CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Puppies => Topic started by: Ldavies38 on August 12, 2013, 06:19:36 PM
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Can u share your experiences and tips on off lead?? I'm whistle training, she's very responsive so far, 13 weeks old and being walked for a week now. Few more weeks with whistle n treats and i think we should be ready, I'm following the sticky article on here on recall. What ages did u start off lead and yor experiences ?? :D
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I let Archie off on the very first walk. We were in a totally secure field so I was confident he was safe. When they are tiny they are less tempted to run off and they stick closer to you. I got loads of excellent recall practice. I have never done this before with my previous cockers but Archie now has the best recall of any I have had. (not always 100% but close :D)
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First walk for both mine. The sooner the better. Molly got her first paddle in the sea on her first walk too
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First walk here too, so she was 13 weeks. She didn't go very far, and I had spent the previous three weeks doing recall in the garden and house, and was a little angel at coming back when called
:angel:
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Right then .... I'm goina do it !!!
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I let willow off second walk I have fields where we walk so quite safe I also use whistle for recall. She is doing really well and comes back and sits by my side waiting for treat. So good 90%of time but I think if distracted too much she would not be so good. But at15 weeks I think doing well I love seeing her run free and enjoying herself :D
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Straight away. Meadows/fields are good for this as you can get down on ground and play with puppy. Call her in and then lots of play - lie down even - and let puppy climb on you. Change direction often as well so puppy learns to look/ check for you. Hide in the grass or crouch low. Let puppy learn from early on that coming back to you is the best fun. Treats are good, but puppy learning you're fun can be even better. good luck and enjoy!
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Yep, sooner the better. ;) Coco was off lead on her first walk. Puppies tend to stick close to you anyway so best to train recall etc so it is at least a bit ingrained before they hit their teenage phase at 7-8 months when all training goes right out of the window for a while >:D
Good luck :D
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Bracken was around 13-14 weeks old when he was let off leash, he stated very close and recall was excellent, as he got older he ventured a bit further afield but still kept an eye on me, recall slipped abit only because he enjoyed the new scents, now at 11 months his recall with the whistle is great, I'd feel lost without the whistle!
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I let all mine off as soon as they were able to go out, so about 11 weeks if I remember correctly (in a secure area of course) as when they are young they don't like to stray too far from mum
They do seem to have selective deafness around 9months ish when their recall goes out the window but just need to go back to basics for a little while and they soon get back on track
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Probably the most important bit of advice we were ever given regarding a new puppy - let them off the lead asap in a safe environment get them used to coming back to you at a very early age.
Have fun!
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My husbands been letting her off when I'm not around and telling me after, as he know I will panic. He's been saying this for a good week now. So I thought I'd ask you lot......... Whoopsie he's right!!! Now I have to tell him he's right, he's goina love this
Just moved into a lovely Victorian house that he fell in love with and I hated, well were living here now, only because everyone told me he was right. Damm I hate being wrong!!
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I let Ozzy off the lead on his very first walk too, it was in a safe little park behind our house. I firmly believe that they get used to staying close then, as they are too worried about losing you to venture far. Ozzy at 15 months is almost always in sight - if he can't see me he comes charging back to find me. His recall is reasonably good, usually immediate, and he's walked in a safe area.
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I agree - as long as the place is secure, it is better to let pups off as soon as possible. Good luck!
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I was so scared of letting my boy off lead at first and had some real qualms about what was a 'safe' place and what wasn't- my OH was like yours and a lot more relaxed about it but once I got over my fear it made walks a lot more enjoyable for me and pupster Fred
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Yeaaaaahhhhh I've done it, and we had so much fun. She Came on the whistle each time. And I let her chase& catch me.!!!!!
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Brilliant, well done for taking the plunge :D
Now there will be no stopping you both :clapping:
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:clapping: :clapping: I still have Tilly on a trailing training lead as I need to build up my confidence with letting her of lead. My worry is her running up to people more so young children and jumping to greet them. Also worry about meeting dogs as I've had some dogs go for her pin her down and try to bite her tummy. :'(
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:clapping: :clapping: I still have Tilly on a trailing training lead as I need to build up my confidence with letting her of lead. My worry is her running up to people more so young children and jumping to greet them. Also worry about meeting dogs as I've had some dogs go for her pin her down and try to bite her tummy. :'(
Maybe you need to go to training classes, we did with Bella not because she needed training far from it but getting her used to other dogs in a controlled environment. Might help with your confidence too.
Both mine go on there lead if there's children around I don't know, I'm not worried about my dogs more about how children react, it shocks me how scared of dogs some children are.
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Totally agree with above.
Get them off the lead as young as possible, then they learn to follow you, as they are insecure. The older they are, the braver and more inquisitive they become, so harder to control/recall
Our trainer took us and puppy for off lead walk at 9 weeks, been good since.
Andy
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we have done classes. Tilly is off lead most times but I just can't take her training lead off yet, it trails on the ground behind her. she's brilliant off lead follows me everywhere I go and 99% comes back when called so that's not the problem( I know it might change when teenager takes over :005:).... it's me. I'll get there it's all a learning game and I will get there.