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For a dog, nothing beats running freely without the hindrance of a leash. Not only does it provide the autonomy to explore and play, but it also means your dog can tap into their instincts and practice their innate problem-solving skills. However, while off-leash activity is great for your dog, adequate training is needed for their safety and that of others.
Training a dog off leash is a challenge, but it can be done with a little patience and persistence. Below we provide information about how to train your dog to behave without the aid of a leash.
When Is It Acceptable to Go Off-Leash?
Before going ahead, it’s worth reviewing the times it’s acceptable to allow your dog to go off leash. Most public places require dogs to be on leads, but depending on where you live, there are often dog parks that allow plenty of off-leash activity.
As a basic rule, crowded public spaces or areas which could be hazardous to your dog (e.g., where there’s car traffic) should involve a leash. On the other hand, wilder locations like mountains/hills or dog parks are great for off-leash walking. If your dog is well behaved, you could even keep them off-leash on your regular daily walk, so long as there aren’t too many people or cars around.
Training Process
Now that you know where it’s best to let your dog off leash, you’ll want to get down to the nitty gritty of training techniques. We cover some of these below.
Be a Calm, Assertive Leader
The most essential tool in your arsenal when it comes to off-leash dog activities is calm, assertive leadership. This requires you to tame your own anxieties and frustrations while training your dog to obey basic commands. If you display weak or unstable leadership, your dog is less likely to obey you if they run away or misbehave.
Some of the basic commands they should know before going off leash include:
- Heel (where the dog walks next to you, rather than in front or behind)
- Stay (the dog should remain where they are, no matter what is happening around them)
- Recall commands (where your dog will come back to you)
- Emergency recalls (in case the first recall doesn’t work)
- Look (the dog follows your lead on where to look, whether it’s at you or elsewhere)
- Drop it (getting the dog to release an object from its mouth)
- Leave it (snapping a dog out of chasing or guarding an object)
- Go (to a specific place)
Train Obedient Behavior
Along with learning the basic commands, your dog will need to exhibit good behavior (especially among other people and animals). Overall, this includes coming reliably when called and obeying your commands to stay, leave, or drop something. What you’re aiming for is a dog that responds consistently to your leadership and isn’t at risk of ignoring you and doing their own thing.
Therefore, before you even consider going off the leash, find ways to teach commands they will listen to. Whether you do it on your own or with the guidance of a dog trainer, this is an important step towards getting your dog to behave.
If voice commands are proving tricky, treats and clicker training are great ways to teach obedience. Below are some pointers on using treats and clickers:
- Crouch down a few feet away from your dog and hold out your hand.
- Encourage them to use their nose to touch your hand.
- Once they’ve done that successfully, confirm the behavior by clicking. You can also issue praise and give them a treat.
- Repeat this process until it becomes second nature (may take 10 to 20 tries.)
- As you repeat, move further and further away.
- When they’ve understood the routine, start using voice commands like “come.” Then repeat using clicks, praise, and treats.
- Incorporate distractions such as people, toys, or noises. Then move to other locations to test the routine.
Start With a Long Leash
As part of teaching basic commands, you can start slowly by putting your dog on a long (or retractable) leash. This is a great way to slowly introduce your dog to the idea of wandering more freely. As it becomes accustomed to the longer lead, make sure you use the basic commands, and assess how well it responds.
However, be aware that a long leash poses some risks. Be careful if you’re in public areas with a lot of people as you have less control should your dog suddenly decide to run after something. Long leashes can also get tangled in things, or worse, they can “clothesline” other people and knock them over. If you’re new to using a long leash, start somewhere with less people and with ample space around you.
Test the Waters
When you’re ready to go off leash, test the waters in a safe place. This includes fenced in areas or even your backyard if it’s big enough. You’ll want to be confident that your dog will behave and respond to your commands. If you’re nervous or uncertain, the dog will pick up on that energy and may be less inclined to obey. Therefore, make sure you’re comfortable and confident walking with your dog off leash before you head out into public areas.
On the day of your first test, bring lots of treats and your clicker. Your dog may be excited by its new environment, so it’s important that they still obey your commands. You may even want to bring other people with on your first outing (especially if they’re expert off-leash dog walkers themselves).
Troubleshooting: What to Do if Your Dog Makes a Break for It
Despite all the training, there’s always a risk that your dog makes a break for it. It could be as simple as chasing a squirrel, but it’s important not to panic and run after them. Below are some tips if your dog suddenly runs off.
Stay Calm
As mentioned above, the most important tool is your leadership. If you exhibit signs of anxiety, fear, or insecurity, your dog is less likely to respond; this includes the sound of your voice. Make sure you sound calm, assertive, and positive when calling them back.
Don’t Chase
One of the most important things you shouldn’t do is chase after your dog. Not only might they run faster because they think it’s a game, but you’ll also never catch up to them. Your best course of action is to stick to your commands, treats, and clicker to recall them back.
Make Treats Visible
Treats are great incentives for bringing your dog back, especially if you’ve done this in training. If they’re close by, show the treats in your hand; you could also rustle the bag if they’re out of sight.
Don’t Forget Your Commands
Times like this show the effectiveness of your training. Use the commands that you’ve rehearsed — in this case, you’ll need your recall or “come” command. When they return, make sure you praise them with treats and affection. This reinforces good behavior as they associate positivity with returning to you.
Turn Away
Another technique is to use reverse psychology. If they’re nearby, try turning your back on them and making it seem as if you’re leaving the area. Dogs follow their pack leaders, and if they think you’re leaving, they can be more inclined to come after you. To make this more apparent, you could even make it seem as if you’re heading towards something more exciting.
Get Them Micro-Chipped
While the above tips are useful when your dog runs off, you can also be preventative by ensuring their tags are updated and that they’re micro-chipped. The worst-case scenario with a dog making a break for it is they get lost; therefore, you’ll want to be able to track them properly.
Troubleshooting: Anticipate Problems
So much can happen when your dog is off leash. Therefore, it’s important to anticipate problems and work your way up to more challenging environments. No matter what distractions are around, you want your dog to respond to your leadership and commands.
However, you’ll need to keep your own eagerness in check and not push your dog past its limits. Start slowly and assess how well your dog responds. If you push things too far, they may not trust you and could behave even worse.
In the early stages, always bring a leash with you and be prepared for potential problems. This includes knowing your dog’s personality and quirky behaviors. An understanding of their nature prepares you for potential problems because you’ll know what makes them tick and what doesn’t. For example, below are some common dog tendencies:
- Chasers: dogs that love to chase anything that moves, including animals and inanimate objects.
- Hyperactive: dogs that get hyper or excited when they’re outside or around other animals.
- Phobic: dogs that are afraid of loud noises or stimuli such as bright flashing lights.
- Explorers: dogs that love to explore and become so immersed with their noses that they ignore other sights and sounds.
While training can help with the above tendencies, it’s worth assessing the risks before you detach the leash. Knowing your dog’s tendencies is the first step, but to avoid possible risks, you may need to safely expose them to their fears and obsessions while training them to obey.
Benefits and Risks
Off-leash walking is a natural activity for dogs, but there are benefits and risks, especially if you live in a dense urban place with lots of traffic and people. Below we weigh up the pros and cons of off-leash walking.
Benefits
Letting your dog run wild without a leash is great for your dog’s physical and mental health, as it provides numerous benefits. Some of these include:
Enhances Freedom
Your dog can run around unencumbered by the leash and play (or chase) to their heart’s content.
Hones Their Natural Instincts
Being off leash allows a dog more opportunities to explore their environment. This helps hone their instincts as they’re led more by their nose than by commands on the lead.
Increases Confidence
Allowing your dog to explore, play with other dogs, and find its way around increases their confidence as it can practice problem-solving and making decisions.
Boosts Energy Expenditure
Being off leash allows your canine to burn off more energy because they can run faster and explore more terrain (especially if they check back with you frequently).
Risks
Naturally, there are risks involved in letting your dog run freely without a leash. Some of these include:
Exposes Them to Hazards
No matter where you are, there’s always a risk of hazards like ingesting toxins, injuries (e.g., getting hit by a car), getting lost, or being hurt by other animals.
Poses Risks to Others
As loving and friendly as your dog may be, there is always a risk that they may hurt other people or animals. Whether it’s through biting, getting into a dog fight, or accidentally hurting someone due to their raucous behavior, off-leash dogs can always pose a risk to others.
Increases the Likelihood of Running Away
Another potential risk is your dog getting spooked and running away. With a leash, you can always pull them back in; however, if your dog runs for the hills, not only do you have to call them back, but it also exposes them to more potential hazards.
Potential to Annoy Others
While you may love dogs, some people do not. If your dog is being overly friendly with strangers, you could end up annoying them. Some people are also afraid of dogs, so it’s important to be aware of how your dog could affect others.
With these risks above in mind, it’s important to be considerate and pay attention to leash rules and regulations. Before you let your dog rip, assess your environment, and make sure it’s not only safe for your dog but others, too.
Final Thoughts
Running freely off leash is one of your dog’s greatest pleasures. Not only does it allow them to explore and play to their heart’s content, but it also means they can hone their confidence and natural instincts.
However, while being off leash is beneficial to their spirit, there are risks and hazards that can affect even the most trained canine. To ensure you’re prepared for all eventualities, train your dog to obey and respond consistently and reliably. Only then will you be ready to set them loose in a public place. Good luck!