For this week I will be going over off leash training before training the certain area must be done appropriately and legally in order to prevent any number of risks to the dog, other dogs, or humans who may encounter the off-leash dog, as well as livestock or wildlife in the area.
Keep in mind off leash dogs may run off and get lost, run onto roads and cause serious accidents, cause hikers to fall and bicyclists to crash, and chase or even kill other animals.
Things to Keep in Mind
- Know your own dog’s personality- Acknowledge your pups behavior curiosity and energy,
- Know and obey leash laws- Regardless of how friendly and well-trained your dog is, you must obey local leash and control laws. If not followed and make sure your dog is currently licensed and wearing their tag.
- Learn about the hazards- in your potential off-leash hiking areas (animals, traffic, other people)
⚠️Hazards⚠️
Venomous snakes
- Pond ice that your dog could fall through
- A spot along the beach where the ocean undertow is unusually strong
- Ponds that sometimes contain toxic algae
- Cliffs, caves, or abandoned mine shafts your dog could fall into or over
- Wildlife predators that could grab your dog
- A gap in a boundary fence near a busy road or highway.
Off leashing your dog can be more simple than someone might think, as long as your pup is an expert with the “Sit,Stay,Come” method from my previous blog post.
Before You Detach the Leash
It’s important to firstly be familiar with off leash laws, it’s a good idea to
practice off leash at home with distractions while demanding sit stay and come when requested. After practicing at a nearby park, it’s okay to bring treats to feel 100% comfortable.
A technique I use is the “walk away” method, this method comes in handy for especially walking whether it’s on or off leash. The Walk Away behavior can be used to cue your dog to quickly turn away from any potential hazard you (or she) just noticed or had come across and return back to your walk. This is used when you don’t want your dog going near something, this can be, other people/dogs, any other animals, or a potential hazard. This can be learned quickly using the techniques from my last post.
Transitioning
Once you are certain that you and your dog has nailed the basic off leash behavior continue your walk or hike on leash in order to get used to an unfamiliar environment. When your dog has demonstrated that she’s listening and responsive to you, quietly unsnap the leash and continue walking as before – rewarding her for checking in and occasionally practicing a recall or Walk Away. If he or she begins to get overstimulated, this can mean paying less attention to you, or often walking a little too far away. Take the next opportunity to reward him for checking in or coming to you, and cheerfully snap the leash back on for a little while. It’s important to keep on leash walks very positive, and let him or her off leash when you feel comfortable or when they have calmed you can go back to off leash. You don’t want your pup to think that every time they come back to you they might be put on leash for the rest of the walk. To that end, be sure every time you leash him or her you are happy, using a cheerful tone of voice, and delivering lots of reinforcement.
Do Not While Off Leashing
- Getting Distracted- it is important to remember that your dog is your primary responsibility. Limit being on your phone, and socializing, keep your eyes on your dog.
- Ignoring Hazards- do not fail to take action to prevent a potentially dangerous encounter for your dog if you do come across a bicyclist, horse, another dog, a frozen pond, or some other attraction in the distance, call your dog to you and keep him safely secured until the hazard has passed.
Furry Friend Training 