Huskies Off Lead

[BingBlaze n Skyla]

I read something the other day which someone wrote on facebook which highlighted this

saw that too - had to like it

[Guest Nush&Koda]

We have a really good secure enclosed garden and we let them run around and play their, under supervison, we would never let them out without supervision.

However, i would never let them off lead in woods or park (there are no enclosed dog parks around us).

When Nushka was about 4-months old we went to a local woods and we had them on long police training leads, i was court off guard when Nushka suddenly started chasing something and the lead slipped out of my hand, it was awful, she sent tearing off, i chased after her, which probably was the wrong thing to do but i was panicked, there was no way i could catch her, at even 4-months, i managed to distract her by clapping and shouting and she turned and slowed down and i was able to grab the end of the lead.... my heart was in my mouth.... so after that experience! extra extra careful.

It sometimes makes me sad, when we go out with my friend and their German Shepard Diesel, and they want to go and run off and explore with her, but i'm going to invest in some high quality 100ft leads to give them more freedom but i will never let them off unless secure and enclosed.

[Ravenwolf]

First time poster - hello all! This is actually one of the topics that drew me here, as I'm very interested in hearing about other husky-owners experiences, and off leash always seems to be a primary topic!

In my experience I have never met a purebred husky who could be trusted off of a leash. Every one that I have ever met at the dog park who would recall has been under 3 years old - most often under 2 - and once they get any older they tend to stop coming.

I think there's a difference between letting your dog off leash and being able to control your dog off leash. I'll let Wyatt, a purebred (pictured), off-leash only in a controlled environment where I can let him run with no fear of escape and no need to control him. He is exceptionally well-behaved at home, and on a long leash you would think he can recall reliably, but when that leash is gone and wide open spaces call he's suddenly deaf to all else. Full tilt running and exploring trumps everything else. Every other husky I've ever met has been the same way. Oh, they may come back eventually, especially if there is another dog who doesn't stray too far, but obey and recall off leash at freedom over the age of 3? I haven't seen that happen.

Crosses seem to be a different matter. I've had two crosses in my life - Scout (pictured) is half german shepherd, and I also had a husky corgi cross (think coyote with short legs!). Scout is the quintessential german shepherd in his obedience behaviour and desire to be with his people above all else and can be trusted off leash almost anywhere. The corgi cross was a notorious runner when I got her, but she actually improved to the point where she would be trusted off leash anywhere.

[AttilaVikingsDemon]

I would never have ours off-leash, not worth what COULD happen, and no matter how much training and schooling they have had, it only takes once and one bad thing to happen that once-would you take that chance? For us the answer is an emphatic 'no'-we love him too much to risk something that is avoidable.

[innocenti]

got to be a no from me ... a farmer not too far from me shoots dogs ...not worth the risk .... 100ft garden ..6ft fence.. plenty of space to run around if NEO chooses to ... 50ft leash for walks ..

[RyanSitko]

It is possible to do, my husky has just turned 2 a few months ago and Ive been working with her on recalls for the past year. I started out calling her and running backwards so she would chase me and when she got to me I'd reward her with a cracker. Eventually i would let her out in the backyard and every 5-10 minutes I'd call her and reward her again with a cracker. As she got better and more consistent with coming to me i gave her a treat less often but still showed affection every time. I just took my dog off leash for the first time a few weeks ago without having her in a fenced in area.

I do have back-up though because if my Husky doesn't come the first time i call her my Lab will make sure she listens to me. Anyways, here's a short video:

[Dunc]

It is possible to do, my husky has just turned 2 a few months ago and Ive been working with her on recalls for the past year. I started out calling her and running backwards so she would chase me and when she got to me I'd reward her with a cracker. Eventually i would let her out in the backyard and every 5-10 minutes I'd call her and reward her again with a cracker. As she got better and more consistent with coming to me i gave her a treat less often but still showed affection every time. I just took my dog off leash for the first time a few weeks ago without having her in a fenced in area.

I do have back-up though because if my Husky doesn't come the first time i call her my Lab will make sure she listens to me. Anyways, here's a short video:

Just wait till that cracker or treat is a big fat sheep it wont work then

[scuuby]

i take marley to work with me and from day 1 that i got him i didnt want him to be on the lead all day whilst im at work (ive got my own workshop) he knows his boundries where hes aloud and NOT aloud (outside without me) he'll happily sit/lay in the door way and even the cat thats next door doesnt phase him! but thats the way hes been brought up. daisy on the other hand stays at home with my partner as she cant be trusted!!

[Removed #5]

It is possible to do, my husky has just turned 2 a few months ago and Ive been working with her on recalls for the past year. I started out calling her and running backwards so she would chase me and when she got to me I'd reward her with a cracker. Eventually i would let her out in the backyard and every 5-10 minutes I'd call her and reward her again with a cracker. As she got better and more consistent with coming to me i gave her a treat less often but still showed affection every time. I just took my dog off leash for the first time a few weeks ago without having her in a fenced in area.

I do have back-up though because if my Husky doesn't come the first time i call her my Lab will make sure she listens to me. Anyways, here's a short video:

Like the vid, she looks like she's making up her mind about coming back but all in all didn't have too hard a time getting there. I've been working with Misty to come back when I call - my problem is that she can wander so far that if the wind isn't blowing in the right direction she may not hear me (( or it may just be selective hearing ?? ))

[KSNS]

every one know how i have sakari offlead people dont have to agree just dont tell me how to do it lol

[RyanSitko]

Like the vid, she looks like she's making up her mind about coming back but all in all didn't have too hard a time getting there. I've been working with Misty to come back when I call - my problem is that she can wander so far that if the wind isn't blowing in the right direction she may not hear me (( or it may just be selective hearing ?? ))

I dont let her get that far away, the farthest she gets away right now is about 100 yards because i just started the off leash

[Sideways Steve]

Yes from us. Qilaq is always off lead unless in a busy place with loads of people or if there are roads nearby.

You could argue all day long about how thy should never be let off etc but at the end of the day a husky is still a dog and any dog can be trained to be walked off the lead. We sometimes walk with 3 other husky owners locally who also let theirs off lead and even our dog walker walks two other huskies that are always off lead. I know people with beagles and they run off all the time. Qilaq ran off once to chase a pigeon. I simply stayed exactly where he left me and sure enough a few moments later he reappeared. He only wet after the pigeon after looking at me first and waiting till I told him to "go get it" lol

As I said though you do have to use some common sense before letting any dog off it's lead. Dont go trying to let a husky off while walking through a field with cows grazing for example ! Lol

[Bec]

Oh, they may come back eventually, especially if there is another dog who doesn't stray too far, but obey and recall off leash at freedom over the age of 3? I haven't seen that happen.

I have on more than one occasion.

I don't think everyone should let their Sibes off leash and I would never tell anyone that they should but I think it's ridiculous to say that they can never be reliable - especially due to prey drive. IMO the more prey drive a dog has the better their recall can be if you understand how to use that to your advantage.

I think it depends on the knowledge of the owner, the kind of training they implement and how they do it.

[Ravenwolf]

I think it depends on the knowledge of the owner, the kind of training they implement and how they do it.

I gotta say, that sounds like I'm being called out a little! I'm no professional by any means, but any professional I've spoken with (and one of my friends is a professional who works closely with other professionals) will respond with "train - yes. Trust - no." As AttilaVikingsDemon demon said - it's just not worth the risk. That's my opinion.

There are exceptions to every rule - not every dog adheres to the characteristics of their breed - but I'm still damned confident that it is the norm for huskies to be inconsistent at best, downright deaf at worse, off leash. If someone gets that rare husky who is totally reliable, or is that amazing a trainer, then good for them. They are fortunate to be able to let their dogs run free anywhere and I'm glad they can enjoy it.

It is possible to do, my husky has just turned 2 a few months ago and Ive been working with her on recalls for the past year.

Your video is impressive to be sure, and kudos for your hard work and training! In the interests of proving or disproving my theory though, I would love it if you could post again in one year's time and report back on how well she still recalls with other distractions and no fences.

[RyanSitko]

I will keep everyone posted on her Mayas progress, i sure hope to keep her with the same recall training that shes at now because she has the most fun running free and going where she pleases. This is my first Husky though so im not sure how she will act with her later years.

[Bec]

I gotta say, that sounds like I'm being called out a little! I'm no professional by any means, but any professional I've spoken with (and one of my friends is a professional who works closely with other professionals) will respond with "train - yes. Trust - no." As AttilaVikingsDemon demon said - it's just not worth the risk. That's my opinion.

Not calling anyone out, I'm just saying that I disagree

I work for a professional behaviourist and trainer and he is yet to meet a dog that hasn't been able to learn a reliable recall regardless of age or breed. We specialise in drive training and have a lot of clients with dogs that are very highly prey driven who previously blew off anything to chase rabbits/live prey who have been able to learn to recall and that goes for Sibes too.

[Sid_Wolf]

@Bec i'll pay for your flights, come and teach my lot, well, me! Kiras prey drive is MASSIVE, and i never unclip the lead unless we're at the dog park

All of my dogs have excellent recall at the park, but they do know when they are actually free, I let grey off near the river, but it is enclosed one side, river the other, and a good way to roads both other ways, and they are not busy roads, he tends to spend most of the time in and out of the river

If we are going somewhere where i'd prefer to have an offleash dog I take my MILs dog, Buster, he's a staffy x beagle and has 100% recall, like today, me and @James are going to the beach, but since its nice weather it may be busy so I dont want to take one of mine on a long lead, cus they will end up decapitiating a child or something! So I'm taking Buster instead, I wouldnt risk one of my lot being off at the beach, too many distractions and theres only a small flood wall seperating the promenade and the main road

[Bec]

LMAO SW deal! Or you come visit me!!

[Sid_Wolf]

but then i'd have to put 3 dogs in quarentine tis better if u come here

[Bec]

but then i'd have to put 3 dogs in quarentine tis better if u come here

I'm sure I could find some dogs for you to work here if you want to visit! LOL!

[Sid_Wolf]

I would love to, Oz is one of the places on my 'to go to' list, maybe once i've saved up enough i'll give you a bell and head over lmao

[Storm Angel n Auroras Mum]

I will never risk my dogs, whatever anyone says. Nor will I ever suggest anyone do it, or pretend I think its fine to do so.

I will echo what I wrote a while back "it's your dog, your choice and yet NOT your life at risk"

[Bec]

I will never risk my dogs, whatever anyone says. Nor will I ever suggest anyone do it, or pretend I think its fine to do so.

I will echo what I wrote a while back "it's your dog, your choice and yet NOT your life at risk"

At what point in training does the "risk" factor become minimal enough that you think it's ok for anyone to let any dog off leash? Or maybe we should keep all dogs on leash regardless of their breed forever.

I wouldn't tell anyone let their dog off leash via an internet forum and in the vast majority of cases on this forum I think people ARE taking too high a risk letting their dogs off leash (for various reasons) however at the end of the day I find it insulting that people would insinuate that anyone who lets their dog off leash regardless of how well trained their are, is taking a careless and selfish risk with their dog. I guess that would mean every time I enter an obedience or agility competition or have my dogs off leash for training I'm also taking an unnecessary and selfish risk with my dogs too. How boring would their lives be if they didn't get to do those activities with me?

[Storm Angel n Auroras Mum]

t

At what point in training does the "risk" factor become minimal enough that you think it's ok for anyone to let any dog off leash? Or maybe we should keep all dogs on leash regardless of their breed forever.

I wouldn't tell anyone let their dog off leash via an internet forum and in the vast majority of cases on this forum I think people ARE taking too high a risk letting their dogs off leash (for various reasons) however at the end of the day I find it insulting that people would insinuate that anyone who lets their dog off leash regardless of how well trained their are, is taking a careless and selfish risk with their dog. I guess that would mean every time I enter an obedience or agility competition or have my dogs off leash for training I'm also taking an unnecessary and selfish risk with my dogs too. How boring would their lives be if they didn't get to do those activities with me?

to be quite honest 90% of the people who let their dogs off shouldnt. Im fed up with hearing my friends dogs have been attacked by offlead dogs. IMO (which I am entitled to) no dog should be offlead in a public area or unsecure area. But a dog is a dog and it has its own ideas and nomatter how well trained it is it may one day decide to act on its natural instincts. Only the other month someone joined here with the sad story of their dog who was hit by a car - while it was offlead. If that isnt a risk I dont know what is. We could argue about this till we are blue in the face. We often disagree with a lot of things anyway, so I think we need to agree on the fact that we both have very different opinions on a lot of things.

[Bec]

t

to be quite honest 90% of the people who let their dogs off shouldnt. Im fed up with hearing my friends dogs have been attacked by offlead dogs. IMO (which I am entitled to) no dog should be offlead in a public area or unsecure area. But a dog is a dog and it has its own ideas and nomatter how well trained it is it may one day decide to act on its natural instincts. Only the other month someone joined here with the sad story of their dog who was hit by a car - while it was offlead. If that isnt a risk I dont know what is. We could argue about this till we are blue in the face. We often disagree with a lot of things anyway, so I think we need to agree on the fact that we both have very different opinions on a lot of things.

I have a dog who is fear aggressive to other dogs, so no-one hates off leash dogs that aren't under effective control more than I do.

However to say NO dog should ever be off leash is simply unfair, the last thing we as dog owners need are more restrictions placed upon what we can and can't do with our dogs. And if you bought in restrictions like that, how would you run obedience or agility trials or any other dog sports if the dogs can never be off leash??

Of course you are entitled to your own opinion, but I'd hope that any of us could do so without personally insulting others and to be quite honest, I find the insinuation that I unnecessarily risk my dogs lives by having them off leash insulting. JMO

I had my youngest dog off leash (shock horror) in a big open field the other day, she started chasing after a flock of ducks quite a distance from me and was right up on them when I recalled her, she spun around and raced towards me instantly. She almost fell over turning around so fast to come back to me. A lot of people don't understand how a dog's brain and instincts work and that's fine, I am the first to tell people not to let their dogs off leash if they can't be SURE they are capable of recalling away from high distractions like a rabbit running past. But to say it can't be done is simply untrue.