We live in the country and about 700-800 ft. off the road. We have 40 acres total, but about 4 acres of open area surrounded by trees. Cedar is never on a leash at home. He loves to spend his time running and smelling the ground to see what has been around since the day before. Once in a while he will go to the edge of the woods, stop, and look over his shoulder to see if we're watching, but he always turns around and comes back. We have a stone wall that we have to drive through at a curve in the driveway and that's as far as he's allowed to go and you cannot make him go beyond that. He also has a 100% recall. Two or three weeks ago I let him out just at the crack of dawn and said to my husband that was a really big squirrel walking across the lawn, then realized it was a skunk! I opened the door and called Cedar back in and he came right in. He's been sprayed more than once in his short life and no doubt it will happen again. I go out with him early in the morning now and only allow him just a few feet from me and we come back in for the little treat he knows is waiting for him. I think the only time that I have to use a leash is when we go to the vet. I do always carry one with me in the car just in case he's getting out when we're away from home.
shelties with no leashes
- Thread starter ruckusluvr
- Start date
If I lived further into the country I would probably let Nike off-leash a bit more. Even when we've gone to the dog park, he never leaves my side. The only reason why I really don't now is that my suburban neighborhood is pretty busy. Even though I know he will come when I call him, I'm still nervous that he might choose to chase the wrong squirrel at the wrong time across a busy street and not turn around fast enough.
Plus, it's habit with the AKK. That's one breed, regardless of training, that you never let off leash!
Plus, it's habit with the AKK. That's one breed, regardless of training, that you never let off leash!
Justicemom
Forums Celebrity
If I lived further into the country I would probably let Nike off-leash a bit more. Even when we've gone to the dog park, he never leaves my side. The only reason why I really don't now is that my suburban neighborhood is pretty busy. Even though I know he will come when I call him, I'm still nervous that he might choose to chase the wrong squirrel at the wrong time across a busy street and not turn around fast enough.
Plus, it's habit with the AKK. That's one breed, regardless of training, that you never let off leash!
My JRT/beagle was never off lead either. She had too much prey drive and beagle selective hearing snydrome
. She had a great recall if nothing exciting came up.
BarbV
Forums Celebrity
My dogs are always on leash in the city, but when we go to the island in the summer they are off leash.
That being said, Bacca gave us a horrible scare last summer when he took off into the bush for hours and would not respond to any calls. This was when we were still trying to figure out what was wrong with him physically. We think he wandered off because he wasn't feeling well.
Then hours later, he slowly saunters back to the cottage as if nothing was wrong. Ever since then, I keep an eagle eye on both of them.
Now that Bacca is healthy again, I hope that I can loosen the reins a little.
In two months, I should be back at the cottage again! Yippee!
That being said, Bacca gave us a horrible scare last summer when he took off into the bush for hours and would not respond to any calls. This was when we were still trying to figure out what was wrong with him physically. We think he wandered off because he wasn't feeling well.
Then hours later, he slowly saunters back to the cottage as if nothing was wrong. Ever since then, I keep an eagle eye on both of them.
Now that Bacca is healthy again, I hope that I can loosen the reins a little.
In two months, I should be back at the cottage again! Yippee!
Gingers Mom
Forums Enthusiast
Ginger loves to go hiking with us. Once we get away from the trail head, we'll let her off lead. I can be a pokey, so she always watches out for me. She'll stop and turn around and wait for me to answer, "I'm coming".
Chris, my DH, taught her "Where's Mommy" or ""Go get Mommy". If I'm out of sight, Ginger will come tearing back to find me.
Around the house, we'll let her off lead while we're outside working or playing. But around dusk, to go do her business she's on a leash, way too many deer around.
One of the simplest things I did to work on her recall was the "name game". Click or "yes" when you say her name and she looks at you. I even still do it periodically these days.
There is a thread under behavior and a book called "Control Unleashed". Good ideas on recall, especially around other dogs, squirrels, deer and the like.
Chris, my DH, taught her "Where's Mommy" or ""Go get Mommy". If I'm out of sight, Ginger will come tearing back to find me.
Around the house, we'll let her off lead while we're outside working or playing. But around dusk, to go do her business she's on a leash, way too many deer around.
One of the simplest things I did to work on her recall was the "name game". Click or "yes" when you say her name and she looks at you. I even still do it periodically these days.
There is a thread under behavior and a book called "Control Unleashed". Good ideas on recall, especially around other dogs, squirrels, deer and the like.
Sharon7
Moderator
I too would be very sad if I couldn't let my girls off leash ever. They are off leash every day for our walks. We walk on leash down the street and across the bike path, then when we get to the creek, they are released. They also can be free in the front yard when we are gardening or doing garage chores. I think you just need to take baby steps and KNOW YOUR DOG. Any dog with a really strong chase/herding instinct is not a good candidate.
We had a playdate yesterday with a new Sheltie, and on our way to the off leash area, the lady's dog was flipping out over a bus driving by, a skate boarder, kid walking with ball... just spinning on the end of a leash. This dog has tremendous herding drive and probably shouldn't be off leash. Our girls just don't have that intense drive (thank goodness).
They go to the edge of the driveway or just down the sidewalk a little to look for the mailman (he gives them cookies - smart guy!) but never venture further, and that's only if I'm right out there with them.
Sharon
We had a playdate yesterday with a new Sheltie, and on our way to the off leash area, the lady's dog was flipping out over a bus driving by, a skate boarder, kid walking with ball... just spinning on the end of a leash. This dog has tremendous herding drive and probably shouldn't be off leash. Our girls just don't have that intense drive (thank goodness).
They go to the edge of the driveway or just down the sidewalk a little to look for the mailman (he gives them cookies - smart guy!) but never venture further, and that's only if I'm right out there with them.
Sharon
corbinam
Moderator
I would say that at our house we almost never have the dogs off leash. That being said, there are some times where I know no one will be out and I let them run around for 10-15 minutes to burn some energy. Even in those cases both my DH and I are "look outs" and I always make sure I have some awesome treats. Even during that short amount of time I practice calling them to me, treating them, and letting them go back and play some more. But like I said, I only do that when I am sure no one is coming.
I think that when Lexi gets older she will stick around us and come back when called, but Bentley's herding instinct is too strong. He will take off after a bike and not even turn around.
I think that when Lexi gets older she will stick around us and come back when called, but Bentley's herding instinct is too strong. He will take off after a bike and not even turn around.
Reading these post takes me back to the day that Maggie got out of the house and was around the corner and down the block before I saw( my in-laws came to visit and my FIL left the door open and she left) It took me following her for 2 blocks before I could get close enough to get her to sit so I could pick her up.
I often wondered did Katie look out the door to and not go, I could of very well lost 2 dogs that day. I plan to really work on recall with Zak.
Maggie has a high herding drive and thank god that day the school buses weren't around yet or any other vehicles or bikes or she would of been long gone. Still makes me ill to think about what could of happened.
I often wondered did Katie look out the door to and not go, I could of very well lost 2 dogs that day. I plan to really work on recall with Zak.
Maggie has a high herding drive and thank god that day the school buses weren't around yet or any other vehicles or bikes or she would of been long gone. Still makes me ill to think about what could of happened.
BarbV
Forums Celebrity
To sum it up for me, I guess I would not let the dogs off leash anywhere where there roads and cars (e.g. my neighbourhood).
Offleash in the bush - no problem.
Offleash in the bush - no problem.
