How to Off-Leash Train Your Dog

There's no question that having one's dog properly leashed and secured only makes good sense. Many have seen people allowing their dog to roam free and it's only awkward at best. The dog might get hit by a car, show aggression and chase another animal or even intimidate someone, or just wander off. Leash laws are important for a number of reasons and all pet owners should respect this law to the letter. But there is an element to this that should be considered, too, and that is the potential for the dog to conduct itself accordingly, should it be off the leash. The leash could fail or the pet owner and the dog may be someplace where the dog can be let loose without repercussion. Dogs have been known to pull away from an owner, or the collar may break free under a sudden strain. Therefore, it is wise to have as much control over a dog through verbal command as it is with a leash.

�         The leash should not be too long. The length of leash between the dog and the owner should have very little slack. When off-leash training, the dog should sense the leash is there when any amount of distance from the owner's side. For a large dog, a leash 12" to 18" or so might prove to be more than enough leash. The point is to keep the dog very close and right next to the owner. The leash should never be taut when the dog is next to the owner, but should go taut if the dog is more than two feet from the owner.

�         Work at having the dog stop right when the owner stops. Practice taking a few steps forward, saying 'heel' or something similar, and then utter a firm 'stop' with a sudden stop after a few steps. Do this repeatedly until the dog understands and obeys. This will be vital when the dog must stop when off the leash. Provide steady praise when the dog obeys.

�         Walk daily, with the practiced starts and stops, and with no allowance for the dog to step away from the owner's side. Daily practice is essential for this, as it creates a bonding between dog and owner as well as a habit. Continue keeping the leash taut enough to where there is only slack when the dog is right up close.

�         Work on 'sit and stay' disciplines in a secured area. An important aspect of off-leash training is that the dog pays attention to the owner when off the leash. Teach the dog to sit and then stay when commanded. When the dog is sitting, give the command, 'stay', with hand out and enforcing the command. Once this is done, gradually step away from the dog. If the dog gets up and follows, tell the dog 'no!' and then bring the dog back to the very spot where it was first sitting. The owner should work at this until they can get as far as possible from the dog. Once the owner desires the dog to come, command that it does so and provide praise for the obedience. Great progress would be showed if the dog is commanded to sit and then obeys while half way to the owner.

�         When strong obedience is displayed, practice with letting go. This is easier with large dogs, as the leash can be gently laid on the dog's back or may even dangle before the dog, providing it isn't so long that it can be a tripping hazard. With smaller dogs, experiment with rolling or bundling the leash. It is important that it can be quickly grabbed should the dog be tempted to step or run away. Do this in a manner to where the dog is not made aware that the leash is secured by the owner. The dog is 'tricked' into thinking it is leashed when it is not.

�         Once the unsecured leashing is effective, test the dog's obedience. When the dog's leash is out of hand but the dog remains properly heeled, allow the dog to gently creep away by the owner slowing or stopping. Give the chosen heeling command, which should prompt a dog making progress to return to the proper position. This is where the dog is allowed to realize the leash is not secured, testing the dog's choice to obey without the leash as motivation. If the dog is progressing, this should be tested by gradually allowing the dog some distance away from the owner during the walk.

�         Temptations should be tested. A dog fully off-leash trained will not leave the heeled position or disobey the owner regardless of the temptation, be it another dog or something enticing like a cat or squirrel. This is difficult to test, but rather than placing the dog (and cats and squirrels) in jeopardy, tempt the dog by having others call the dog or tempt it with a treat. The temptation should not be allowed at all. But if the dog obeys and remains heeled while another tempts the dog, command the dog to remain heeled but praise it for doing so. Then, if and when allowed, allow the dog to go to the other person. The properly progressing dog will return to the proper heeled position when commanded, and deserves praise when this is done.

Some dog enthusiasts may disagree with the theory that a dog should be off-leash trained, but a dog well trained to obey when off the leash demonstrates the validity of the lesson and training. A dog that is not off-leash trained that somehow breaks away from the owner is thereby unleashed and out of control, but the off-leashed trained dog is controlled well, even when the leash is rolled up and in the owner's pocket. Plus, the dog senses the stronger degree of trust and confidence, strengthening the bond between dog and owner.