MY #1 TIP FOR HIKING OFF LEASH
Are you ready for my groundbreaking tip for hiking responsibly* off leash? BE CONSISTENT. Crazy, right? Hear me out.
Here are five ways that consistency can improve your dog’s recall and foster off leash reliability:
If you consistently limit your dog to the same perimeter around you, they will learn to stay within those boundaries.
Everyone is going to have slightly different expectations, but consistently enforcing boundaries is what really matters. For me, I limit my dogs to ~10 yds ahead of or behind me, and ~6 ft on either side of me. Why these parameters?I want them to be able to hear me without having to raise my voice
I want to be able to recall them quickly should we run into another hiker
I want them to stay on trail to preserve vegetation and prevent erosion
I want to be able to manage them should we run into wildlife
If you consistently recall your dog as soon as you see a person or dog approaching, they will learn to recall automatically when they see, hear, or smell someone up ahead.
Dogs are SO smart and most will do whatever they can to expedite getting to a reward. If you consistently call your dog back when you see someone, they will catch on quickly to the unspoken signal- person equals recall equals reward -and they will skip from point A to point C.If you consistently enforce recalls, they will learn that recalls are non-negotiable.
HOW you enforce your recall is up to you, but I’ll tell you one thing - it’s impossible to hold a dog accountable without a leash and/or e collar. Your dog’s recall may be amazing, but if you don’t have a leash and/or properly conditioned e collar on them, there’s no way to hold them accountable should something happen that causes them to act outside of their norm (injury, animal attack, extreme weather, gun shots, etc.).If you consistently reward your dog for recalling, they will find a lot of value in the recall and they will recall even when you DON’T have a reward for them.
As you progress through training, yes, you should switch to a variable schedule of rewards. BUT, if you’re just starting out - reward, reward, reward. Build value in the recall by using whatever your dog finds most rewarding - food, toys, praise, etc. For most dogs, simply releasing them back out to freedom is rewarding, but start with rewards that come directly from you to ensure your dog has a clear understanding of the behavior. When you switch to a variable schedule, make sure you still make it worth their while sometimes. You want your dog to be a gambler and keep them guessing if today is the day that they’ll get a bomb-ass reward.If you hike consistently, they’ll learn to be better hikers!
Just like any skill, hiking off leash takes lots of practice. If needed, start in a private off leash area like a sniff spot rental. Use All Trails to find trails that have minimal traffic. Gauge the amount of people on the trail by the number of cars at the trailhead and prepare to keep a leash on if there are more people than expected. Above all, get out and hike as much as possible.
Have you found consistency to be helpful in fostering off leash reliability? Let me know in the comments below!
*Disclaimer about off leash hiking: Don’t be an asshole. When considering hiking off leash, ask yourself these questions - Is your dog’s recall perfect or close to it? Even around wildlife? Can you prevent them from approaching another person or dog? If necessary, can you keep them close enough that you can reach out and touch them at all times? Can you prevent them from walking around blind corners without you? Are you respectful of the intent behind leash laws (to prevent harm, to protect people / dogs / wildlife / livestock / vegetation, etc.)? Are you prepared and willing to leash up if necessary? Be respectful, leave no trace, make good decisions, and don’t be the person who gives off leash dogs a bad rap.