On or off the lead?

When you get to the park do you let your dog off the lead as soon as you get there, or do you prefer to keep them on a longline or extendable lead? If your dog is reactive this will drive the decision.

100% you

If a dog is reactive, we either spend our walk trying to avoid other dog walkers or keep out dogs on lead. We don’t feel our dog has the skills to cope with the environment, so we take all the responsibility for the outcome of the walk ourselves.  

If they have no recall, and likely to go visit every dog they see or go charging off after a squirrel then this is the sensible thing to do. The dog can’t make good decisions, so we take the decision making away from them.   For your dog the environment is hugely distracting, all those smells, squirrels, and things to chase. It can create overarousal and put your dog into flight-or-fight mode making it hard to get them to respond to you. If your dog can’t take food when out this is an indication that they are overstimulated by what’s going on around them.

Making better decisions

If you are working on their behaviour issues and trying to build ‘off-lead freedom’ for your dog, then at some point you are going to need to drop the lead and give them the opportunity to get it right. It can be nerve racking, are they going to stay with you, will they recall, and most importantly will they be able to disengage from a distraction when you call them? What you’re hoping for is a dog that can make the right decision at the right time.

Handing responsibility over to your dog should be gradual. And can change over the duration of your walk. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

Case study; Arlo

Arlo can be chippy with other dogs, he finds their presence worrying and will bark at them if they get too close. Once, he would have chased them hard and harassed the other dog jumping in their face and generally cause mayhem.  

We have been working on his ability to ignore other dogs and to stay within a proximity zone around me and only leave my side when I say it’s OK and safe. I am a lot more confident now that he would be able to disengage from any interaction. But I still don’t allow him total responsibility when we are out on a walk. This is because emotions change in a heartbeat, and I don’t want to put Arlo in a situation that he won’t be able to cope with.

A walk can be a range of on/off lead experiences. It starts onlead, as the car is stimulating and creates excitement. In this state he is less likely to make good decisions. We do some work around calming down, maybe a scatter feed to start with.   I keep him on the lead while the other dogs do their toilet, so I have him under control while I pick up.  Then I let him off and play some games getting his focus on me rather than him scanning the horizon looking for something to worry about.

If I feel the environment is at a level, he can cope with I tell him to ‘walk-on’. This is our Premack cue that lets the dogs know they can leave my side and go do dog stuff. I would expect regular check-ins without calling him. If I don’t get them and I felt the environment was getting the better of him, I might call him in and pop him back on lead for a while. Play some games and refocus him.

If I recalled him and he ignored me or was super slow to respond, then he would certainly go back on lead. I don’t mean this in an angry way, just things are hotting up for him and his decision-making ability will go down. I’m taking the responsibility back from him for a while.  

I also might call him in and put him on lead if we are transitioning between environments or going around a blind corner. A sudden head-to-head with another dog or some novelty might create anxiety and I don’t want to put him in a situation he might not be able to cope with.

But even with best planning the environment can throw things at you that you’re not expecting and more than once I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how well he’s coped. It’s a fantastic moment when your dog shows you that they can take the responsibility for being off lead and is able to make the right decision.

About the author

Louise Kirby is a Pro Dog Trainer and Behaviour coach and works with clients on a 1-2-1 basis at home. specialising in reactivity and difficult walks. Training is force-free and fun for you and your dog. If you would like more information please send a message.