Question about trusting your dog to run free for exercise ...

I have never had a dog that I was able to take to a park and just turn loose to run. We don't have a dog park here, so it would have to just be a regular park that isn't fenced in. I would so love to be able to let Kenny run around, but I am SO afraid he would run off and I wouldn't be able to get him back. One day just on a regular walk, he pulled the leash from my hand and wandered off into someone's driveway. He was just sniffing around their car tires, but I panicked ... so afraid I wouldn't get him back. Thankfully his lead got hung uder one of the tires!

Anyway, is there a good way to work up to this gradually ... or should I just stick with being drug by a lead. :eek: ;)

I bought a 50 foot lead from petsmart for when I take Casey to the beach, you could use that to try to teach the recall command.

The best thing to do is to make a lead. I bought a 30 ft. nylon leash to use when I was practicing Kia's recall.

Pretty much you clip it on when they are interested in something else. Then let them wander around the yard or park. Call the dog to you. If they come, treat them. If you see that they've noticed a squirrel (or something they may chase), step on the lead.

The rule of thumb is, if you have a slow dog, make a short lead. If you have a fast dog, make a long lead. And it can be out of any material of your choice. Nylon, rope, leather. :)

Once I got to the point that I knew Kia would recall, I knew I could take her to parks offleash or let her run around my parents yard. :)

we have always done as Caseysmom has suggested, buy a long lead and teach recal and make sure they still do it with plenty of distractions and alot of tasty treats work too!

My breed can NOT go in a unfenced area- they travel too fast- too quick- and quickly get out of ear shot... I never put my dogs in a unfenced area- or a area where they did not know the barrier.. In a field- they would take off like 35 mph flight...
At home, they are trained as the woods being the barrier. I walk the barrier edge daily with the dog I am training, and correct when they step into the woods. Except for Galina- they all trained quickly as they would rather run on open ground then go crashing in the woods..

Ok, I will try that. I'll have to wait until my hubby can go with me though. I am very weak-armed, and I imagine the 50 ft. lead would just be 50 feet that I would drag behind Kenny! :eek: :p

We don't have a dog park here in my city. BUT . . . thanks to the jerks who don't pick up after their dogs, city council passed a local ordinance that dogs are NOT permitted in the parks.

So yu may want to check or at least keep it in mind if you don't know for sure that dogs are OK in the park you are heading out to.

(if you can trust him ) Go deep into a forest. Far enough he'd give up running before he got to a road. Bring some really tasty treats. (Jenny reccomends last nights' roast beef!) Call and if he comes lavish him with prase and beef!

Always bear in mind, there are some breeds, and some dogs that no matter how well behaved or well trained should never be allowed off leash in an urban environment.

If Kenny pulls that hard, maybe he needs a different type of collar. Have
you ever tried a prong collar? They are not as evil as they look. :) Works
great with strong pullers. I only used mine for walking & nothing else.

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Originally Posted by applesmom

Always bear in mind, there are some breeds, and some dogs that no matter how well behaved or well trained should never be allowed off leash in an urban environment.

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Jasper is one of those. He's very single-minded, and if he spots a squirrel, he's GONE, even if I'm holding the juciest rib roast you could imagine. :) Makes me suspect he might have whippet in him. ;)

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Originally Posted by kimlovescats

I have never had a dog that I was able to take to a park and just turn loose to run. We don't have a dog park here, so it would have to just be a regular park that isn't fenced in. I would so love to be able to let Kenny run around, but I am SO afraid he would run off and I wouldn't be able to get him back. One day just on a regular walk, he pulled the leash from my hand and wandered off into someone's driveway. He was just sniffing around their car tires, but I panicked ... so afraid I wouldn't get him back. Thankfully his lead got hung uder one of the tires!

Anyway, is there a good way to work up to this gradually ... or should I just stick with being drug by a lead. :eek: ;)

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Your dog is not a candidate for going off lead. And, as Applesmom said, NO dogs should be allowed off lead in an urban environment. I teach my students that only hunting dogs should be allowed off lead AFTEr much training and a 100 % reliable recall and then only in a hunting environment (the country).

Find a fully fenced public area where you can allow your dog some roaming space. I find tennis courts to be great places. Also, some parks or schools have nicely fence, enclosed large spaces for your dog to run free.

The rule of thumb is: Never off lead in the city unless in a fenced in area. Period. Off lead in the country ONLY with a 100 percent reliable recall AND far away from roads.

Remember, one mishap, and your dog can be dead. Not worht the risk. I'm a professional trainer with titled dogs, but I never allow my dogs off lead outside of a fenced in area - even in the country.

What about a ball park? Sometimes those are fenced in (if only partially).

I take Fenway to several ball parks down the street. So far, he hasn't taken off (except 2 years ago when he saw a kitty on the other side of the fence & crawled under it and ran after it - I freaked).

Do you have hiking trails nearby? I take Fenway to several. Some I can't take him off his leash. But others, I can. When he starts to run off, I just call him back and he eventually comes back. When I get closer to the road or parking lot, I make sure his leash is on.

Good luck in finding a place you can take your dog.

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Originally Posted by CathyBogart

Jasper is one of those. He's very single-minded, and if he spots a squirrel, he's GONE, even if I'm holding the juciest rib roast you could imagine. :) Makes me suspect he might have whippet in him. ;)

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My Frankie is another one that can never be off leash. She could care less if I praised her until I turned blue as was holding an entire platter of the best smelling foods. Once she sees an opening she is off and running.

Riley on the other hand is afraid to leave the end of our driveway, so she is sometimes allowed off leash, but mostly there is a 30' lead that she is attached to.

My parents have a large yard, so we just go there for off leash fun.

My Duke cannot be trusted to be off lead. Being half bloodhound, once his nose catches a scent, he is gone, no matter what!:rolleyes: