Training dogs off leash - Page 1

Hello Everyone,

I have another question again, something I have been researching, and it would be helpful to hear everyone's thoughts on this who actually acquired a German Shepherd, as I do not YET!

The main two things I have read that other people/trainers have said for a reliable dog to be off leash is
1) when you get your puppy, to attach a light lead, and then in a safe field (where no other dogs can run to your pup) let him explore with you, and then gently hide somewhere for your dog to find you and realize you are "missing". They said that this what make your dog always focusing and looking to make sure you are close. they also said starting young would create that bond and reliability for off leash.
2) others say to not let your dog off leash until older because you do not create a deep bond until then..

which way do you think is better to train a dog to be off leash? or perhaps you have other ways?
also, I am not talking about letting a dog off leash where other untrained dogs could be, i am talking about places where its open and most likely not other dogs. :)

ack obedience requires things off leash too, so if anyone is a trainer for that level i would love to hear your thoughts..breeders as well or anyone just willing to share.

Have a great day everyone!

 Personally I feel that a good strong bond between handler and dog are most important in off leash obedience training.  If you have a puppy take him everywhere with you after he is fully vaccinated. Explore new things and places together, become best friends and you will find off leash trainng will be a snap.

Our dogs are all trained off leash, as pups they are off leash on our property of several acres. They are only allowed outside with us and our older trained dogs, they learn quickly to associate us with fun experiences.  We also show in AKC obedience and one of our shepherds has a Utility title.  If we get an older dog I always have a long-line on that dog and work on recalls/hiding.  With our dog training clients I always tell owners not to leave a dog off leash until they master everything on leash.  If you have a dog that isn't paying attention and you have owners repeating their commands and the dog just isn't listening that dog should never be off the leash until trained properly on a leash. 
Amy

If you have a youg pup they will always follow and come back to you.  The older they get they are getting more independent and checking things out with out you.  Here is where you will have difficulties.  If you keep calling your dog back to you but he/she's off doing there own thing then you are just teaching them to ignore you because you cannot reinforce what you are telling them.  That's a huge mistake alot of people make. 

Not saying the above comments are not a right way but for me and my dogs they must understand and obey the commands on leash. For the comment of "...... a safe field", define safe? And if by chance the pup is 15, 25 yds away (or however far) and another dog, animal approaches? Or a cat or animal runs across the pups' path. It only takes a second! From day one the bonding starts and it's up to the master to solidify that bound. My pups from day one know who I am. Yes, I'll let them roam free (a little distance) but if something is not right even at a young age they will come back to me, stand by me and even stand between my legs. I am their protector and down the road they will be mine.

I agree with most of the above. Lots of factors, and situation dictates. There's not a set time or age. But for me only when I know and thats after experiences on leash, with distraction and not sure if this is the right word but temptations. My Reiker has only broke my command two times in his life. (9 yrs) One over a chiahauha ? and the other over a cat that was running full speed by him when we were working on off leash training! (as a pup). Just yesterday while we were outside he went to the edge of the field, (back yard) and 30 yds away there were hundreds of geese on the ground. He started towards them, froze, keyed on them and then turned towards me. (asking if I would give him the go ahead) I didn't. I called him and he returned. Moments like that means a job well done. But it wasn't a one time thing. Consistency and lots of training, lots of distractions and more training. What happens when the dog (doesn't matter what age) is off leash and prey drive for whatever animal running by kicks in and the chase is on @ 100 mph? Will the dog (even hear) acknowledge the command to either stop, return or whatever other command is in place? I was doing some side work a couple of months ago, building a shed and fence. Three sides of the yard was enclosed but the fourth side wasn't, and next door was a house that had two dogs. And their masters let them go wherever the dogs wanted to go. My dogs don't. Reiker was in the back yard minding his own business and I had went around to the side to my truck to grab some tools. Without seeing what was going on I could tell something was up and kind of figure it had to be the other dogs were out and maybe in the yard I was working in. As I was returning I could hear the start of a small ruckus, (now mind you I can't see what is happening) I Yelled for Reiker to "sit" and as I came around the house there was Reiker sitting looking at the two dogs who were about two feet away looking at him. Not saying something was going to happen but once Reiker was sitting I only had to think of half of the situation. Like I said situations dictate.

alboe

Thank you all for the wonderful replies! very interesting, and wow alboe2009!!!! that was an awesome story!!!

also by safe I mean, here where I live, I know someone who owns this part of a meadow/field, it is all fenced however it has a LOT of acreage. That is why I know there isn't other dogs there, and it's good fencing so no other animals can get in..but being so big, off leash training is a must..i can't be running around on acreage :P but i still have a good while until i can get a puppy, but time flies.

I never owned a puppy, so I try my hardest to comprehend what it's like for the puppy at a young age to bond with someone, and how hard it is to get over those "teenager years"..i just want to do everything as right as possible when the time comes.

Thanks everyone! This is all very helpful!

Contrary to what some may say, I rarely put a puppy on lead unless going out somewhere. I make coming to me the best thing to him/her since sliced bread. I teach from the very beginning that coming to me is a good thing, it's loads of fun and the puppy gets to go back to doing whatever it was before I called. I have many more problems with dogs I have started on lead and never let to go off and explore independantly then puppies I have not put a lead on. The reward for coming to you has to have a higher value then whatever you are training around.... ball, tug, food, praise... all the good stuff comes from you.

Just my .02 and what works for us.

Melissa

Melissa

I have heard of the method you are talking about, I actually think it is a lot better than the two I posted above, but I knew many would probably know about those two the most.
What you are talking about is the premack principle. :) I think it is a great idea, and something that should be out more.

GS, yes that is exactly it. It works amazingly well for us. The dogs I have started as puppies and used this method on, along with minimal use of a leash have led to 99% success on recalls. The ones that have always had a leash on frrom the beginning are more difficult, though far from impossible.

Melissa