Preparing your dog for off-leash use

In a perfect world you would never call your dog and have it No come!

Many of you may dream of the day when you can take your dogs out into the world and let them off leash. While enjoying your dog’s company off leash is a great idea, it comes at a price; that price is your time and effort to set them up for success.

Before you unhook the leash and allow them maximum freedom, you need to make sure they are reliable off leash. What I mean by this? Well, ultimately, you should feel confident that your dogs will listen to you when you do not have the means to control them (come when you call them, leave or leave objects when you tell them to, etc.). There’s a big world out there and you need to keep your dog safe. Just as you wouldn’t give your nine-year-old son an 11:00 curfew, you wouldn’t give your dog, who hasn’t been properly trained and groomed, all the freedom in the world if he hasn’t proven he can handle it. .

Can be done? Absolutely! Can it be done overnight? Absolutely not!

So these are the steps to prepare your dog to be off-leash.

• First of all, make sure that your dog is properly trained in Sit, Down, Stay, Heel and most importantly, come while on his 6 foot leash. Make sure he understands both the verbal tails and the hand signals for each command. When off leash, in some cases he may not be able to hear you, while in other cases he may not be able to see you. For these reasons, it’s good for your dog to respond to both hand signals and voice commands.
• The next step is to take off the 6 foot leash and move to the long line. I like to use a 50 foot leash to really allow some freedom while maintaining that control. What you are looking for is that your dog responds to your commands quickly, constantly and without corrections on the leash. When his 50 foot long line is just there “just in case” and you see no reason to use it to reinforce his commands, then you’re ready to take the next step. This could take weeks or months depending on the dog.
• The next step would be to remove your dog’s 50 foot line in a large fenced area that allows you some control while handling your dog off leash. Use this as another opportunity to assess your dog. Make him recognize you when you call his name and obey orders from a distance…. most importantly, come. Do this multiple times in one session within this fenced environment. If you really want to test to see if you’re ready to unhook the clip without fences, give him commands when he’s nice and distracted.
• Eventually, there will come a time when you have to go for it. Be sure to read my article titled “Creating a Reliable Retirement” on my Thriving Canine website to make sure you’re up for the challenge. Choose your off-leash environment wisely and always be aware of local leash laws.

As you prepare your dog to go off-leash, remember to keep training fun and exciting. If you do, what you will notice is that your dog will be willing to communicate with you when off leash without being asked. This is a sign that he is watching you while you are watching him. When he checks in without being asked, praise him well because that’s amazing behavior for him.

Be save!