I wondered what your views are for letting a puppy off its lead when out walking. We are lucky enough to live next to a very big field, which is a favourite with dog walkers.  My Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is only 14 weeks and my husband is eager to let her have a run around.  I am unsure whether she is too young.

I always let my new pup off lead straight after their first jag. It's far better to let them off for the first time when they're still insecure and want to follow you everywhere. Of course I make sure it's safe environment for them in case they get a fright but I've never had a puppy run away :)

Any pup I have trained is off lead on the first walk, as long as it is a safe place to be.  You don't need to worry about your pup running off at this stage, everything is new, and you are the person who feeds and cares for her, she is very unlikely to leave your side, just keep calling her name to encourage her to keep up with you as it will be sniff, sniff, sniff. :-D

When you see another dog, lead her immediately though, and if you know the dog to be friendly allow her to go over and sniff and say hello, (if she wishes) don't pick her up, it will send the wrong messages out to her, and make an inquistive dog jump up at you.

As she gets older she is more likely to run from your side, wish to explore and meet and greet anything that moves, so constantly practise recall from now, offering a big fuss/treat when she recalls to you.

The sooner she is off lead the better, those who leave it too late often have dogs whose recall training is so much harder.  And they lack confidence, so yes, let her off lead now. :-) Just be vigilant at all times.

Thats interesting that you say leash her immediately if you see another dog Carrington, it's something I've never done and now I'm wondering what other people do. In my experience a very young puppy will either run back to me, or more likely not have left my side at all - if a strange dog comes over most pups will be very submissive to it. I know there may be a slight risk involved but, again in my experience, no dog will attack a young pup.

Even when introducing a new pack member, or friends new pup, to my dog aggresssive Mr Beastly I can just let him out in his own garden to see a new puppy, off lead and unmuzzled. Even he would not hurt a baby puppy, he just has a sniff and walks off. If it's a particularly forward pup that continues to try to leap up and lick his teeth he needs some space to escape but has never snapped.

I use this principle when out walking with a young pup, I would be concerned that by putting it on it's lead when you see another dog it's not learning how to interact with them. As with recall training I think interacting with other dogs is safest when the pup is very young. Of course this is just my opinion so I'd be interested to hear others :)

I agree - an offlead pup is safer from other dogs than it'll ever be later. If it's always put back on lead at another dog's approach it's more likely to learn to fear other dogs, and then you've got a problem ...

Certainly picking the pup up is completely and utterly the wrong thing to do, because other dogs will be fascinated at this strange thing and are almost guaranteed to jump up, which is scary for both pup and owner!

I would be concerned that by putting it on it's lead when you see another dog it's not learning how to interact with them.

I've trained many puppies this way, and no it does not interfere with their confidence :-) if anything it makes every dog they meet a good experience as they are not chastised or chased by an unfriendly dog, being puppy submissive, does not always ensure a happy ending. If the dog is friendly on asking the owner the on lead pup can be walked over to interact and let off lead to play with it, if all is ok.

Although pups need to learn an adult or teenage dogs body language, I don't believe in allowing them to be scared or nipped by an aggressor, that will stay with them and can make a pup, dog aggressive when older or afraid.  If a pup under 6 months has no bad experiences it will be confident, there is still plenty of dog on dog interaction with a pup on lead, and as I said you soon learn which dogs are good with pups and which aren't for them to be off lead with.

I know a lady whose 3 month pup was set upon by an adult Springer through her allowing it to be off lead meeting other dogs, the Springer approached her pup by the way, the poor pup was chased with both owners running after their dogs and the Springer bit the 3 month pup,  to this day 5 years on he has never recovered, he is always afraid of dogs when meeting them, and jumps to his owner for reassurance.  Bad experiences stay with pups.

It's just not worth the risk, and I haven't had a pup yet that is not excellent at dog on dog interaction, and reading other dogs body language, my opinon is to protect a very young pup from any chance of a bad interaction to give it a happy, confindent beginning. :-) I only ever allow a pup to interact with a dog I know to be friendly.

Although I don't have a huge amount of experience with pups I agree with you carrington.  Until I had good recall I put mine back on the lead until I assessed and checked with other owners it was ok to play.
I remember a friend of mine whose very young pup ran off to see a GSD that was on the lead.  Now the GSD was on the lead for a reason and I told him this but the pup was not adept at reading body language and he could not run fast enough to catch it immediately.  Unsurprisingly the owner of the GSD was annoyed as I would be too.
I feel that it is better safe than sorry particularly as negative experiences can be seen in behaviour throughout a dogs life.

Hi there

Id let your puppy off the lead on a secure field for a short period, but at that age she doesnt need a lot of exercise either off lead or on, if you overdo you could end up with a dog with problems later on in life.
At that age she shouldnt be walked more than about 10mins, but by all means stand around with her outside talking to people or sit on a bench in the village or something to get her used to noise,people and dogs etc....

I wouldnt let a pup off the lead at that age go running up to strange dogs, not worth what could be the consequences. I would take her on the lead to other dogs to socialise or even let her off for a few mins with another the same size of her once you know that dog is happy for a puppy prancing around .
My current pup who is 8mnths old, is not allowed off lead to run with other dogs unless i know them, he is very outgoing, is right in other dogs faces and so overthe top ehe would get bitten, and I just wouldnt risk it

he has plenty of socialisation at training class and on lead with other dogs

I wonder if your pup would have been less 'over the top' with other dogs though had he been allowed to meet them off lead from his first walk? We'll never know the answer to that, but for example my current youngster who is now 2 1/2 has been off lead from 10 weeks old. Her first few meetings with other dogs involved her lying on her back wagging her tail, being sniffed over then ignored. When she was a little older (maybe 4 or 5 months)she did run up to other dogs, and got told off once or twice for leaping on them. To me this is all part of learning though and now she largely ignores any other dogs, only playing with the odd one. Other dogs just aren't a hugely exciting thing for her. Her mother had the exact same upbringing and is a fabulous dog to take anywhere off lead, if dogs come up to her she'll say hello nicely and walk on, if they ignore her she'll ignore them. If they want to play she'll sometimes play, if they're pushy or OTT they may get told off, but no harm done. It's all about learning doggy manners I think :)

I always let my dogs off lead from the first walk,and they have stayed off lead for the rest of their lives,unless near roads etc ofcourse. They learn from a very early age how to interact with other dogs,how far they can run ahead etc etc,none of this can be achieved if the dog is on lead,especially "natural" interaction with other dogs,they just act differently if on lead.I've never leashed my pups when other dogs have approached.
I agree with your hubby,your cav needs to run around and explore when out on a walk.

>I wonder if your pup would have been less 'over the top' with other dogs though had he been allowed to meet them off lead from his first walk?

Valid point :) I have noticed that the more a dog is on leash the more excited they get around other dogs and other stimuli.

Too true , i have a dog who ignores other dogs when she is in a free running area, but bounces and howls if she see's another dog when on lead.Mostly other dog owners shift away from us when she is on lead, but met one other dog owner who tried to appolagise for his dalmatian cross's behavior , by god i was thankful , he thought it was his naughty dog annoying mine( he was just a happy go lucky fat boy to me ). So i let her off and the pair got on great(i had no doubt in my mind that my bitch would be nothing but proper if not matron like ;and it was secure )It takes alsorts in this world and i think dogs think that too ,my bitch just wants to play , but if she is on lead she can look scary and be vocal . When i got my little dog i resided myself not to treat her like a baby but get her out there with the rest of the dog popularity (sp)and let her run and play with other dogs and not pick her up  and she is more easy on lead but such a bully off lead as she thinks the she has the run of the park and will yap and yap  till she gets told from a more dominant dog and that can be a  doberman or cocker spaniel , but i let her learn the dog way not my way

We didnt let our girl off the lead until we had a solid recall which I thought was what all trainers professed? She was 8 months old by the time we let her off and she has never misses a single one command recall, so my advice is keep him/her on the lead till you KNOW she will come back to you.
I would never ever ever ever let a 10 week old puppy off lead, not even if no one was around and we were in a massive field (which we do have) I would train on an extending lead until the recall is solid and then intergrate  little periods of off lead until they are fully trust worthy and then let them run free, it makes you feel so much more comftable when you know your dog will return with no hesitation and to let a puppy off straight after injections is just crazy in my opinion, but then agaibn we all train differently and as long as your dog comes back then go for it! :)

My girl is well balanced on lead and off lead with dogs (Apart from the basic excitement off seeeing a dog and a slight tug in that dogs direction) so our training has worked! :)

I believe in clipping dogs on lead until close to the other dog and then letting her off, if the dog is friendly, but only because we have a SBT and I dont want her to scare or intimidate any other dogs or owners by scarpering up like a loon! :D :D

My training club advises not letting them off until they have a solid recall. My friend and I think however that if you wait 8 months or more before ever letting the dog off the lead, it'll think 'yippee, free at last!' and no way will it be interested in coming back. Whereas if you let them off right from 10 weeks, obviously somewhere safe and watching for any over excited / unfriendly other dogs, they will stick close and develop the habit of watching and coming when called before they develop the confidence to run off. An extending lead is a good halfway house, gives the dog some freedom without you having to worry, but there's nothing to beat watching your dog running free offlead and enjoying life at his pace without having to wait for me to catch up! I also think if you call them back, reward them, then let them run free again, they will associate the recall with treats rather than with the end of the fun.

To many trainers only understand and train Velcro breeds.  The only problem dog regardign bogging off is oen I ahd back at 8 1/2 months.  The ones I ahd let fof from babies are pretty good considering the breed traits of an independent hunting Spitz.  Wtih my breed if you don't get that recall tainign doen when they are anxious to stay with you as real babies they will never be reliable, but go off and coem back when they are ready.  it isn't about understandign the commands they have been trained to understand it is the fact they will choose to do what they want.

What I've always wondered about clubs that claim you should not let a dog off until it has a solid recall -how can you ever GET a solid recall if the dog isn't offlead? You cannot train for something like that without being in the areas you will be walking in (a recall at home or club isn't at all the same as a recall in the park or woods), with distractions around. Sadly I think it is advice like that that cause many dogs NOT to have a good recall.

I too let pups off from the first walk, and always run away and hide now and then so they learn to keep their eye son me (and wonderful game, they think!), and that practice I keep up during the dog's entire life.

Our American Cocker Spaniel was let off lead in safe areas (parks) from the first day he was allowed out. I feel that letting them off lead straight away helps to get them to stay with you better as they learn to follow you rather than you follow them. Recall is very easy with a young puppy and lots of treats.

Vera

Our girl walks free all the time on the field (Apart from leashing when a dog approaches as mentioned earlier)
she has in no way shape of form, the madness at being off lead as you just said she slike any other dog, has a sniff then waits for her ball to be thrown.

I just wouldnt feel safe letting such a small puppy off lead as adult dogs can pop up round any corner as we have all had the situation where a dog pops up from no where and you are unprepared and both dogs have theyre meeting unsupervised for those split moments! This chance for me is too greatest risk for a puppy. Mitz only took 8 months as we wanted to be absolutly sure as she is our first dog to call our own!
If all good trainers say wait for a solid recall before letting off then thats what I'm gonna do! :D

If all good trainers say wait for a solid recall before letting off then thats what I'm gonna do! 

I guess I am not such a good trainer then...

Its each to there own I think on this one! ;)

Our way has worked so well with Mitz we see no need to not use the method on any other dogs we may have. :)

If all good trainers say wait for a solid recall before letting off then thats what I'm gonna do!

They most certainly do not.

Mitz only took 8 months as we wanted to be absolutly sure as she is our first dog to call our own!

8 months is actually an awfully long time -you can achieve a good recall for life in a few weeks at most if you start from day one. :)

So would you rather we let her off before we were happy too and then she runs off?

You cant have it both ways and we love our way.
You can either train your dog to the standard your happy and they will return with no hesitation and then let it off, or let it off when its a young 10 weeks old and hope it follows you? I couldnt trust that method at all im afraid and 8 months old is not a long time considering some dogs never get free run time and she now has free roam of about 2-3 hours a day.
Puppies only need 10 mins walking every day so I dont know how you coped with that and letting it off lead, surely that was hard to monitor? to make sure the bones werent damaged with all this young free roam?

And all the quality trainers I have met or spoke to have said keep on lead till confident of recall, with Mitz it took 8 months so we keot her on till then, its not long at all for peace of dog and mind! :)

So would you rather we let her off before we were happy too and then she runs off?

It doesn't happen with puppies, they do not leave you at that age -which is why you need to get that window of opportunity in the first couple of weeks or it is lost forever, a pup will never be back at that stage again of not WANTING to be away from you.

You can either train your dog to the standard your happy and they will return with no hesitation and then let it off, or let it off when its a young 10 weeks old and hope it follows you?

There's no question of HOPE, it's normal puppy behaviour. A 10 week old pup on its first walk will not leave you, full stop. Which is why YOU leave the pup (but make it really easy to find/follow you at that age) and set it up for life that way.

Like I already said, you CANNOT train a dog to have a reliable recall if it isn't where it is meant to be. It doesn't work like that. It's a bit like saying you can get used to driving a car on motorways by practicing in your back garden only.

I couldnt truat that method at all im afraid and 8 months is not a long time considering some dogs never get free run time and she now has free roam of about 2-3 hours a day.

It is -because at 10 months of age your dog is entering the teenage stage, and it is no longer a small pup wanting to act like a duckling and follow your legs wherever you go, so a much, much higher chance of it suddenly taking off. It has confidence that a 10 week old pup doesn't have. I don't know how old your dog is, but I'd be willing to bet she won't be anywhere near as reliable at age 3, 5, whatever as my dogs are all through their life.

It's much the same as socialisation -the window of opportunity is small and if lost, the work becomes a lot harder and may never be as reliable.

My first dog didn't get let off the lead until 16 weeks because I didn't know any better. I thought how on earth can you let a puppy off if it doesn't know what a recall command means yet. Then I got involved with a training club and some very good trainers. They all said the same thing; if the area is secure and the puppy can't get onto a road or similar hazard then let it off from day 1. I did this with my second dog and her recall is better than my first dog's. His is good but it took far more effort; long lines etc. The thing about very small pups is they don't need to know a recall command, it's in their instincts to stick close and follow you.

I don't let my pups run up to every dog. I judge the situation and the dog. If a dog is on a lead my pup goes on a lead. Greetings to old and very small dogs are controlled so I can teach a steady greeting so my pup doesn't injure a small or elderly dog but I have a large breed so that's important for mine to learn. I also loosely follow a 1/3 rule. Out of every three dogs, pup gets to meet one dog, play with one dog, and walk past one dog while focusing on me. This has worked very well for my second puppy. So I'm learning. :) I wish I had done this with my first dog.

Marianne I still dont agree with you on this im afraid.

Our Mitz was taken to obedience classes when she was 6 months old and the only way we had trained her before that was in the backgarden for off lead recall of the basic commands while on an extending lead on a walk.
We lost no window and she is one of the best trained dogs we know for recall, no your method or explanation to why your method is the be all and end all of training does not apply here Im afraid.

She has no problems with recall WHATSOEVER and I didnt use your method of letting off when only 8-10 weeks.
Mitz still follows me like a shadow and she is now nearly 2 in January, so they dont stop wanting to follow at all.

And puppies will leave you at that age, you just hjavent expieranced it yet like other people have that I have spoken too. the puppy is more curious of its surroundings then it is intrested in you.

edited to add

Like I already said, you CANNOT train a dog to have a reliable recall if it isn't where it is meant to be. It doesn't work like that. It's a bit like saying you can get used to driving a car on motorways by practicing in your back garden only. this part of what you said I find rather silly im afraid as it doesn not apply to dogs what so ever.

but its all to ones own ways so we are not gonna resolve this! :)

I am not saying that one method is better than the other and I am certainly not trying to tell you (or anyone else that doesn't ask me to) how to train your dog - you have obviously done a very good job. But in my experience (running a dog training school with 150+ new members every year), it does appear that overall, dogs that were let off as tiny puppies generally have better recall and are more focused on their owner on walks than puppies that have been kept on lead until six or more months old. Of course there are always exceptions on either side though - and it depends a bit on the breed!

It's just that I want to teach a puppy from day 1 to follow me and keep an eye on me and not the other way round. And if there is a lead between puppy and owner (unless it's a long line where the puppy is expected to behave like an off lead dog), the puppy is in the vast majority of cases never tought this as they are physically moved from one place to another and don't need to learn to keep an eye on the owner as they never go anywhere anyway so don't need watching over...  Owning extremely independent breeds (Pyrenean Mountain Dog and Saluki crosses), I want to build these foundations as early as possible! I have done it with my American Cocker and it is working beautifully - though of course a spaniel is generally more likely to hang around anyway, so it might just be the breed! Our Pyr and lurchers were adult rescue dogs when we took them on, but one day hopefully, I will have a saluki/saluki cross puppy and I can test my theory to the extreme! :-)

Vera

Rach
This is your 1st dog, I'm glad it has worked out well for you this way but when you get your next pup why don't you try the other way so you can compare?
Please explain how you train recall with a dog onlead.

Please explain how you train recall with a dog onlead.

That can easily be done... in fact, I always start recall training on-lead with older dogs (I have trained two saluki lurchers from 10 months old). The lead is simply used to stop the dog from taking off, so they can't make a mistake. Once it works well on a short lead, you can extend to a long line or flexi-lead. Once that works well, you can do off lead.

Vera

Add me to the list whose dogs are off lead as soon as they are walked!  1 newfoundland and 1 springer both dont bother with other dogs on a walk.  Also have another newfoundland who I got when he was 6 months old and never been off lead.  He is now 6 years but still not 100% after all this time

I hope this isn't "high jacking", I think it fits with this thread.  I'm taking Oban (11 weeks old today) to a new road in an as yet undeveloped subdivision.  Nobody walks their dog there and it is ploughed out.  The pee paths we've tramped in the snow in our back yard are a bit limiting, I think.  Anyway, he happily scampers along with me, off leash.  But on the way back to the car he races ahead and gets what I consider to be too far away from me and stops to wait for me to catch up.  So I stop too, and just stand there till he comes back to me.  I don't say anything.  When he reaches me he gets lots of "good boys" and sometimes a treat.  Any opinions on whether I'm doing the right thing?  What I hope to convey is: we go back at MY pace, he does not get so far ahead and he learns there is not going to be a verbal command to remind him, he just has to watch where I am.  After only three walks I think he was not ranging so far out but three times is likely too soon to tell.

P.S.  We are getting some good recalls and we do practice them as well, just not in the above situation.

hi,

i would let my next pup of the lead as soon as the jabs were complete, i wont use a lead on ym next dog on fields etc (obviously near a road all my dogs are on leads - it only takes a spook and they are in the road)  i have a horse at a farm which is like in the middle of nowhere no cars around etc - my springer goes offlead all the time, its better for them - she just over 1 now, her recall there is fab, she follows me round like a shadow, the mistake i amde with her was not letting her off at 10/11 weeks after her jab etc...

good luck

suzex

Jetstone
Is there anywhere for you to hide but still see your puppy and what he is up to (so he does not run wrong direction etc)
You could do this when you see he is about to run too far so when he turns to wait for you, you are not there he has lost you!

I do this when they go too far or stay too far behind sniffing around.
The puppy will quickly learn not to run too far as you might disapear!
They learn to keep an eye on where you are.

My puppy is now 4 months old and has been walked off lead since we got her.
My family who looks after her for me has not done the hiding thing but after just two walks with just us two out together and me disappearing if she forgets to keep an eye, I can see Sasha has already learned that this woman might disappear if I don't keep contact with her!
I also reward her for coming "to check" me, running to me just to say hello as I see this as a positive thing, something I would like her to do, so am engouraging the behaviour.

If there isn't nowhere to hide I would maybe just run the opposite direction, depending of your pups breed they might make a game out of this though. I personally would not wait around for him to decide when we wants to return to me as I can see when he gets older you standing still is pretty boring so he might just start sniffing around etc while he waits instead of running back to you like he does now, but I'm no trainer:rolleyes:

I thing the keeping an eye on where you are and rushing too far ahead are different things as he is obviously keeping an eye already (stopping to wait for you to catch up) he just doesn't know how close you would like him to stay.

I also teach my dogs "wait"-command, I know my dog will stop and wait for me even if something exciting is happening or they want to get somewhere. I also use it if they do get too far ahead (which does not happen often as afterall I do disappear if they do :) ) or if I for different reasons wish to keep them closer to me than normal.
This is also useful when you meet dogs/people as you can ask him to wait for you and you can meet and greet together or put him in the lead if you wish.

Yes, hiding worked for our 4 yr old rescue ESS and our previous Lab puppy.  But it's harder now as the snow is deep and I'd need snowshoes or skiis to go off the trail.  Oban can walk on the crust on top.  I don't like to run the other way with my back to him in case a car does come or there is a coyote lurking.  I see the point though, about him starting to sniff around on his own.  He probably will do just that, he is quite a bold, brave little fellow.  With the previous two I simply yelled out, "too far."  Maybe I will go back to that.

I also let my dog off lead straight away when he had had jabs etc and in a place it was safe to do so.  He now never goes too far or if he does he looks for me and waits or comes running back.  His recall is good but I did find the hiding trick to work a treat.  We do have another dog and I think this did help too as he learnt a lot from her.  I too recall him a few times on a walk then let him play again so that he doesn't associate recall=home time.

Just to let you all know I have taken the plunge and let her off the lead in the field yesterday.  She was excellent.  Didn't stray very far and had great fun running after my children. When I recalled her she seemed to respond and I praised her a lot and gave her a treat.  I will definately be continuing this and hope that the puppy classes I will be starting this Thursday will help as well.  Just one thing, obviously puppies do not need long walks, but if she is enjoying running in the fields for 10/15 mins and then we have to walk home for about 5 mins is this over-exercising her?

>And puppies will leave you at that age, you just hjavent expieranced it yet

I have not been dog free since around the age of 15,around 20 years or so of always having a dog/pup at home. And i can say with hand on heart that none of my pups have ever run away from me,ever! They do stick to you like glue when they're young,and they just seem to get used to doing this through to adulthood.
I currently have Border terriers,they are supposed to be an independant breed,but i cant get them to run too far ahead of me no matter how hard i try.Sometimes i want them to go explore in places where i cant go,like reeds,thickets etc,but they just will not go,they prefer to stay close and within eye sight of me,and the more i think about it the more i realise all of my dogs have acted in pretty much similar ways,and they have ALL been let off lead from day 1.
I often see adolescant dogs on walks who have never been let off lead because the owners cant/wont trust them because "they are too young",these are the dogs who bolt as soon as that lead is unclipped!!! My dogs dont need to bolt because they are never on lead and dont feel the need to escape and run around as much as they can before they're clipped back on the lead :(
All the problem dogs who have nought recalls that i have encountered on walks are the ones who's owners have been heavy on the lead.The well behaved easy going dogs have all started out the same as me.

Hey Lurchergirl

I wont be trying the off lead at early age method as I wouldnt be at all happy about it and the pup may pick up on that!

Our way is perfect for us and recall training in the back yard, and extended lead recall on walks has been good for us so far, so as the saying goes 'If it aint broke dont fix it!'' Im glad everyone else had had success with the method and wish them all the best but we will stick to this method :)

Also chuffed to hear the first time off lead went well with your new puppy ;) (Even if I dont agree with the methid! :D :D only kidding!)

For once Ktee I agree with you 100 %. :D

Kate, I'm with you on that.
None of mine have ever run off, they've all been used to being off lead from pups and I've never had a problem.
I still don't with my 6 year old.  She was let off as a pup, followed us everywhere and has a superb recall now.

I had a dog bred by a friend who went to a 'forever' home, who went back to my friend then came to me.  He was never allowed off lead when he went to his home (the breeder and I kept in touch with his owner so we could find out more about how he'd been brought up)  His recall was awful.  He was a very intelligent dog, and loved to learn things.  It took 4 days, with an hours training per day to teach him to come back.  (We used a lunge rope at first, then let him off in our field)  It took a lot longer, for me to trust him to come back.....he never let me down :-)  but I'd much rather do it with them as pups, it's far easier.

And puppies will leave you at that age, you just hjavent expieranced it yet like other people have that I have spoken too. the puppy is more curious of its surroundings then it is intrested in you.

You've obviously been lucky with Mitzi. Doesn't mean other dogs will work the same as it definitely is not the norm. :) I have been going to training classes since 1981 and have come across an awful lot of dogs that don't do reliable recalls as they weren't let off as very young pups.

Well I've only had around 20 pups in my life plus litters, so I must have been very UNlucky then in never having come across any that wanted to leave me at 8-10 weeks of age. ;)

I fully respect that you are a breeder and have much expierance of puppies, but we simply trained her on recall off lead at home in the garden and on extending lead while on walks, no luck just dedicate training everyday for her whole life! :)

there are many methods that work, this is just one or 2 of them! ;)

Don't often post on here but felt i had to with this one, i have 3 ESS the one i have had from a pup was let off lead from the very first walk, and i can't loose her for love nor money and she is now 2, the other two are rescues, it took nearly a year to get a reliable recall on the first one, and i am still working on the second one 6 months later. Both have perfect recall on a line, just when you let em off they dissapear into the next county, i suspect neither of them had been let off their leads in a previous life

As long as the puppy has had consistant training from the word go, it will have a good recall if you have done it right, letting off straight away or extending lead recall training are both very effective methods of doing it.

Rescue dogs tend to be from places where theyre not even housetrained let alone obedience trained, good to hear youre making progress!!! :)

As long as the puppy has had consistant training from the word go, it will have a good recall if you have done it right, letting off straight away or extending lead recall training are both very effective methods of doing it.

With all due respect, you cannot state that from having had experience of ONE single dog.

Try telling that to the people who come up to me in my local park and offer to pay me to train theyre dogs.

I have trained all my families dogs in this way and they all have good recall, and what I state in 100% true.
Its not that hard to train a dog recall, dont see why everyone thinks it is!

Its not that hard to train a dog recall, dont see why everyone thinks it is! 

It isn't... with most dogs/breeds. But you are more than welcome to have a go with my saluki crosses and PMD...  :-)

Send them down here Lurchergirl and Ill have a go! :d  Free of Charge!! :D

You'd have a lot of fun with them... LOL

To be fair to them... they are not so bad, well, the lurchers aren't! I have put a lot of work in with them and in most every day situations, they are doing just ine. But I know that their recall will never be 100% as some distractions are just too great (and I don't have the time to train for those high level distractions like running wildlife and it isn't really necessary for a life in London either...).

The pyrenees is mainly my husband's responsibility so I haven't done much work with him, but I walk him more now and am working on it. Though I am under no illusion that he will probably never be allowed off lead unless it is in a fully fenced and secure area.

Oh, and just to make it clear... all these are rescue dogs, so I haven't had the opportunity to train them from scratch as a young puppy...

Vera

I love to train dogs and Ive trained some right nutters! :D :D

If theyre rescue dogs then you do the best that you can and thats enough in my eyes! ;)
At least you know youre dog wont come back yet and dont chance it.

I have seen so many puppies running loose and being complete terrors from being let off too soon, and bigger dogs running riot from being let off without training that I now hate people who let there dogs off when they know they have no recall, theres no point and it ruins other peoples walks as well!

All anyone wants is a calm relaxed dog walk :)

All anyone wants is a calm relaxed dog walk 

Don't ever get any saluki lurchers then...