raindog Posted October 2, 2011 Report Share Posted October 2, 2011 I understand your passion Bec, and I respect your ability and knowledge as a trainer. My problem is that the vast majority of people who own huskies in the UK and let them offlead in unenclosed areas are not, like you, experienced trainers who understand canine instincts and the appropriate training methods to use for Siberian Huskies, but ignorant or naive people who are actually pretty much completely clueless about the breed. When they hear someone like you stating that Huskies can be let offlead, they don't hear the caveats about the intensive training necessary, just that they are OK to be let offlead and that is what leads to hundreds of husky deaths offlead each year. As Louise pointed out, the vast majority of people who let their dogs (of any breed) offlead shouldn't do so as their dogs' recall isn't reliable enough. To do it with Huskies is even more of an uneccessary risk. BTW - it isn't just about prey drive with huskies - probably more significant is the Siberian Husky's intelligence and capability of independent thought, which in conjunction with their prey drive makes offlead "trust" a frighteningly dodgy prospect. I also think that Agility and Obedience "work" is qualitatively very different from just casual offlead walking. A Husky in working mode (whether that "work" is running in harness, agility or obedience) is much more focussed and much less likely to be distracted by prey than a husky on a casual walk. Mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunc Posted October 2, 2011 Report Share Posted October 2, 2011 I understand your passion Bec, and I respect your ability and knowledge as a trainer. My problem is that the vast majority of people who own huskies in the UK and let them offlead in unenclosed areas are not, like you, experienced trainers who understand canine instincts and the appropriate training methods to use for Siberian Huskies, but ignorant or naive people who are actually pretty much completely clueless about the breed. When they hear someone like you stating that Huskies can be let offlead, they don't hear the caveats about the intensive training necessary, just that they are OK to be let offlead and that is what leads to hundreds of husky deaths offlead each year. As Louise pointed out, the vast majority of people who let their dogs (of any breed) offlead shouldn't do so as their dogs' recall isn't reliable enough. To do it with Huskies is even more of an uneccessary risk. BTW - it isn't just about prey drive with huskies - probably more significant is the Siberian Husky's intelligence and capability of independent thought, which in conjunction with their prey drive makes offlead "trust" a frighteningly dodgy prospect. I also think that Agility and Obedience "work" is qualitatively very different from just casual offlead walking. A Husky in working mode (whether that "work" is running in harness, agility or obedience) is much more focussed and much less likely to be distracted by prey than a husky on a casual walk. Mick Great reply Mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted October 2, 2011 Report Share Posted October 2, 2011 Great reply Mick is it ever not lol? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bec Posted October 2, 2011 Report Share Posted October 2, 2011 I understand your passion Bec, and I respect your ability and knowledge as a trainer. My problem is that the vast majority of people who own huskies in the UK and let them offlead in unenclosed areas are not, like you, experienced trainers who understand canine instincts and the appropriate training methods to use for Siberian Huskies, but ignorant or naive people who are actually pretty much completely clueless about the breed. When they hear someone like you stating that Huskies can be let offlead, they don't hear the caveats about the intensive training necessary, just that they are OK to be let offlead and that is what leads to hundreds of husky deaths offlead each year. As Louise pointed out, the vast majority of people who let their dogs (of any breed) offlead shouldn't do so as their dogs' recall isn't reliable enough. To do it with Huskies is even more of an uneccessary risk. BTW - it isn't just about prey drive with huskies - probably more significant is the Siberian Husky's intelligence and capability of independent thought, which in conjunction with their prey drive makes offlead "trust" a frighteningly dodgy prospect. I also think that Agility and Obedience "work" is qualitatively very different from just casual offlead walking. A Husky in working mode (whether that "work" is running in harness, agility or obedience) is much more focussed and much less likely to be distracted by prey than a husky on a casual walk. Mick I get where you are coming from Mick but you know what - if someone is so stupid as to misinterpret my posts that severely (as if I am saying 'let all your dogs off leash! just do it! with no thought to training them!') they are honestly the kind of idiots who would do it anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raindog Posted October 3, 2011 Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 I get where you are coming from Mick but you know what - if someone is so stupid as to misinterpret my posts that severely (as if I am saying 'let all your dogs off leash! just do it! with no thought to training them!') they are honestly the kind of idiots who would do it anyway. Frighteningly - you are probably right!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightsiber Posted October 3, 2011 Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 :kimba2:Hi when we first got luna we was worried about letting her off as we had heard and read that huskys are prone to not come back, so we got talking to other dog owners of different breeds and one owner of a golden retriever said to let luna off around his dog as she will probably just play with him, so we did and she happily chased and run with his dog, and we then started allowing her off more often and playing with other dogs in the park, we now always let her off and she runs from one end of the park to the other, lately she has been alone in there and she then tends to wander more, so we keep her on leash when there is no other dogs to distract her, but i believe letting her off has helped her socialise with other dogs, she plays really well with them, i personally think its how you train them, dont worry too much about what the books say, go by your own dog, you know them best. This mirrors my experience. Maya is only just over 6 months so may well change, but I have walked her off lead with other dogs ever since I had her. She is far more interested in playing than running whether we're in woods or an open field. She is also very food motivated so her recall is very good. Much better than many dogs of other breeds that we walk with. I put her on lead more often if she's on her own. I'm watching her closely for changes in behaviour, but so far so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Angel n Auroras Mum Posted October 3, 2011 Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 I get where you are coming from Mick but you know what - if someone is so stupid as to misinterpret my posts that severely (as if I am saying 'let all your dogs off leash! just do it! with no thought to training them!') they are honestly the kind of idiots who would do it anyway. I hope you are not calling me an idiot! I never once said that! But people see others doing it and copy, without putting in the training like you have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiritualearthangel Posted October 3, 2011 Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 i wanted to share a story, years ago when i was little my family was driving on our way to a camper site in scotland in the uk, and one day suddelnly my dad slammed hard on the brakes and we all went flying forward ( back then there was no seat belt law), and a dog had ran out into the road, BUT on gettin out to have a look the dog had been with two girls who was actually walking their neighbours dog, this dog had sat at the cerbside on lead, and for no apparent reason bitten the girl holding the leash to which she let go, and you guessed it the dog ran into the road... it wasnt a pretty site for me either as a 9 yr old, but on reading the posts here i just want to make a point that even dogs on leashes can be also injured cos of there unpredicted behaviour. I do let my husky off lead but only if she has a doggy friend in the park, our park has gates that are closed before we let her off, also i make note of her behaviour she is showing, and many a time choose to go into the tennis courts instead.. It s the owners decision , if they let their dog off and it gets injured then its them who has to live with that. I jus wanted people to see that accidents can also happen on leash.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bec Posted October 3, 2011 Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 I hope you are not calling me an idiot! I never once said that! But people see others doing it and copy, without putting in the training like you have. No? Goodness, I was saying that anyone who did what Mick described (letting their dogs off leash without any training especially after reading on a forum that people said they'd do it after extensive training) was the kind of idiot who would risk their dogs regardless of what they read or saw on an internet forum. Those kinds of people are stupid and would let their dogs off leash regardless if they saw someone else doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Angel n Auroras Mum Posted October 3, 2011 Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 No? Goodness, I was saying that anyone who did what Mick described (letting their dogs off leash without any training especially after reading on a forum that people said they'd do it after extensive training) was the kind of idiot who would risk their dogs regardless of what they read or saw on an internet forum. Those kinds of people are stupid and would let their dogs off leash regardless if they saw someone else doing it. oops sorry, lol must have misread your post!! yes that statement I do agree with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzlin Posted October 3, 2011 Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 Bec What behaviourist do you work for as i would like to ask a question off forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indy Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 Indy is offlead 60% off the time but I am forever calling her to stay with in close range Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bec Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 Dazzlin, shoot me a PM sorry having trouble doing it myself on my iPhone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzlin Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 Bec sent you a pm thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siberian Shadow Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Enclosed area only for me. I am so lucky to have access to a large enclosed sports astro turf which is fab for the dogs to run in. It really shows their instinct to run kick in and then they realise that they can't get out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Cameron Posted October 8, 2011 Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 I voted yes and no. I can leave Sky off anywhere but tend not to as Wolf can't be trusted except on one field we visit. I also don't think it is right to have them off leash in wildlife areas, Wolf has such a high prey drive and I wouldn't want him to kill anything or get injured trying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KayleighFayle Posted October 9, 2011 Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 I voted no considering the fact i live in the isle of man and there is no such thing as dog parks that are fully enclosed and its quite impossible to find somewhere that is without it being private property. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charley Posted October 9, 2011 Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 We tried Millie off lead for the first time at the weekend (husky camp) and she did really well! Was only off lead for maximum of 5 mins but very impressed with her behaviour! I think in certain circumstances off lead can be ok but wouldn't consider it at home or in our local park Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sleepys13 Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 Suki is only off lead at dog parks that are enclosed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob & Juno Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 I never trust mine off lead, for safety most of all, this just happened just a few weeks ago to a family about an hour from my house..... PARMA, Ohio A Parma family is mourning a death instead of celebrating a birthday after a senseless crime committed against the family dog. "Diesel's birthday is today, he was to be one," cries Kimberly Coe. "He was very outgoing. He loved his family, and he loved to be outdoors." According to the Kaiser family, Diesel, an 11-month-old Huskie, went missing early Saturday morning after discovering a deer in the backyard. "I was like come on. And he heard a noise from back there and just took off. I booked it after him but I lost him in the woods and I freaked out," said Coe. So, the whole Kaiser family became a search party. Almost four hours later, Diesel's body was discovered less than a mile away from home. "They laid him in a tree lawn outside the church on State Road where we thought at that point he had been hit by a car," said Coe. But instead, the family says Diesel was shot in the head. "It was a 22-caliber gun, it went up through his neck and clipped his jugular and out through his mouth," said Bob Kaiser. The Kaiser's took Diesel to a nearby animal hospital, where they say the vet reported Diesel was also shot in the leg. "It wasn't a fast death, it was actually a slow, painful ordeal to go through," said Kaiser. While the family tries to heal, they want the public's help in finding out who did this. You feel safe in your home. Parma is home. But, to know that within a mile half a mile, someone shot an innocent dog, it's scary," said Karen Kaiser. Anyone with information is asked to call Parma Police Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allieapplesauce Posted October 14, 2011 Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 Our husky is 8mo old and she does great off leash. Her parents never went on the leash either said the owners and we saw them take mom and dad out to pee without a leash. Molly went camping with us a few months ago and loved running on the trail. I don't let her off where she can run into the street or anything. I don't trust her THAT much! I'm new by the way. Just came across this forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravenwolf Posted October 14, 2011 Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 Our husky is 8mo old and she does great off leash. Her parents never went on the leash either said the owners and we saw them take mom and dad out to pee without a leash. Molly went camping with us a few months ago and loved running on the trail. I don't let her off where she can run into the street or anything. I don't trust her THAT much! I'm new by the way. Just came across this forum. Welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samantha-jayne Posted October 17, 2011 Report Share Posted October 17, 2011 where we live we have no dog parks at all, its shocking! there are plenty of places to put them but no resources, we can let kaylo off the lead if we no there arent to many distractions but not in the main park where there is small animals and kids he loves to play and steal footballs, seems to think every child wants to play, his recall is good but sometimes he chooses to ignore us, so i agree that it depends on how well you know and trust your dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pupelvr Posted October 17, 2011 Report Share Posted October 17, 2011 I am making a goal with our husky to trust him when he is of the lead. I know he is only 3 months and he doesn't know he can run away from us yet, so this is why we are starting early. We only let him off the lead when he is at First Landing State Park (A Wooded Trail Park) and at the beach. Though, when I say he is off the lead he keep the leash on him, but don't hold onto it. It is a just in case he does try to run, we can run after him and step on the lead. But so far, he has been good, which is great. Lets just hope he can trust us enough to not run away, and then in return we can trust him in not running away from us!! LOL Trust is key when letting your husky off the lead!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Andrea~ Posted October 17, 2011 Report Share Posted October 17, 2011 I originally voted no, but my partner has been very successful with training Zeus off the lead. It has to be in certain areas and we've only just started, but he's doing very well. What we do is play hide and seek with him, emphasizing that he needs to always find us and so far its worked quite well (also getting him to chase you works well too). He still wants to run off when other dogs are around and we can't let him off lead at all times, but so far we're pretty happy with how well he is doing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.