There are many reasons pet parents desire to let their dog off-leash. Whether it’s allowing them the freedom to roam as they choose or a more practical reason like not having to escort them to the backyard every time they have to go potty, there are several benefits to pets and owners alike.

However, training your dog to be let off-leash and come when you call is a challenging task. It takes a lot of continued work and a dog with the right temperament to ensure that letting them off-leash is the safe and rewarding situation it is meant to be.

Be the Center of Their Universe

Allowing your dog off-leash isn’t what’s difficult; it’s training them to return to you–when you say so–that makes it so challenging. Successfully letting your dog off leash is entirely dependent on their recall ability.

In this sense, when you call your dog, they need to be trained where it should go. The first step to trusting your dog off-leash is to teach them to come to your side immediately when you give the command.

Perfect Their Response to Verbal Commands

When your dog is sprinting off-leash, there’s no way you can catch up to get them under control. Their ability to understand and respond to verbal commands is crucial.

Whatever vocabulary you use, be consistent. Getting your dog to master “stay” and “come” is an excellent place to start. Reinforce that they are to heed these commands at all times by practicing them in different locations, without–and eventually with–distractions.

Relinquish Freedom Slowly

You know your dog and its level of training best. Be realistic with your expectations and start small. You both need to build trust for off-leash training to be successful.

Practice their response to verbal commands in a familiar space to start. Keep it quiet and minimize distractions. Once they have mastered commands in this controlled environment, you can try verbal commands in new locations that will test their focus.

Don’t just let your dog off-leash at the park and assume they will come when called. Test their recall in a controlled environment by keeping them on a long lead or dragline. Once they’ve proven they will come when called, you can test them off-leash when and where it is safe to do so.

Let Leader of the Pack Help Train Your Dog Off-leash

If you love the idea of letting your dog off-leash but don’t know where to start, Leader of the Pack can help give you and your pup the tools you both need to accomplish this rewarding feat. Let us help you with your recall training. Give us a call today at 617-296-1711, or sign your pup up right on our website!