Allowing a dog off-leash freedom is more than simply being in an area that allows it.
Bylaws strictly state that when in an off-leash area a dog must be under voice control at all times, which means to have a reliable recall.
Over the last few weeks I have been giving training steps for a reliable recall, starting with setting a dog up for success through leadership training and establishing boundaries for a dog to live within.
The training then transitioned to walking a dog on a long training line and implementing obedience commands and the recall but having the long line to help set the dog up for success.
Finally the training progressed to allowing the dog off-leash in areas of low distraction and practising throughout the walk.
The same commands that were trained while on the long training line were used, yet there was an awareness of trigger areas along the walk where the dog got easily distracted and lost focus.
During those times the dog was placed back on leash to maintain training success.
This week I will discuss what to do to prevent the runaway dog, the dog that has now become very good off-leash but on occasion gets distracted in non-trigger areas and ignores commands to come.
As I said, these dogs are often already coming to their owner upon being called but suddenly snap their head in another direction with their nose in the air and quickly run away.
The first thing you have to be aware of is that the dog is not being naughty but simply following an instinct that has been stimulated by the scent. This scent could be a squirrel, a deer a rabbit or even a dog that may have passed that way recently.
This is, however, how even the best of recalls falls apart because if a dog owner does not notice these moments and correct the behaviour, it becomes a habit and a dog learns to pay more attention to his nose than his owner.
The first step to correct the behaviour is to be present along the walk.
When I got a cellphone I chose the non-surgically implanted version.
This means that I am capable of walking my dogs with both hands free and my attention is on my dogs and my surroundings. Since I am neither physically nor mentally attached to my phone, I am able to respond immediately to a change in my dogs behaviour.
This is a good thing because it is when we are not present, that our dogs are most likely to run off and ignore our attempts to call them. The less we focus on our dogs, the less they focus on us. Dogs don’t run off in spite. But they do get distracted, because we are distracted.
It is when our heads are down, looking at our cellphones or we let our mind wander onto mindless gibberish that we miss our dogs subtle signs that they are going to blow off their recall.
Pay attention to your dogs along the walks.
The second step to correcting the behaviour is to use the “leave it” command.
When I use my “leave it” command with my dogs, I am asking them to let go mentally and physically of whatever it is they are triggered by, be it a sock out of the laundry basket or the thoughts of chasing a squirrel.
Along the trails, in those split seconds when a dog lifts its nose into the wind and catches the scent of something, it is imperative that an owner be aware of that split second mental shift in their dog and give their “leave it” command because that split second mental shift will determine whether a dog comes or runs off.
A good “leave it” command will switch that brain off of whatever triggered it and back onto you.
As soon as the dog looks back at you, call it and then leash if for a short period of time.
It is not a punishment to leash your dog after it comes to you unless you make it punishment.
After placing your dog on leash praise it, give it affection and treats.
This will get your dog to release the thoughts of running back at whatever triggered it and keep its focus on you.
As always be respectful of other trail and park users when you allow your dog off leash.
Joan Klucha has been working with dogs for more than 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation. [email protected].
