Hi all,

Looking for somemore advice, our Harvey is now 18 weeks, and as yet, he has still never been off his lead.

I have attempted to try him on a long control style lead, but when i do, he just goes bananas because he is 'free' and starts to jump up at me and growl.

Now i thought at first it was a one off but have tried several times now, he does it every time.

He is normally walked on a 'halti' style lead due to his pulling and we are finding it harder and harder to walk with him and i feel he just needs to release his energy by running and playing catch and fetch.... but i am worried to death that i will let him off the lead and he will just run away!

At what age do you recommend trying him off lead?

There are a couple of enclosed field areas where i could try him, just nervous about the whole thing.

I do remember a few weeks ago when he was about 13 weeks, he was jumping up at me, and he came free from his lead by accident 100 - 1 chance of it happening again, it was a freak incident where his lead clasp opened.... he ran about 10 yards, and amazingly, when called, did come back, but really don't have the confidence to try again.

Help?

SP

Well my most recent puppy was on a long lead until she was about 8 months or so.  She always likes to go further than I can see, which is so unlike my first GSP.  So it does depend on the dog.  Like tgatto though, I also used an e-collar once she understood what the recall was using the lead as my only correction.   Once that is pretty solid off lead she went using the ecollar to reinfoce that recall 100% of the time.  And while I do competition obedience, this recall was taught for the dog's safety.  It just kind of spills over to the obedience ring too.  The ecollar is never used in the competition obedience training though.

As far as the reaction, personally if my dog were jumping up on me growling, I would certainly show that I am the dominant one by holding them down on the ground until they stopped and became totally relaxed, then let them up as that behavior would not be acceptable to me under any circumstances.  More than likely it is excitement, but would not want that to continue as the pup gets older.

Thanks for all the great suggestions guys.... very informative and good to see that there are many different ways of dealing with the issues, also that all dogs are different and what might work for one, might not work for another.

I think what i will take away from this, is to return to his original lead and collar and work again with his obedience on the lead. It doesn't help either that the weather over here is naff, so i have now learnt to wear the crappiest scruffiest gear i can when walking him! i look like a vagrant when i get back from a walk, covered in mud and paw prints!

Thanks again... it is appreciated

SP

I'm definately no expert but i was always told to take advantage of the element of surprise as reinforcement, even when training recall on the long leash.  I would sometimes produce one of Kintra's favourite toys (an interactive one like a tuggy) when she came back, even if i hadnt called her and she was just checking in on me.  Another tactic which admittedly worked brilliantly the one time i had the guts to try it was if she didnt come back straight away, i would call her again (not to come, just to get her attention) and fall to the ground, and she came running.  I'm ashamed to say i probably wouldnt try it on a busy beach, purely for fear of looking like a twit (especially if it didnt work) and the danger of somebody mistakenly calling the paramedics  

Again it was probably the element of surprise and mystery.

Just to add, i only used the above as an extra incentive and not as the only tool in improving her recall.