Skills for Off-Leash Control

There are a lot of misconceptions in the dog world. Assumptions abound surrounding dogs who listen vs those who don’t. Are some dogs, such as terriers really not trainable? Is the Border Collie really born with that amazing attention and drive to please? What are the real facts surrounding off-leash control? How do you convince your dog to choose you over the running squirrel at the park? Is there a magical solution to getting your dog to listen?

Here’s the truth: it’s not magic, it’s training! Read more to find out what skills you should train to create a great listening dog whether they are ON or OFF leash!

The BIGGEST Mistake You can Make

First, I would like to address the biggest mistake people make when trying to attain off-leash control and that is the rush to allow freedom. Don’t do it! As eager as you may be to allow your dog to romp on an off-leash hike or at the park, do not remove that leash until your dog is capable of listening. Obviously, the main reason is keeping your dog safe. Allowing them freedom with no ability to control the outcome is extremely dangerous and could end in disaster. Just look at all of the lost dog postings that float around Facebook.

Another extremely important reason to keep them on leash is your relationship. It can be very damaging to your relationship with…