Dog Owner Chat!

[woofers.]

This is a thread where we can talk about dogs and dog related things. Please keep topics appropriate, after all, this is a kids site.

[puppylove94376]

I think it's cool to have a place to talk about your dogs. My dogs, Haley, May, Sadie, Zack, Lucy, and Pond have a lot of space to play in. People have been telling me that's too many dogs, but our neighborhood has twenty houses and is on a plot of land for about seventy, so everyone has HUGE yards. We live in the country-suburbs, so we get lots of land and convenience of stores. Each summer my husband and pets and I visit my parents at their massive barn deep in the country for the whole summer. My animals LOVE this. If you look at my post called 'National Animal Month' I have their little biographies if you want to know more about my pets. I haven't had a chance to put Zack's up there yet though.

[HorseLover!]

You wouldn't know how to train my 5 year old westie to walk without a leash?He doesn't like to eat treats on a walk.

[puppylove94376]

Why do you not want him to walk on a leash? I think a leash is best because if he sees another dog or animal he couldn't go running after it. I have never trained any of my dogs to walk off leash. Some of them could, but I think it is safer to keep them leashed.

[Jazi]

You wouldn't know how to train my 5 year old westie to walk without a leash?He doesn't like to eat treats on a walk.

Depending on where you are, that might not be legal. You should check your local leash laws before trying anything; here it's a $300 fine if you're caught off your property with an unrestrained dog. I also wouldn't recommend walking without a leash if you live near highways, busy streets, or around farms. People don't look for dogs, and the last thing you want to have happen is for them to see your dog at the last second and not be able to stop. Livestock can seriously injure a dog not trained to herd, and farmers here are allowed to shoot any dog harassing their animals (might differ where you are, like I said). If you're young enough to still be living with your parents and he's a family dog, definitely talk to them before trying anything. Just because he might be capable of walking off leash doesn't mean you won't catch it if you've been told not to try and are caught.

The key to walking without a leash is for your dog to obey you. If he doesn't want to come when he's called in the house or yard, don't trust him off a leash. He needs to come the first time every time, and he needs to have "leave it" and "drop it" commands down pat, with AND without distractions. If he struggles with any of those, he'll need additional training or just to be left on a leash. Also remember you have to watch the dog a lot more if he's not leashed because he's not tethered to you and is more likely to leave your side.

[puppylove94376]

You took the words out of my mouth! I would strongly insist that you ALWAYS have a leash on your dog for the safety or you, your dog, animal your dog might go after, or other people! Laws or rules your neighborhood has may restrict walking your dog without a leash, so make sure to check those out too!