Should my dog go without a leash?
Dogs need physical and mental exercise to be healthy and happy. It can be fun to watch dogs frolic and explore untethered, whether hiking on a trail or romping on a beach. Not every dog is a candidate for exercising off-leash, but some dogs can safely enjoy off-leash adventures.
Even the best trained dog can get separated from their person when they are off leash. Each adventure requires a safety and risk assessment. Regardless of their training, dogs can make mistakes, and even the best trained dog can succumb to a tempting distraction and fail to come when called.
What is so different about being off leash?
When a dog is on a leash, a few things happen. First, they can feel every small shift of our hands on the leash. If your dog walks away from you, you likely naturally put pressure on the leash to “tell” them to change direction. Often, we give these cues without even knowing we are doing it. Using a waist/belt leash can help wean you and your dog off leash-based cues. When the leash is gone, those cues are gone, and it can be disorienting for both dog and human.
Second, when the dog is on a leash, you can easily underestimate how distracted they are. You know you can control the dog's movements — and so does the dog. The dog is less likely to explore because they know they can't, and you’re unlikely to worry the dog will leave you behind, because the leash prevents it.
Before going off leash, your dog needs a few key skills, and they must be able to use those skills even in the presence of a high-level distraction, such as a squirrel in a tree, a rabbit crossing the path, or a ball rolling across the street. Always test each skill in a secure environment, in the presence of assorted high-level distractions, before taking your dog off leash in an uncontrolled area.
What do I need to get started?
To begin, you'll need to put some safety precautions in place. First, make sure your dog has permanent microchip identification. Even the best-trained dog can accidentally be separated from their person. A microchip ID increases the chance of a happy reunion after an accidental separation. Your dog should also wear a collar or harness with an easily readable tag that shows your phone number.
Next, you may want to consider a GPS tracker for your dog. In the event of an accidental separation, the tracker may be used to safely locate the lost dog.
Finally, you need some safe and realistic expectations. It is never acceptable to walk your dog off-leash near cars, roads, playgrounds, or construction areas. Just like a good driver should still wear a safety belt, even a well-trained dog should wear a leash in potentially unsafe environments. It is also not acceptable to walk your dog off leash in areas where there is a leash law, nor around horses, sheep, or other livestock.
How do I train my dog to be off leash?
Your dog will need a few key skills to go off leash safely:
- An understanding that they always need to stay near you or within a given radius (radius training)
- A solid recall (the ability to come when called) in the presence of a variety of tempting distractions (food, moving toys, moving people)
- An emergency “stop” cue in the presence of difficult distractions
- Reliable "Leave It" and “Drop It” cues, so they do not eat unsafe items they may uncover
You also need a few key things to let your dog go off leash safely:
- Rewards that are highly valuable to your dog (e.g., treats or special toys for tugging or fetch)
- A long-line leash for training
- A variety of securely fenced areas for practicing before allowing the dog off-leash in open areas
- Distractions that you can present and control, ranging from low level to highly tempting
Radius Training
Radius training means conditioning your dog to regularly check in with you. To form this habit, you must become great at observing when your dog checks in, and then consistently deliver amazing rewards when they do so. This exercise is different from a recall because the dog is expected to choose to stay close without a cue like “come.”
Even when you aren’t formally training, you can work on this skill. When you notice your dog choosing to lay near you in the house, or following you around the house and yard, calmly reward this tendency to stay near you and be aware of you.
Start in a quiet room in the house with your dog loose. Walk around the room, observing your dog but not calling them. Any time your dog notices you (turns an ear your way, looks at you, moves toward you), give an enthusiastic verbal marker like “Good!” or “Yes!”. Your dog will probably bound toward you. This is your opportunity to deliver a high-value reward, right at your feet. After the reward, give a cue such as “OK” or “go walk” so your dog knows they are free to explore again.
Remember:
- Dog looks
- Mark “Yes! Good!”
- Dog returns to you
- Reward
Don't use treats or toys as a lure or bribe; don’t coax your dog to come closer. These treats should be a surprise.
Leash Practice in Fenced Area
Next comes practicing in a fenced area with your dog on a leash. Use a 10'-15' leash at first, and then longer if you wish to eventually train for a larger radius. Hold the end of the leash and allow your dog to explore, but keep slack in the leash; do not pull it tight. The leash is only there as a "safety belt" to prevent accidental separations.
Follow your dog as they walk and sniff, and observe them. Any time your dog notices you on their own (turn an ear your way, look at you, move toward you), enthusiastically mark with “Good!” or “Yes!” and when your dog bounds toward you, hand-deliver a high-value reward. Then, give your dog the “OK” or “go walk” cue so they know they are free to explore again.
Change Direction
Once your dog is in the habit of checking on you regularly, periodically change direction while you're within your training radius, particularly if your dog is turned away but can see you in their peripheral vision. For example, if you're working on a 12' radius, change direction when your dog is 10' away.
When you change direction, covertly watch for your dog to notice you. As soon as they notice, enthusiastically mark with “Good!” or “Yes!”, reward when your dog returns to you, and then send them on their way again. You will find your dog starts showing an awareness of where you are even when they are exploring; this is the goal.
As the dog gets more skilled in following directional changes, change to a longer leash, and then, rather than holding the leash, let the leash drag. When you're sure the dog will notice when you change directions, try removing the leash in a safely fenced area. When your dog regularly checks in and does not go further than the distance you've decided is comfortable, you can reward intermittently rather than every single time.
As you work through this exercise, you will notice what feels like an invisible leash or connection forming between you and the dog. It can be hard to explain, but it is a feeling of mutual comfort and confidence the dog will stay with you. This feeling of connection is important to off-leash safety.
Separate handouts are available for recall training, leave-it training, and the emergency stop. You will need to train your dog to respond to each cue with high reliability in a safely fenced area in the presence of difficult distractions before you are ready to work off-leash in an uncontrolled area.
What if my puppy already has a perfect recall?
Young puppies, especially those between 7 and 14 weeks of age, naturally follow their owners and come when called. Their worlds are small, and they do not explore as widely as adolescent or adult dogs. This creates the illusion of good radius training and recall training. Then, starting at 14–16 weeks, many puppies begin exploring more and appear to forget their recall. Be prepared for this normal stage of development. Have a long line/smooth drag line and be ready to reward and reinforce your training throughout your dog's adolescence. Most dogs are not fully mature until 2–3 years of age.
When can I stop giving treats?
The short answer is: never! Always be prepared with at least three ways to reward your dog for naturally checking in and responding to a stop, recall, or leave it. Vary your rewards so they remain interesting; particularly difficult tasks should always be rewarded with a particularly special paycheck.
You will need to reward your dog regularly, long term, to maintain these behaviors. If the reward goes away, the behavior also goes away. Dogs, like people, do what “works” for them. They do behaviors that feel good and help them accomplish goals. If running off to explore feels better than walking beside their person, then a dog might choose to run off. If walking beside their person means that amazing, surprising rewards could happen any time, then a dog is more likely to remain close by.
What are the risks of walking off leash?
Even the best trained dog can accidentally be separated from their people. It is not possible to completely prevent or predict a sudden clap of thunder or gunshot, the approach of a scary person or dog, an attack by a predator, or the appearance of deer, squirrels, or other wildlife that can trigger the dog’s desire to chase. Your dog could bolt in the face of these triggers. Any time you consider removing the leash, you must carefully evaluate your dog’s skill level, the level of distractions in the environment, and the extent of dangers in the environment (e.g., cars, roads, predators).
Ask yourself the question: if a squirrel ran across my dog's path, could I stop my dog? If not, keep the leash on. If my dog found a chicken bone wrapped in foil in the bushes, could I prevent him from eating it with a verbal cue? If not, keep the leash on. Questions like this can help you honestly evaluate how ready your dog is for more freedom. Freedom to run and explore is wonderful, but only if it is safe.
