Can you let your husky off the leash

[maggie84]

Just wondering if you guys are able to walk/run with your husky off the leash? Dakota is only 5 months and I walk with her on a leash, I've read on so many websites never to let them off the leash as it's in their nature to run, and they'll be miles away before they turn around and realise they've lost us My boyfriend maintains we'll be able to let her off but I'm not so certain, don't want to lose her. Have any of you had any luck?

[rose]

Please don't risk losing your dog by letting him off lead, i have read so many stories of huskies getting run over/ shoit because owners have let them off & they see something & are gonre off after it. They are ok whilst pups but as they get to adulthood seem to go deaf & ignore you no matter how well trained. Run him with your bike or in a fenced in area, i train mine to recall but even in the field i take them too they don't listen all the time even with food on offer they do come to me in the end .My male sibe is better than my bitches @ recall though but still won't let him run free in unsecure areas. My 3 still get to interact with other dogs even when on leash & have a play with another dog in the field too.

[davidjk]

the rule is never let them off. virtually all will run for the love of running.

we are lucky at the moment because we can let micha off still (she is just over a year old), but the prey drive is begining to kick in.

if she spots a rabbit she will usually end up head down or even in a rabbit hole.

at the moment she is still responding to vocal commands, and we have started giving her extra training in the evenings down the local park.

the instant she doesnt respond to vocal commands she will be straight back on the lead.

be very very carefull

[Mazz]

Your boyfriend needs to do some research me thinks. There are the rare ones that can be let off lead, but they are very few and far between, and it takes a tremendous amount of working with the Husky to be able to achieve success, and even then, not all Huskies can be trusted, just a very few. Please don't risk it.

[Sarah]

I really wouldn't advise it hun. It's all over loads of web sites for a reason, they will one day 9 times out of 10 run off - you can get lucky when they're younger but that luck will run out one day

I used to let mine off but never do it now unless in an enclosed area - had too many scares!

Sounds like you've got your head screwed on right though - maybe get a book on huskies so he can read it or get him to join up here? An extendable lead or long line - 50ft or something like that will give them lots of freedom but you are still safe in the knowledge that they can't get away

[Sibe77]

We Let Grey off the lead but only in areas that are kinda boxed in, we go to the woods and he goes missing for about 15 mins but will always come back to see where we are he just enjoys having a sniff and a nose around, i would recommend having some of his fav treats at hand.......

[raindog]

Puppies will often appear to be very obedient and can lull you into a sense of false security. Once adolescence hits (between 9 and 18 months) they turn into stroppy teenagers and can become extremely challenging.

This is a very good article which has been around for years in husky circles - well worth reading and taking on board.

Mick

Trust - A Deadly Disease

Should you trust your dogoff-leash? Read on...

There is adeadly disease stalking your dog, a hideous, stealthy thing just waiting its chance to steal your beloved friend. It is not a new disease, or one for which there are inoculations. The disease is called trust.

You knew before you ever took your puppy home that it could not be trusted. The breeder,who provided you with this precious animal warned you, drummed it into your head. Puppies steal off counters, destroy anything expensive, chase cats, take forever to house train, and must never be allowed off lead!

When the big day finally arrived, heeding the sage advice of the breeder you escorted your puppy to his new home, properly collared and tagged, the lead held tightly in your hand.

At home the house was "puppy-proofed". Everything of value was stored in the spare bedroom, garbage stowed on top of the refrigerator, cats separated, and a gate placed across the door to the living room to keep at least part of the house puddle free. All windows and doors had been properly secured, and signs placed in all strategic points reminding all to "CLOSE THE DOOR!"

Soon it becomes second nature to make sure the door closes .9 of a second after it was opened and that it really latched. "DON'T LET THE DOG OUT" is your second most verbalized expression. (The first is "NO!") You worry and fuss constantly, terrified that your darling will get out and a disaster will surely follow. Your fiends comment about whom you love most, your family or the dog. You know that to relax your vigil for a moment might lose him to you forever.

And so the weeks and months pass, with your puppy becoming more civilized every day, and the seeds of trust are planted. It seems that each new day brings less destruction, less breakage. Almost before you know it your gangly, slurpy puppy has turned into an elegant, dignified friend.

Now that he is a more reliable, sedate companion, you take him more places. No longer does he chew the steering wheel when left in the car. And darned if that cake wasn't still on the counter this morning. And, oh yes, wasn't that the cat he was sleeping with so cozily on your pillow last night?

At this point you are beginning to become infected, the disease is spreading its roots deep into your mind.

And then one of your friends suggests obedience. You shake your head and remind her that your dog might run away if allowed off lead, but you are reassured when she promises the events are held in a fenced area. And, wonder of wonders, he did not run away, but come every time you called him!

All winter long you go to weekly obedience classes. And, after a time you even let him run loose from the car to the house when you get home. Why not, he always runs straight to the door, dancing a frenzy of joy and waits to be let in. And remember he comes every time he is called. You know he is the exception that proves the rule. (And sometimes late at night, you even let him slip out the front door to go potty and then right back in.)

At this point the disease has taken hold, waiting only for the right time and place to rear its ugly head.

Years pass- it is hard to remember why you ever worried so much when he was a puppy. He would never think of running out the door left open while you bring in the packages from the car. It would be beneath his dignity to jump out the window of the car while you run into the convenience store. And when you take him for those wonderful long walks at dawn, it only takes one whistle to send him racing back to you in a burst of speed when the walk comes too close to the highway. (He still gets into the garbage, but nobody is perfect!)

This is the time the disease has waited for so patiently. Sometimes it only has to wait a year or two, but often it takes much longer.

He spies the neighbor dog across the street, and suddenly forgets everything he ever knew about not slipping outdoors, jumping out windows or coming when called due to traffic. Perhaps it was only a paper fluttering in the breeze, or even just the sheer joy of running.

Stopped in an instant. Stilled forever - Your heart is as broken as his still beautifulbody.

The disease is trust. The final outcome; hit by a car.

Every morning my dog Shah bounced around off lead exploring. Every morning for seven years he came back when he was called. He was perfectly obedient, perfectly trustworthy. He died fourteen hours after being hit by a car. Please do not risk your friend and heart. Save the trust for things that do not matter.

[Guest snowdog]

great post mick rep added, i wouldnt ever risk my three, they are wild animals no matter how well you train them and if the mood takes they will run free and you wont stop them, get 100 ft lead , i use that if they want a good roam!

[davidjk]

mick very good advice, but the same could be said of any dog, especially staffys. they seem to be the worst behaved dogs in the world, i dont know if this is due to lack of training of a breed thing, but the amount of staffys that have bitten other dogs down our park is unreal

[Bec]

My boyfriend maintains we'll be able to let her off but I'm not so certain, don't want to lose her. Have any of you had any luck?

Can you 110% guarantee that she will recall every single time, under any level of distraction?

If not, don't risk it unless you are in an enclosed area.

If you haven't got a bomb proof recall on your dog then it doesn't matter what breed it is, it's not safe nor responsible to let them off leash in an uncontained area.

I train one of my dogs off leash almost every day, in uncontained areas, because I can guarantee that she won't be going anywhere and that her focus is 110% on me.

Personally I despise that "trust" article, I don't let my dog off leash because I trust her, I know that her focus is completely on me, that her recall is 110% reliable when we are training and I know this because I have proofed her under a huge range of distractions. Off leash dogs can run by us when we are training and she doesn't even look at them. That's not about "trust" it's about damn good training and proofing.

ETA: Snowdog... dogs aren't wild animals. They have been domesticated for centuries

[aksnowpeach]

I can walk with my Cypra off leash as long as there aren't many distractiong around (aka vehicles). We have a wooded path behind our house that I just let her run free, and when he goes too far and I can't see her anymore, I tell her "Cypra, can't see you!" and she will stop and turn around to wait for me. I always carry her leash with me just incase though. When I trained her, we did it in my backyard, just over and over again with treats, telling her to "sit/stay" then I would walk away, and tell her to come to me. She behaves really well!

[krzykal]

Excellent reply mick, i would never risk any of my dogs off lead, it just takes that one time no matter how obedient you think they are ... I use a 100ft lead and take them over a local field to us and they have fun and i always feel safe knowing that hey if they spot that rabbit running through the trees they cant run off .. Also there are some nasty people around who would not think twice about stealing your pup or dog who is off lead. I would never have them off lead...

[raindog]

Don't get me wrong though, I think everyone should train their sibes to recall. Even in the best regulated households accidents happen and your dog might slip through an open door or find a gap in a fence. If you've trained it to recall, at least you have a chance of it coming back to you when you call.

It's also great to run your dogs off-lead if you can, but only if you can do it in a safe, fenced area, where there is no risk of them coming to harm.

We have been interested in the breed for almost 20 years now, and every year we have heard of at least one Siberian Husky which has been killed on the road. The distraught owners always say exactly the same thing, "I don't understand, he/she had always come back before!"

Every single Siberian Husky organisation in the world states clearly that huskies cannot be trusted off-lead - they do not do this for fun, but because bitter and repeated experience has taught them that it is the simple, but tragic truth.

Mick

[Lisa (Fragglebabe)]

I'll only let Maia off lead in a fully enclosed area where she has no chance of any harm coming to her. She will occasionally recall in the field (the enclosed area) but she has more interest in running, running & more running than seeing what I want. The same goes for George our GSD, he loves to say hello to everyone & everything but due to his breed & size some 'not in the know' dog owners think he's being aggressive he is a big soft boy with a wonderful temprement. Anyway what I'm trying to say is get to know your pup, even if you think they'll always recall this isn't the case. They may catch the scent of something a lot more interesting & be off. Not to get away from you, just to have fun & run xxx

[Dunc]

Good read and good advice Mick.

No matter what some will only learn the hard way

[Bec]

LOL, how curious that I got bad rep for my post. I thought I made myself quite clear when I said no dog should be let off leash unless you can 110% guarantee that it is completely and utterly reliable under all distractions. I would never let any of my dogs off leash in an uncontained area if I couldn't guarantee that they are reliable. If there is 0.01% of doubt there, don't take the risk!

The thing that gets up my goat with the article Mick posted is that it suggests anyone who lets their dog off leash is irresponsible and that complacency is somehow the same as having trained and proofed their dog to be consistently reliable. It's not just untrue but it's pretty insulting.

[BingBlaze n Skyla]

Hi i wud not trust ur husky offlead as a pup they will b more likely 2 trust off lead but once the pray drive kicks in thats it my boy escaped the otherday and luckily there was a dog he stopped 2 sniff or i doubt we wud ov got him back i have a 100ft lead when i take my boy places like feilds so he can still have the freedom 2 run around n i no that at the end ov the day i will still have my dog

[Guest snowdog]

LOL, how curious that I got bad rep for my post. I thought I made myself quite clear when I said no dog should be let off leash unless you can 110% guarantee that it is completely and utterly reliable under all distractions. I would never let any of my dogs off leash in an uncontained area if I couldn't guarantee that they are reliable. If there is 0.01% of doubt there, don't take the risk!

The thing that gets up my goat with the article Mick posted is that it suggests anyone who lets their dog off leash is irresponsible and that complacency is somehow the same as having trained and proofed their dog to be consistently reliable. It's not just untrue but it's pretty insulting.

bec chill out, micks advice is well intended and true. you cant ever full proof your dogs cos they have wild instincts that you wont ever guarantee 100%, you might be pack leader but theyve got strong hunting instincts and ppl are just saying its not worth it, oh n btw you might be insulted but i wasnt, its advice and everyones opinions differ why be insulted its not you he was reffering to ! were is your bad rep! does it only show on your screen cos i cant see it?

[Guest snowdog]

Can you 110% guarantee that she will recall every single time, under any level of distraction?

If not, don't risk it unless you are in an enclosed area.

If you haven't got a bomb proof recall on your dog then it doesn't matter what breed it is, it's not safe nor responsible to let them off leash in an uncontained area.

I train one of my dogs off leash almost every day, in uncontained areas, because I can guarantee that she won't be going anywhere and that her focus is 110% on me.

Personally I despise that "trust" article, I don't let my dog off leash because I trust her, I know that her focus is completely on me, that her recall is 110% reliable when we are training and I know this because I have proofed her under a huge range of distractions. Off leash dogs can run by us when we are training and she doesn't even look at them. That's not about "trust" it's about damn good training and proofing.

ETA: Snowdog... dogs aren't wild animals. They have been domesticated for centuries ok bec heres a tip for ya give your opinion and stop slating others cos we dont agree with you , youve dun it in a few posts were i have posted n your beginning to tick me off!

your opinion bec dont get on my case! all animals have wild instincts MY opinion!

[BingBlaze n Skyla]

mick very good advice, but the same could be said of any dog, especially staffys. they seem to be the worst behaved dogs in the world, i dont know if this is due to lack of training of a breed thing, but the amount of staffys that have bitten other dogs down our park is unreal

David i dont wanna cause an argument but i disagree with this my boy Bingo (tho hes only half staffy he is pretty much as pure a staffy as a staffy can b except he has longer legs and a longer frame due 2 the whippet in him and hes the best behaved dog ever hes off his lead he can see a rabbit i call him n he will come trotting back 2 me n he has never once bit any1 or anything apart from his food in all the 7 years weve had him i think that the staffy u see attacking is just due 2 bad ownmanship bings was a stray b4 we got him and i fully belive he was abused b4 that aswell cuz when u raise ur arm near him 2 scratch ur head or summin he flinches yet he is 1 ov the softest dogs u cud meet just ask the few ppl who met him at the 1st husky meet how good he was apart from the barking cuz hes an impatient old man lol

[Guest snowdog]

its deffo the owners n not the dog i.m.o

[Bec]

Snowdog, I know when my dogs have been proofed enough to be reliable. I know when they are working well enough that I can have them off leash to do stays, recall, heelwork etc.

Sure it's not my husky it's one of my other breeds (a beagle, another breed people recommend never letting off leash) but it allows you to see what I mean when I say I know when my dogs are going to be reliable and when they have 110% focus on me. There's only a little bit of off leash work in this vid, sometimes I don't have the leash on her at all, you can see in my other videos on my channel.

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=KxjJ5B_puAE

THIS Is what I meant when I said I found the thing Mick posted insulting. I am not complacent about when I let my dogs off leash. I've work hard to train them to have this level of focus and drive. I know when they are going to be reliable.

My apologies about the rep comment, I thought everyone could see when rep was added or taken away.

[Guest snowdog]

Snowdog, I know when my dogs have been proofed enough to be reliable. I know when they are working well enough that I can have them off leash to do stays, recall, heelwork etc.

Sure it's not my husky it's one of my other breeds (a beagle, another breed people recommend never letting off leash) but it allows you to see what I mean when I say I know when my dogs are going to be reliable and when they have 110% focus on me. There's only a little bit of off leash work in this vid, sometimes I don't have the leash on her at all, you can see in my other videos on my channel.

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=KxjJ5B_puAE

THIS Is what I meant when I said I found the thing Mick posted insulting. I am not complacent about when I let my dogs off leash. I've work hard to train them to have this level of focus and drive. I know when they are going to be reliable.

My apologies about the rep comment, I thought everyone could see when rep was added or taken away.

as i say bec my opinion is that you can never guarantee, and this is something that you cannot say will never happen, but as i say its my opinion! and mick is entitled to hes wether it offends or not its good advice and not to be slated because of it, everyone differs in opinion this would be a hell of a boring site if all was roses , just puttin my opinion out there and letting you know i will not be slated for it! my advice was to the lady who asked the question . i am not asking or wanting you to prove how good you or your dogs are the advice was given to maggie, im not getting into a debate as its taking it away from all the good advice ppl have given .

[Val (Zebedee)]

Maggie, we let our girl, Myshka, run & walk off lead till she was about 18 months old, then her prey drive overtook her listening to us, so the extendable lead came out! We have spent 3 hours trying to get her back when she's ripped through the fence & been off over the fields, which is pretty quick compared to some stories we hear. I personally would concentrate on leash work & looking for a dog park or fenced off area where you can let your pup run free in safety.

[Hock]

You generally hear pups will do fine off lead but once they get older their prey drive kicks in and they'll run off in a split second and not look back. IMO, it's not worth risking it where theres no enclosure.