She's been coming back to us when we call to her at the dog park. She's been following me around at work if I carry a ball or her leash. She's been much more mellow at work and not munching on my books.
But, sometimes when we leave the house for our first walk of the day, she's racing to get out the door, pulling me down the steps. When I walk her after she's been home alone for several hours, she is walking me, or so my neighbors say! She knows "heel" but it's that initial take-ff that worries me.
So, I wonder, how do you know it's ok to unleash?? Would it be the worst thing if always walked her with the leash?
I don't know how to make the call on when to have her leash on or when to have it off, but for Chloe and Oliver, unless we're at home/in the yard they have their leash on! But if you want to make sure she doesn't run from you the second the leash is "un-clicked" then make the clicking of open and close on the leash and then let her off after 5 clicks or so. Then she won't associate the click with running away! Hope this helps! What an adorable photo and a pretty leash!
ReplyDeleteI always prefer dogs to be leashed. Dogs can be unpredictable and even if they are friendly, they may "do something" that may annoy another dog which may then result in a fight. I don't like taking the risk. :)
ReplyDeleteIt took me almost two years before I felt safe removing Duncan's leash when we walked. I started by simply dropping it and letting him drag it behind him. This was mostly for myself. I also worked hard on having him come when called by rewarding him with a treat that he only gets when he behaves on walks. In fact, I never leave the apartment without a small bag of treats in my pocket. He knows they're there and that he'll get one when he does what he should and the other dogs know me on sight.
ReplyDeleteEmail me and I'll have My Vickie tell you how we train the search dogs to come. Easy and fun but takes a bit of explaining.
ReplyDeleteBert
jamiesyra@msn.com
Good question! I always walk Suka on a leash but I would love to be able to have him walk with me and no leash. Good luck in training Finn. He seems to be at least half-way to that unleashable point, if not more-so. Very cute photo!
ReplyDeleteSuka and K
When I go on a walk, I'm always leashed. Otherwise, I might dart out into the street.
ReplyDeleteBut, in the backyard, I am off leash and I tear
around the yard!
Stewey
Looks like your training is going great, Finn!
ReplyDeleteThe Road Dogs
Mommy has just started working with a book called Control Unleashed! You might want to check it out. We goldens seem to need it at this age!
ReplyDeletePuppy Kisses,
Tanner
I never take the leash off my boys out in public. I've heard and read that if you're trying to teach your dog something, to do it in several different places, like teaching him/her to sit. Otherwise, they'll only do it at the one place you taught them. But really, if you take the leash off at a dog park or somewhere, how do you know they won't take off running in the opposite direction? I'd rather be safe than sorry so unless my boys are in the house or the back yard, they'll ALWAYS be on a leash.
ReplyDeleteMom lets off leash if we are in a safe place but always holds her breath cause you never know when to expect the unexpected. If the best behaved most reliable dogs can have 'off' days.
ReplyDeleteAROOOF!
Boondocks & The Love Shack Pack
My father used to be able to train his dogs to stay near when off leash. I just haven't had that kind of luck. So, I leave the leash on whenever we're out of our yard!
ReplyDeleteHi there Finn! We still walk the 2 brown dawgs on lead even though Thunder is 5 and Storm is 4. We train off lead, but when the dogs are out and about, they are always on lead.
ReplyDeleteI know my dogs aren't the best trained and I would never trust them off leash except in our fenced in yard. Rosie would probably be ok but I just don't take the chance and newly adopted Lucy is a wild card to say the least. I think my one arm is a couple inches longer since I've started walking her or as you say at the beginning of the walks she is walking me. But it really helps make them both mentally calm in the end so it's worth a sore arm now and then.
ReplyDeleteWe were told there is no way we are going to be able to teach heelwork while the boys are full of energy and raring to go, so always to teach it after we've had a walk when they're tired if that makes sense? We're going to try wearing them out in the garden first and see if that helps, I think they'd miss their off leash explorations but plenty of dogs are perfectly happy on leash, good luck, Finn is adorable and could get away with anything with me ;-) xxx
ReplyDeleteI don't think my pups will ever be able to be off leash...they see a bird and they'll take off, instincts will take over any training. That being said, I don't care for dogs to be off leash, I know the ones that are, are usually well behaved but yuki has fear-aggression towards strange dogs and a lot of unleashed dogs come running toward her wanting to play and this freaks her out.I have to pick her up to keep her from the other dog, she's barking and going crazy and a lot of times this makes the dog jump on me to try and get to yuki. This usually makes yuki worse and becomes defensive because she doesn't realize that the dog just wants to play.
ReplyDeleteWe can answer that question - since we are a household full of Sibes who always have to be leashed when going out (unless out in their own play yard), it's just fine to be walked on a leash!
ReplyDelete