I have a 11 week old puppy and is able to go out for walks this weekend, I have been told by my vets to let him off the lead straight away in a large open area. Our puppy classes do not start until the middle of this month but we have done a small amount of recall with treats at home. Do we go straight into it or wait?

Let him off lead in a safe area while he's still young enough to be nervous about the outside world and wants to stick to safety (you!) like glue. You want him to always think that being close to you is a Good Thing. If you wait till he's more confident about being out he'll want to explore without you, and that's when recall problems start.

I used to let the lead drag on the floor behind my pup, so I could step on it and catch her up quick if I needed to. 

Yep - out and off lead asap and make comign to you the best thing in the world. I call pups back basically every time they look my way or are heading my way, and wtih Errol at the moment OH and I take it in turns to recall him between us for treats, which he thinks is smashing fun!

Once they get a bit older they get brave.. and think they can ignore you and go off exploring, so use his youth and inexperience as a handy 'tool' to assist you in getting him used to being off lead and coming when called.

I miss those scaredy puppy days when Storm stuck to me like glue! Now she little Miss Independant- grrrrr :-S

I let mine off as soon as he was able as the others have said.  And I could always catch him then if he decided to do a runner :).  They do tend to stick to you like glue though and as I had another dog he just followed her around.

I would say yes let your pup off straight away, I wish we had, Kez was five months when we let him off ;o) my friend has a 8 month old dobe and never let him off yet and I think they have got to the stage where they won't ever let him off now. Go for it.

Makes sense to do it while still very young. I'm sorry we did not do this with our GSD. At the time everyone was saying do not let off lead untill you have 100% recall and our trainer said you can't let a shepherd off lead untill they are about 2 years old!! We did as we were told and ended up with a dog agressive dog who would just run for the hills if let off lead and ignore us completely.

I have always let mine off the lead as puppies in a safe area - and have a new puppy who has now been allowed the same - and they tend to come back for re-assurance - and my other two are well behaved when off - and come back on recall

Hi all, another thing that usually works is when they are still 'babies is to have them off-lead somewhere open, let them go a little way away then stand by a hedge or tree, call once and stand still, dogs find it harder to focus on a stationary object and you blend into the hedge, wait till they a slightly anxious NOT till Blind Panic sets in and then step fprward and call again. It helps to teach them they have to keep an eye on you in case you 'disappear'.  If you always follow them and keep calling you end up with Dog being quite happy not seeing you as long as YOU keep 'checking in' ie calling till they have finished sniffing etc and THEY decide they are ready to come to you.
Chris

Off lead in a safe area from day 1!

Off lead ASAP. I have with all of mine, they stay close whilst learning about the big big world, it teaches them that freedom is no big thing so they have no desire to run off at the slightest chance.

It always amazes me when we're out walking and we meet people with young dogs on leads and you get the comment 'Oh I daren't let him off he wont come back' well if it had been done when young he would do, and as long as they stay forever on the lead then these owners will never know.

Thanks to everybody, we have just had our second walk off lead and he was brilliant and never ventured to far but far enough to meet and greet new people and dogs.
Wow this dog walking is fun..

Umm must admit I don't do it until a few weeks in.  Have sold two Pomeranian's years ago where owners were given the same advice (different owners), sadly they didn't live to go for another walk as they were hit by cars.

My Spanish are velcro dogs and I do it about the fourth walk.

> years ago where owners were given the same advice (different owners), sadly they didn't live to go for another walk as they were hit by cars.
>

I wouldn't consider walking any where near cars with a pup off lead as being safe

I have to say that was my biggest fear Perrodeagua, but I have found a great large open area where the road is far away and have been practising the recall in the garden at home, so far he has been really good and always returns when called and I am very aware of whats going on around me just in case he gets freaked out by something.

I wouldn't consider walking any where near cars with a pup off lead as being safe   We wouldn't but sadly many new excited puppy owners don't realise the dangers.

Glad OP's pup is doing well. 

Well done Fazza, glad you have enjoyed yourself :o)

I agree with all above and Tatty-ead especially.  I have an Elkhound, which aren't reknowned for their recal, and didn't get her till she was 4 months old, but I've found the 'hide n' seek' method really effective.  She's just 3 now, but I still use it occassionaly just to keep her on her toes!
Got to add - make really sure the area is safe and give lots of love, treats, play when she comes back then let her gfo and play again - definitely don't  just call her back to put back on lead or go home.
Good luck and have fun

> We wouldn't but sadly many new excited puppy owners don't realise the dangers.
>

I know what you mean, and it's very unfortunate that some pups have to learn the hard way with having owners that don't think ahead, luckily for OP's pup there's lots of fore thought going on and pup should do well :)

Hi Fazza,

I have a 14 week old puppy and he went off the lead for the first time at the weekend. I was at my parents place and they live in an old farm house with open fields at the back of their garden. I took him out there for a run around and he absolutely loved it. His recall was excellent, although I have to say he didn't exactly wander very far from us. It was lovely to watch him sniffing and playing around. He came back every time I called him, I gave him lots of fuss and sent him off to play again.

After reading this post I decided to try letting him off the lead in our local park or 'rec' as the kids call it. I walked him on lead until the were well away from traffic and anything else for that matter (I'm a worrier) and let him off for a little while. He was excellent. I'm so pleased I read this post as I'm not sure that I'd have been brave enough to let him off for months otherwise and I would never have realised how good he is at recall when there are distractions around. Might even try it again on his walk tonight with the hide-and-seek method.

Thanks  

I am glad your walks are going as well as ours Littlemissdrago. I have yet to try the hide and seek method. I have the joy of that to come !!