Over protective mummy

Firstly i would like to thank everyone for their support and knowledge, i haven't posted to many questions because every thing i needed to ask about has already been covered   Elsie is coming on leaps and bounds, and is now halfway through her junior training course. She is doing extremely well with all basic commands and recall. The problem I think is with me, when I take Elsie to the park, I encourage interaction with all other dogs, adults and children, . But I just don't have the courage to let her off the lead, I use a long training lead so if I think she is getting over excited i can reel her in a bit. My last dog another staff was not dog friendly and I couldn't let her off unless there was no other dogs in a 10 mile radius. Am I doing the right thing or am I being to over protective. I don.t want to hinder her progress. She is now 16 weeks

I've always allowed Bacchus to run with the other dogs we meet on our walks, but in the last few months he has become a bit unpredictable with unfamiliar dogs so I put him on leash when I see a strange dog just to be on the safe side. He's still fine with the dogs he has known since he was a pup and gets to run with them. Personaly, if you know any reliable, stable dogs, I would let her play and interact with them so that she can learn doggy manners.

Do you let the training line trail the floor or do you keep hold of the end?

Thankyou for your advice Rodger, Sazzle I do let the lead trail, I think I might just have to bite the bullet and let her have a free run,

When your out and she's distracted and on her long line call her back if she comes back time and time again and your sure of her recall, I'd let her off, the last thing you want is her picking up on you anxieties, she sounds like a little darling

Thankyou Hayley, Elsie is a real sweety, mad as a hatter at times like all pups   so going out later and test the recall,

When out for walks in our local parks Rocky is always on a training lead and we keep hold of the end, just in case he should meet any unfriendly dogs running free.

We do have once place where we can let him run free though. When I am out with him I use an extender lead so he can have a run about but I also have peace of mind that I can reel him in if need be.

I don't think you are being over protective at all but very responsible.

If your not ready to leave her off then wait a bit longer, let the training line get a bit further out of your reach to build your confidence  

   I did it.   on the beach this morning with several older dogs all eager to meet her, sooo I let  her go, she had a wail of time,making sure I was at safe distance all the time.  Recall not bad, but still early days and needs working on, but I am feeling more confident about it now. 

Well done  

Yay

Well done  

Chiara wrote:Well done  

Just realised there is another dog under your white one lol.  

Well done it is lovely to see them having a good play without no restriction