I have an 8 month old boxer and I would like to bring him to a park and let him off the leash. However, all of the parks that are near me, are not fenced in. The road is pretty far off, however, I'm afraid that if I let him off the leash, he will run. I would NEVER be able to catch him! I mean, he listens to me when I call him in the yard, but being free w/ out fencing may be different. I'm not sure what to do.
Off the Leash...
- Thread starter Tyson&Me
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Tulsa-Dan
Your Friendly Moderator
You need to have mastered recall and distraction work with your dog before you can even THINK to begin letting him play off leash in an unfenced area. Even as well trained as my dogs are, I will not ever allow them to play and run freely off leash in an unfenced, unsecured dog park. NEVER!
You need to work first on recall. Make sure you can get your dog to come to you first time, every time, no exceptions. THEN, you need to work very hard on distraction work. Make sure without doubt that your dog will come to you no matter what he is doing; will stop on a dime when running and come when called. If your dog is not that reliable and you are not comfortable in his abilities, then you should NEVER consider taking a dog to an off leash area that is not secure.
And, this work should be done regardless of whether the area is fenced or not. You don't want to have to chase your dog if he is too far away, or if he gets into a scrape with another dog. You want your dog to respond to you when called, no matter what.
My dogs will extract themselves from a dog fight and come running to me when called. I have seen this and experienced this 3 times from my dogs (luckily we avoid most dog fights, but some do happen in parks with untrained dogs and irresponsible owners). This is how reliable you need your dog to be before exposing him to the possible risks of any dog park and gathering of a lot of dogs. It is for your dog's safety, not just because you want him to obey.
At 8 months, I truly doubt your dog is really ready for such. You'll need to work extensively at home and then take the dog to larger areas (securely fenced) and work with him on a long tether, without distractions and make sure his recall is totally reliable. THEN you need to work up from small distractions to larger ones, all with your dog under control, and work and work so that the dog understands that NO MATTER WHAT HE IS DOING, he will come to you when you call because it is going to be much better for him than whatever it is he is doing at that moment, be it playing, chasing a squirrel or fighting with another dog.
Please get a copy of "The Culture Clash" and read it before you go any further. It is a dog owner's "Bible" and should be read and understood by every boxer owner in the world, IMHO.
Good luck.
You need to work first on recall. Make sure you can get your dog to come to you first time, every time, no exceptions. THEN, you need to work very hard on distraction work. Make sure without doubt that your dog will come to you no matter what he is doing; will stop on a dime when running and come when called. If your dog is not that reliable and you are not comfortable in his abilities, then you should NEVER consider taking a dog to an off leash area that is not secure.
And, this work should be done regardless of whether the area is fenced or not. You don't want to have to chase your dog if he is too far away, or if he gets into a scrape with another dog. You want your dog to respond to you when called, no matter what.
My dogs will extract themselves from a dog fight and come running to me when called. I have seen this and experienced this 3 times from my dogs (luckily we avoid most dog fights, but some do happen in parks with untrained dogs and irresponsible owners). This is how reliable you need your dog to be before exposing him to the possible risks of any dog park and gathering of a lot of dogs. It is for your dog's safety, not just because you want him to obey.
At 8 months, I truly doubt your dog is really ready for such. You'll need to work extensively at home and then take the dog to larger areas (securely fenced) and work with him on a long tether, without distractions and make sure his recall is totally reliable. THEN you need to work up from small distractions to larger ones, all with your dog under control, and work and work so that the dog understands that NO MATTER WHAT HE IS DOING, he will come to you when you call because it is going to be much better for him than whatever it is he is doing at that moment, be it playing, chasing a squirrel or fighting with another dog.
Please get a copy of "The Culture Clash" and read it before you go any further. It is a dog owner's "Bible" and should be read and understood by every boxer owner in the world, IMHO.
Good luck.
Hmmm...I totally agree adn respect all that has been said thus far...my puppy is 5 months old and we regularly let him off leash in our protected unfenced in yard, and in 1 park nearby that is also very protected from the road. He does great most of the time, adn when he doesn't listen I run the other direction and he then drops everything to come to me. I think reliable comes are necessary, but it also depends on the dog, adn on the owners intuition. I can tell in advance when I need to put him back on leash...no regrets so far. This is right for us, but not for everyone, i can respect that. But this has been my experience.
BoboTheBoxer
Boxer Buddy
Dog off leash?
With all due respect letting a 5 month old off the leash (or any age at that) may seem "right for you" but it is not right for the dog, no matter how well trained you think he/she is. The leash is put on and stays on before crossing your thresshold unless you are in a secure fenced in area. You don't want to be the one to say "but she always listened to me", "she always came when I called her before" "I dont know why she didnt come when I called her this time". Please think again and be responsible before letting your dog off the leash.
With all due respect letting a 5 month old off the leash (or any age at that) may seem "right for you" but it is not right for the dog, no matter how well trained you think he/she is. The leash is put on and stays on before crossing your thresshold unless you are in a secure fenced in area. You don't want to be the one to say "but she always listened to me", "she always came when I called her before" "I dont know why she didnt come when I called her this time". Please think again and be responsible before letting your dog off the leash.
As I said before, I think it depends on the dog. I respect your opinion very much. However, this particular 5 month olf dog ain't going anywhere. He has earned the right for us to loosen his reins, and the second he oversteps boundaries they are tightened way up. I believe it's a system of respect that he has earned. He is the most mellow puppy I have ever met...........
Alisha Mobley
Boxer Insane
Imo, this isn't true for all...
I agree that it depends on the dog (and the owner!) at what age the dog can be allowed off leash in an unsecure area. And, I'm sure I'm not the only one who has raised puppies without a fenced in yard. It is possible to have a puppy off leash in an unsecure area...it just depends on the puppy and how much work you put into them.
My 18 month old female has had no official ob training. We brought her home at 12 weeks of age and I'm sure most are aware just how little effort it takes to get a puppy to come to you. Kneeling and clapping while calling the puppy to you is usually all it takes. This is how we got Ruby to come at 12 weeks and this is still all it takes at 18 months. She's rarely been on leash and has always been allowed in unfenced areas.
Buck on the other hand is different. He's almost 3 yrs old and if it weren't for multiple ob classes he would never be allowed off leash in an unsecure area! As a puppy he too would come when called but it didn't take long to realize that wasn't gonna work forever with him...he needed more work to become more reliable.
Each dog is different...
I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this is ok. each dog is indeed different, as are the owners. What's right for some is not right for others, and that should be fine, and considered responsible as long as you have the dog's best interest in mind, and who knows that better than their owner.
chrystel
Boxer Insane
i had a lab.. he was ok walking off leash everywhere.. but one day.. a cat passed by and he just crossed the road to chase him. :(
he got hit by a car and thank god, the car had more damage than my lab.
but since this time.. i never let my dog off leash is it's not a secured fenced area...
this is animals we're talking about, and we can't give them 100% trust.
i take snatch to the dog park so he can run off leash with security.
i let him off leash at the river when we are with other well trained dog...
Snatch is just 8 month old, and he follows other dogs.
so this is good for him to take example on well trained dogs.
chrystel
he got hit by a car and thank god, the car had more damage than my lab.
but since this time.. i never let my dog off leash is it's not a secured fenced area...
this is animals we're talking about, and we can't give them 100% trust.
i take snatch to the dog park so he can run off leash with security.
i let him off leash at the river when we are with other well trained dog...
Snatch is just 8 month old, and he follows other dogs.
so this is good for him to take example on well trained dogs.
chrystel
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