Off leash walking?

[SizzleDog]

When we go hiking, Ilsa is off-leash and Ronin is *definitely* on-leash. Ilsa is well trained with a solid recall, so she is fine offleash in the country. Ronin is intact and sometimes DA, so he's tehtered to me at all times. The only time he's been offleash in a non-fenced area is when we waded over to an island in the middle of the Skunk River. There was really nowhere for him to go, so I let him off. At that time, he was still VERY traumatized from his previous home and stuck to me like glue.

Now, Ronin has "made a break for it" out the patio door occasionally, but he always comes right back - scares me to death every time he's done it (about three times) but I'm always so relieved that all he seems to want to do is get a big burst of speed, run to the edge of the parking lot, then run back again as fast as his legs will carry him... crazy boy!

Happily ON-leash at Ledges State Park...

Ilsa enjoys her freedom out at Peterson Pits...

Ronin OFF-leash in an unfenced area for the ONLY time in his life - chillin' offshore of the island at Peterson Pits!

And Ronin on his flexi... how he spends every other outing into the wilderness... (yes, he's the only one on-leash - the other three girls were fine offleash)

 

[Gempress]

If there is a leash law or rules about dogs on leash (like on some hiking trails/national parks), my dogs are on leashes. I must admit, I don't understand why some people are so careful about obeying traffic laws and such, but have no problems disregarding a leash law.

Even if there is no leash law, my Zeus is always on leash. He has the recall of a tree stump....maybe worse. Voodoo has an extremely good recall, but I have only let him off leash maybe 2-3 times while in the country. People regularly mistake him for a pit bull. They're uneasy enough with him on-leash. And in the ranching country where I live, it's fairly common for landowners to shoot loose dogs on their property.

 

[Brattina88]

one of my favorite places to hike is a huge privately owned wooded lot (where we have permission to go, of course) It's owned by the same people who own the campground we camp most often at. The only trails that exist are the ones Maddie and I made over time *grin*

again, wide open country... "appropriate" IMHO... there's no one around for miles...

^ ^

backpacking... Whats that? Oh, its a leash! lol
... I think owners need to use their best judgement, use some common sense, and be responsible​

Even if I had a dog with perfect recall, do I really have the right to dominate a public space with what is, after all, a fairly large predator running at large?

No. Thanks for bringing it up like that. Irresponsible owners who do let this happen are the reason leash laws are in order. Not everybody loves dogs, and in fact, some people are terrified of dogs. I think it's very disrespectful and irresponsible to ignore that fact, ignore the leash laws, and let dogs off leash - or even on a long lead, a flexi - in a populated/public area.

I think there are places where, yes, it's appropriate, and a dog who has a solid recall may be let off leash.
No matter how obedient my dogs are, there is no way in heck I am going to walk them around town, on the sidewalks and stuff off leash. And I don't think anybody should. Why would you? *shakes head*

I don't understand why some people are so careful about obeying traffic laws and such, but have no problems disregarding a leash law.

Even if there is no leash law, my Zeus is always on leash. He has the recall of a tree stump....maybe worse. Voodoo has an extremely good recall, but I have only let him off leash maybe 2-3 times while in the country. People regularly mistake him for a pit bull. They're uneasy enough with him on-leash.

Probably because they're not enforced *rolleyes*
I was the first person in line to get my dogs license this year -because I don't want to be fined. In town (and state parks, ect, like mentioned above), the leashes are on because that's the law, I want my dogs to be safe, and I don't want to be fined. A couple houses down their dogs are never on a leash, and they often come out to the sidewalk and jump on me, or to great the dogs on a walk (TG my dogs are good with other dogs, and there's usually is too). They're never concerned about having them on a leash. (And I live on a very busy, main 4 lane road ) Why should they be? We live 2mins from the county dog warden's office and no one says anything to them... ever...

LOL @ the recall of a tree stump.... nicely put...

And like I said before; people are afriad of dogs. Just as you don't risk it with Voodoo (because people mistake him as a pit) I won't risk it with Missy. Because everybody knows GSD are aggressive police dogs who like to eat children heh heh

 

[joce]

If I couldn't let my dogs off leash I probally wouldn't have them. When I was younger we had no fence and no chains and the dogs went as they pleased-never had a dog hit or hurt. If we lived in the city it would probally be diffrent but thats why I don't live in the city and there is a risk but I would rather my dog get to be a dog than stuck to me at all times.



I trust my dobe and beagle mix 100% off leash. the husky and the corgi not so much but thats why they eitheir get to drag the lounge line or get walked in the back woods were they know were they are and listen.

I cna't imagine my dogs having fun on a leashed walk-I just don't.

In the summer we literally take whole day long hikes and I couldn't imagine having them chained up. What fun would that be for them?

As far as being a predator,the only time my husky ever killed something on someone elses land was when she was on a leash She stuck her head in the woods and came out with a racoon!

This is the place we go on long walks-no road,its a creek bed

And how would they ever swim onleash? My dogs would loose their minds.

 

[milos_mommy]

the only time milo is off leash is in very rural areas, like my grandmother's house or on the nature trail i bring him to. he doesn't run away, but he wouldn't stay out of the road. my mom's dog is stubborn as a mule though, he's a wheaten terrier and he's never offleash.

 

[Doberluv]

Beautiful pictures you guys. Yup...I agree. There is a time and place for off leash exercise and the right kind of dog who is reliable and safe. If there were not any places for off leash exericise, exploring and fun, personally, I wouldn't own a larger breed dog...maybe just Chihuahuas. I could not live in the city, not only for that reason but because I'm just too much of a country gal. LOL. (don't translate that to be redneck, ok?) :lol-sign:

 

[Kase]

Casey is off leash everday. Mainly in the park on college days and at the woods on weekends and if we are lucky the beach .

 

[BostonBanker]

Add me to the "clarification" list. Meg is rarely on-leash because of the places we spend our time. I almost never "walk" her in the nomal sense; she's off-leash all day at work (horse farm, set back from the road) and gets hiked in rural areas where off-leash hiking is allowed and where she is not in any danger of encountering cars. When we get home for the day, the last thing she wants to do is get put on a leash to go for a walk.

I certainly couldn't own her if she didn't get plenty of off-leash exercise. I'd have to walk a hundred miles a day to keep a 2-year old hunting dog tired!

So, yes. Safe areas, well-trained, friendly dogs with strong recalls and in areas without leash laws (I used to be an animal control officer, and refuse to violate those laws).
Our favorite hike:

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It's hard to practice flying when you are on a leash!

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[squirtsmom]

I h ave a pitbull. Not only do we stay on the leash, we try anad stay away from other dogs and people.

 

[M&M's Mommy]

I live in a very busy city, where traffic is jammed right in front of my house, so my pups are always on leash when we walk outside, which is rare, because luckily for me, my pups are small, and my back yard is huge.. so they get most of their excercise there, off-leash of course

 

[Road dog]

If there were not any places for off leash exericise, exploring and fun, personally, I wouldn't own a larger breed dog...maybe just Chihuahuas.

LOL, why let that stop you? Our foster Chihuahua needs a home, he'd be a great dobie snack.... errr.... I mean lap warmer (God I hope Roxy doesn't read that, LOL)

P.S. What's wrong with being a redneck? LOL

There are a few places we go to walk our girls off leash, one of our favorites is a living history farm museum with many acres of open space, we walk them there after hours with permision, I've been an active volounteer there for years.

Another fav is a public park which allows off leash dogs in the mornings and evenings. It's a real nice group of folks who gather every day to enjoy time spent with dogs. All the dogs that come are friendly and we owners do a good job of policing ourselves and keeping the park clean. There is even a monthly "work day" where dog owners gather to clean up, trim trees, Make small repairs, and basicly show the community what a group of determined and responsible dog owners are capable of.

Here are some pics from the park..

 

[darkchild16]

and i have to ask whats wrong with rednecks lmao j/k

like this i see no reason to keep him onleash in a place like this. It would be crazy to expect him to stay on leash in my own area. And we dont have a fence so he has to havea strong recall he also in loose in teh front yard at my moms house because he doesnt leave the yard unless im with him. again the only time he left there is when a dog was on teh edge of the road in front of our yard threating me.
oh and btw my intact male pit is never off leash unless he is going to the truck even when we play with him around the "yard"

*more*

 

[darkchild16]

i cant get photobucket open to get te rest just yet.

 

[Doberluv]

Am lovin' these pictures. Boston! Beautiful place! I love your dog flying off that bale. Yes, a leash might cause a little neck damage in that manuver.

LOL, why let that stop you? Our foster Chihuahua needs a home, he'd be a great dobie snack.... errr.... I mean lap warmer (God I hope Roxy doesn't read that, LOL)

P.S. What's wrong with being a redneck? LOL

Oh, nothing...I just have Jeff Foxworthy on the brain, I guess.

Oh yes, I'll take your Chihuahua. Lyric loves those little snacks, especially the ones with a little meat on them.

 

[darkchild16]

i got it right after i posted

 

[Snark]

I live in a rural area but I walk the boys on leash while walking down the road because they love to chase cars. Once we get to my neighbor's fenced property, they go off leash to run, play and sit in the lake (and I'd rather have them off leash cuz I don't want to sit in the lake with them.)

 

[Lizmo]

I would LOVE to with Lizzie, but how would you train a dog to stay with you off leash? We have just started walking in a big field but it is close to were cars come into our neighborhood...not many cars but still some cars

Also if you practice with just having the dog next to you in a fenced area does the dog know the area is fenced and know when it is not fenced in? <<<---that maybe a stupid question

 

[SizzleDog]

Ilsa graduated from a 6' leash, to a flexi leash... to a 30' long line dragged on the ground, to a 60' long line (a very light one) dragged on the ground... to nothing. Constant ENFORCED recalls with treats the whole time. Worked like a charm for me!

 

[Saje]

We did it completely wrong with Maverick. We just let him off leash and walked. He'd run to catch up and we'd give him treats. It worked although it was far from reliable for months. Wouldn't do that again!

Mikey and Nanook had a recall when we got them. They were both adopted as needy adults so they didn't really want to be far from us. We just had to reinforce it.

And Sakari is still on a longline. She's getting better but there's nowhere to let her offleash anyway so we'll just have to work on that later.

 

[silverpawz]

My guys go on off leash walks a couple times a week. We have a wooded trail behind the house and they love to chase squirrels and go wadding in the lake.

I would LOVE to with Lizzie, but how would you train a dog to stay with you off leash?

Honestly, only so much is training. Having a dog that stays close off leash on his own has more to do with personality, then training.

Yes, recall training is important. Yes, practice your recalls. But if you have a dog with hard core wanderlust, it's going to be very hard to get him to WANT to stay with you without the use of a remote collar.

My Collies naturally stay close, sure they're trained to come when called and they always do, but I hardly ever have to call them when we're out on a walk becasue they automatically come back to 'check in' on me, and that's not something I trained.