When did you let yours off the lead?

[stripesorspots]

We have a 4 month old Cavapoo and she's been a dream so far. She's been pretty easy to train - she's house trained and can do basic commands, and it's generally 50/50 as to whether she comes if you call her name. However, I can't ever imagine letting her off the lead when out in the park etc. I'm intrigued to know when you first felt confident enough to let yours off the lead? I'm not even considering it for a long time, but as a first time dog owner, I'd like to know how you know when it's time.....!!?? In the meantime, we have a large garden, so she gets plenty of free running around play time.

You have to be the higher reward than the other dog, so use lots of high value treats or toys. That said I only let my dog off the lead in quiet areas, if there's other dogs about he stays on lead as some dogs he's not keen on.

I think it will strongly depend on your dog's temperament/ breed / the type of environment you are walking in.

We followed the advice of taking her out off lead from her first walk as a pup, and she did stay close to us then, however as her confidence grew so did her interest in the environment (way more exciting than us, so many smells and things to interact with and gallop around!). She is a border collie, and at first when very tiny we didn't realise there was a recall 'problem' because we could always catch her. Unfortunately she very very quickly got bigger, stronger and faster! Now it is absolutely 100% impossible unless she wants to be 'caught'.

What is working for us is a structured recall training programme that uses toys & games as well as food rewards, and building up from walking on a long line, to having a trailing long line. Because it is trailing, it is very easy to pick up if needed, without conflict of the dog trying to wriggle away from your grasp.

Now our policy is that if she's got her listening head on and able to respond to her name and recall cue, she continues to be allowed to run with the trailing line. If she starts being unable to respond well, we pick it up straight away. This avoids her practising ignoring us and getting into mischief in the general environment. It's got to the stage that when no livestock is around, she can be 'off lead' (trailing line) most of the time.

However.... We know lots of other people who haven't needed to do these complicated steps, so your dog might be very easy to train!

@SirChenjins - do you know anyone who could use their dog as a stooge dog. For some dogs the ultimate reward is playing with other dogs, so if you can recall and then release to play as reward it can be very effective. Eventually your dog should start to automatically recall when approaching other dogs.

A stooge dog is a good idea - I'll see who I can round up.

High value treats and toys don't work when he's in the zone. There aren't many dogs who can resist steak or warm chicken, but mine can. Honestly, I've tried them all. I've just learned what his distraction triggers are and manage them carefully. Perfect off lead recall on our lunch time walk today, but there were no other dogs close by to tempt him.

If you are within an hour of Winchester, I have a good stooge dog. Happy to meet up.

I am also a trainer.

Just want to endorse what a number of other posters have said about the value of having your very young puppy as much off the lead as possible (where safe and not an inconvenience to others).

At that age it is natural for them to want and need to stay close to you. If they are off lead at that stage, they learn that they have some responsibility for maintaining that proximity. They learn to monitor where you are and poddle after you. If they are on the lead they never have to do that: the lead gives them confidence of your presence and they focus entirely on the Big Wide World and the desire to get that little bit further from you than the lead allows.

Being off-lead at that very early stage starts to build habits that they will eventually come back to. In their adventurous and overly autonomous older puppyhood and adolescence you will need the lead much more, but as you begin to teach recall, their earlier habits of monitoring and shadowing your whereabouts will re-awaken.

I agree with PPs about letting young pups off the lead from early on. Not much to add on that score. However, in addition I would say that for nearly every dog it is also essential to teach them to walk well on the lead. That should start young too, first just getting the puppy used to walking by your side without a lead, then adding the lead in. I know far too many dogs who have good recall but are absolute nightmares on the lead.

puppies do approach other dogs that is the joy,
other dogs know this,

Pups come back. When they reach teenage years (9 months) they start to argue back or not listen. That's when mine stopped being let off. He's a breed that essentially shouldn't be off the lead but I'm a full believer that dogs shouldn't be off lead without 100% recall.

I'm often on the receiving end of dogs that don't.

I’m in Edinburgh so a bit too far - but thanks so much for your kind offer 😊