Woof! Bark! And also Whiiiiiiiiiine.

1 lurker | 107 watchers

LazyDaisy Mar 2016 9:46pm, 6 Mar 2016 13,541 posts	0 LazyDaisy Alice there was one heart-stopping incident when I opened the front door for something, assuming Flossie was 'safe' not to run out. There was a cat in the garden which Floss spotted - the next thing I knew she had flown out of the door, leapt the front wall and disappeared in pursuit of the cat :-0. Thank goodness the cat made for home, on our side of the road, rather than across the (quitebusy
LazyDaisy Mar 2016 9:48pm, 6 Mar 2016 13,542 posts	0 LazyDaisy Oops...quite busy road! Even now when I open the door I do a quick scan for a C.A.T
Cyclops Mar 2016 9:51pm, 6 Mar 2016 2,261 posts	0 Cyclops Leah did so many naughty dog dashes after cats, squirrels, hens, sheep, other dogs etc etc that there are too many to remember and we are all surprised she has made it to doddery old age.
BaronessBL Mar 2016 9:55pm, 6 Mar 2016 5,269 posts	0 BaronessBL That reminds me of the time we arrived home one evening after dark - and opened the boot of the car to coax Wanda out (as we usually have to as she is a little hesitant usually about getting in or out of the car) but having not noticed a cat on a neighbour's drive. The boot was only open about the size of a Staffie when this brindle bullet shot out of the car and disappeared. Luckily the cat jumped over a six foot fence. We always leave the lead on Wanda in the car now, although I'm not sure it would have been much help that night to be honest
Alice the Camel Mar 2016 4:19pm, 7 Mar 2016 2,578 posts	0 Alice the Camel Our trainer, Cushla (do all dog trainers have unusual names?), has told us to let the pups off lead when we're out walking as soon as possible. We've done a couple of weeks of recall work so she thinks it best to put it to the test out in the real world straight away. Apart from the fact that Charlie doesn't like going for walks, I don't feel confident enough to let him off the lead when we're out and about. What if he won't come back? I might never see him again! Can any of the thread experts remember their first "off the leash" experience?
D2 Mar 2016 5:06pm, 7 Mar 2016 8,632 posts	0 D2 I feel the need to comment though as usual this will be unhelpful...... cant help myself though as you probably all know only too well I never let any of my dogs off the lead when they are not on the farm; I'm far too paranoid. So, AtC whatever and whenever you do it you will be so much better than me..... subsides back into own pool of anxiety... lots of people will be along soon with positive experiences....
LazyDaisy Mar 2016 5:43pm, 7 Mar 2016 13,548 posts	0 LazyDaisy We didn't let any of our dogs off the lead for the first time unless there were at least two of us there, and then we went into a completely safe (and relatively boring) field. What we did was to practise calling her from one of us to the other (rewarded with a treat of course) over really quite a short distance, only gradually increasing the distance between us. We also played a sort of chase game where we did the running aorund like an idiot so the dog was running after us, never us running after them. The lovely thing about our dogs as they matured (and I don't regard Flossie as being anywhere near this stage yet) was that we could walk them along a road off lead and be confident they wouldn't hare off; in fact Lizzie, our first, used to carry her lead in her mouth
Sharkie Mar 2016 5:47pm, 7 Mar 2016 8,932 posts	0 Sharkie It's a tricky one Alice. There is always going to be 'some' element of risk - but rarely that your dog will run off and never come back! And there's less risk involved with many small dogs - unless they're determined terrier types ... or Beagles (she adds knowingly!) If Charlie has done well at socialisation and is confident then you should try it... making sure you have high quality treats to hand. An enclosed field would be good - and perhaps with Mini there too, so Charlie can run between you? We first let Jess off lead in the country park - there's a particular couple of huge fields where lots of people let their dogs off lead - it's a sort of unofficial dog park. We had mainly positive experiences to begin with - there's always going to be someone who gets annoyed! But you should be ok with a cute little bundle like Charlie rather than a mad wolf like Jess.
Sharkie Mar 2016 5:51pm, 7 Mar 2016 8,933 posts	0 Sharkie Lazy D has said everything I wanted to! Raffo has thought of two more good tips. 1. A lunge lead - like you'd have for a horse. Any sort of really long loose lead will do but NOT a retractable! 2. If all else fails in a recall situation sit - or if you dare - LIE on the ground. Dog will come and investigate. Sure thing! 3. Running AWAY form the dog usually works too! Hard to have the confidence to do this - but it does usually work - dogs DON'T want to be left!
Sharkie Mar 2016 5:54pm, 7 Mar 2016 8,934 posts	0 Sharkie Jess is much, much 'nicer' off lead - she doesn't feel she needs to protect us!