One of the biggest goals I've had for our dogs is to be able to go to off leash parks with them, and to know that I can trust their recall. It's been a scary thing, because in Winnipeg, unlike other cities I've visited, the dog parks generally aren't fenced so it's a “no training wheels” kind of situation. While I know that any dog wants to be with the other dogs that are around, and they they don't want to be away from their owners, I still haven't felt ready to try a dog park until I had more confidence in Ash and Mal's ability to listen off leash when they're in a large area.
This summer I've been looking for places I could test them off leash without any worries- community club hockey rinks that still have their boards up seemed promising, and then I found a basketball court in our neighbourhood that was totally fenced off except for a two foot entrance. Perfect!
Last week, Jesse and I took the puppies over to the basketball court on our morning walk, and after we stepped into the court I ran toward the center and dropped the leashes. Ash and Mal kept running with me, would play and explore, and they did really well with coming back! Ash would turn on a dime and bolt to me any time I called him, and Mal would remember to come… when he remembered I brought treats. It was a really fun and successful experiment, and after a couple weeks of returning I know I'll have Mal as attentive as Ash is.
I grew up with German Shepherds and rode horses since before I could walk, so I'm as comfortable working with animals as I am with people. But there's still a part of me that marvels at how small our little Schipperkes are at three years old, and because these are the first dogs I've had since they were puppies I think it makes me more tentative with them than I am with the other animal's I've had.
When I let go of the leash in the basketball court for the first time it was a great feeling, and I know that being able to trust them off leash will mean I'm more confident and that we can have more fun. I can't wait to choose the first park we visit!
Do you have any tips for newbies to off leash dog parks?
LAST UPDATED ON: August 10th, 2011
CATEGORY: All Posts
I’ve been wanting to do this with Lola, as well. She’s really smart but in a “I will make up my own mind about what I want to do” kind of way sometimes. It means it’s actually not too hard to train her, but sometimes she can be stubborn when she doesn’t want to do something. Recently since I’ve been giving her a bit more freedom (letting her stay out instead of putting her in her “room” when we leave) she’s actually doing a lot better. I’ve tried to work on the “come here” & “stay” thing a lot at home & we’ve both been working really hard on getting her to heel & work ON the leash better (she just gets so excited & distracted, & then frightened of weird things). She’s been doing so well, & when we stopped at this small, fenced in skatepark with an open entrance I sat down & let go of the leash (after walking her around for a bit). She did so great! She walked around & then came back when I called her, I was so proud. There were lot’s of kids around & even another dog & she still listened. I’m a bit of a nervous Nelly & overprotective with her because she’s my first dog ever, so it might have been more of an accomplishment for me that her, but we are getting a German Shepherd soon & I want to have them both well trained so we can take them to parks & things & I won’t have to be nearly as anxious about them.
Very long comment, sorry…got excited to see others are working on this & get some tips!
We had Rory off leash at the beach for the first time this summer. He loved it and he didn’t get too far away – I think having a pocketful of treats is pretty good insurance he won’t roam far! We did the same thing as you with him when he was smaller – took him to a fenced-in tennis court and took turns calling him from opposite ends of the court and praised him like crazy when he came back right away. If he does get distracted all we need to do is pick up a stick and he comes on the run.
Maplegrove is wonderful, but it’s not fenced in and there are a lot of bushes and water. Expect some dirty, wet dogs when you’re done there! Maybe trying one of the neighborhood fenced-in ones will be better for your doggies – there is a fenced-in park behind Earl Grey school that I always see lots of off-leash dogs at; I’m not sure if it’s an official off-leash park though. And when I say always, I mean daily, every time I drive by. Have fun :)
That’s a wonderful milestone to reach! We’ve got one dog who’s always been good off leash and who listens very, very well, but the other dog – not so much. She’s pretty stubborn and independent and we’re not sure she would listen. She also escaped a few times as a younger dog and led on a few wind goose chases through the neighborhood (which is just one of the reasons we call her Goose). I really hope we get to the point where we can be off leash with her as well.
I guess I’ve never realized how lucky I’ve got it with my boys. We visit the off leash dog park very often and they all love it. The Chihuahuas won’t dare get out of my sight no matter where we are and I very rarely have to put them on leash. They listen very well. Kale… well, he takes a little more coaxing sometimes but he’s pretty good for the most part. We take him to the beach and let him run. He always comes back, we may just have to ask twice.
Oh my gosh, this is a battle I am going through right now! My little Patterdale is two, but we’ve only had her for three months. She was a chronic runaway before we got her and was handed in to the park police twenty four times (!!!) before we got her. We have her trained to where she will come back nine times out of ten, but that one time she gets distracted (especially by a squirrel) she is gone, because she was never trained properly as a puppy. It is so frustrating, because how are you supposed to train her to be off the lead if you can’t practice?
She is so good apart from that, sweet with people, kids and other dogs, and will sit/lie down/stay. She is a good girl really, she just is in trouble with the police!
Check out Little Mountain Park. Off leash paths & fields in the middle of nowhere so fences aren’t necessary.
We’ve had struggles with this too. We are lucky that we live in a rural area in which Cypress can run around without fear of cars…sounds like your dog has much better recall though! Good luck! :)
make sure she does his business BEFORE going to the park!
http://breatheandhush.blogspot.com/
i need to work on my little guy being good off leash.
we do go to off leash dog parks all the time (i live in seattle where there are more dogs than kids) and he’s good because he LOVES other dogs.
but he is terribly smart and that means that he thinks about whether he wants to come or not instead of just simply obeying.
i wish i could trust him off leash in other places but he’s a welsh corgi (herding dog) and tries to herd cars or bikes. bad.
but then again, he’s only a year and a half so there’s time…right?
i need to work on training the little monster a bit more though ;)
love your blog & your corner of the internet! ;)
The boy and I have been taking our golden retriever (now 1.5 years) to an off leash dog park since the day we brought him home at 6 weeks. He’s always been very good at staying near by and coming back when we call him. Yes, he does get distracted, but you find little things that keep him always coming back…like a treat or favorite toy (Porter discovered he loves apples). I’ve also found that the more dogs there is at the park, the less likely he is to wander. They do a good job at entertaining themselves.
We’re working on being off leash throughout the apartment building. He’s HORRIBLE at it. He wants to dart to every single person he sees walk by because I think he’s more of a people person than a dog person ;) Lots of practice and I’m sure he’ll do fine eventually.
dog parks are wonderful and for the most part all owners seem to be on the same page. (you do get the occasional rude person) what i have found works for me is to carry a few treats. my dogs are super food motivated, so i would practice the recall with a treat & saying “come (name)” – i give them the treat and let them keep playing. this way they don’t associate the “come” with “we are leaving”. instead, when they come they are thinking, “ooh, refreshments, thanks” & they are free to keep playing. i do this at least 3 or 4 times during a dog park visit, and make sure that they also get a treat when they get in the car.
my dogs are also clicker trained, which i highly recommend. it’s how dolphins are essentially trained :) but i don’t take the clicker to the park. they have been pretty much weened off the clicker for most commands. it is an option to look into if you’d like off leash dogs. mine will run at my feet (off leash) on park trails with no real issues. i always have the leashes in hand though. just in case ;)
good luck :D i am sure you’ll do great.
Hey Kyla,
Try the offleash in Charleswood, I believe it is a fenced, my Mom has had some good success starting our dog off there. We also head out to Maplegrove out by St. Mary’s. It can be really calm and not usually too busy which is really nice, since we live over by where your Dad is it was pretty convient. Also, I’m not sure you want to go this route but we have a dog zapper. We don’t actually use the zapping part but it has a vibrate button that is used to get dogs attention. I find out lab just gets so distracted by her surroundings and zones out, this buzz helps remind her, that hey we’re talking to you, and it doesn’t harm her at all. We have stopped using it recently and it has made a big difference. Also, always having treats in a bag that makes noise really helps. Shake the bag and they will come running, but keep the sound consistent so they know its treat time!
Hope that helps!
I’m sure they’ll do great! The first few times I took my dog to the park I was really nervous, but once I was there I just watched for his “cues”. I can tell when my dog is just having a bit of rambunctious fun and when he’s really started to getting irritated/scared. I’m sure you know all your dogs’ signals as well. Mine tends to gets very uncomfortable when big dogs stand over him (he’s a mini doxie) and goes crazy when he sees German Shephards (as he has been attacked by one). Just gotta toe the line between watchful and totally overprotective dog mom.
Perfect timing with this post, we are getting a puppy on FRIDAY! Ahhhh!
I once saw a boxer (the kind of dog we’re getting) that was so amazingly trained and focused. He/she (not sure which) was 100% focused on his owners and his owners commands. I hope that are dog is like that as well. But boxers are really playful so we have to make training fun. Eventually, I definitely want to feel OK letting her off leash. My moms lab is great about going off leash. He will turn on a dime to come back to you when you call him and it helps if you have treats in your pockets :)
When I started taking Chloe to the off-leash park, I went with a friend and her dog. That way Chloe had a buddy she was familiar with who could teach her the ropes! She ran around like a nutcase but she never let Beethoven out of her sight :) In Edmonton, at least, we always bring our own water to the parks and keep a close eye on where Chloe is – there are a few cases of poisoning at the dog parks every year :(