my 11mth old border terrier loves his long walks (now there's a suprise !) and we go on a lovely safe route. i start him on his lead until we reach our destination and then i let him off the lead. he's absolutely fine, has great fun with his 'friends' and comes back when called to go back on the lead to return home (with the help of doggy chocs of course !). i realise that it's a place he is used to and i'm very confident with his behaviour. i guess we've been there too often because now i'm too worried to let him off the lead in other places. do you think he'd stick by me because he wouldn't know the surroundings or would he run off full of beans to investigate ?. i just wondered how other people deal with this situation.

thanks,
val

use one of those extending lead things till you see what your doglike in new places,im sure hell be fine.

I'd show him I've got some really tasty treat like chicken or hot dog, then let him off in the new place and keep recalling him, reward his with the treat (personally I don't like dog chocolate as like human chocolate it clings round the teeth and can cause decay :( ) ........ Make sure that the recall isn't just an 'I want to put you on your lead' thing where ever you are - or you may find your friend doesn't want the fun to end at some stage, and start refusing to come back to you - this also goes for always putting the lead on at the same place.......

You've done a great job teaching your dog recall - we're still working on Come means come right to me, not within 2 feet and away quick - I find the best way to be secure in a new place is to ask other dog walkers about possible hazards like gaps in fences or roads as we walk up on the lead, and keep looking ahead all the time for possible disasters like kids playing football or cyclists. Use his recall to get him out of trouble or use the long leads - I use long leads in case!

I was REALLY nervous about letting my now 13 month old Border Terrier girl off the lead then I decided that it was no fun for her just walking on the lead all the time so we worked hard in all kinds of different situations in keeping her interested and near to us. She now knows what she can just about get away with, for instance there is nothing we can do to stop her from going off and saying hello to every dog she sees but she knows that she must come straight back. She also has learnt 'this way' which means that she MUST follow us. She tends to run around us in a figure of eight for some strange reason but won't stray too far. By far the biggest distraction are birds who she thinks live in each and every bush that we go past which means that she feels its her job to go in for a better look.

thanks all for taking time to reply. i think it's me that needs the training - i'm sure he'd be fine really, but yes, probably best to visit the 'new' places using the extending lead first.

val

Must admit we tend to walk in the same places - not so much because of Gus being familiar with the suroundings but because I know that the dogs we have all encountered so far are all ok