In my last column, I wrote about how allowing a dog off leash too soon can create unwanted behavioural problems.
There is no specific age that determines when a dog is ready to be off leash, but rather a degree of reliability that comes from consistent positive results training.
Also, I want to stress that I am not an advocate of dogs being off leash at all times. There is a time and place for dogs to walk freely, which is determined by designated bylaws and an owner’s personal responsibility for their dog. If you are not mature enough to accept responsibility for your dog’s behaviour, you should not be allowing your dog off leash.
When transitioning a dog of any age from on leash to off leash, the biggest problem is distractions, whether they come from other dogs, people or wildlife. When a dog is off leash and gets distracted, the challenge is getting its attention back. That is why working on maintaining a dog’s attention amidst distractions while leashed and developing a solid training foundation is necessary to achieve the reliability that is required for off-leash walking.
If a solid training foundation has been established, begin off-leash work in areas of low distraction. This does not mean avoiding popular trails, but when distractions are high, the dog should remain on leash to avoid unwanted behaviours being rewarded. When distractions are low, the dog can be let off leash for training, but not allowed to wander around willy nilly.
Start the training by determining how far away you are going to let your dog walk from you. My comfort level is about 15 feet. I set that distance with my dogs through training and now they know to check in with me when they get close to that distance. This is practised in areas of little or no distraction by starting with the dog’s recall from 15 feet away.
Ask Fido to stay, then step 15 feet away from the dog, turn and call him. Fido is then rewarded, told to stay, and the scenario is repeated three or four times.
Note: if your dog cannot do a sit/stay at a distance, this means there is no solid training foundation and it is not yet ready for off-leash work.
Next, allow Fido to walk ahead of you. When he is close to the 15-foot mark, stop walking and call him. When he comes, reward him with praise and a super treat. Repeat this scenario three to four times.
Now comes the test. Allow Fido to wander ahead of you. When he gets to that 15-foot mark, stop walking. At this point, if your foundation training has been consistent, Fido will stop and look over his shoulder at you, expecting the call. When Fido looks, give your recall immediately and reward just as quickly. Practise this scenario three to four times, then put Fido back on leash.
It’s not punishment to leash your dog after training, but rather an opportunity to reinforce that solid foundation.
The leashed training foundation should include stop and sit (or coming into heel) upon the approach of another person. With consistency, this will teach your dog to sit (or heel) by your side and not jump on people when they pass by. When it comes to off-leash work, Fido will transform into a dog that automatically comes to you, without his recall, when he sees a person approaching.
The best feeling ever is seeing your dog come to you when it notices a person up ahead instead of running towards that person.
Create distracting situations while Fido is leashed by allowing him to sniff and investigate an area. When he lifts his head, you have about a two-second window of opportunity to get his attention. Call Fido and, if necessary, run backwards a bit, away from the distraction, then reward him when he comes. You can do the same thing while off leash and Fido will start looking for you after a momentary distraction.
Remember, don’t put a time limit on your dog’s ability to learn this information. Be patient, but test his off-leash abilities from time to time to see how he has retained the information.
Joan Klucha has been working with dogs for more than 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation. Contact her at [email protected].
