we have a 4 month old staffy bitch & are feared to let her off her lead, but she pulls so much her eyes go bloodshot! any tips???

Have you tried using a body harness instead of a collar and lead?  There are many different ones on the market and lots of Staffie owners opt for them.

As she's still so young, perhaps a "Loopi" <sp> harness might help - a figure of eight type, easily adjustable, which is great for training puppies and most youngsters - gentle on them too.  Available I think from major pet outlets but if not you should be able to find one on the internet.  Inexpensive too.

Untill you have totally mastered her recall exercise you really best not let her off the lead yet :-(

Teri

I thought she was too young to wear a harness, but if she is ok at 4months I'll give it a go. When I noticed her eyes last weekend I was so worried, ended up carrying her round the field on the end...lol...kind of defeats the exercise object ay...lol

I've got two oldies that would think getting carried on their walk was the biz and would be happy to take up pulling if they thought that would work :-)   But they're a lot bigger and heavier than Staffies <LOL>
Teri

As a new Staffie owner (Ronnie is now 4 months) I am only talking from my experience but we have been letting ours off the lead for the last month, before that we had him on a harness, just a normal one from pets at home, and had him on an extendable lead. We havn't got perfect recall but only let him off the lead when there are no distractions and in a large field away from any roads. This seems to work ok, the best advise I can give when out is make sure your pup knows you have treats with you, if yours staff is anything like ours he will never leave your side when foods around!

What exactly are you "fearing" about letting her off the lead?  Is it the recall, is it her behaviour with other dogs, or something else?   I have 3 Staffs and let them off the lead at the very earliest opportunity I could so that it was no big deal and they would want to stay with me because they were so young and stayed with me for security.  I let them off in a safe, enclosed area and took with me lots of yummy treats (ie strong smelling) and practiced our recall whilst they were playing,  Treats won over every single time! :-)

My dogs are excellent now at recall, even with other major distractions because of the early work I put in.

If you're concerned about her behaviour with other dogs, then consider joining training classes, partly for the socialisation, but also partly to build your confidence as well.

With regard to the pulling, lots of dogs do that even when they are allowed off lead...you need to train her to walk to heel, she will not do it naturally and it requires patience and stamina to do it effectively.  Given the chance, mine would still like to pull, so I do have to remind them that walking to heel is the more comfortable option for all of us!  Why not do a search of this site for tips on walking to heel, I'm certain there have been plenty of posts on it! :-)

Hi Juliet,
thanks for your tips, I will try them all...as for fearing, I am scared she will run off and not come back, but I'm sure a packet of crisps will help my plight...lol...apart from being scared to let her off the lead she is fine, fine with other people and dogs, she sits, shakes a paw & stays to command but not as much luck coming to her name...I'll buy more crisps...
Thanks again, Nic

Take some tasty treats or  a very favourite toy to practice recall with - use a long lead/training lead until you feel better at letting pup off.
We are currently taking Libby to the beach ( at teatime when its deserted) or the playing fields and letting her off then - but woe betide if another dog comes into view ;) and shes off and no amount of calling will bring her back - unless she follows our older dog  and then she will.
I find practising with another person easier and calling pup from one to the other and then treat when pup returns and a big fuss :D :D

I'm sure most owners worry the first few times they let their dogs off the lead, but if you prepare beforehand, you can give yourself a lot of confidence.  Find somewhere where she cannot escape should she decide to do a runner, for whatever reason; take some really really tasty treats - not crisps, try sausages or liver, these smell strong and she should just love them! :-)

As Lel says, go with another person, both of you have treats, and let her off and walk away from her, don't go chasing after her, that will be a big game for her....call her to you and massive amounts of praise and treat - keep repeating!  She'll soon realise what great fun it is to come back to you!

As time goes on, do be prepared for moments when other dogs/people etc completely take her attention and her recall may be a bit dodgy...it happens to everyone.  If that situation really is worrying you, then get a longline for her (would suggest a lunging rein - saddlers, tack shops, SCATS etc) - then you've still got control but she's not by your side all the time when you're in the park or fields or whatever.

Good luck, you'll be fine! :-)

Well, I went out and bought an extendable lead and a harness...oh the fun we had putting the harness on and getting it to the size of our dog...30 mins later the harness was on and Fizz (the dog) was prancing about like she had a new dress on...lol...I fastened her to the seatbelt, as directed by the instructions and driving to the park was a dream...then on the park she walked BRILLIANTLY...the harness and lead were well worth their money, she ran off when she wanted and came back on the few occasions when I called her...she even walked to 'heel' on the way back but I think that was due to her being knackered...lol...but all in all it was a pleasurable walk for both me and her...which is good as I cant walk far due to slipped discs in my back, but at least I don't have dislocated shoulders now...lol...so the advice was well received...THANK YOU! :)

Great! That's what dog ownership should be all about - fun! For both dog and owner!
:)

Never expect too much fom a baby ;) but enjoy learning with her :)

i think you should use an exstenable lead and keep calling her back ank she starts coming back straight away then start letting her off.Thanks kirsty

Hello

I have  5mth old Staff dog that I have just started letting off the lead, I was really nervous at first but not as much as him. I let him off and although he did run around he kept a close eye on me and wouldnt let me out of his sight.
So far I have and for a while will only let him off if there are no other people or other dogs around because I know that he will run off to say hello.

He starts him puppy classes next tuesday so that should help even more.

Good Luck with yours!!

We bought a harness and ext. lead, she walks lovely on that with me, but hubby prefers normal lead and collar. We took her to the Peak District and let her off, but she hardly left my side, so I felt alot happier. Then the next day we went to Delamere Forrest and let her off then, if I saw people walking about I told her to 'wait' and she did, she waited till I walked over to her and put her back on her lead. So I feel allot more comfortable about taking her off the lead...not managed it at the park yet though...haha...I need stronger nerves for that one!