Off-leash dog training can make walking your dog an enjoyable experience. Your dog is free to roam and explore, and you don’t have to worry about getting tangled up in its lead or being pulled when it’s too excited.
Although it can be time-consuming, off-leash dog training ensures your dog’s safety and the safety of those around it in places where it could easily get lost or distracted.
In this guide, we’ve pulled together our top tips for on-leash, off-leash and dog recall training so you can be confident enough to give your dog some freedom on your next big adventure!
Table of contents:
What is off-leash dog training?
How to tell if my dog is ready for off-leash training
Why should I give my dog off-leash training?
How to train my dog to walk on a leash
How to teach a dog recall
How to train a dog off-leash
What should I do if my dog starts to run away?
Is it too late to train my dog off-leash?
Can all dogs be trained off-leash?
What is off-leash dog training?
Off-leash dog training is the training that is required before your dog can be allowed to roam free on walks without the need for a leash.
Before a dog is allowed to roam off-leash, they must master training commands, such as a strong recall, walk to heel, sit, stay and down to ensure your dog is safe when it’s off-leash.
How to tell if my dog is ready for off-leash training
When we allow our dogs off-leash, we put our trust in them to be capable of going off on their own without getting into trouble and to return when we recall them.
Your dog will be ready to be off the leash when it’s mastered recall training, responds to its name consistently, and gives you full attention, knowing it always has to stay close.
Your dog should also be good with other animals and people so it doesn’t threaten anyone.
Here are the basic points you should consider before you think about unclipping your dog’s leash:
Your dog needs a reliable recall
If you give your dog extra freedom in a new place, you’ll need to be 100% sure it’ll come back to you every time, even if it’s chasing a squirrel or another dog.
It’s always worth teaching some other commands, such as “leave” and “drop”, in case it’s attracted to or picks up something unpleasant, and you should reward it for checking in with you so it always stays in sight.
It should be fully vaccinated, flea and tick-treated
Ensuring your dog is fully vaccinated and protected against parasites helps keep it safe in unfamiliar environments. By treating your dog, you’re protecting it from potentially life-threatening diseases such as Lyme disease and parvovirus that could result in a painful time for your pup.
Your dog should have up-to-date ID information
Even dogs with reliable recalls can roam, so if your dog gets lost, it must have a microchip and an updated ID tag. That way, whoever finds your dog can safely return it to you should it get lost.
Neutered, spayed or easily recalled
Dogs tend to follow their instincts, so they could put other dogs at risk if they aren’t neutered or spayed. Off-leash dogs that are fully intact need a perfect recall, where they always see you as the most important thing, above all other distractions.
Your dog should be kept on a lead if there are leash laws in place
Dogs should only be allowed off-leash where authorities allow free dog roaming, even if they are perfectly behaved. You must follow leash laws, and you should always respect them or risk incurring a fine.
That the environment is safe for them to roam
Both busy city and spacious countryside walks come with risks to your dog. Always assess the situation and ensure it’s safe to release your dog before letting it roam off-leash.
Why should I give my dog off-leash training?
There are so many reasons why training your dog off-leash is beneficial to its health and wellbeing.
From an exercise perspective, your dog will have more freedom to roam, run free and burn off excess energy in a more fun and less restrictive way. It will gain confidence from its decision-making and learn from its natural interactions with other dogs and its environment. It’ll also cover more ground by constantly checking in with you before exploring again.
How to train my dog to walk on a leash
It’s important to improve your dog’s on-leash training before training it to walk calmly and correctly off-leash.
The first thing to understand and address is pulling on the leash.
Pulling is a learned behaviour you can correct with time, patience and praise. Your puppy or dog has learned that by pulling, it can get to its destination faster, and by allowing it to do so, you become part of its game!
To correct this behaviour, start by training your dog in a space with little or no distractions so that you become its primary focus.
Here are our top tips for mastering on-leash training:
1. Start training with a long training leash
- Use a training leash clipped to your dog’s harness or collar to start your leash training.
- Hold the leash in your left hand and some treats in your right, and, using the treats, lure your dog to your right-hand side (it should end up standing, facing the same way as you).
- Use high-value treats to keep your dog interested and fully focused.
- Hold your leash loosely with your left hand. You can cross it over your body or hold it the opposite way, if you prefer, with the dog on the left and the leash to the right. Use this as your starting position, treating your dog for good behaviour.
- If your dog starts to move away, use a second treat to lure it back to its starting position before rewarding it again, reinforcing its good behaviour.
2. Establish a command
Let your dog sniff the treats in your right hand in its starting position. Lift your hand towards your shoulder, then using a clear command, such as “heel”, “close”, or “with me”, take a step forward and reward your dog for coming with you.
Repeat this, but add a second step forward and reward your dog using the same command. Whilst training, always use the same commands to avoid confusing your dog.
If your dog starts to roam or pull away, stand still and use its treats to lure it back into the starting position. Resist the temptation to pull on the lead to move your dog, as it’s important to let it decide for itself.
3. Keep practising your on-leash training
Keep practising the first two steps, increasing the distance you walk each time. Always aim for success and praise by stopping to treat your dog whilst it’s walking by your side.
Once your dog has mastered this technique indoors, practise the same steps outside, slowly introducing more and more distractions.
As long as you’re consistent with your training, your dog will walk calmly in no time! Remember, a calm dog is a happy dog, so if it gets excited and starts to pull again, stand still and once it’s relaxed, lure it back into its starting position.
If your dog doesn’t respond to training, practise again in a place with little distractions to build its confidence. Patience, praise and fun short sessions are key to your success!
How to teach a dog recall
Now, your dog has mastered its on-lead etiquette! However, teaching it some other basic obedience commands is important before beginning its off-leash training.
A good, reliable recall is essential to your off-leash training and will help keep your dog and others around it safe.
“Stay” and a recall cue are the commands that will form the basis of your off-leash training. They can be taught side-by-side, but make sure your commands and actions are clear to avoid confusing your dog.
Here are some quick tips on perfecting your stay and recall training:
- Be prepared! Use a long leash and bring super-interesting, high-value treats to keep your dog focused on you. Regarding recalling, you need to be more interesting than everything else around your dog.
- Always reward your dog and praise it for coming to you – even if it takes a long time!
- Reward your dog when they come to ‘check in’ with you, even if you haven’t called them, as it’s important to acknowledge this excellent behaviour.
- Practise building up distractions gradually, which will help your dog improve its focus on you.
Stay and dog recall training
- Use a long training lead for dog recall training and work in an area with little distractions. Start by commanding your dog to sit, then take a step away from it, hold your hand up and use your “stay” command. If it stays, return to it and reward it with a treat.
- Gradually extend your distance, repeating the step over and over. If your dog leaves its spot, it may be that you’ve increased the distance far too soon. Put it back in the starting position and work at a distance it’s comfortable with.
- Once it begins to master the technique, add distractions such as toys or movement to see if it can keep its focus on you.
- When you’re happy that your dog will stay at a reasonable distance, you can then start to train its recall cue.
- Repeat the steps by telling your dog to stay. When you take a few steps away from it, call it to you, using a clear command such as its name followed by “come” or “here”.
- Always reward your dog and give it lots of praise for coming to you. If you find your dog gets distracted, reduce the distance and try again.
- Remember to keep your training sessions short and fun for the best results.
- When your dog is coming back to you confidently, introduce more distractions by training nearer other dogs at the park or in an open space. Keep using your training lead whilst you build up your confidence.
How to train a dog off-leash
So now you’ve mastered the essentials, it’s time to train your dog off-leash.
Starting small in a low-risk environment with little to no distractions is crucial. As soon as you remove the leash, you must ensure your dog will be in a safe environment where it can’t harm itself or others.
Start indoors or in an enclosed area, such as a fenced yard with enough room to roam without any risk of running away.
In the same way you practised your “stay” and “recall” commands, start by making your dog sit and stay, walk away and then call it to you. If it gets distracted, decrease the distance and recall it with lots of energy, using high-value treats.
Introduce toys and controlled distractions. Then, when you’re even more confident in your dog’s recall, add more real-life distractions.
As you move your dog’s recall training into the real world, choose places that are safe with boundaries, away from roads, people and other dogs.
It may seem like a slow process, but by making recall fun and rewarding, your dog will always want to return to you, regardless of the situation!
What should I do if my dog starts to run away?
Even if your dog has perfected its recall, there’s always a chance that it might run off!
Stay calm!
Some dogs find it hard to resist a new smell or something to chase, but it’s important to stay calm in those situations and fight the urge to shout at your dog.
Remember, you are the one in charge in your dog’s eyes, so it’s time to assert your leadership in this situation. Recall your dog with a firm tone, but try not to sound angry, as this may make your dog fearful and less likely to return. If it returns, praise it for its good behaviour.
Don’t chase after your dog
If your dog runs off and you chase after it, it might think you’re joining in with its game and run off even faster! The chances of you catching your dog are slim, so you’re better off trying to recall them whilst walking in the opposite direction. Dogs are curious creatures, so they’ll soon run back to see what you’re up to.
Persuade them with treats
If recall really isn’t working, persuade your dog to come to you with treats. Or, shake the packet if the recall isn’t working and persuade your dog to come to you with treats. Shake the packet and let your dog see it. Rustle the packet to grab its attention.
Is it too late to train my dog off-leash?
If you’re wondering whether it’s too late to train your dog off-leash, it’s never too late to try! If you have a rescue dog or have adopted an older dog, there’s no such thing as being unable to teach an old dog new tricks!
The great thing about training an older dog is that older dogs are less distractible and are generally calmer than excitable puppies. Also, if you’ve adopted a slightly older dog, training them is a great way to improve your bond.
All dogs are trainable, irrespective of size, sex, breed and age. With time and patience, your older dog will be roaming off-leash in no time!
Can all dogs be trained off-leash?
Before letting your dog off-leash anywhere in the real world, it’s important to consider a few things to protect them and others from harm.
- Your dog should be even-tempered, show no signs of aggression towards other dogs, people or wild animals and have a perfect recall before you let it explore any new surroundings.
- Respect other dogs and their owners, particularly if their dog is on a lead, as they may be fearful of other dogs or prone to aggression.
- If you’re visiting a new area, always respect the leash laws. The main thing to remember is to apply common sense to any situation by keeping your dog on its leash in crowded spaces or if its body language suggests it is fearful, unsure or ready to chase the nearest squirrel!
If your dog is struggling to master its recall or is prone to running off, it’s safer to keep it on a leash. In this case, invest in a long training line and use your adventures to practise further recall training whilst exploring new spaces.
By being considerate of your dog and mindful of others and your surroundings, your next getaway could be lots of fun exploring for you and your dog!
Have success with off-leash training with Groomers
Prepare yourself for off-leash training success with your dog by finding all your useful training accessories at Groomers. Explore MyPet for slip-leashes that are easy to remove and reattach when training, and find muzzles for safe training and much more when you explore the range. Or, for all of the best first aid essentials for your dog in the event of an emergency, explore Groomers’ health and wellbeing collection.
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