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.

That sounds plenty!

For context, I was brought up in a house with an acre of garden/orchard and I would say that's enough.

To help you visualise it, a football pitch is a bit over 1.5 acres.

I have an 8 year old Staffy rescue, a stray, she’s been with me a year. We use a paid paddock (open only through summer months) for her to run around free, it’s small, has a picnic table, 2 water bowls, a tap, and poo bin - booking it is simple online £6.50/1/2hr, you can organise a plan which makes it cheaper - going in and leaving isn’t policed, it works … I find 1/2 hour is plenty of time to race around, we walk to and from the facility. We go less than once a month as walking options are many. My dog’s notes started - ‘she does not like off lead dogs in her face’… tbh most off lead dogs don’t have good recall so in walking a dog reactive dog - meeting 3 off lead would be a nightmare scenario… interesting how when asked to lead their dogs I so often have to field back chat!… My dog is unpredictable but 3 off lead approaching would mean 4 lots of unpredictability…

I used to pick up 2 dogs from 2 different friends and take them and mine to the woods
All 3 off lead.
They actually did better off lead, because they knew each other and followed each other around (at 90 miles an hour) and so when you called them, the one with best recall came and the others followed.

But they were all 3 gentle friendly dogs, all had great recall, and all stayed with you once you called them back, until you gave them the signal to run off again.

I have 5 dogs, 2 are too prey driven to go off lead in public so we hire a local field once or twice a week. They generally spend their time running and sniffing, sometimes we throw a ball. They like fields with trees and things, there are some near us which are woodlands which the dogs love. I’m personally not a fan of agility equipment in these fields, if you don’t know what you are doing it’s easy to injure your dog.

I do however walk all 5 of mine in public daily, 3 are off lead most of the time and don’t cause any bother, they have good recall and I avoid parks and places which are quite populated !

The new rescue is a lurcher, so very high prey drive. We want him to have the opportunity to run around without us worrying he may run up to small dogs, or not come back when recalled. So these fields sound perfect. I may go and view a couple and see what they are like and then book one or two to try out.

Re agility equipment

I don’t do agility, but one of mine likes to go up on things, so it gives him some variety of stuff to stand on, he does the same on tree stumps or walls on normal walks - he’s no more likely to hurt himself than anywhere else really.

I also have 2 boys so it gives them extra stuff to sniff and pee on 😐

I think you’d struggle to train any actual agility in the fields with equipment tbh it’s not usually that great, but it’s “things” they might decide to explore a bit rather than a big empty field is all.

I much prefer the woodland walk type ones really, but often when I’m using a secure field it’s because I’m toiling to walk but I want to take them out. (I have a back issue) when I’m doing ok I just walk them

I have 5 dogs, 2 are rescues. We go to a secure environment once a week, they all get walked individually on lead each day and rotate visits to beach for off lead activity on their own.

Definitely would never have 3 or more off lead at same time. They definitely are a pack and behave differently.

it takes a lot of time but definitely less stressful to walk separately

With our two we can really see the difference after a walk on the lead, and a good run off lead. With the second, they have much more fun and come back so tired they go straight for a good, long nap. So I'd really like to have all three run off lead daily.

Unless your 3 dogs all have excellent recall and stay close to each other when off lead I would recommend using a dog field. Different fields have different rules. I would check what is available near by and maybe visit them without your dogs to get an idea of what they are like. Many do not require pets to be vaccinated or wormed or flea treated. But with lots of dogs visiting and using same equipment it is something to think about. As infection can spread very easily. Also maybe enquiring what equipment and bowls are washed with and how often? Hot soapy water will not kill parvo or campylobacter.
Check fencing is secure and if for any reason your dog escapes where would it get to?
Also check things and how many dogs you are allowed at a time. What happens if you are booked and there is a storm or severe bad weather?

I also want to do this for my own peace of mind. I want to know that all three will be able to run around without worrying they may come across less friendly dogs, or people who are scared of dogs, or chase a squirrel and end up on the road. I regularly see posts on my local Facebook page about people 'losing' dogs during walks.

I'd probably let two off at a time and do heel work with the third on lead.

I have three. One is a rescue and anxious and one is a teenager. I can't keep an eye on both safely off lead as if one goes one way and the other the other I would have to choose. I usually keep my little rescue on lead as she doesn't want to do much besides trot next to me anyway (but if something scared her she may run off).

Mine would get bored in a field quite quickly.

I'd be wary of avoiding other dogs and walks as you don't want to give your dogs a complex and total avoidance of others could encourage this.

You sound a bit anxious, which I can relate to as one of my previous dogs was reactive after being attacked so often by other dogs. I have taught my current lot to ignore other dogs unless I say they can greet. So even on lead they can say hello if I say, otherwise not. They think it's normal to ignore others that walk past them even if the others are going wild and that stops me getting stressed! It is very hard when there are what feels like lots of rubbishy owners.

We used to have a rescue Staffy, she hated being approached by off lead dogs too. Now we have a well trained dog who has no interest in other dogs or people at all (eyes only for her ball) but we always recall and clip lead back on when we see other people, on lead dogs and kids, if I see dogs off lead and not recalled, then I don't.

You need to google in fields in your area, we have 4 close by and all are different sizes equipment etc. but they have reviews that’s the best thing for you to read. Book one and try it out if you don’t like it try another one.
your really thinking too much into it there’s no right or wrong

We hire a secure dog park.
Both our dogs can be a bit skittish with others.

Totally depends on the dogs. We just made sure they were well socialized. They are big enough to take care of themselves as needed in the dog park.

there are slow hours at dog parks where they just sniff old pee.

as for the fields, most are fine. Some have ‘sniff spots’ - planted stinky plants sage for dogs that they love. Those are more fun. (Like mint, rosemary, lavender, chamomile, barley)

some have hay bales stacked. Some have sand pit/dig holes. Others have swamps/ponds. Done have a dock for dock diving.

mine likes they hay and forested areas and crashing through everything like a crazy dog. He will happily get filthy in a pond, but won’t swim.

so really look for what your dog likes!!