Trainer recommending letting Peggy off the lead

[Smeagle]

Originally Posted by beaglebeauty

Ask your trainer if they think that a husky should be off lead...if she or he answers yes...ignore them and their off lead advise entirely

Wouldn't that depend on the trainer and their methods?

My trainer would tell you with confidence Siberians can be trained to be reliable off leash, because he's trained them to do so, to a level of reliability where the dogs will recall off live prey items i.e. rabbits.

As it stands my Sibe has a pretty reliable recall with minimal work from myself, I know people who have put the work in with their Sibes and do have totally reliable recalls.

[kathiam]

Since this is not a behavior issue I would say don't listen to your trainer and I would just say go with your gut instinct. If your are comfortable with letting her off the leash then go ahead and try it in a safe area and make sure you have a helper should you need to retrieve her. If you aren't comfortable then don't do it just to please the trainer. I have no intention of ever letting Lily off the leash unless it's an accident because of the wolves and coyotes it's not safe for her should she run away but that is just my personal opinion. I know some people who never use leashes for the dogs, and other who never take their dogs off a leash. It really just depends on what you want for your pet.

[ian1969uk]

Yes I think we'll just see how it goes and try her on a long line first to practice recall.

No coyotes or wolves in the UK so no worries there

[kathiam]

Originally Posted by ian1969uk

No coyotes or wolves in the UK so no worries there

Yes sadly it's a risk I cannot afford to take. I won't get into the details of what happened because it's not pleasant but a wolf pack took a 100 lb dog just a few miles from here while the family's two children where outside playing in their yard during the day.

[Smeagle]

Originally Posted by kathiam

Since this is not a behavior issue I would say don't listen to your trainer and I would just say go with your gut instinct. If your are comfortable with letting her off the leash then go ahead and try it in a safe area and make sure you have a helper should you need to retrieve her. If you aren't comfortable then don't do it just to please the trainer. I have no intention of ever letting Lily off the leash unless it's an accident because of the wolves and coyotes it's not safe for her should she run away but that is just my personal opinion. I know some people who never use leashes for the dogs, and other who never take their dogs off a leash. It really just depends on what you want for your pet.

That you will never let her off leash is still not a good reason NOT to train her to recall reliably.

What if she got out one day and the fact she has a reliable recall saves her life?

Even if you never intend to let your dog off leash, you should do all you can to train a good recall anyway.

As I said in an earlier post no one should EVER let their dog off the leash just to see what they will do. I wouldn't let an untrained dog off leash unless in a safely confined area, and I wouldn't try calling them unless I knew they would return - in dog training we call it setting the dog up to win, not to fail. The worst thing you can do is teach them the recall word is one they can ignore. Hence why I always start on a long line so I can reel them in if they don't comply


ETA: IMO, not at least having a basic recall on your dog IS a behaviour issue

[kathiam]

Originally Posted by Smeagle

That you will never let her off leash is still not a good reason NOT to train her to recall reliably.

Please don't assume that just because I have no intention of letting her of the leash outdoors that I haven't been working on teaching her to come when called. I have been and will continue to work with her on recall but I do it indoors. I do not have a safe place, nor do I have access to a safe place to work with her outdoors and it is not a risk I intend to take. While she is getting better she is still unreliable and if she were to take off I could not assure her safety and that is just not something I am willing to take a chance on.

[Smeagle]

Originally Posted by kathiam

Please don't assume that just because I have no intention of letting her of the leash outdoors that I haven't been working on teaching her to come when called. I have been and will continue to work with her on recall but I do it indoors. I do not have a safe place, nor do I have access to a safe place to work with her outdoors and it is not a risk I intend to take. While she is getting better she is still unreliable and if she were to take off I could not assure her safety and that is just not something I am willing to take a chance on.

So you never take her outside anywhere?

I understand not wanting to let her off leash if it's not safe, but you could put her on a long line to practice recall in more distracting (out door) environments but still keeping the 'safety net' of the leash there. Just a suggestion I see too many people who don't bother teaching a reliable recall because they'll never let their dogs off leash, when there's no telling when an emergency could arise where they'd need to use one.