Do You Let Your Pups Off Leash?

[PennyLover]

Just wondering if anyone does.....

[Tasha's Mom]

Yes, in certain fenced areas of central park that are away from the street (so the park cops don't see us! Though lots of people do it).

And on vacation in secluded areas like the beach!

[SirOliversMom]

No, never.

[onebigmickeyfan]

Go over to mom's with me all the time. They stay right with me and it's right next door. It's also straight thru the yards not near the road. She and Zeke's think they're hot stuff because they go with mom and Annie and Sammy do not.

[Irminsul]

Seeming that my two don't listen (especially when there are squirrels, and there are ALWAYS squirrels), I don't let them off the leash. They used to run off leash in Germany, but in the area my mom lives (country side), it wasn't unusual for the dachsies to arrive back home more than an hour AFTER the humans, because the little hunters were digging for mice. I do not have the nerves for that!

They are considering a new dog park in my area with a special section for small dogs. If that happens, I might give it a try. But they do have a nice, large fenced in yard and get usually three walks a day, so I don't feel too guilty about them not getting to run.

[Doxie_88]

I voted no, but was only including Tia in the poll. She's never allowed off leash unless she is securely fenced in because she LOVES to explore and as soon as she smells something good it's like she can't hear anything rlse around her. The other 3 are allowed off leash almost anywhere but I rarely let them because you never know what could happen....

[TDR11114]

Out in the front yard, with much, much supervision. :blush: We (Taylor and I) are in the process of teaching the little ladies the boundries of the front yard. Any time that they leave the designated area, we scold them :nono: (gently, but firmly) and make them go, or take them, back to our yard, and we tell them to "stay in theyre yard." If we see that they do not behave, we then have to make them go back in, and tell them, that since they cannot mind, they cannot come out with momma and sister Taylor. Trust me, they are learning very fast! Blue has gotten pretty good, but Lady Bug, is a little hard headed, and loves to put her nose down and smell things, and be nosy!

[Courtknee]

There is a trail between the dog park and a lake that I let them off-leash on (the one the pictures are from). It is far away from a road plus the pups are very good about staying together and with us. When we get close to the dog park again, I put them on the leash. Napoleon is never off-leash anywhere near cars.

[Frzframe]

I can't trust Mitzi Moo ever. She's such a bad girl but then again maybe if I could take her somewhere safe and let her run maybe just maybe she'd come back when called...bahahahahaha no that will never happen. Dudley never have tried with him but I'm sure if he saw a squirrel he'd be gone in a blink of an eye. :faint:

[PennyLover]

It's good to see that I'm not the only one who keeps my pup on-leash all the time. I thought I was just being overprotective.

[kpm_tex]

I voted 'No' The only places mine are ever off a leash is when they are in a large fenced area... like field trials or earthdog and when they are running an agility course. They have a large fenced yard to run around in which is good enough as far as freedom is concerned. They have each escaped the house one time or another and I have had to haul my fat butt after them to get them back. :faint:

[Patt]

They are always on a lead unless they are inside their exercise yard.

[Orchid Crazy]

I voted no. We have an electric fence here so he gets to run around our acre, but only when we are out there to supervise. We have too much wildlife here for me to let him out alone. I am too paranoid about the possibility of losing him to let him off leash anywhere else.

[Joyce]

I voted no because I don't trust my little guy. The only time I let him off is when my friend pulls in the yard in her golf cart, and Dexter run out the door right to her (because she always has a treat for him)

[Heidismom]

at the dog parks. She has this weird idea that the big dogs are after her, and so far, all we've met are very friendly ones who are curious about her. After a few minutes, that dachsie "bravery to the point of rashness" comes out and she acts like she's a mastiff in a dachshund body! :D

[Schatz's Mom]

When Schatz is outside he is either in a fenced area or on a leash. My Beagle is allowed outside without one as long as we are with him. He will stay in our yard where as Schatz bolts. I think this is due to the different training programs they attended. When we rescues Bones he had so many issues that we sent him to a training center that was 24/7. He returned a changed pup but that was 12 years ago. The owner of the center died a few years ago and no one continued her business. I don't know whether I could send Schatz away for 2 weeks though, he's my baby and we would all miss him way too much!

[nonnyd]

i voted no..sam isnt to be trusted! in fact..today he sneaked out the door..hoodaddy didnt get quite closed and ran like the wind! by the time i got slippers on..i couldnt see hide/or hair of the lil brat! his hooaunt and i drove (used 2 cars) all over for about 1 hr..asking everyone if they had seen him and if they did please call us at number on his collar! then lo and behold auntie found him taking a potty in our back yd..all unconcerned! back safe...and i was freakin out. i shook so bad for about 2 hrs...hes is definately a high stress job this day anyway!

[juliette]

I guess I am the rarity, as mine are off leash every single day. Every morning I take them to the park for a run and as long as we avoid 'squirrel alley' they are much better. Even Jinxie is vastly improved at recalls! When they are with their dog walkers, they are off leash with a large pack. Now you have to keep in mind we don't have a back yard, so if we didn't let them off leash on their "walks" they would never be free,

They love their freedom so much, I can't imagine them just being on leashes.

[natfro]

Tabytha lives "off" the leash. The only time she wears her harness and leash is during travel.

We live on 19 acres, our house sits 3/4 of a mile off the road.

She has never been one to hunt or trail anything. She's timid and loves her people, she sticks very close. She won't go 20 feet from the back door unless a human goes with her.

[loogie]

NEVER after what happened with Riley. It just is NOT worth the risk.

[Puppy Love]

My dogs are constantly playing in the backyard, so they are not on a leash during that time. I never leave the little one, Heidi, out alone even in the yard with the other dogs. We have a lake house, and all dogs have to be on leashes at all times. We also have to pick up all poop, so our pups sort of live two lives. I would never leave a dog off leash unless a mighty fence was involved. They can get away too fast.

[dachsie_luv]

Yes, I let him in the front yard with me while I am doing yard work, and I make him stay on the front porch while I am mowing. But when I walk him he is always on a leash. He is pretty obedient most of the time, but like kids don't turn your back.

[goldie]

I don't let Olana off her leash. If I did, I'd probably never see her again! And I definitley wouldn't want that!!

[LadyRana]

I have a large yard and way off the road. Connor cant even see the road from the yard so. but I never leave him alone outside either. Anywhere other than my yard he is on the leash

[nonnyd]

no..cant... sam is a runner..puts nose to the ground and as fast as those little legs will carry him hes off....he will not come back when we call. last time he was gone over a hr and we were up and down all the streets looking...and found him in our own back yard. we were scared to death and he looked so innocent! if we could afford a fence...wed have one...but he has a 30 ft leash on both sides of the house..and runs the length of them alot back/forth every day while he is guarding us and his EVERYTHING!

[oscarforevermom]

Oscar is never off leash outside unless he is in his x-pen and I'm out there with him.

I don't even like him being in the x-pen that much because he picks up the darnest things and I worry about him swallowing junk that could harm him.

Walking on leash - I'm forever taking things out of his mouth!! It's amazing what he finds out there!! :devil1: When he finds stuff - he starts heading for home to see if he can sneak it inside!!

[LUVMYGUNNER]

Gunner and Petunia are off the leash at home and in the back yard but....never, ever when we go for walkies...to many crazy drivers. I think Petunia would stay with us but Gunner has the tendancy to run after cats, dogs, So I voted NO.

[BoBo's Mom]

The only time mine are on a lease is if we go someplace.. We do not have a fenced yard, we live in a neighborhood at the end of a street. BoBo and Sadie I can verbally control if they ever get the idea if running off. Which they seldom do. In fact I can just leave them out and they will not leave the yard.. Libby is doing great. Never leashed her to goo put. I figured she needed to learn to stay in the yard becasue she was suppose to not becasue she was leashed. The only place she tries to go is across the street to PennyBoos when they are outside.. Hey she is a sociable girl she needs to say hi. :D

[KBanister]

Only at the small dog park!

[svofcols]

I voted yes even though normally my guys are leashed. We went to Howl o weenie last year and they had a baseball field completely fenced so I tried it - my guys were in heaven! They played SOOO hard and had a blast! Wish I could find someplace like that around here!
Sandi

[Susa]

Never, unless it is in a very enclosed and protected enclosure.

My most beloved dog, 2lbs, died 16 years ago because I let her off leash to run up our driveway. We lived a long way from any busy road and we lived on plenty of acreage. The neighbors horse came and killed her in front of my eyes. I will never let my dog off leash again. It was one of the worst horrors of my life.

[bumpergirl]

Absolutely never. Bailey has such a strong prey drive that I know she would disappear into the woods after a scent the first chance she got.

[Otto'sMom]

Only short distances, like when it's time to get into the truck and go for a ride. Otto and Buddy can be trusted, Dolly is a little sketchy about staying in viewing range. Grrrt never gets too far, and Austin hasn't earned his off leash privelages yet. I take them to the dog park frequently and they get to run around off leash alot. If there's a squirrel or other furry thing about, forget about it, they're not gonna listen. I have to scan the area before I'll let them out.

[becca]

Oh good gravy no!! Buddy cannot be trusted!! The weekend my sister got married he slipped out the front door and my sister and bil ended up chasing him about 5 blocks away. The ONLY reason they caught him was he scared the crap out of some little old man who jumped in the middle of the road waving his arms going "Slow down little hot dog" Buddy halted and went to turn just as Cara dived right on top of him...in her first new pair of flare jeans too might I add...:rofl: I'll never live that one down. I have never tried it with Heidi, tho she is more calm and less spastic I'd be afraid she'd see a squirrel and take off...we live right on main street and I can just see that ending badly.

[Deckersmom]

daylight hours. Decker gets to run around free as long as we are outside with him. :thumbup2: We have 10 acres & our house sits back off the road. He never crosses the circle drive & usually stays in the back yard. Never at night or just as it is getting dark. We have too many coyotes :yikes: around us that use our yard as a pass through to the pasture behind us. I went out with Decker one morning at 4:30 a.m. & there was one in the yard by my paper. :eek: He is never left outside alone & we always know where he is. He comes when called unless in a mischievous mood & then waits until I count to 3 before zooming :seeya: to the door!!!

[graci67]

most of the time no, but sometimes when we go camping and fishing I put the leash on her and let her drag it- that way if I think she is wandering to far away and she doesnt come I can step on the leash and get full control

By the way- she only gets ONE chance at being free!

[phrogger]

Jimmy and Malibu only can stay right in the front yard with us right there off the leash, usually if we have the hose going because Jimmy will stay right there at the water.

Now Raider, our only non Dachsie goes off the leash just about anywhere we can. We go to a huge park where dogs are allowed and when we get into the wooded area we let him off the leash. Goofy dog wont leave our side though. He is an Australian Shepard/Border Collie mix and he wont walk away from anyone. He loves to herd us hehehe. He is too scared of other dogs to fight and thinks cats are other little dogs like jimmy and bu.

[Teckel_Times_2]

Once my boys proved they would obey my recall command even with serious distractions/temptations like cats and squirrels, they do get some off-leash time in certain circumstances. When we vacation on the beaches of Washington, they take all their walks off-leash. Around the house they are off leash, though never unsupervised in my unfenced yard (rental). Houston obeys me without question, and Dallas has been trained to walk directly behind my right heel, so I've never had a bad experience.

[Maxwells Mama]

no, not here in houston thats a law. but we go every week 2 times to the doggy park, thats the only area in town where dogs can run free without a leashe on. But when we go to germany in the summer then I can let him run where ever i want because they dont have a city policy there. some stores and restaurantes even allow dogs.

[Suzanne R]

Yes, in our front yard (when somebody's home) and in their "potty run," but never anywhere else. We live on a dead-end road, out in the country, and we have coyotes, bobcats, loose big dogs, etc. Although we have an acre of fenced yard, I would worry about their safety if they had access to the entire yard - especially the back, near the woods. Plus, stupid people come in the gates and don't always close them!!! :eekdevil: :eekdevil: :eekdevil: That makes me crazy!! And neither of them are that well-trained yet, either, so I couldn't count on them coming when called. Too many wonderful scents out there in the country, and lots of open fields to run across, too! They'd get a scent and be gone in a heartbeat - forever, probably. I'd never forgive myself if that happened! Why take the chance?!

[Lillie's Mama]

She has a tendency to book it. So I said NO absolutely not!! Maybe in the future when we're a little better trained. But even then I would be very skeptical.

[AngelaM]

nope, Bonzai was never trained to do stuff like any well behaved doggie would do so when he does RARELY get outside w/o his leash, we freak out.

[Mark]

BUT . . . unless it's in the vets office . . . we have no occasion to leash them. We have a nice fenced yard where they can run, roam and play. :)

[7dachsmom]

I voted yes for mitzi cause she is so engrossed with me she stays right beside me and the whole time walking she is right at my side watching my every move.She will not attempt to chase cats or squirrels.So I guess I got lucky training her.Skeeter does ok in the front yard without it but not without on walks like Mitzi.The rest forget it they are a lost hope!!:cheer:

[Dackel-Mom]

I wish, I could - but it's way too expensive around here if one gets caught by an animal-control officer. :blush:
I sometimes go places where the dogs can run without being in danger of getting run over by a car. (i.e. at Wolftrap - and there are hardly ever any people on those trails either.......)
Maisie is not ready for the dog-park and I don't think she ever will be. She panics when too many dogs are around her. The only time I let her off leash is with foster-mom's dachsies, because she likes them and sticks to them. Without those two I won't let her off until she has learned her recalls reliably. ;)
Tessa is pretty much my "little shadow" and follows me wherever I go. She doesn't really need a leash per say. Well - and Daytona is on a leash because people are afraid of him because of his size.
When he comes over to say "hi", it could look somewhere like this:

http://img1.myimg.de/Lonielookingatyakid1c1.jpg (http://www.myimg.de)

People usually don't appreciate being greeted like that, even though he has a big smile on his face. :blush: So he only gets to run in less populated areas. :D

[scubasid]

Only time they spend on a leash is when i take them to Starbucks on weekends to read the paper on their patio, they are on a leash then - so not to get spooked by cars parkingpulling up -> so i dont risk them getting hit.

Rest of the time, they are 100% leash free . past 2 years have not needed a leash around the house or the neighborhood, they go out the front door around to the back door to my neighbors 4 doors down from me, to the woods .They are great with hand commands and verbal and a good whistle to meet when im on the other side of the house. Usually get them for a 30 minute walk each morning around 6am before the heat kicks in.

[graci67]

I dont let her out freely in our yard, as its not fenced, but I do let her go with a leash attached to graci's harness so if she does get to far away I can Step on the leash in other places.... I have a playpen for graci to stay in when we go camping but when we go for hikes I let her go freely because I trust her.... shes very good at coming when told most of the time! ( I have to emphasize MOST of the time lol,)

[HawaiiDoxieLover]

The thing says I already voted, but I don't see a reply and I don't remember voting. My answer is
NO...NEVERThey could get spooked and take off...better safe than sorry!

[marthooo]

Yesterday I heard another report on the tightening up of leash laws and restrictions on animal owners. I am LUCKY to have great neighbors who like our boys, but I couldn't/wouldn't walk them off leash in the neighborhood or city or parks. That's cause I worry about people I don't know. And, beyond that, the boys are headstrong, and it would only take one squirrel or bird and they'd be 50 yards down the walk/across the street...

[chocolatepie]

Ours dont get out of our sight...Sure they play outside and go for walks..but Its all supervised..If something would happen and I wouldnt be there...I'd never forgive myself

[Melisande]

Oh my gosh... NO!!... Never ever ever. There is no way, I am an overprotective mommy, and darn proud of it too!

My neighboor lets her two labs roam our yard (Unfenced!!!) everyday, and I think she is nuts.

Anytime we go outside, Dragon is on his leash. Allthough once he finishes all his shots, I'm very excited about taking him to the local dog park with a special section for small dogs! I cant wait to see my little booger run outside!

There are a few off-leash dog friendly hiking trails in Salt lake, and I'll for sure be taking Dragon up there, but just because leashes are optional, doesnt mean Dragon gets free run, he will still be on a leash no matter what.

[Brooke]

No, never, under any circumstances...ever

[Dackel-Mom]

Rodney can only be trusted off leash in areas where there's not a whole lot of wildlife going on. :blush: Miss Bicalina usually stays "right underfoot" and does not venture out too much, and Tessa..........well - she's just perfect. :hearts: She actually comes immediately when called. Even if there's a herd of deer jumping out in front of her nose. :)

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q238/Tusseliese/th_MVI_0021.jpg (http://s137.photobucket.com/albums/q238/Tusseliese/?action=view&current=MVI_0021.flv)
Today's walk on the battlefields in Manassas. It was beautiful. :)

[2tweenies]

No, Not that I havent tried. if both my boys see a bird or squirrel Their off like a rocket with me trailing behind them screaming my head off for them to stop! Now the only place I let them off their leashes is at the local dog park (Its fenced).

[Ellie]

No, never, not in a fenced yard, not dog parks, absolutely never. If theres no carpet under their feet, there's a leash attached to their harness.

[jrcanoe]

My family have allways let our doxies run free. It has cost all but one their lives.
Grandfathers standards
Brunhilda :age 8 kicked by horse.
Zolda Survived snake bite but :disapeared age 12
Gotlieb snake bit every couple years :Old age 16

Mine Runts of Standards
Otto (Gotlieb's and zolda's son): age12 hit by car 4th july fireworks unnerved him.
Felix: Survived Quilled by porkie : age 14.75 disapeared

Mini
Gertrude not here yet and likely will never be a free runner.

[Lily]

I voted yes, for long distances, but I don't know what would be considered a long distance. We have lots of land, and when Hoodaddy say's it's time to feed the cows, the girls are jumping at the door so they can go with him. From the cow pen he tells them it's now time to feed the horses, and off they go, at full speed.

He's not used to living with dogs in the house and he's amazed that they understand so much and are so observant. When he gathers the trash they know he is going to walk it down to our gate, so they get excited. We recently read about coyotes attacking small animals, so Hoodaddy now wears a gun when he takes the girls out. He's only been doing this for about a week, and already, when he straps on the gun, they do the "we're going outside" dance.

They are never outside without us, and they are not usually out for a long period of time, but they are out several times each day. Maggie stays pretty close, but Priscilla gets carried away with all the wonderful scents. When they don't mind, they are put in the house immediately.

I should add that we are a mile away from any type of road, so cars aren't our main concern.

[catstamm]

No No Never Ever....they are hounds!

[Lin]

Ours get out the door before you have it completely open , so we have to run around to get them back in, It takes 2 of us to see who's at the door, one to hold them back and one to see who's at the door.

Lin,
Millie, Bubby and Buffie

[xsnmodr8tion]

Max hates the leash will tolerate it. But he amazing off leash... walks this new neighborhood with me. I can change the tone, inflection of my voice and he wont look at me just keep sniffing and meander my way... he wont go after other dogs or people, dogs come by pulling, on their leash you hear them gasping , Max looks at them - like see - thats why I dont like a leash,,, their no fun... When a car is coming I say "CAR" and he stops in his tracks and waits for the car to go by before he continues. My other dog used to spot the car and follow it as it passed us and then look at me to get approval to continue it was so cute. We spent a 1/2 hr shopping at a brand new " Life is Good" store he was so funny sniffing racks displays,, just meandering here and there. I couldnt see him and just say Max with a question in my voice and he shows up. Once I did it,, he was already sitting behind my leg...lol If Im in a shoping center / lots of cars,,, he is on a leash a car alarm - dumb kid may do something that may spook him and he may move in front of a car... so I dont risk it. Frasier always a leash and unless were in the woods / lake by the house way too young and wild otherwise.

[Swampy]

Only in back yard. He really does not know what a car a street are. So he is on a 16 retractable leash when we are walking. I have a huge back yard so he gets plenty of time off leash. Bill, Buddy's Dad:flowerysmile:

[Dogmother]

We have two acres, and all our neighbors are family with the exception of the poeple who rent the mobile home in my back yard, and mine are probably on leash more often than they are off. But we have a mountain lion that sometimes lurks around here and it isn't scared of people so it would have no problem coming into my yard and having a dachsie snack. It has been gone for about 6 months now and no one has seen any sign of it. Because of that I have been letting my original three off leash a bit more than usual, but only with heavy supervision. They all have a pretty reliable recall. There have only been two or three occasions that they have ignored me when I have called them and all I have to do then is blow my whistle to get their attention and show them the spray bottle and they come running back to me. lol Dexter, on the other hand has only been off leash a handfull of times although he is earning the right to have a bit more off leash time now. He has finally gotten to the point that he will come up to me when I call, as long as I am sitting down, and I don't have to pull him in with the long leash. He was running loose today and playing with the crew and they all came up to me, while I was standing, and I was talking to them in a high pitched voice and Dexter came up too for some lovin'. He loves it when I let him off leash and he runs in big huge circles in the yard just as fast as his little legs can carry him. It is just too cute.

Terri

[Travmakar]

I take his leash off sometimes about 100' from our house and tell him "heel" to walk next to me. He is usually good. Then I make him "stay" in the drive way and then say "ok, backyard". That little bugger can take off fast hoping to score a squirrel. lol

[MyFirstDaxie]

I don't ever unclip my dogs' leashes, but I do drop them and let them walk freely when we are out for a walk in the park. Butter stays resolutely by my side and even if she gets spooked she just switches sides so I don't think she would run off - nevertheless she has a strong leash and it's long, so I can grab it/step on it if I ever needed to. Guinness wanders, as he needs to mark EVERYTHING, but I've always got an eye on him. If he starts to lag too far behind then I pick up his leash again.

I love letting the dogs walk alongside me freely, it's almost like we enter a pack mindset. Once Guinness calms down he walks beside Butter, who walks between Will and I. :D

[Dinosmom]

yes in the side yard with the dog next door we are in a dead end street with no traffic. and only tell he stops listening to me

[nina]

we try to go for walks in the fields and forest everyday and then nina is off leash.
she's a good girl and doesn't chase animals; she pretends she can't see them! :laughitup:
watching her zoom zoom is pure bliss and if we go a couple of days with only leash walks, she gets bottled up and misbehaves.
she needs to blow off some steam! :yahoo:
she sticks right with me and circles within 15 feet or so and we practice recall with treats. she might dawdle once and awhile and make me wait a few moments, but she will soon be zippededoo with all commands as we progress and i get more serious with her.
she is never free when there is any chance of cars; we go off on trails, far from mankind.
we went for a weekend to cape cod and she loved running the beach!
right now, i leash her for part of the return trip because we are still training a perfect heel; it also poops her out even more, because she burns out her little brain concentrating! :wonky:

[Dogma98]

I take Marta to the park and she is off lease exept near the entrance and cars are coming in.

[Doxie Dreamer]

Sometimes we do but he's still so young that he can't really go as fast as we can and he's always between the two of us. Mostly he just likes running back and forth between us and our other dog. We may not do this for forever but it works for now.

[Rodney'sMom]

Rodney is only off leash in the front of the house, when he has at least 1 hooparent with him (only to help get the mail or to see hoomom or hoodad when they get home from work). He get's called back if he get's close to the street or by the neighbors' yards. We are also very careful around cars. He is pretty darn good, though I did find that if he is not in his own yard, all limits are off.

[PetMother]

Macy is chained up outside, but Sammy is left off. He stays in our yard and doesn't wander off. The neighbors have their yard fenced and he runs up and down the fence playing with their two dogs. Sammy knows the rules if he even thinks of wandering off. He's done it once and he didn't like it. No I didn't beat him, i placed him on the chain leash for two weeks. The leash isn't long enough for him to go play with his friends so he was pretty up set. (You can ground dogs too!) ;)

[Weinermom]

No, never. I wrestle with this question all the time! The only time Reuben was not on a leash outside was when he was just starting to walk after paralysis. I'm over protective and would rather be safe than sorry. I live very close to the road.

I have 20 foot leashes for them so that they can wander away from me, but we are always connected.

[Chi's Mom]

My husband does it sometimes when he is working out front. I could kill him for it.:pull_hair: I on the other hand, would not do it, although Chi listens to him more than me. Funny how that is since I am the one who feeds him, takes him out to poop, nursed him back to health etc.
:lol:. My other 2 never.....I could never catch them!!:dogwalk2:

[skryckman]

The only time is when we go to my parents house. They get so excited to be there because they know that my mom and dad always give them lots of treats and lots of love that we will put them down in the driveway and they run right for the door and wait for it to be open. Other then that they are always on a leash.

[xsnmodr8tion]

With me in the Front yard he goes out and does BIZ off leash , he knows the property line with the neighbors yard and does zoomies and just skirts the line (no visible markers to see) just instinct he learned from Max. He walks to the end of driveway and does not go out in street, we live on a Cul De Sac.
Now in the Keys on vacation he was really amazing, he picked up on his boundarys fast, the dock is continuous cement yet he knew not to venture past a point with out us, he never walked our onto the wood docks unless he was invited, best two things were he did not come out side when the sliders were opened until he was given a command to come out and lastly the crushed coral used as landscaping is harsh on paw pads he learned to stop at the beginning of the driveway where it was under the car, even as much as he wanted to go to the car, he waited to be picked up and carried to the car or the street to go for a walk.

[stacicakes]

I am soooooo jealous of people who can let their dogs off leash. My two have never had a good recall and I'm way to afraid they will get hit by a car or bite someone. It's my dream to someday have a dog that I'm comfortable letting off leash but I don't think my nervous personality will ever make it possible.:faint: I always feel sad when I see people gardening in their front yard with their dog or walking on the beach with their dog....I wish it was me and my dogs :sorry:.

[Caidanbi]

Nope, it's just not safe, even if your dog is really well trained. Because there is always the chance that something will interest them enough where they will take off, no matter what you do or say. It's not worth it to me to try.

[JayLu]

Thibodeaux is really good about staying in his yard - he putzes around sniffing and looking for a good place to roll or dig. I always go out with him - he is so teeny that I can lose track of him behind a bush or tree, Only once did he take off - my brother dropped by and we were standing in the front yard talking and I looked up the street and there went Thibodeaux - taking a stroll up the sidewalk about a 1/2 block away - I called him and he stopped, looked at me, thought a moment and then sauntered back home.

Apparently he didn't see what the big deal was - he was just going for a leisurely little stroll :)