ollie went off lead today!!!! U/D Change of heart

[Helen]

I know especially in London parks it can be a really scary experience to let dogs offlead but you've been offered some great advice.

There's nothing quite like seeing your dog running around having a ball and socialising with other (nice) dogs too 

Jarvis is entire, and yes this is a big consideration when I walk him, and when I know a bitch is in season I change my walking route so he doesn't encounter the scent or the dog - hopefully most people walking in-season dogs usually walk them on lead and/or wherever possible less desirable times of day so you're not so much in contact with them.

As for dog-nervous people, yes it is a consideration and dogs have that innate ability to approach people that aren't sure of them - but you know your dog and you know he would not be people aggressive so again, work on the recall 

Have you ever not been able to get your dogs back?

No, never.  Always got him back. 

When he was a pup it was more of a challenge but I never re-called him when he was playing with another dog as that would have been futile - not even livercake is more exciting than a new playmate.

I waited till there was a break in play and he looked my way, and then I recalled and was suitably excited (looked bonkers) when he came back to me for his livercake 

whistle training helped for us too.

[CarolineL]

BTW - I noticed that Ollie is 8 months old - if he hasn't already entered the teenage months, he'll be doing that soon, which is when he will probably begin to test his boundaries with you - so if you really focus on recall now then you'll come out of this fine. It can be a nightmare when they decide they dont want to listen to you anymore and it is a shock the first time it happens but if you remain consistent and focused on your recall training now you'll come out of it ok 

Hurley is also entire and a couple of times he's run up to a bitch in season but it's never really caused a major problem - I guess Im lucky in that he's not driven by his nuts as much as some male dogs are 

[louis mum]

In certain situations I still have Alfie on a long line. I certainly do not consider it 'cruel'. I think that word is very harsh IMO, a dog that isnt exercised is 'cruel'  Alfie is now 13 months, but still 'in training' so to speak. He does go offlead, in safe areas, but a park with numerous exits to main roads in my eyes is completly irresponsible to take the chance if they are still being trained.  I too could be considered as having hangups, but rather my dog is trained properly before taking that chance in that sort of environment than sorry.

We do visit the beach etc where he has full freedom, but I certainly wouldnt risk it 'in town' so to speak with access to busy roads. Laura work on your recall as Livercake suggests and take him somewhere really safe and let him run, everyone here are so right in that it is a joy to watch them run free. 

[emderpenguin]

Have you ever not been able to get your dogs back?

when I got kye, yes, frequently. First time i let him off he took off clear across the park, nearly onto a busy road

He's a rescue, came from kennels in Ireland, had not been socialised with other dogs, didn't really KNOW he IS a dog. Took me a good year, year and a half to crack it with him, and we still have moments. I honsetly thought he would stay on a lead for the rest of his days.

What fixed him, and me, was finding a lady who had german sheps and was prepared to walk with me in a totally fenced off football pitch in our local park, with 2 or 3 of her dogs (sh'es got 10), all offlead, and let me practise

1) IGNORING MY DOG  around other dogs. The bit I found hardest to do.

2) Ignoring my dog around other dogs. the BIT I found HARDEST to do

3) getting him to come back.

and yes, i did mean to write that part twice

[JennyBee]

Have you ever not been able to get your dogs back?

The second time I let Brodie off of the lead, we were in the grounds of an old hospital with her sister.  I recalled her, bent down to give her a reward, and she grabbed my glove and ran off.  And would not stop.  Eventually we turned and ran the other way and she came galloping back.  It was terrifying, but it was a one off and she tends to stick to a set distance from us. 
I find the time that she is less likely to respond promptly is when I first let her off her lead, so I tend to work very hard those first few minutes to ensure she is paying attention to me.

[SkyeSue]

Have you ever not been able to get your dogs back?

There's been a couple of occasions when I thought Chloe had gone for ever. Most of our walks are on forestry tracks and she goes off an a scent into the trees. She then becomes invisible! In the past three weeks there's been two occasions when I've been in tears cos I thought she'd gone, (one time she was away for 15 minutes) but of course, she came back! 80% of the time her recall is good and as much as I would like it to be 100%, we're not there yet, just have to keep working on it.  But one thing I CAN say, is that she knows where I am, at any given point, and even if she doesn't come as soon as I  blow the whistle,,,,she will eventually (unless, of course she gets trapped or hurt and that is always on my mind as well, cos Im as paranoid, if not more so, than you )
Just have to let them run free though...and accept the fact that nothing is entirely risk free  
Sue x

[Oliver21508]

We do visit the beach etc where he has full freedom, but I certainly wouldnt risk it 'in town' so to speak with access to busy roads.

I live in a town, with busy main roads everywhere. That's why it's very worrying to let him off. I bet most of you live in the country and have access to open fields. I don't, just city parks, with open exits to main roads. I have taken him to the beach and have let him off there, but I'm so far from beaches, that we only get to go every couple of months.

[SkyeSue]

We do visit the beach etc where he has full freedom, but I certainly wouldnt risk it 'in town' so to speak with access to busy roads.

I live in a town, with busy main roads everywhere. That's why it's very worrying to let him off. I bet most of you live in the country and have access to open fields. I don't, just city parks, with open exits to main roads. I have taken him to the beach and have let him off there, but I'm so far from beaches, that we only get to go every couple of months.

Yes, I can understand how much more difficult this can be...and I'm sure you're right, I would also bet most COLrs live in or near the country!!! I think it unlikely that Ollie would just head off to the nearest park exit...from what you say, he's a laid back boy and probably stays close. But Im no expert...see what others think 

[CarolineL]

We do visit the beach etc where he has full freedom, but I certainly wouldnt risk it 'in town' so to speak with access to busy roads.

I live in a town, with busy main roads everywhere. That's why it's very worrying to let him off. I bet most of you live in the country and have access to open fields. I don't, just city parks, with open exits to main roads. I have taken him to the beach and have let him off there, but I'm so far from beaches, that we only get to go every couple of months.

I used to live by the sea and near the forest and huge parks that were away from any roads - but I have moved and have no choice but to exercise him in areas where it is open and near roads - however, he's good enough at recall for me to let him off and let him enjoy himself

[Harveypops]

Can I make a suggestion that may be a middle ground till you get more confidence with Ollie, who by the way sounds great with recall etc, why not just use a harness with a ver  very short lead attached so you have something to get hold of, should you feel the need too, but Ollie gets the chance to explore without dragging a lead around. I am sure he will not present you with too many problems. Have confidence in yourself you have come so far with Ollie, it would be a shame to let these niggles stop you both having soo much fun.

I agree with using a harness. You've got more to grab hold of if you do need to get him. I was nervous to stop using the long line but it's great seeing Harvey run completely free, plus clumsy me doesn't have to worry about stopping him mid run when I accidentally tread on it  . Have you tried training him with a whistle. Harvey will stop chasing his ball the moment he hears that whistle and I always reward his return with a high value treat. My OH and I also sometimes hide behind trees or objects and call him back. He then makes sure we're always where  he can see him!! I'm still in the easy stages with Harvey though so I'm expecting times when Harvey doesn't come back and I'm going to have to panic!!

In your defence, I think I remember hearing you live in city centre London. From my experience dogs within a city can be not as dog friendly, plus you're full of people who may not be fond of dogs and not want mucky paws coming bounding towards them. I don't think it's any harm trying to train Ollie to come back to you when you see another person/ dog coming towards you. I've fostered a dog aggressive dogs who showed no signs of warning before she would attack. When walking her (on lead) I found it frustrating when other dogs off lead came bounding towards her as she would give me no indication as to how she would react. 

[SkyeSue]

Laura, I can't remember if you use a whistle...but hows about trying to teach Ollie the stop command with a whistle? Im trying this with Chloe, we haven't got very far yet, but...persaverence and consistency might pay off If you do a search on here you're bound to find threads on gun dog training techniques...if not pm me...I have some info I could pm you.

[Oliver21508]

In your defence, I think I remember hearing you live in city centre London. From my experience dogs within a city can be not as dog friendly, plus you're full of people who may not be fond of dogs and not want mucky paws coming bounding towards them. I don't think it's any harm trying to train Ollie to come back to you when you see another person/ dog coming towards you. I've fostered a dog aggressive dogs who showed no signs of warning before she would attack. When walking her (on lead) I found it frustrating when other dogs off lead came bounding towards her as she would give me no indication as to how she would react. 

This is right. Yeah, I'll train him to come back when he sees another dog/person.

ETa: This is what I use - http://www.dog-games.co.uk/newshop/product/Long+Line+-+ideal+for+Tracking+or+Supervised+Off+Lead+Walks.htm

[Sarah.H]

Laura I haven't read through all the post so sorry if something like this has already been posted  . It took me about 7/8 months to train Millie using a long line (she was 18mths when I got her) and at the end of the training I was the one that had to be weaned off of it not the dog  . It is really hard to trust them to come back and I have lost track of Millie a couple of times but thats only because she has an established chase problem so not something I think you would have to worry about with Oliver. I cut a couple of inches off the rope every week so it gradually disappeared rather than sudden horrible (for us  ) freedom!

[Colin]

What part of Central London are you in Laura and which parks do you walk in ?

I'm in Central London too and the vast majority of dogs go off lead, I've never met a Cocker yet that is restricted to onlead/long line walks in a London park  - which goes to prove it can be done, it just takes a bit of work and training, like everything else. A positive attitude might help too, rather than looking for possible negatives... have you considered the one to one training in the park I suggested earlier ?

[Joules]

I do live in the country but Coco goes off lead in parks in the town most days including in London when she has been up there with me     We met lots of off lead dogs in London and Coco had a ball exploring a new place and meeting new dogs.    I deliberately took her to town parks as a pup so she could meet and socialise with other dogs and I still do so.  There are exits all round where there is access directly onto the road.  Yes, it was nerve wracking at first but I got over my nerves to let her have her freedom and it has not been a problem.  Obviously I don't let her off lead until we are away from the gates and I carry plenty of treats.    As has been said, it might be easier if Ollie is with some of his friends as Coco tends not to wander if she has playmates there.   

What does your dog trainer think?  Perhaps you could get some of the people from Ollie's training class to meet up with you in a park to help you with this?