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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nI\u2019ve even been able to take my dogs to various distracting environments like fields where people are playing baseball or to shopping centers and practiced obedience commands like sit, down, stay, come, and even retrieving an obedience dumbbell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m not going to kid you–it took a lot of time, training, and patience. But it was worth it because I could trust them in everyday situations too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am not a fan of just taking a dog on his regular walk without a leash, though. A regular, fun walk should allow the dog to look around, sniff a little and enjoy his surroundings. And it can be dangerous even if a dog is well-trained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this article, I\u2019ll describe how to train your dog to be off-leash. I\u2019ll also talk about the risks of allowing your dog to be off-lead. And there are many to take into account when deciding whether you want to let him have such freedom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even if you never plan to take your dog off-leash when you\u2019re working with him, it\u2019s still important to teach him to respond no matter what in case an accident happens. Someone may inadvertently leave a door open or a dog may slip out of his collar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Training a dog to be off-leash can be very rewarding–to you and your dog. Most dogs love the freedom to play and explore that it provides. And you won\u2019t have to worry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- But it takes a lot of patience, consistency, and training to achieve. And, of course, there\u2019s always an element of risk involved even with the most well-trained dogs. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- In deciding whether your dog is a good candidate for off-leash work, there are numerous factors to consider. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Examine whether your dog\u2019s temperament is such that he can be off-leash reliably. And consider whether he has too much prey or herding drive to be trusted off-leash.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Consider Others and Rules<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There may be local or city leash laws that require dogs to be leashed at all times. If they\u2019re violated, fines or citations may be issued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There may also be requirements that your dog have some type of identification, which is important even if there\u2019s no rule requiring it. So have some type of ID on his collar in case he should run off or get lost so that he can be returned to you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although a microchip may not be required, it\u2019s good to have for your dog should he leave you. Make sure that his microchip has the most recent information and is registered to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some people–including children–may be afraid of dogs. So, even if you have a very friendly dog, it\u2019s not a good practice to have him rush up to strangers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And doing so can be harmful to him too because some people may injure him when they feel like they have to defend themselves. Or they may even report you and potentially have him labeled as a dangerous dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Basic Off-Leash Requirements for Your Specific Dog<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In order for a dog to successfully be trained to be off-leash, he should be even-tempered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, he shouldn\u2019t be reactive or aggressive to people, other animals, or new objects or experiences. And he shouldn\u2019t have extreme<\/em> prey or herding drives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, he shouldn\u2019t be noise-sensitive or he may flee when a scary noise occurs. If your dog is used to and loves wandering off, he may not be a candidate for off-leash work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even well-trained dogs have certain drives because of their genetics that may make it unsafe for them to be off-lead. And it depends on that particular dog whether he can be trusted to be off-leash. Even very well-trained dogs can be distracted when free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When deciding whether your dog can be safe off-leash, consider his natural drives. If you have a terrier like a cairn, Scottie, or westie, he may be genetically predisposed to run after small prey like squirrels or rabbits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Or if you have a sporting dog, he may have a lot of natural drive to run after birds. Goldens and Labs often have this natural instinct–especially if they\u2019re bred from hunting lines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And herding dogs like shelties, border collies, and Aussies may want to chase many things that move fast such as joggers and people on bikes or motorcycles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, many of these dogs can be trained to be off-leash in certain settings. After all, goldens, labs, and some spaniels can be trained to flush out game or hunt waterfowl and return to their handler. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But it may be more difficult to train a dog with such drives. And dogs with very strong natural instincts<\/em> may never be reliable off a leash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Basic Commands Off-Leash Dogs Should Know<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Training is important for all dogs. It helps us communicate with our dogs and inform them of our rules. Positive reinforcement training also furthers our bond with our dogs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the reliable performance of certain commands even with distractions is crucial for the safety of an off-lead dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Training requires patience and consistency. Always end the training session on a positive note. And when training any command always mark the desired behavior by saying \u201cYES!\u201d (or with a click if you\u2019ve used clicker training). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I like to teach all dogs to respond to a verbal reward marker because we might not have a clicker<\/a> on us wherever we are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Attention and reinforcement from you needs to be more exciting and rewarding than any freedom he can get. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When teaching all of the following commands, start without distractions in your home. Practice in different rooms and areas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After your dog learns the command well without distractions inside, start working on them outside in your yard. Then, after your dog\u2019s reliable near your home, start practicing on your walks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eventually, you\u2019ll be able to practice in new settings like a field or hiking trail. But make sure that your dog\u2019s reliable with lower-level distractions before moving on to higher-level distractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use a long-line such as a cotton or nylon leash of 20 or more feet. At first, you want to hold onto it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t let your dog run at full speed away from you so that he doesn\u2019t get injured. Hold the line at various increments, letting more out slowly so that he understands his limits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You also may want to do distance work when he\u2019s on a well-fitted harness that he can\u2019t escape from. If you use a well-fitted collar, make sure that you don\u2019t pull on his neck or that he doesn\u2019t run away on it and become injured. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019re confident that he\u2019s reliable on the long line, you can just have him drag it so that you can grab it if need be. Only do this in an area like a yard or field where there\u2019s nothing that the leash can get tangled on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, after he\u2019s reliable on a regular-weight long-line<\/a>, transition to a lighter (but still secure) line<\/a>. Then, show your dog you\u2019ve taken the heavier long-line off leaving just a lighter long-line on him. This will test whether he can be trusted for off-leash work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your training sessions should be short: five to 15 minutes. Just perform a few of each command during each session, always ending on a positive, successful note.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The whole point of this training is for you to get voice control of your dog when he\u2019s off a leash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you train outside, make sure the area is safely enclosed with some type of barrier like a fence. Also, never train near a busy area with many people or where there\u2019s traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pay Attention!<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The most basic command all dogs should know is to pay attention<\/a> to us. If they don\u2019t, any other commands we give are useless. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So teach your dog to watch you and listen. You can use his name and a \u201clook\u201d command. At first, hold a treat near your face, then tell him to look (\u201cFido, look\u201d). When he looks at you, praise (\u201cYES!\u201d) and reward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eventually, overtraining sessions, when he starts looking at you on the look cue, stop holding the treat near your face and just mark the behavior and give him the reward treat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PRO-TRAINER TIP: <\/strong>Use VERY high-value reward treats for training your dog for off-lead work. Usually, high-value treats are cheese or meat. Treats should be about the size of a pea. He should be highly motivated to come to you. Always have special treats ready before giving the command. The timing is important. Praise and give the reward treat immediately after the dog performs the correct behavior. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reliable Recall<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Another life-saving command is a reliable recall<\/a>. For your dog to be safe off-leash, he must come to you no matter how distracting the environment is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Start in a distraction-free environment inside. Say his name and \u201ccome.\u201d Praise (YES!! Good come!!) and give him the reward treat as soon as he comes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I advise you to give him a \u201cjackpot\u201d of treats when he comes. So give him four small treats in a row (not all at once). Giving a jackpot not only makes coming to you very rewarding, it also teaches him to remain with you longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What if he doesn\u2019t come to you at first? Dogs aren\u2019t stubborn. They may just not comprehend what we want or may not have been sufficiently rewarded when they come. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make sure that he understands what you want and make coming to you fun! Happily say his name and come. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take a few steps away from him when he looks at you, which can help a dog come to you and move faster towards you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If all else fails, first show him the GREAT treats you have for him. This lure is alright to use at first. But don\u2019t let him become too dependent on it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As soon as he starts coming to you happily and regularly, stop showing the lure treat and just praise and reward when he comes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another reason a dog may not come is that he\u2019s had something negative happen to him when he\u2019s come to you. Coming to you should always <\/em>be positive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So don\u2019t call him to you and have anything that your dog sees as negative. Most dogs don\u2019t love baths or having their nails clipped. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although they should learn to tolerate these experiences, they don\u2019t love them. So don\u2019t call him to you and immediately after give him a bath or clip his nails. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If he\u2019s already learned that the command \u201ccome\u201d means that something negative will occur when he goes to you, you\u2019ll have to re-train the exercise using a new cue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The \u201ccome\u201d cue has been poisoned in the past. But don\u2019t despair. Just re-train using another word such as \u201chere.\u201d And, this time, make it a veritable party when your pup goes to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another trick to help most dogs come is to run in the other direction while calling them–and even getting low on the ground when you stop (as long as you don\u2019t have a dog that jumps on you). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It makes coming to you more exciting. This can be used occasionally when training a recall and even in emergency situations if your dog gets loose before he learns to come to you reliably off-leash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are other fun recall games<\/a> you can play with your dog. After all, a dog will be more likely to respond to training that\u2019s fun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Have recall games between two people. Play hide-and-seek in your home and fenced yard where you call your dog. Call him to you for his dinner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whenever your dog comes, make it a party! Praise, reward, even play sometimes. Your dog should be excited to see what great things will happen when he reaches you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When starting your recall session, use high-value treats that you use only for that exercise. And give him a jackpot during each recall. Try to avoid repeating commands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can even play other recall games such as calling your dog from a sit or down stay (assuming his stays are solid). Or you can send him after a toy like his ball and call him back. Then the game begins again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can even add some advanced training exercises like teaching him to target to a dog food cover plastic lid at a distance and call him back to you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Or you can teach him to circle around an object like a small empty plastic trash can or cone. First, lure him around it and move the treat to come back to you in a u-turn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eventually, you can move further away and use your hand motion for the luring to have him make a U-turn back to you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can even do some fun canine nosework of having him find a treat or toy you hide, then call him back to you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, show him where you hide it and tell him to find it. Once he gets the idea, you can hide the treat or toy without him seeing where you put it. After he finds the object, call him to you and praise and reward!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I also teach all of the dogs I train to perform an emergency recall. There are many ways to teach it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One way my students really like is to teach your dog what the word \u201ctreat\u201d means. Standing in front of your dog, you would first say the word treat, then give him a treat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do this a few times in a row each training session. Then, after you\u2019ve done this for a few days, happily say your dog\u2019s name and \u201cTREAT, TREAT, TREAT!!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When he comes to you, praise his behavior of coming and give him a jackpot of treats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When practicing, do random recalls throughout the day, so that he learns coming to you is always fun and rewarding.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Call him to you while you\u2019re folding the wash or paying the bills or on the computer. You get the idea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remember: reinforcement is more than just praise and treats. It\u2019s whatever your dog finds to be rewarding, including play. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So when I have my Aussie mix Millie come to me, we sometimes play tug or fetch as she finds these to be as rewarding as treats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You want to get to the point where even if you don\u2019t call your dog, he will often check back with you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
My Lhasa apso Ralphie has learned that checking back with me is very rewarding. <\/em>When he comes back to me even when I don\u2019t call him, I praise and highly reward him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Behavior that\u2019s rewarded will repeat itself. I even play a game on leashed walks with my dogs where I\u2019ll suddenly move away a few steps and call my dog to me. By doing this, he\u2019s used to turning around and coming to me no matter where we are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leave It!<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The \u201cleave it\u201d command is very important for all dogs to know. But for a dog who\u2019s off-leash, it can literally save his life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When a dog\u2019s at a distance from you, you need to be able to tell him to leave anything on the ground, an animal, or even a person, and for him to respond immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s also important to train your dog to drop any item that he\u2019s picked up. So teach him a \u201cdrop it\u201d command too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Loose-Leash Walking<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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