Dear AKC: I am having a problem with my dog that I know many others are dealing with (from conversations at the dog park). Since my dog is an Australian Shepherd, it is very challenging to catch her once she is let go of her leash. I’ve been told not to pursue her and to wait for her to return to me, but this is not always possible. e. If there’s a road nearby that she frequently enters and exits, I love to take my dog everywhere and would like to be able to do so without always having to leash her, is there a training method to help me get rid of the urge to have my dog bolt once her leash is removed? I can just picture this bolting behavior, Bolting for Joy Dear Bolting: Your dog gets all excited and leans against his collar as you reach for the leash clip because he knows exactly what will happen next: running, jumping, romping, and playing. Your dog will have a lot of fun with this, but you might have unintentionally taught her to run away whenever you let her out. She probably picked up this behavior in the confines of the dog park, where, once you let her out, she is free to roam around. She doesn’t understand the difference between being let off the leash inside the park fence, where she is free to run off, and doing so in an open area or close to a road, where you are afraid she might fall into the road and get hurt. Surprise attack! I recommend some behavior modification through a surprising outcome. First, stuff your pocket with yummy treats. Get a very long, thin lead, strong string, or twine, and attach one end to your belt and the other to the collar of your dog. Then attach the regular leash to the collar. Get her to sit, unclip the typical leash, and then observe what happens. She’ll probably run away, but she’ll be shocked when that “invisible leash” that somehow materialized stops her. Call her name and command her to come as soon as she is startled by the other leash and halted in mid-boss, and then reward her with a tasty treat. Stress how wonderful it is that she returned. If she doesn’t respond to the come command completely, don’t be afraid to use that invisible leash to bring her back to you. After a few of these “bolting-interrupting” incidents, she’ll start to realize that bolting is no longer effective and that returning to the situation earns her praise and delicious treats. A word of caution: for her safety and legal protection, I wouldn’t advise taking her off the leash unless you are in a fenced-in area or enclosed park. You run the risk of her getting hurt or worse if you let her off the leash near roads and other hazards because many places have leash laws in place to protect the public. https://www. akc. org/wp-admin/admin-ajax. php Get Your Free AKC eBook.
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Should my dog go without a leash?
Freedom. What a wonderful concept even in the canine world. Dogs are curious explorers that enjoy running freely. It’s possible that they make a new dog friend, chase a squirrel, or steal treats from a neighbor’s back porch. What fun! Freedom is great!.
Running around gives dogs mental and physical exercise that keeps them healthy and happy in addition to being entertaining. The challenge is giving our dogs freedom while still keeping them secure. How can we teach them to behave when the leash that serves as their lifeline is cut off?
All dogs need to be trained so they will respond when they are off leash, even though some dogs prefer to run free more than others. There are always situations where your dog might be outside off-leash, even if they are more like your shadow than an intrepid escapologist. Here are some guidelines for teaching your dog appropriate off-leash behavior. Something could always startle him or catch his attention.
You Are Home Base
Our naturally social dogs enjoy a little variety and yearn for experiences that involve other animals or people, despite the fact that we are the center of their universe. They instinctively want to explore new sights, sounds, and smells. We train them to return to “home base,” which is by our side, so that we can protect them while still allowing them to experience a little freedom of movement. Your dog ought to enjoy being at home base and see you as a treat.
Exercise your dog in a small space or while on a leash before taking him on an off-leash excursion is one thing that encourages him to want to stay by your side. Before a training session, your dog should get some exercise to let out pent-up energy and to help him concentrate on your instructions while keeping home base in mind.
How do we communicate without a leash?
Unfortunately, that exercise leash is an obstacle. Why? Because when we walk a dog, we instinctively pull back on the leash to regulate the animal’s movements. To effectively communicate with our dogs when they are off-leash, we must replace this physical cue with verbal or visual cues.
Basic communication begins with heel, stay, and come. These verbal instructions must be obeyed without being pulled by a leash. Start training your dog to obey verbal commands in a familiar, distraction-free space, like your kitchen or living room, that is quiet. Move your dog to a small fenced area and then to a larger enclosure once they consistently comply with your commands inside the house. You can go to a dog park if you go when there aren’t as many dogs there. When your dog masters working in close quarters or at home, you can both venture farther or introduce more distractions.
Using a dragline for dogs that are resistant to off-leash training could be helpful. This long leash is actually a smooth rope with a harness attached to it. The dog feels like he has complete freedom of movement while exploring because the dragline is smooth, and you can retrieve him whenever you want. Additionally, the harness, as opposed to a collar, relieves pressure on the neck and increases his sense of freedom even though he is securely fastened to you.
Stay!
Of course, any off-leash dog should also know how to stay in a sit or down position. I also believe that they should be taught an emergency down command that the dog performs wherever he is when you tell him to lie down.
First, teach your dog to quickly lie down when you’re close by as part of this lesson. Once he comprehends the voice command, instruct him to step back from you. Eventually, add distance as he’s able to handle it.
FAQ
Is off leash training good for dogs?
A dog can move more freely and at their own pace when they are off leash. When a dog feels like they have more options for how they can explore, they can become more confident. Additionally, because they are free to run this way, that way, and back to you without restraint, they tend to expend more energy.
How do I let my dog off lead for the first time?
- Always reward your dog when he comes back to you.
- Begin with your dog on the lead.
- To entice him back, extend your arms and speak in a cheerful tone.
- Taking a dog off the leash enables him to exercise more.
How long should a leash be for off leash training?
Take your dog on a 50-foot leash if you want to be able to hike without a leash. By doing so, you can give your dog a sense of freedom without letting go of control. Take your dog for a walk with a 30-foot leash if you want them to be able to explore during walks “off leash.”
How do you know when a dog is ready to be off leash?
- Recall. How well your dog recalls is the most important thing to think about before letting him off the leash.
- Responds to Name. …
- Attention Span. …
- Good Manners. …
- Good with Other Animals.