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  1. #1
    Puppy Wrigley'smama's Avatar
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    How do I slowly introduce off-leash hikes/exercise ?

    We have a small, fenced back yard. We play fetch and he is free to roam, but soon, it won't be enough to expel his energy, I'm guessing. How did you all train your dog to play off leash in greater/public spaces. We have a couple of great parks and beaches Id like to be a able to take him to play off leash, but I'm not sure how to start.

    thx!

  2. #2
    Senior Dog Jeff's Avatar
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    A good solid recall is the most important thing.

    For example, Hemi went to go play with his sister at their house and we were off leash and having a good time and the dogs started playing chase and Ruby too off running to the woods. They were yelling and I simple said out loud 2 words. "Hemi Recall". He froze turned and came back to me. She took off and came back a few minutes later wondering where Hemi went. But they were panicked. I really suggest that kind of controls before allowing to play off leashed especially in an unfenced in area.

  3. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Jeff For This Useful Post:

    POPTOP (07-11-2014), Tanya (07-11-2014), Wrigley'smama (07-11-2014)

  4. #3
    Puppy Wrigley'smama's Avatar
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    Ya, he definitely doesn't have solid recall. It's 75% of the time.

  5. #4
    Senior Dog shellbell's Avatar
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    Start working on the recall in the house, with minimal distraction. Pick your recall word, for example "come". You can start to say the word when your pup is already on their way to you, and then when he gets to you treat and praise. Make it into something of a game. Then start doing this outside. It helps if you have another person, that person can hold your pup, you walk across the yard, and call for him to "come". And then treat and reward. You can make it even more of a game if you have two people, and you call him to "come" back and forth between you. Treat and praise each time he does. If you ever tell him to come and he doesn't, you need to walk across the yard and bring him to wherever you were calling him from. Not being harsh or mean about it, he just needs to know that the "come" command is not optional. And never ever ask him to come or use his recall word for anything like clipping the nails or activities that he does not enjoy. You don't ever want him to associate his recall word with something unpleasant.

    I would suggest getting a check cord, which is a very long lead. I think mine is from Bass Pro. And after you have worked in the house/yard, you can take him to a public area like maybe a park. He will be on the check cord, and if you have another person with you, have them hold him, and then you hold the check cord, walk away, and then call him to "come". Treat and praise.

    There are a few different ways to train a recall, the above is pretty much how I did it. Except I didn't really have another person to help. Tux did know the "wait" command, so I told him to sit and wait, and then I walked away and called him. And when we hike off leash, I always bring string cheese. Tux knows this, and he knows that if I call him he gets some. So a lot of times I will have him run off pretty far to where I can barely see him, then I tell him to "come", and he will turn around and sprint back to me. We have seen rabbits a couple of times on our property, and as soon as Tux sees one, he will freeze in place and look back at me, like he knows not to chase it. That is my biggest worry, him taking off after an animal into the woods. He gets rewarded big time for responding to his recall with that type of distraction.

    And my yellow lab Cabo hikes off leash with me too, but I never really had to train him on a recall....he came that way, lol. But I also treat him when he responds to his recall word, to keep it enforced.

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  7. #5
    House Broken roro's Avatar
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    Great suggestion about the check cord. I want to visit a dog beach out here and need to start working on getting a good recall. My black lab just comes to me when I call her name or say come. My yellow on the other hand marches to the beat of his own drum!

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  9. #6
    Senior Dog Berna's Avatar
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    I've started with a long lead and later on we improved Cookie's recall with an e-collar. He was 3.5 when he was fully trained and trusted off-leash, but that's because we were late to start with the training.
    Cookie Black Snowflake
    July 12th, 2006. - May 25th, 2023.

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  10. #7
    Senior Dog ZoeysMommy's Avatar
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    Shellbell gave you great advice just waned to add that you also need to keep in mind that recall training has to happen outside of your home as well. Recall is much more difficult to train around distractions. Recall can apear to be perfect at home but if you dont train with distractions, it wont make much difference. Also puppy recall is false recall, do not assume your puppy understands, most puppies will go to anyone shows them interest, its not proper recall at all

    Anyway my point is never let your pup off leash unless you know 100 % that he will come to you every single time no matter where you are.

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  12. #8
    Puppy Wrigley'smama's Avatar
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    Thank you for all of the advice!! I'll be getting the check cord for our practice!

  13. #9
    House Broken roro's Avatar
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    @wrigley'smama I just picked this one up. Much cheaper than what you will find in retails shops and great quality!

    Mendota Trainer Check Cord | Scheels

  14. #10
    Senior Dog BaconsMom's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by roro View Post
    @wrigley'smama I just picked this one up. Much cheaper than what you will find in retails shops and great quality!

    Mendota Trainer Check Cord | Scheels

    We actually made ours! Rope and a buckle from ACE hardware
    Julie & Jake, Bacon's Humans

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