlead walk options.

If you have less active breeds, older dogs or better options for secure areas then they'd probably be fine.

@Girlwithapple Very good point, where we go there are often sheep on the other side of the (secure 8-foot) fence, but our girl doesn’t care. I imagine some dogs might get a bit lairy though!

I walk three dogs off lead - ones a puppy (large breed) and ones a little old woman (smaller breed) routinely.

But, I also hire a private field twice a week. Costs £10 an hour, it's full of equipment (agility) and lots of little bushes. It's about 4 acres. Most fields have a combination lock on the outside and then a deadbolt or similar on the inside (to stop people getting in whilst you're in there). I scoped out several fields near me before I settled on one - discounted a few people of sheep in the next field, main road too close (literally bordering the field and I wouldn't take chances of a car not skidding off and into the field), the condition of the field etc.

I also walk the field every time before I let my dogs out - there's always a chance a fence is down or there's something hazardous in there.

My youngest dog and the middle dog don't get bored of the field - they have quite a lot of fun and really let loose. The oldest dog does so she usually stays in the boot once she'd had a sniff and goes back to sleep.

This is so helpful. Thank you. What size are these fields? Is there a minimum size I should watch out for?

Yes your dogs will get bored. There are some fields which are huge where the dogs feel more like they are not in a field but there are not many. I only know of them as a friend uses one in Derbyshire area which is 12 acres I think and very hilly.

Recall is the key with walking off lead and especially important with more than 1 dog. If you have 100% recall from any distraction from all the dogs then it is safe to walk them all off lead. Pack mentality works both ways - either they all ignore you, or one may come back and brings the other two with them.

Edit to add the link https://britishdogfields.com/

We've used a couple occasionally but for structured hoopers practice. They'd be quite disappointed if I took them just for a mooch/run around. The ones we've been to tend to have a bit of agility equipment, but are mainly grass with perhaps a few trees/wooded area. There's the cost and availability too, generally they're around 10 quid and popular time slots are booked up well in advance.

I have always wondered about the getting bored thing. Hiring a field is always a solution touted for if your dog has poor recall but I can't imagine my dog would get anything out of just being released in a field on his own beyond a few minutes of sniffing and peeing. I think he would lie down and go to sleep and I would feel it was a waste of money since I would not enjoy it either. I only have one dog and I have never managed to find anyone who had a compatible dog to run around with and wanted to hire a field with us. We have had to stick with the long line and avoiding busy times for him to be allowed off. How long do other people's dogs entertain themselves just in a field?

I just google and work my way round all of them - some end up being better than others, so some I go back to, some I don’t.

You usually book online and get a padlock code to let yourself in.

@ThePure They smell of other dogs so there’s a fair amount of sniffing 😂 but also, I take toys and do recall games and stuff, some have agility equipment, there’s one near me that’s woodland with a path you can walk round.

I have three and one is very reactive. I did walk him separately on lead for ages but lately have been lead walking all three together - he and the other big dog wear haltis. The little one I attach to my belt so I have a big dog in each hand and the little one in the middle. It’s fine but I am always on alert for other dogs which may set the reactive one off.
We have a good secure field here (not specifically a dog park but everyone uses it for off lead exercise). I did let all three off originally as the reactive one had always been fine off lead, until he wasn’t! I would feel confident letting them all off in a dog field - you’ll be fine with that. Good luck - I won’t be having three again !

We have had 3 many times.

Walking 3 is hard. Personally I wouldn’t do it again, I would always walk 2 and then 1 (or two pairs) I find them all a bit more arsey in a group. Other dogs also go straight on the defensive meeting a group.

It depends how big your dogs are too. 3 small ones are probably easier!

Hiring a field is great but I still think socialising in a range of places is important. They will probably get bored doing the same thing all the time.

We have 4 but that's between 2 of us so we have 2 each. 3 can go off lead because they have good recall and don't bother with other dogs. The fourth hasn't got a recall so is kept on a lead.

We have a couple of fields near us but trying to get a slot is hard. You need to book way in advance and we never know if my bf will be working or not.

@ThePure Our whippet entertains herself for as long as she can keep running at full speed! It’s perfect for dogs that just want to sprint flat out and need a big safe space to do that. We throw balls / frisbees etc for her and she also just runs 35 mph laps by herself when we first get in there. I can’t speak for the breed as a whole, but while of course she does like sniffing she is really a chasing dog not an exploring dog. So a dog field is perfect for us to go for that intense exercise in a safe environment.

I have three and walk them together off lead. I have 2 collies and a labrador. Their recall is great and heel work is fine.

They stay close to me and do not go near other dogs or people.

Mine would get very bored in a secure field and would need a lot of interaction from me.

Thank you. After a bit of research, fields around here range from a couple of acres to 4 - 5. The nearest one is two and a half. Is that big enough in your experience?

I have no idea how big things actually are 😂

Tbh I just book them and go, if it’s too small or there’s one that’s just a patch of mud 😐 I just don’t go to that one again.

The dogs aren’t particularly bothered if it’s a bad one, they’ve still been somewhere.