I think it completely depends on the dog and the environment that you live in. Some dogs are just natural "off leash dogs" and some, including most terriers, simply are not.

Jackson would be fine off leash 95% of the time, but the other 5% couldn't be trusted. So he's not off leash anymore. Well, I'll drop his 6ft leash and let him drag it on certain occasions. He's trustworthy for the most part and hangs around. But we live in the country... no roads close by, farmland all around us, so it's a different thing. I let him run into my dads house when we first get there off leash... there is absolutely no road nearby (well, of course there's a road to get down the street, but there's literally one car every hour, if that, lol). If we lived in a subdivision, townhome, etc, no way would I allow it.

But yeah, depends on the environment, where you live, the dog, the human. There are so many factors.

With me, I think most of the time, Jackson would be absolutely fine. But the 5% risk to me isn't worth it. However, he gets loads of freedom... fenced dog parks, huge fenced in football field close by, dads big fenced in yard, and 50-100ft ropes in the 90 acres of farmland behind our house.

I never let mine of leash unless she is in a fenced in yard or a fenced in dog park and I never will. Even the best trained dogs can decided not to listen or there instincts can get the best of them and they can take off. Also if another dog comes over when they are on leash they are close enough to scoop up. It takes just a second for them to run into the road and get killed, so not worth it to me.

I have a neighbor with a tiny yorkie just like that one. We live in a development, too. The house is several houses south of here, but if that little one is out and we're walking, she runs out to greet us. I'm so afraid a hawk will get her or something else. She's only out for a few minutes occasionally, but doesn't need to be out front. They have a fenced yard! One day she started following us down the road. I picked her up and carried her back home. Her mom was busy in the garage and hadn't noticed.

Dinky loves to sit on the porch in the sun with us since we have moved to the south. I like to say he is a "dawg" now! Anyway, we don't leash him on the porch, and he has never even tried to go down the steps alone... until today. He walked down the steps, pottied on the grass, and came right back up. So today, I spent time on the Internet looking for extra wide gates for the porch.:)

Couver and Khloe get lots of off leash time in our backyard, front yard and dog park. Every once in a while they are off leash like on the beach (once a year) and are always leashed up when we see people coming towards us. They are never anywhere near cars, and I know their recall is great. I haven't ever had them not come to me... but I would never risk it walking near a street. It just isn't worth it!

I have seen your videos and your kids are great with recall and staying close. My boys would be off like a shot and get lost in the woods and say, "Where's my mommy?" :rolleyes: When Max was a tiny pup, I dropped his leash and he ran about 100 feet straight to my father on the front yard. More recently, I have accidentally dropped the boys' leashes several times and they have thankfully stayed by my side.

Of my 4 girl- Only Roxy is allowed off leash most of the time in mine or my parents yards- Open areas but only with Supervision of coarse to protect her from bigger animals ie neighbors cats who hit in the buches. Cozy can be off leash but only when by herself she does like people near her adult babies. Lucy and Zoey are never off leash. Zoey runs like the Gingerbreadman. My brother and dad can have Lucy off leash at my parents house only. Every daog is different you must make sure they will be safe.

Bailey is allowed to be off leash in the back area, but it's for short periods. However, with that said, one day he saw a dog and darted off. So, we are very cautious these days. Otherwise, it's leash city!

Ian Dunbar, a behaviorist I like, recommends teaching puppies off-leash BEFORE teaching them on-leash. His reasoning? If they learn to enjoy walking without restrictions, they are less likely to fight you when you add the leash. Here's a video of him demonstrating.


That said, you ONLY work off-leash when you're in a controlled environment. Never take a remote chance of your puppy running away and getting into trouble.

I probably take more chances than most people off-leash, and frankly, there are some times I push it too far. But I do feel confident that 99 percent of the time they're perfectly safe because I spend so much time working with them off-leash.

Dont do it! The risk out weighs any reason...maybe get one of those retraceable leashes that extends quote a distance, but I wouldnt do it. Plus out in public, there are many towns with leash laws and such...just toooooo risky!

Bobbi