Off Leash

[seashel]

I am very lucky as we live in a rural location but having said this, the dogs are always on a lead while we are walking along the roads/near roads. Being older mine are now fairly reliable, although Revel is pushing the boundaries a bit as he is now getting the elder dog 'selective deafness/come when I'm ready mentality' which is rather irksome

However, I was very careful when they were puppies. No one has mentioned it yet so this might be peculiar to UK shelties (I would be interested) but shelties are renowned for being bolters, especially nervy ones or when young This dosn't always mean they will run flat out, but they tend to trot at a fast pace allowing you to get several feet away but no closer. Owner running away dosn't work here as they seem to literally get single track minds.

This happened to a friend's sheltie, he was a rehome but she had him for a while and we were a long way from roads when he suddenly took into his head to go back. It was a really terrifying experience.
Revel used to do this up till about 12 months old, fortunatly where we walked then it was all fields right back to the house.

Even Yogi took it into his head to dissapear a few weeks ago, we were walking as a group and I thought he was right behined me but when I looked he was no where to be seen. ecause he was kept on lead for the first 14 months of life he normally stays within sight of me so I was concerned. I heard barking in the distance and followed it about half a mile to where the car was parked. He had gone back there and he was with some people who had him by the harness and was about to get into their car

This gave me a real wake up and shook me out of being complacent about the dogs being fine and now I always check constantly they are near as there has been a lot of dog thefts in the area. At least if the dog is on the lead then it's not being stolen by someone...

Sorry for the long post

 

[Justicemom]

However, I was very careful when they were puppies. No one has mentioned it yet so this might be peculiar to UK shelties (I would be interested) but shelties are renowned for being bolters, especially nervy ones or when young This dosn't always mean they will run flat out, but they tend to trot at a fast pace allowing you to get several feet away but no closer. Owner running away dosn't work here as they seem to literally get single track minds.

No we see this is shelties here too. When Rachel got Vogue, she would do this is the fenced yard. She hadn't been out too much and while socialized wasn't socialize enough. She has had her alittle over 3 wks and she is not doing the behavior anymore but she is always on a 15 ft longline in the house and a 30ft one when out of walks. So Rachel can always get her. Still a bigtime flight risk. The rest of the dogs grew up different on a longline until the recall is really well down. We are still cautinous with them as youngsters and around traffic and in town always on leashes..

 

[BarbV]

You have to know your dog and you have to trust where you walk them.

When I was at my old house, the dogs were NEVER off-leash. There was just too much traffic and their recall is not reliable enough.

At the cottage they are off-leash all the time. They sometimes wander but never go to far, my only worry is them fally into the St. Lawrence and being carried downstream to Brockville before I discover they are gone!

At my new house, they are off leash when I take them for a walk in the back-40. But I carry the leash with me. If either one of them gets "silly" or if I see a new dog coming, they are told to sit/stay and the leash is on. They may not recall, but they do know Stay. I know all the dogs that walk this route regularly. I'm not worried about trouble, and I'm not worried about traffic.

 

[MissJennyAngel]

Related... And somewhat not response!

I think it boils down to trust, training and location.

My 6 month old pup is a saint when he's around me, he acts more like an adult dog than a puppy. But when we are out for a walk and see a person or dog his attitude changes. He just wants to play and he'll dart around, and completely disregards everything in the process. He won't listen, or be scared of something he should be scared of (lawn mower, car, ect).

It's a good thing I have him on leash at those times or I know by now he would've been hit by a car long before I could have done anything to save him.

Though I will say it's a bit frustrating untying myself from the trees, mailbox's, signs that he will frequently spin around.

So I agree with this one, my sheltie Angel is also 6 months. If we are out somewhere new with strangers...even my family she will never stray. When she's home she will take off if I let her go unleashed. It's the oddest thing!

I taught Angel a lot of whistle calls, because my family speaks multiple languages. I once had the tangle issue myself... Mailboxes, trees, people, me... Awful! Finally it just clicked when I said around or made a long whistle she had to retrace her steps around the object. Give it a try sometime. Tangles are fairly infrequent! Unless she finds herself in a bush... Darn girl loves a good bush tussle.

 

[EJHUNTL]

I let my dogs off lead when we are in the country. They all have very good recalls. I have call them off squirrels, rabbits and deer. Sometimes at home late at night I let them go to the house off leash. That being said. In the city, they are on leash 99% of the time(except for the late nights) and I would never let a 3 month old puppy off lead. They had not earned that prevailage yet. They earn it on a long line.

She is your puppy, tell your neighbor to stuff it.

At home (we are not fenced) or in town or near roads, Hanna is always on leash or contained on the deck. At the beach or in the park - she is off leash under certain conditions. Only when we are away from the road, and there are no or few people around. If there are any other dogs we have met on leash and spoken to be sure it's okay first. Honestly 9 times out of 10 when I take her walks in the park we meet no other people, as this end is not easily accessible so most people don't know or use the trails. We also start with the first 5 minutes on leash and also end on leash when we get closer to home. I have treats and we practice some recalls mid walk. This represents her only opportunity to full out run, and while I agree that it does come with some risk - I have done my best to miminize that and the benefit to her in terms of exercise and sheer joy is worth it. The beach here is a great place to walk a dog - lots of days there are hardly any people on it and you see people or animals coming from a mile away. There's always loads of time to clip on a leash or more likely step on it as I often just let her drag it.

Your dog - your call.

 

[Mom2Melli]

Off leash in our backyard or on our gated deck or in dog class which is closed with a double door only.

Too many odd things have happened that a leash has prevented.

 

[Greenepony]

Olive is only off leash in secure fenced areas. I know that if she gets flustered (a train, a loud dog, semi drives by) she's going to make a dash for it. Maybe in a few years she'll feel more confident but for now, she's going to stay on leash. I'm just happy she no longer dives for cover when any car drives me.

 

[cookieP]

Cookie is on leash during neighborhood walks or walks in crowded parks with people and other dogs, near cars, etc. That said, he has near 100% recall and when we go to certain parks that are uncrowded and have tons of acreage and space, no paved trails, etc, he is off leash. He responds well to other dogs and people and if I see another dog coming or hear one, I leash him to ensure the other dog does not react poorly to him being off leash. He always comes when called and mostly stays at my side.