Hi ALL,

I got a working cocker spaniel pup 3 weeks ago now, hes great! totally in love from the min I saw him :-)
Hes had his jabs and can go out Friday! cant wait!!  hes been very easy to train, he picks things up real quick, which is lucky really as Ive never owned a dog before.  Ive done loads of research online which has helped ALOT though. 

I was just wondering when do people usually start letting dogs off the lead, all I can find is after 6months-is this correct?

for me from Day one, a pup will not stray far from you, and with a breed like a working cocker you want to start very early, because they are nighmares to train later on when they get their noses down. I have 3 springers 1 i have had from a pup, was off lead from first outing, couldn't lose her if i tried, 2 rescues, never been taught as pups, first one took 6 months the second one we have now had 8 months and is still a work in progress, take toys and take treats and make yourself interesting

He follows me everywhere around the house ALL the time-even the loo :-)  So I was thinking he may stay close by but Im going to be SO scared letting him off the lead.  Im meeting a friend with a young Lab Friday for his 1st walk, once they are friends Im thinking he will come back following her if he was to make a run for it.  Do you think I better trying this first or taking him out on his own first?

i would probably go on your own first, you want to be most interesting thing, not the other dog, don't be scared, i'm certain he won't go far, even the springers i foster i let off on day one (in a safe area) just to see what i'm working with, they always tend to come back eventually, just means the difference between me saying needs work on recall or not.

Take him to a nice safe place and let him off on his first walk. The outside world will be very big and scary for him so he'll want to stick to you like glue - and that's exactly the behaviour you want to encourage!

Personally I'd take him alone, without the other dog. You don't want to overwhelm him too much to start with. Good luck, and have fun!

ok I will take him out on his own and do doggy intros later :-) Im going to try and scout out a closed off area I think, so excited about taking him out!

Thank U, will let U know how we get on

I was so scared about letting Mitz off lead she was kept on till about 8 months old (extending lead) but now after coming here and speaking to this lot, with our new puppy I am going to let him off straight away :)

Its alot of fun as long as you keep your eyes peeled for other dogs so they dont interupt, you want you to be more intresting on walks, not other dogs! :)

Theres a beach I know which is cornered off and you can see if anyone else is on there so I think I will go there fully armed with toys and treats!  Im thinking as there is only sand and water there he may not be quite as distracted as in say a park or similar so I can practice recall with him there, he does it in the house but I have a feeling outside is going to be a whole new game!! 

Its so different from inside , but also much more fun watching your pup explore the wide open world!

Go where you just said as that sounds perfect :) As long as you are armed with a surprise toy incase he really gets distracted, or even better a small chunk of chicken or cheese, then you should be just fine.
Its the letting off which is so hard, but like the rest said here he will not wander from you as the world is so bih and he is so small he will want protection!

I would also say "go fot it" with letting your pup off the lead but only do it when you feel ready otherwise pup wil pick up on your vibe. Just be confident and assertive and prepared.
i went to the beach with my pup when i first let him off the lead. Walked him all the way to the end (which was good because it tired him) then when i let him off the lead he was less inclined to go mad and run off at 100mph becuase of his new found freedom.
Also, the beach was seperated by groynes with a big bank at the back and the sea at the front so although he was off lead he was in quite a secure and reasonably sized area and we were away from all other dogs and distractions. I had to lots of treats for him  and made myself look like the most fun thing to play with which kept encouraging him back
Go for it. You and you pup will love it!!  :-)

Remember though don't overdo it as he will tire easily and damage to joints can be done by giving too much excercise whilst pups are growing. I go on a rule of thumb with the advice we give out with our GR pups for 5 mins per month of life till they are 12 months.
You will find that your little one will not stray to far from you and an ideal time to get him used to coming back to you (recall). Enjoy him.

Yes this beach is the same, groynes and sea walls keeping it an enclosed area.  Thumb!?!, hes 11wks so 15 mins of walk will be enough for him?

Yes thats plenty angel. You dont realise but the walking plus mental stimulation at home is very tiring for a young pup. Would also agree not to overdo the physical side. We all love to see dogs run off lead and have fun but i think the rule goes for ALL breeds of 5 mins walk for 1 month of their life. It's not worth overdoing it and gicing them joint and bone problems later on in life.

straight away!!!! as soon as you are out & about, leave a trailing long line on if you are nervous!

oh on your own first, defintally!

puppy bones are easily damaged as they do not fully calcify until at least 12 months of age, also they have open growth plates so damage can easily occur with over excercise and other factors, for example HD can be hereditary but can also be caused by enviromental factors such as jumping on and off furniture, wrong diet, over excercise etc. You will find that his 15 minutes is plently long enough for him, that is not to stop you taking him out in the car to pick up kids from school etc to carry on his introduction into the big wide world.

If you have a breed with any kind of independent or hunting streak then waiting until over 6 months is the way to make recall training harder.

You want them of the lead in a safe place asap when they are keen as babies to stay close to you.

Ive been taking him everywhere I go apart from work, which is only two days a week.  I want to have him with me as much as possible so its really important I socialise him properly you see.  I feel like I have moved into several pet shops near me, loitering around in hope of people who want a stroke :-)  I hate the whole standing at the school gate thing but have also done that!  Ive taken him to busy retail parks, even taken him on walks through the fields here-all carrying him! my arms will be so glad when Friday comes!  Luckily hes really good in the car, he stays on the passenger seat until the seccond I turn the ignition off, when hes straight on my lap!

He has just started getting of fthe couch himself but most the time he barks at me to lift him off! 

This week he has been a little more cautious of people but I think its since he had his microchip Fri-he screamed like mad :-( perhaps that just made him realise not all humans just want to stroke n love U!  

Well, Im amazed! It went SO well, he didnt leave my side apart from when I threw the ball! I took him on the beach for 15mins this morning and just had him in the fields for another 15!  Im so made up :-)  We went to visit my friends labs at lunch, he was a little worried at first but was soon bouncing around and semed really confident with them :-)  A big day for him! needless to say hes asleep in his basket!

On our walks today he is already more confident, hes not all that interested in other dogs but runs to greet any people we see! he does come back when I say 'come come' but I will have to stop him doing that. Do I keep saying 'come' soon as I see a person so he stays close?

Try and call him before he sees the people else come may end up meaning run to people for him as he will already be heading their way and ignoring the command.  The idea is to never use a command if it may be ignored.

thanks, I will try that tommorow. 

He passed with flying colours!  We met a couple of other dogs and their owners today, everyone commented on how well natured he was and how good he was not running off, I think Ive been very lucky with him being a first time dog owner.  We are at our first puppy class tomorow, cant wait.

Thank U for your advice, I dont think I would have let him off the lead til he was older if I hadnt had this advice, Im so made up as my goal is to have him off the lead most of the time apart from roads etc

Don't expect it to last, that is where the training will help reinforce this habit when pup becomes more adventurous.

Argh! thought it was too good to be true! :-) No, really I expected that as the first week he was here I was really on it, every single tome he piddled I was there putting him on the paper and after a few days he was doing it 80% of the time, then I relaxed and now its more like 40& of the time, my own fault but it taught me I need to be so repetative and consistant-how long for though? until it REALLY sinks in?

Just had a look at Ure web site, your dogs are amazing :-)