Off leash training

vat · 03-28-2011, 06:47 PM

So it is time I train for off leash. I do not really want to spend money on training when I can do that here. Any suggestions to start, any websites or books you can refer for off leash training?

DJEtzel · 03-30-2011, 10:24 AM

Off leash training for....?

Are you talking a recall, off-leash obedience, etc?

Kayla's Dad · 03-30-2011, 10:34 AM

TO add to the above questions?

What kind of tools are you currently using? Collar, leashes, etc?

What kind of training tools are you planning on. Long line leash- 20+ feet? How is your dog's recall now?

What kind of areas do you have to train in? Enclosed field, ballpark, schoolyard? Can you work there without distractions around you?

London's Mom · 03-30-2011, 05:03 PM

Oddly enough, today London walked PERFECTLY through my 'hood off-leash. I have been training him to do so for about a year. To start this task, you must have taught your dog responsive recall. Very important. And your dog must be heeling on leash as well. One more thing, I have taught London to step off the road and sit when a car approaches. We live in a remote subdivision with no sidewalks but there is no thru traffic, only the few neighbors.

The first step is to have your dog's collar on with a short leash (6"-12") attached to it in case you have to grab it. Start walking along a fence in your enclosed backyard, if possible. Your dog should be against the fence and you should be next to him/her. Keep reinforcing the command "heel". If your dog starts to wander or get distracted, grab the short leash and gently pop it while saying "heel". When he/she is heeling, PRAISE! "Good heel!"

In our Intermediate Obedience Class, we all begin class off leash and randomly walking all around the large room. It is very distractful for the dogs because there is about 12-14 other dogs walking around off leash! It has been a great experience for London and me.

My first GSD, Minerva, learned to walk off-leash like a natural. There were times when a squirrel would dart right in front of us and into the street and Minerva would leave it. She was definitely focused on me above and beyond anything else. I was fortunate to have owned her.

It makes life so enjoyable when you have gained that trust/understanding from your dog whereas you can walk off-leash. For me, personally, it provides a sense of closeness for my dog and me as well as a sense of freedom.

BlackPuppy · 04-07-2011, 04:38 PM

Off leash training? I always train my dogs without a leash.

Are you talking about going for walks?

vat · 04-10-2011, 07:15 AM

Sorry I have not been back to answer, I had to come looking for this post.

I do off leash train in the house and I have done some in the back yard. I guess I just want to make sure he is reliable on recall and stay off leash in case he gets out (which has happened). We have some forest preserves around here but no fenced areas. I would not trust him off leash at places like that. Do I take him to these places and work him on a long leash?

London's Mom what a great idea, I do have a fenced yard and will give that a try.

turkeyhunter94 · 04-19-2011, 09:13 AM

you need to have very solid on leash training before you can start off leash

if you dog dont listen to you when hes on a leash there is no way he going to listen off leash

but what you need to do is start off small put him in a sit or down and walk a circle around him the lengh of the leash do that for a few days then start getting further and further away but always come back to him

after he has mastered that then you can put him in a sit or down walk a short distance away and give him the come command and still be able to use the leash to make sure that he does what he is told.

**MaggieRoseLee** · 04-19-2011, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turkeyhunter94

you need to have very solid on leash training before you can start off leash

.

I don't really even leash my puppies until I've had them for months except for SAFETY reasons.

In my experience, it's much easier to teach them OFF leash to stay with you and come if you start the day they hit your house at 8 weeks. When puppies NEED to stay with their pack and we can use that to our advantage.

Have to stress, you need to be somewhere safe for the puppy in case it startles and does dart off for a sec, but the following is how I 'walk' my puppies!

YouTube - Glory B (11 wks) and Bretta Lee (5 yrs) Wildhaus Hiking at Toms Ck (PA)

You Tube

GSD84 · 04-28-2011, 12:06 AM

MaggieRoseLee, I am amazed at how well your dogs listen to you. The way you walk your dogs is the way I one day hope to. We are looking at buying a GSD so right now I am researching a lot, and realizing there is a lot to learn and teach with dogs. You say you never leashed them. So how did you ever take them out on walks when they were 8 weeks old, and not have them run away? So interested in how you got them to listen like that. I love how they turn around to make sure your there!

turkeyhunter94 · 05-08-2011, 09:54 AM

Maggie nice vid and nice looking dogs but sry to say anyone can walk a dog out in the county in the woods with no leash. Would you let your dogs off leash while walking down the road? or on a sidwalk in town? I know that I can with my dog and that was bc of the onleash training.

03-28-2011, 06:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
vat Knighted Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Kingston, IL Posts: 3,027	Off leash training So it is time I train for off leash. I do not really want to spend money on training when I can do that here. Any suggestions to start, any websites or books you can refer for off leash training? __________________ Valerie Shewana's Maximum Velocity (aka Max) Shewana's Hot-Spice (aka Callan) Kaycee 11/97-5/10 Rio 10/08-2/10 Handle every stressful situation like a dog. If you can't eat it or play with it, pee on it and walk away.

03-30-2011, 10:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
DJEtzel Knighted Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 2,932	Off leash training for....? Are you talking a recall, off-leash obedience, etc? __________________ I'm Danielle Frag CGC, male GSD Bailey, female Rat Terrier Mix www.FraggleRockCollars.com

03-30-2011, 10:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
Kayla's Dad Knighted Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 2,831	TO add to the above questions? What kind of tools are you currently using? Collar, leashes, etc? What kind of training tools are you planning on. Long line leash- 20+ feet? How is your dog's recall now? What kind of areas do you have to train in? Enclosed field, ballpark, schoolyard? Can you work there without distractions around you? __________________ Samuel Kayla 02/12/05 Lancer 05/01/08

03-30-2011, 05:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
London's Mom Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New York Posts: 472	Oddly enough, today London walked PERFECTLY through my 'hood off-leash. I have been training him to do so for about a year. To start this task, you must have taught your dog responsive recall. Very important. And your dog must be heeling on leash as well. One more thing, I have taught London to step off the road and sit when a car approaches. We live in a remote subdivision with no sidewalks but there is no thru traffic, only the few neighbors. The first step is to have your dog's collar on with a short leash (6"-12") attached to it in case you have to grab it. Start walking along a fence in your enclosed backyard, if possible. Your dog should be against the fence and you should be next to him/her. Keep reinforcing the command "heel". If your dog starts to wander or get distracted, grab the short leash and gently pop it while saying "heel". When he/she is heeling, PRAISE! "Good heel!" In our Intermediate Obedience Class, we all begin class off leash and randomly walking all around the large room. It is very distractful for the dogs because there is about 12-14 other dogs walking around off leash! It has been a great experience for London and me. My first GSD, Minerva, learned to walk off-leash like a natural. There were times when a squirrel would dart right in front of us and into the street and Minerva would leave it. She was definitely focused on me above and beyond anything else. I was fortunate to have owned her. It makes life so enjoyable when you have gained that trust/understanding from your dog whereas you can walk off-leash. For me, personally, it provides a sense of closeness for my dog and me as well as a sense of freedom. __________________ London's Mom --------------------------------------------- Minerva 9/1994 - 1/2009 Lugar 4/1997 - 2/2009 Olina 4/2009 - 2/2011 London 1/19/2009 - Emma 8/27/2010 -

04-10-2011, 07:15 AM	#6 (permalink)
vat Knighted Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Kingston, IL Posts: 3,027	Sorry I have not been back to answer, I had to come looking for this post. I do off leash train in the house and I have done some in the back yard. I guess I just want to make sure he is reliable on recall and stay off leash in case he gets out (which has happened). We have some forest preserves around here but no fenced areas. I would not trust him off leash at places like that. Do I take him to these places and work him on a long leash? London's Mom what a great idea, I do have a fenced yard and will give that a try. __________________ Valerie Shewana's Maximum Velocity (aka Max) Shewana's Hot-Spice (aka Callan) Kaycee 11/97-5/10 Rio 10/08-2/10 Handle every stressful situation like a dog. If you can't eat it or play with it, pee on it and walk away.

04-07-2011, 04:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
BlackPuppy Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,420	Off leash training? I always train my dogs without a leash. Are you talking about going for walks?

04-19-2011, 09:13 AM	#7 (permalink)
turkeyhunter94 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 25	you need to have very solid on leash training before you can start off leash if you dog dont listen to you when hes on a leash there is no way he going to listen off leash but what you need to do is start off small put him in a sit or down and walk a circle around him the lengh of the leash do that for a few days then start getting further and further away but always come back to him after he has mastered that then you can put him in a sit or down walk a short distance away and give him the come command and still be able to use the leash to make sure that he does what he is told.

04-28-2011, 12:06 AM	#9 (permalink)
GSD84 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Barrie, On Posts: 223	MaggieRoseLee, I am amazed at how well your dogs listen to you. The way you walk your dogs is the way I one day hope to. We are looking at buying a GSD so right now I am researching a lot, and realizing there is a lot to learn and teach with dogs. You say you never leashed them. So how did you ever take them out on walks when they were 8 weeks old, and not have them run away? So interested in how you got them to listen like that. I love how they turn around to make sure your there!

05-08-2011, 09:54 AM	#10 (permalink)
turkeyhunter94 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 25	Maggie nice vid and nice looking dogs but sry to say anyone can walk a dog out in the county in the woods with no leash. Would you let your dogs off leash while walking down the road? or on a sidwalk in town? I know that I can with my dog and that was bc of the onleash training.

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
German Shepherd Advertisement