Caroline O'Kane Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 I take Cooper out every evening and he loves our walks but at the park we go to he has met a wee friend called ERIC a lhasa apso who is there every evening and they play together for ages Eric's owner has him off leash and i would love to let cooper off to play properly with him i just want to know how great are the risks as i have read NEVER to let them off in open spaces any advice is appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robke Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 How old is Cooper again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline O'Kane Posted September 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 Hes almost 4 months now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carly Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 I know there is loads of advice about this and everyone has an opinion, but personally I would never let Skye of the lead. She does love to play and when we meet other dogs who are off lead it seems a shame that she can't be let off too, but I know for a fact that if something caught her eye she'd be off and I'd never see her again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robke Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 the risk is GREAT that he will run off his prey instinct will be kicking in soon and there will be otherthings much more interresting then mummy with treats...for example birds, cats or other pups... If mine have the urge to run free(ish) I stick them on their 20 meter long lead and the go mad...for 5 mins... offlead in a fully enclosed area is offcourse not a problem... I would not risk it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotTheDogWhisperer Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 Yeah you can get these 100ft leads which are very good...allows the dog to have almost the same level of freedom they would get being offlead without actually being offlead...much safer option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline O'Kane Posted September 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 I dont really trust cooper too much if im honest hes still very young and curious he wants to investigate everything right down to the last bush in the park i guess the risks are too great such a pity though for the dog i'll invest in a new 20ft lead to start us off thanks for the advice guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 the long leads are great! He'll have loads of fun on it but still be safe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 Have a read through this thread. Almost everyone has had a chance to put forward their opinion on this topic. It should give you some background and info as to why most of us on here never let them off lead except in fully secure areas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline O'Kane Posted September 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 Thanks for your help i'll read it now [emoji106] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline O'Kane Posted September 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 Wow andy thanks for that im still reading the replys lol such great advice on this forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BingBlaze n Skyla Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 A 100ft lead is a great thing :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOBELHOWLUC49 Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 With a long lead 20 feet plus does anyone ever have probs with their dogs getting tangled. The 5 meter ones we have can get rapped round if we are not careful, sure they are trying to play cats cradle??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline O'Kane Posted September 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 I was thinking that too Nobel48 cooper is quite jumpy still when out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kells xx Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 They can get tangled but it's a minor inconvenience for the safety of your dogs.... They always have to stop and sniff or poop and that gives you time to unravel and unwind them.... We have had three on 50ft long lines Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOBELHOWLUC49 Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 We tend to go to the park where we can let them off with Marc standing at the 1 gate and me trying not to get run over by Bella. Marc does get some strange looks sometimes as there is a sectioned of kids play area. We are lucky in that respect that we have one so close. It would be nice to take them over to the park at the end of our rd and let them have a good run round there too, so will invest in a long long lead and let you know how we get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clare70 Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 Not letting a husky off lead is one of the hardest things about owning one but the risk of them getting lost, injured or worse is not worth taking. We have 6 metre leads for forest walking and now we have an enclosed area of about 30 x 15 mtres, it's awesome and the doggies sleep well at night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOBELHOWLUC49 Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 It is tempting to let them of lead and they may be fine for the first 10 times but there is always a chance the 11th might end in tears. It sounds like scare mongering but when you hear some stories. It has made me really think about offlead times... Our garden is 160 feet by 80 feet, we are just about to upgrade the Fence to even higher as we are thinking about fostering. They love running round like loonies.. Got trees and bushes will try to get a video of the nutters.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elyse Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 One of my friends lost her husky in July. She let it play off leash (1.5 year old) with another dog. Her husky saw a squirrel, and was never seen again. Over 2 months later, and she still hasn't been found (she's contact the humane societies, put up posters, etc, etc). Its not worth the risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BKarchitect Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 Simply not worth it. Ever. No matter how old and loyal. But especially at a young age like that, it would be extremely risky. The love you and your dog share may be the greatest in the world but at the end of the day it will not be enough for him to overcome the calling mother nature has ingrained into his kind should something bring it out of him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline O'Kane Posted September 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 Wee cooper will definitely not be off leash thanks for all the advice guys i really appreciate it 20 foot lead ordered off amazon already and we'll see how we get on eventually upgrade to a longer one as he gets a bit older Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samajula Posted September 26, 2014 Report Share Posted September 26, 2014 I let my oldest dog kassy off lead all the time. She loves to run circles around the other dogs. Once she is tired she will come lay down next to me and rest. My other husky on the other hand NOPE NEVER!!! Last time we went sled racing, her harness snapped and she took off. Bye freya. She knew her recall but deliberately chose not to obey. I was so luck and so thankful that the person I front stopped so I could grab her. My heart was pounding I let my oldest dog kassy off lead all the time. She loves to run circles around the other dogs. Once she is tired she will come lay down next to me and rest. My other husky on the other hand NOPE NEVER!!! Last time we went sled racing, her harness snapped and she took off. Bye freya. She knew her recall but deliberately chose not to obey. I was so luck and so thankful that the person I front stopped so I could grab her. My heart was pounding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachael_Astro Posted September 27, 2014 Report Share Posted September 27, 2014 My dog's father was never on the lead, he would always go wandering off in the woods but he would always come back so his owners didn't think anything of it. A few weeks ago he ran off and ended up in a farmer's field of sheep and he was shot. It really isn't worth the risk, I have a 50 ft lead and it's great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted September 27, 2014 Report Share Posted September 27, 2014 My dog's father was never on the lead, he would always go wandering off in the woods but he would always come back so his owners didn't think anything of it. A few weeks ago he ran off and ended up in a farmer's field of sheep and he was shot. It really isn't worth the risk, I have a 50 ft lead and it's great RIP to your dads dog. Thank you for perfectly highlighting the dangers of trusting the training over instinct.. While to some it may seem cruel and unnatural to keep the Husky permanently on leash it's the only way of guaranteeing the dogs safety. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline O'Kane Posted October 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2014 That is so sad about your dogs dad but it definitely sounds like i would be taking a huge risk letting cooper off leash but if i want my wee fella to stay safe thats the only way to go thanks for all the info guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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