5 tips for taking your dog off-leash

Providing time off-leash is one of the best ways to maintain your dog’s well-being. It is an important part of ensuring that your dogs’ needs are met and is an essential aspect of right relationship, or ayni - a foundational element in shamanic dog training.

Here are 5 helpful tips to get started:

1. Go somewhere safe and open. Beaches with long sandbars, nature trails with open space and sports fields with fences are great places to start. Look for somewhere with enough space that if your dog takes a sprint for a little while, they would not end up anywhere close to traffic, etc.

2. Use a long line. A length of rope attached to your dog’s collar can reduce the need for a really strong recall response out there. You can use 10, 30 or even 100 feet of rope to catch your dog and feel confident that they can’t get too far away from your reach.

3. Go with other dogs. Other dogs with off-leash experience can provide your dog with a strong example to follow. They stay close and show your dog how to handle things out there in the big wide open.

4. Keep moving. So your dog has to keep an eye on you and keep up. By constantly moving along on the trail or beach, you force your dog to leave what he is doing and run to catch up. Don’t forget that he may feel overwhelmed, and will likely want to stay close to you out there.

5. Approach often. Keep approaching your dog for a quick pat and smooch before sending him on his way again. Make sure he views your approaching him as something casual and fun, rather than feeling like you are the police, coming to take away his freedom.

You don’t have to wait until your dog is perfect at his recall or until he is all “grown up” before going off leash. The sooner you start, the better – the benefits to going off-leash are worth the effort of making it safe and easy to do. You won’t believe the fun you will have together out there!

Don’t forget: if you would feel better having more direct support and instruction, please consider group or private dog training sessions.

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Bio:
Tamryn Fudge is an animal communicator, dog trainer and shamanic practitioner and student. She offers shamanic dog training to help you and your dog get closer and love deeper - for aggression and behaviour problems, everyday learning and puppy teaching. Group and private sessions available.
tamryn@infinitedog.ca | 250-573-1744

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