How on earth!! Do you get to the point where you can let your puppy off of the lead? I honestly think i'm too scared to do it.

He hasn't quite mastered the art of coming when called but when he does it really worries me how you get to that point.

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I didn't let Ollie off lead until he was 8 months old cos I was so scared, so I know how you feel. I put him onto a long line and trained recall over and over again. Once I was confident he'd come back, I'd let him off for a few minutes when there were no distractions. Take sausages, chicken, liver treats, anything really really tasty, or a squeaky, special toy that he loves and run around like a mad person to get him to follow you when he's off. Then put the long line back on, and then take it off after a few minutes. Eventually, you'll be able to take it off completely. good luck.

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Mummy to 7 pets: 2 rabbits, 3 rats, 1 dog, 1 cat

biggest mistake i made with one of mine

just let them off!!! take people so you can catch him/her - take treats etc....

mil is now 3 and just going off her lead (partly instinct because of her being x gundog) but partly because i didnt trust her..!!! i should have just let her off at 8 weeks and never put he ron alead lol!

agree, I'd rather I had let him off when he was first allowed outside, because I have had to go back to the long line about 3 times in 9 months, because he'd forgotten recall (4 months of that was on long line trying to retrain it) so I think it would be more ingrained if I had taught him at an earlier age, rather than when he was feeling more confident. He's great now, but I worry how long it's going to last. He could easily go back again, and I'd have to retrain it again.

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Mummy to 7 pets: 2 rabbits, 3 rats, 1 dog, 1 cat

Once recall is mastered at home, practice on a long leash at the park with lots of distractions. When you're ready to let her go, do it as far away from danger/roads etc as possible. Try not to give chase as you turn it into a game. Recall or give a disapproving noise whenever he goes beyond 10 metres or so just to remind him to stay close.

Let him off while he's this young, you can always go back to a lead later if it is necessary.
They don't go far to start with normally.
Find someone with a friendly dog with good recall and take him out with that, he should follow that dog back when it's recalled

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I work my life around my dog, not my dog around my life

Yes I agree, let pup off whilst young as they don't tend to go to far then anyway.

I let my pup off for the first time today at 15 weeks and he was fine I'd say let them off as early as possible and go back to lead later if necessary. Puppies are more inclined to stay close to you than when they are older and more confident.

Keep treats on you and remember to stay more exciting than whatever might distract your puppy! Just be prepared to run after them if needs be!

Peace
Akai-Chan

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I disagree, always run away from them, shrieking at the top of your voice, sounding really exciting. If my dog has something that I don't want him to have whilst he's off lead, I run away from him. He thinks I'm leaving him, so he drops the item and runs after me. Works all the time.

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Mummy to 7 pets: 2 rabbits, 3 rats, 1 dog, 1 cat

Truth, but if your dog is utterly distracted by something there's little chance they'll come back. My OH's dog got distracted by something when he was a pup and started running away. My OH called his name and ran away from him shouting and generally trying to sound exciting but the dog still ran off. Ended up 2 miles away to a place he would have had to cross 3 roads to get to. Not nice.

It's why I said 'if needs be' If it's obvious your pup is paying no attention to you, you may well need to run after it to stop it getting lost or hurt or running out into a road or something.

Peace
Akai-Chan

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