Daily walks should be an essential part of your dog’s routine. In addition to being able to relieve themselves, it’s a great way to exercise, expend energy, socialize with other animals and people, and explore the world. Precisely for this reason, it is important to remember that the walk is a moment of enjoyment for your best four-legged friend.
For this reason, it is very positive for the dog that you vary the route of the walks, so that it knows new places and is more stimulated both physically and cognitively. And in this sense, nature walks are an excellent activity for both you and your pet. Perhaps in the middle of the journey through the countryside you have asked yourself: can I let go of the leash so that it can investigate and run as it pleases?
If you want to let your dog loose, it is imperative that you teach him to walk without a leash, in addition to having trained him in other basic obedience commands. Otherwise, you run the risk of it escaping or getting lost.
Before beginning training to walk without a leash, it is important that your dog is used to walking on a leash. The outside world is full of stimuli and distractions. This could make him nervous and hinder learning, so he must be familiar with obeying your orders and having you as a reference when you go out on a leash.
Likewise, you must have well learned certain orders that will guarantee your safety. Among them, staying still when you ask him to, sitting down and, above all, coming to you when you call him. Practice them over and over again until they are internalized before moving on to the next off-leash lesson.
To teach your dog to walk without a leash you must go to safe environments, without too many distractions or dangers, away from roads and with little traffic by both other people and animals. So your pet will pay more attention to you.
Begin the experience by putting your dog on a long leash – about 10 meters – and let him stray as far as it will allow him, on a tightrope, without tension or directions from you. In this way, he will be encouraged to go on his own. From time to time, call him to come to you and give him a treat.
As you see that this procedure is learned, it is time to release the leash and repeat it. Let him move a little away from you, always without losing sight of him and call him from time to time. Whenever he comes to the call, give him a reward. Little by little you will be able to widen the distance between you before calling him again.
The last step will be that you hide where he can’t see you and call him, so that he comes to you using his ear. This way he will also learn that it is important that he does not lose sight of you.
