Train not to run off when off leash - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Christinee · 10-20-2013, 10:05 PM

How can I train Charlie that he can't run off if he's not on a leash. I'd like to know that he knows not to. Or like when I took him to the dog beach. All the other dogs were running around off of their leash having fun, Theri owners were near throwing frisbees for them or just watching them play. They knew their dogs weren't going to run off. I don't know that with Charlie, How do I start training him so I do know?

cummins · 10-21-2013, 03:27 AM

I would be interested to know this also

rubymoon2072 · 10-21-2013, 06:19 AM

Honestly I'm not sure I would ever fully trust Cedric off the leash. And don't get me wrong he will obey and listen when off the leash but the challenge would be when he saw a squirrel....I'm to afraid he would not listen no matter how well trained. So that is why pretty much I don't allow him to be off the leash when we walk in our yard. He's only 2 right now so maybe a few years down the road.

ritapatt · 10-21-2013, 12:24 PM

No amount of training will ever make me trust Ziva (4 yo) off leash (oh that girl can run!) Abby(2yo) not a problem!

Britster · 10-21-2013, 01:19 PM

I think always remember they are terriers first and foremost. So do not set them up for failure. Jackson is very well trained, but I don't think I'd ever let him off leash in a highly wooded area where there may be lots of squirrels, smells, etc. And of course no roads etc. I only allow him off leash at certain types of beaches, and sometimes at my moms house or dads house which has lots of land and no close roads. He is pretty apt to stick by, but if there is something more interesting, he will not hesitate to venture off so I still never fully trust him.

I start with a 50ft long leash (I got one at petsmart pretty cheap) and work on recall a LOT... let them explore, long distances as if they're off leash, and then use the best treats and call him back to me, then let him go play again. He learns that I am always a source of good and don't call him and then immediately leash him up to leave or go inside.

There is a couple good youtube videos on this:

user pamelamarxsen has a lot of recall videos, here is one

Off Leash dog Training - "Go Play" Game -...

Zakgeorge21 as well

Do you want your dog to stay with you off leash?...

How to Train Your Dog to NOT RUN AWAY! - YouTube

Check out kikopup as well. Great training videos.

JunesMum · 10-21-2013, 03:16 PM

A friend of mine has a 4 year old yorkie boy who is always off leash. We live in downtown Toronto and there are a lot of things to distract him (squirrels, pigeons, other dogs, people, cars and roads EVERYWHERE), but he's so well trained that he sticks by and only goes to check things out when he's told he can. You can actually see him looking up at his owner every few moments to see what he should be doing and where he should be going. It's remarkable, to say the least!

I'm currently training June the basics of off-leashing, though I don't really intend to ever let him off leash. He's a terribly reactive barker towards all other dogs so I wouldn't trust him off leash - I just want a good walker! My approach is to teach him that he's to be right beside my right foot at all times unless I tell him otherwise. I'm working on training June "Go see" to let him know he can go off and "back" to let him know I want him right back beside my right foot. We've been working on it for about three weeks. It's a slow process for us because I got June at 6 yrs and with no previous obedience training, but if you're consistent you should see progress.

To teach June I wanted him to always be by my right foot I would keep him on a short leash and stick my foot out to block his path every time he tried to walk ahead and give him a verbal command at the same time (so for me I would say back). If he managed to get ahead of me before I can block his path with my foot (as it does take some coordination while walking) then I would immediately stop walking and give him the 'back' command. If he's really not getting it you can lower the leash down to his eye level and tug it GENTLY while saying 'back'. You don't want to pull him, you want him to move himself to where he's supposed to be. I find that June naturally seems to understand that he should follow the line of the leash so that's how I got him to understand I wanted him to come back to my side. Teaching them they can go off is easier. Anytime June caught a scent and wanted to go sniffing I would tell him to stay back for a few moments and then say "Ok smell" or "Ok go see".

So if you can master having him right at your side and, as Britster said, if you can also master recall then you should have a yorkie that stays by your side, goes off when you let him/her, and comes back when recalled. I feel like I really didn't do a very good job of explaining all of this... but this is way too long already.

Lovetodream88 · 10-22-2013, 03:59 PM

My yorkie is extremely smart but I would never ever want her off leash unless she was in a fenced in area. Yorkie's are ratters and even the best trained dogs will go with there instincts over there training sometimes. There is also the possibility of another dog attacking your dog and you not being close enough to save them or what if someone just picks them up and takes them. If you want you dog to be able to play in the water get a flexi leash for that. When your dog is on a leash and wearing a harness you can snatch them up quickly and with out hurting them in emergency situations but you can't do that when there running free. I would be devastated if I let Callie out off leash and then she got hit by a car, lost chasing something, stolen or attacked by another dog because I would know it was my fault for not keeping her close and on a leash.

mjg · 10-23-2013, 03:36 PM

It is so interesting and useful to read these comments! We have a 2 year old Yorkie (rescued at 18 months). She is such a doll but obviously not trained and we have come a long way. We have an older terrier mix (65 lbs) who goes off leash all the time and is very obedient. Little bit here still goes ballistic over squirrels, cats and other dogs (we've improved with people and birds) so I've always felt like she could never be off leash.

Then, two weeks ago, she slipped out of the house when we were leaving and ran like the wind. We chased her (I know you're not supposed to chase, but omg, total panic, and she would have been gone) for about 2 miles to a highway (where we ran into the street with our arms in the air) and then finally got her when she ran into a fenced yard. No treats or games or anything could get her to stop. She's got a collar and a microchip, but we'll pretty much never let her off leash and will do what we can to make sure that never happens again (if anyone has suggestions for that, I'm open, lol)!

Good luck to you, maybe you can train your little one like JanesMum's friend! That would be awesome!

ritapatt · 10-23-2013, 04:18 PM

(if anyone has suggestions for that, I'm open, lol)!

With 5 people in our house I can never quite trust Ziva, she can be such a sneak-er. I bought two sets of self standing wooden barrier gates and barricaded the front door. It is a pain and my boys complain but if we follow procedure it is safer. We hang bells (we keep them on a hook next to the door)on the garage door to let everyone know if the overhead door is open.

dawn27 · 10-23-2013, 07:28 PM

I've trained all four of mine to be off leash with me. I started with them when they were young. Before you even consider training off leash you must first be sure that your pup knows their name and is trained to (come, sit and stay) on command. No ifs and or but about it, they must come to you when called.

When training them I first use the method of umbilical cord/leash training out in the yard teaching them their boundaries. We would walk the perimeter of the yard over and over and over again making them sit and stay every 4-5 yards. Give them a pat on the head and a "good job" and right back to it.

After I was able to get them to walk with me doing that off leash that we went on to teaching them to stay in the yard and not to go beyond those boundaries. We started with training them to stay in the yard on the leash and worked our way to off leash. You sort of have to trick them into thinking they are aloud to go into the road and just when they get to the edge of the yard I give the leash a firm tug and give them a firm "eh eh" "NO" and "BACK" !! Than make them sit and stay on command. I would also make them sit & stay than go into the road, walking back and forth as they sat and watched praising them the entire time reconfirming the stay command. I would even go across the road into the neighbors yard watching them the entire time making sure they did not enter the road. If I saw that they were getting too anxious I gave a quick and firm "eh eh" "NO" and "BACK" I would than go back to them and praise them for not leaving the yard. Than once I was certain that they can be trusted I than started teaching them how far they are aloud to be away from me by allowing them to explore on their own and once they have reach the boundaries I call them back to me by using the command "Here Now" and they come right back to me until I tell them they can go again.

It is so nice to have well trained pups, we really enjoyed our outdoor time together. That was until the neighbors decided to become stray cat hoarders and now there are too many cats around our house to be able to take them out. Teaching them Not to chaise the cats is a whole new and probably impossible feat. They have been anxiously waiting to get a hold of one of them for the past two years.

So I would strongly suggest that you also find a way to teach them to not be so willing to chaise cats, squirrels and other types of small animals. So, whatever you do be sure that you are completely confident that your pup will COME when called. IF not you could put your pup at risk of being harmed.

Hope this helps !!

Princess keke · 10-24-2013, 01:09 PM

I have Honey trained to do this but I wasn't trying to. I use to take her outside off her leash and every time she goes to far I tell her to come back. When she comes right by me I tell her good job. Now when we are outside I can just let her run but if she gets to far a head she will stop and wait on me or just run back to me.

yorkiemini · 10-24-2013, 03:05 PM

When Cali was in service dog school for all those months they spent many, many hours and weeks with distraction exercises. (Yes, there were cats!)
When they moved from a leash to off leash work they would take a light weight leash clasp and tie some clear light weight fishing line to it. Then they would start working her by sending her off, but if she would get too friskie she would be surprised by the fishing line leash and it would sometimes catch her up short and it didn't take her long to decide whether she was really off leash or not.

I thought it was rather clever and when I take her someplace that I think may test her I get the fishing line leash out!

10-20-2013, 10:05 PM	#1
Christinee Donating YT Addict Join Date: May 2009 Location: Bellflower, Ca, USA Posts: 2,437	Train not to run off when off leash How can I train Charlie that he can't run off if he's not on a leash. I'd like to know that he knows not to. Or like when I took him to the dog beach. All the other dogs were running around off of their leash having fun, Theri owners were near throwing frisbees for them or just watching them play. They knew their dogs weren't going to run off. I don't know that with Charlie, How do I start training him so I do know?

10-21-2013, 06:19 AM	#3
rubymoon2072 Cedric♥Lola♥Keylo Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Gilford, NH, USA Posts: 9,209	Honestly I'm not sure I would ever fully trust Cedric off the leash. And don't get me wrong he will obey and listen when off the leash but the challenge would be when he saw a squirrel....I'm to afraid he would not listen no matter how well trained. So that is why pretty much I don't allow him to be off the leash when we walk in our yard. He's only 2 right now so maybe a few years down the road. __________________ Cedric N Lola N Keylo RIP Punkee Princess

10-22-2013, 03:59 PM	#7
Lovetodream88 Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md Posts: 23,247	My yorkie is extremely smart but I would never ever want her off leash unless she was in a fenced in area. Yorkie's are ratters and even the best trained dogs will go with there instincts over there training sometimes. There is also the possibility of another dog attacking your dog and you not being close enough to save them or what if someone just picks them up and takes them. If you want you dog to be able to play in the water get a flexi leash for that. When your dog is on a leash and wearing a harness you can snatch them up quickly and with out hurting them in emergency situations but you can't do that when there running free. I would be devastated if I let Callie out off leash and then she got hit by a car, lost chasing something, stolen or attacked by another dog because I would know it was my fault for not keeping her close and on a leash. __________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart!

10-23-2013, 07:28 PM	#10
dawn27 2+2=4 X the Love ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bean Town Ohio Posts: 9,456 Blog Entries: 1	I've trained all four of mine to be off leash with me. I started with them when they were young. Before you even consider training off leash you must first be sure that your pup knows their name and is trained to (come, sit and stay) on command. No ifs and or but about it, they must come to you when called. When training them I first use the method of umbilical cord/leash training out in the yard teaching them their boundaries. We would walk the perimeter of the yard over and over and over again making them sit and stay every 4-5 yards. Give them a pat on the head and a "good job" and right back to it. After I was able to get them to walk with me doing that off leash that we went on to teaching them to stay in the yard and not to go beyond those boundaries. We started with training them to stay in the yard on the leash and worked our way to off leash. You sort of have to trick them into thinking they are aloud to go into the road and just when they get to the edge of the yard I give the leash a firm tug and give them a firm "eh eh" "NO" and "BACK" !! Than make them sit and stay on command. I would also make them sit & stay than go into the road, walking back and forth as they sat and watched praising them the entire time reconfirming the stay command. I would even go across the road into the neighbors yard watching them the entire time making sure they did not enter the road. If I saw that they were getting too anxious I gave a quick and firm "eh eh" "NO" and "BACK" I would than go back to them and praise them for not leaving the yard. Than once I was certain that they can be trusted I than started teaching them how far they are aloud to be away from me by allowing them to explore on their own and once they have reach the boundaries I call them back to me by using the command "Here Now" and they come right back to me until I tell them they can go again. It is so nice to have well trained pups, we really enjoyed our outdoor time together. That was until the neighbors decided to become stray cat hoarders and now there are too many cats around our house to be able to take them out. Teaching them Not to chaise the cats is a whole new and probably impossible feat. They have been anxiously waiting to get a hold of one of them for the past two years. So I would strongly suggest that you also find a way to teach them to not be so willing to chaise cats, squirrels and other types of small animals. So, whatever you do be sure that you are completely confident that your pup will COME when called. IF not you could put your pup at risk of being harmed. Hope this helps !! __________________ Mommy to: Quincy, & Ruby Bella / Miah & Brandi Gone but Never Forgotten Visit: Bella Dawns for all of your Custom Pet Wear needs.

10-24-2013, 03:05 PM	#12
yorkiemini Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: USA Posts: 4,285	When Cali was in service dog school for all those months they spent many, many hours and weeks with distraction exercises. (Yes, there were cats!) When they moved from a leash to off leash work they would take a light weight leash clasp and tie some clear light weight fishing line to it. Then they would start working her by sending her off, but if she would get too friskie she would be surprised by the fishing line leash and it would sometimes catch her up short and it didn't take her long to decide whether she was really off leash or not. I thought it was rather clever and when I take her someplace that I think may test her I get the fishing line leash out! __________________ . Cali , and Cali's keeper and staff, Jay No, not a "mini" Yorkie - She loves to motor in her Mini Cooper car Last edited by yorkiemini; 10-24-2013 at 03:06 PM.

10-21-2013, 03:27 AM	#2
cummins YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Arcola Il Posts: 554 Blog Entries: 2	I would be interested to know this also

10-21-2013, 12:24 PM	#4
ritapatt YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Merritt Island,FL Posts: 1,400	No amount of training will ever make me trust Ziva (4 yo) off leash (oh that girl can run!) Abby(2yo) not a problem!

10-21-2013, 03:16 PM	#6
JunesMum Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Canada Posts: 18	A friend of mine has a 4 year old yorkie boy who is always off leash. We live in downtown Toronto and there are a lot of things to distract him (squirrels, pigeons, other dogs, people, cars and roads EVERYWHERE), but he's so well trained that he sticks by and only goes to check things out when he's told he can. You can actually see him looking up at his owner every few moments to see what he should be doing and where he should be going. It's remarkable, to say the least! I'm currently training June the basics of off-leashing, though I don't really intend to ever let him off leash. He's a terribly reactive barker towards all other dogs so I wouldn't trust him off leash - I just want a good walker! My approach is to teach him that he's to be right beside my right foot at all times unless I tell him otherwise. I'm working on training June "Go see" to let him know he can go off and "back" to let him know I want him right back beside my right foot. We've been working on it for about three weeks. It's a slow process for us because I got June at 6 yrs and with no previous obedience training, but if you're consistent you should see progress. To teach June I wanted him to always be by my right foot I would keep him on a short leash and stick my foot out to block his path every time he tried to walk ahead and give him a verbal command at the same time (so for me I would say back). If he managed to get ahead of me before I can block his path with my foot (as it does take some coordination while walking) then I would immediately stop walking and give him the 'back' command. If he's really not getting it you can lower the leash down to his eye level and tug it GENTLY while saying 'back'. You don't want to pull him, you want him to move himself to where he's supposed to be. I find that June naturally seems to understand that he should follow the line of the leash so that's how I got him to understand I wanted him to come back to my side. Teaching them they can go off is easier. Anytime June caught a scent and wanted to go sniffing I would tell him to stay back for a few moments and then say "Ok smell" or "Ok go see". So if you can master having him right at your side and, as Britster said, if you can also master recall then you should have a yorkie that stays by your side, goes off when you let him/her, and comes back when recalled. I feel like I really didn't do a very good job of explaining all of this... but this is way too long already.

10-23-2013, 03:36 PM	#8
mjg Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2013 Location: NJ Posts: 10	It is so interesting and useful to read these comments! We have a 2 year old Yorkie (rescued at 18 months). She is such a doll but obviously not trained and we have come a long way. We have an older terrier mix (65 lbs) who goes off leash all the time and is very obedient. Little bit here still goes ballistic over squirrels, cats and other dogs (we've improved with people and birds) so I've always felt like she could never be off leash. Then, two weeks ago, she slipped out of the house when we were leaving and ran like the wind. We chased her (I know you're not supposed to chase, but omg, total panic, and she would have been gone) for about 2 miles to a highway (where we ran into the street with our arms in the air) and then finally got her when she ran into a fenced yard. No treats or games or anything could get her to stop. She's got a collar and a microchip, but we'll pretty much never let her off leash and will do what we can to make sure that never happens again (if anyone has suggestions for that, I'm open, lol)! Good luck to you, maybe you can train your little one like JanesMum's friend! That would be awesome!

10-23-2013, 04:18 PM	#9
ritapatt YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Merritt Island,FL Posts: 1,400	(if anyone has suggestions for that, I'm open, lol)! With 5 people in our house I can never quite trust Ziva, she can be such a sneak-er. I bought two sets of self standing wooden barrier gates and barricaded the front door. It is a pain and my boys complain but if we follow procedure it is safer. We hang bells (we keep them on a hook next to the door)on the garage door to let everyone know if the overhead door is open.

10-24-2013, 01:09 PM	#11
Princess keke YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Dallas Posts: 536 Blog Entries: 1	I have Honey trained to do this but I wasn't trying to. I use to take her outside off her leash and every time she goes to far I tell her to come back. When she comes right by me I tell her good job. Now when we are outside I can just let her run but if she gets to far a head she will stop and wait on me or just run back to me.