So tempted!

On our morning walkies today I was SO tempted to let Alfie off the lead! I very nearly did! I honestly think he would be fine but theres always that little doubt at the back of your mind. The park is always empty in the morning, no people and no dogs, do you think I should go for it? Im dying to see him have a proper run around! Especially if there is no one else there. Or do you think this is not a good idea?

main question, hows his recall?

Id make sure you got balls (tennis ones etc) to keep his attention on you though

Well when we usually go for a walk in the morning and evening the park is always empty so theres nothing else for him to focus on apart from me. His recall is pretty good to be honest. I dont think I would risk it if it was a Saturday afternoon say, when it is busy

If you've got some fields or somewhere where he can go and there's fences and stuff so he can't run off then try let him off there to see if he'd try to run away, although if you've got a tennis ball or something that he likes and there's no dogs or people he wouldn't run away I don't think. if you never try you'll never know, and if he tries to go a bit for away just put him back on the lead of say no and get him to come closer to you.

You could also try a big training lead so he can't never run away.

were so like you we have just let miley off her lead and she stayed with us and came back to us on recall very proud indeed but its took us 8 months,we are so scared anything could happen though and i think were not the only ones on here

Its a big field we go to but he could get off if we wanted to. I let him wander everywhere on his flexi lead and he has never gone to get out. Im such a wimp, I always think the worst! But I know he would absolutely LOVE to run around that field properly. That would definitely tire him out

EllieSmith wrote:Its a big field we go to but he could get off if we wanted to. I let him wander everywhere on his flexi lead and he has never gone to get out. Im such a wimp, I always think the worst! But I know he would absolutely LOVE to run around that field properly. That would definitely tire him out

If I were you I'd try to go for it, you can always get him if he runs away, wellat least my boy would stop loads to sniff everything so even if he wanted to run away I could get him, but he never leaves my side when he's off the lead unless there's a ball for him to play fetch
Personally I would let him off and give him some freedom I'm sure he'd be over the moon if there's no distractions also try to train his recall outside and see how he gets on

no greater way to tire em out then a good run in field playing fetch.

I have to try it sometime really.... Ill see how brave I feel when we go out later

EllieSmith wrote:I have to try it sometime really.... Ill see how brave I feel when we go out later

I would do it when there's no other dogs though

Definitely, other dogs barking at him make him hyper haha ill let you know how i get on

If you want to try it Ellie by all means go for it!

Find a quiet, secluded area and bring some of his favourite toys or a handful of treats to get him back to you if he isn't listening well. Then let him off for a few minutes to see how you get on.

Then call him back, when he comes, clip the lead on, praise him and give him a treat. Only praise when he's let you clip it on so he knows what part was right.

I'm not brave enough anymore

Cheers Mat, im desperate to try it, it doesnt tire him out enough on his lead which is maybe why hes so hyper and nippy at home? Ill be bricking it though!


had a dream Alfie had a play date with Logan last night haha

EllieSmith wrote: it doesnt tire him out enough on his lead which is maybe why hes so hyper and nippy at home?

Ill be bricking it though!

had a dream Alfie had a play date with Logan last night haha

Very possible. Recently I've changed Logan's exercise lately and since then he has been so much better behaved. So yea you could be right! A tired dog is a good dog.

Don't be nervous, just do it for a few minutes at a time. As you get more confident you can add in distractions.

Jeez, playdate with Logan?? How'd that one go lol?

Yeah thats what i thought, well hope lol. Ill try that then either tonight or tomorrow if i bottle it lol!

Haha it went well! They loved it!

training line is a definite Ellie , longest you can find. You can leave it trailing round behind him but you can always just step on it to put the brakes on

Dave this might be a really stupid question (it probably is but dont laugh haha) but how on earth are you meant to hold them?!

Well i chickened out tonight. Practiced his recall a few times though so ill try it tomorrow

Only do it when you feel confident enough. He will pick up on nervousness. Logan certainly does lol!

Mat i will never be confident enough! I worry about him way too much!

EllieSmith wrote:Dave this might be a really stupid question (it probably is but dont laugh haha) but how on earth are you meant to hold them?!

Go for the Softex one they are slightly more gentle on your delicate little hands:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Softex-203cm-Adjustable-Training-Police/dp/B0059EPG6K/ref=sr_1_6?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1362513934&sr=1-6

So do you just let it all go slack or do it gradually? Thanks for the delicate hands comment Kathy haha

I use one for Logan when I'm not using the flexi lead. I gather up some of the slack as I walk because he gets tangled up and I'm quite awkward myself and would probably end up tangled up too lol!

It's hard to find the confidence to let them off I find. I haven't done it in ages. Flexi lead is my saviour haha!

But is all that lead not awkward to hold? I dont get it? Haha Mat ive now got an image of you and Logan all tangled up in the lead on the floor, legs everywhere

Have you ever let Logan off?

EllieSmith wrote:But is all that lead not awkward to hold? I dont get it? Haha Mat ive now got an image of you and Logan all tangled up in the lead on the floor, legs everywhere

It can be awkward to hold but ya just havta bring in some of the slack. Just enough that ya don't end up tangled. Logan runs off at such a high speed I'd end up dangling from a tree!

You have a flexi lead though, and I think that they give plenty of space for the most part. The training lead is really aimed at getting out to an open area and let him run around while you stand and watch. Or for practicing training in different places.

EllieSmith wrote:Have you ever let Logan off?

When he was a wee baby he never walked on lead, I just put his lead in my jacket pocket just incase. But when he was very young he went up to the wrong dogs a few times and got biten a couple of times and now he could be aggressive with some dogs, only big dogs though.

Do you think its worth me getting one then or not? What age have you had Logan from? Been meaning to ask!

EllieSmith wrote:Do you think its worth me getting one then or not? What age have you had Logan from? Been meaning to ask!

They are very different than flexi leads, and for training a dog to be off lead and for recall training etc they are unbeatable. If you were planning to head out to like a football field or something, which is what I did today, the training lead is perfect because it doesn't restict Alfie at all and you can just let it drag slack.


I got the monster when he was exactly 8 weeks. In future I'd maybe want to have the pup with the mother for longer if I could. I had the option but I wanted him home so badly. Here's a few pics from the day I got him I posted when I joined the madhouse forum lol!

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t29839-a-few-pics-of-baby-logan?highlight=logan

I got mine off this crowd on eBay because they said it would be strong enough and it most def is! They do all different lengths, you can go very long, and they are very cheap.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130564745049?var=430028073888&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

I go to a biggish field everyday with alf and would love him to have a good run around it. Awwwww he was so lovely!!! (Still is) but in those pics he looked exactly like he did in my dream! Spooky. Havent seen many pics of him on here

MatLogan wrote:I got mine off this crowd on eBay because they said it would be strong enough and it most def is! They do all different lengths, you can go very long, and they are very cheap.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130564745049?var=430028073888&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Ohhh it actually has like a handle on the end to hold? im so thick!

Then it would most likely be a great addition for his exercise especially because the good weather will be coming soon and it'll dry up a bit.

I swear by long leads. I don't think Logan will be off lead for a good while, I just can't be fully sure with him sometimes, he gets nervous and seems to even be protective (especially over my Mum). He has to get through his bonkers teenage years I think.

But with the long leads he gets all the benefits of being free anyway.

Cheers, ill get him one of them then

EllieSmith wrote:Dave this might be a really stupid question (it probably is but dont laugh haha) but how on earth are you meant to hold them?!

Mine came rolled up with a pin through it and it fits in the big pocket of my work trousers so i can walk him to the fields on his normal lead. Ideally you need 2 hands for the training lead, slide your hand through the loop and wrap around your hand once so you can grasp the lead in a closed hand, when he's running back towards you use both hands to gather the slack up in a way that the slack is hanging from the hand you're holding the loop in, this way when he runs away from you the slack can fall off and give him freedom to run again, you could leave it trailing behind him on the floor but it'll end up getting dragged through dog poo and puddles if you do. It's hard to explain but you'll get the hang of it if you buy one and just do it how you feel comfortable.

We're big fans of the long lead as well.

Well i did it, i finally let alfie off his lead this morning and he was good as! It was only for about 10 mins in total because i was sh****** myself haha but its a start!

Hahaha Congrats and glad all went well!

Haha thanks Matty

A long line is a great idea; just make sure you use it with a harness, not a collar.

You can just use a normal lead until you get to where you're going to let him off the change to the long line and just let it go. Just make sure you stay within range of the end of it so you can grab it if needs be.

It's a great way for you to build up your confidence and for working on recall too

ETA: oops, didn't read the 2nd page! Glad it went well this moring

Brilliant to hear, Ellie bet he had a lot of fun. And I bet you were happy too

EllieSmith wrote:Well i did it, i finally let alfie off his lead this morning and he was good as! It was only for about 10 mins in total because i was sh****** myself haha but its a start!

Well done Ellie, braver than me lol!

Just take your time with it and stick to quiet open areas at the start. But it sounds like your fella will behave anyway and stay with you

Thanks i kept practising his recall and putting his lead back on and he was brilliant. Very happy

I'm very jealous.

Same as Mat, happy for you, and also jealous

I would only do it in an empty field though Mat. Im just worried he will see a bird or something!

Tara wrote:Same as Mat, happy for you, and also jealous

Does loki not go off lead Tara?

EllieSmith wrote:

Tara wrote:Same as Mat, happy for you, and also jealous

Does loki not go off lead Tara?

He used to, but he's a horrible little teenager that decided recall isn't as important as exploring the fields . He goes through phases where his recall is great and non-existent, so we keep him on the long line until it's back to how it used to be.

Tara wrote:

EllieSmith wrote:

Tara wrote:Same as Mat, happy for you, and also jealous

Does loki not go off lead Tara?

He used to, but he's a horrible little teenager that decided recall isn't as important as exploring the fields . He goes through phases where his recall is great and non-existent, so we keep him on the long line until it's back to how it used to be.

Im sure it wont be long before Alfie goes through that stage!

Well done you and Alfie it is all about the recall. "slowly slowly catch a monkey" as the saying goes. I am full of daft sayings!! Vinnies recall is pretty good but even now I always have my wits about me. He is very good that when another dog approaches I stand still and he sits and waits to be put on his lead, and always treat him every time.

Thanks Inez! I took some treats with me to give him everytime he let me put his lead back on - its the most behaved hes ever been when out!