[aorourke]

My family and I have moved to Canada from Scotland and brought our English Springer Spaniel with us, he will be 2 in June and I have alwayss trained him to do his business off leash. While we are on walks he is not allowed to sniff the ground, pee or do a number 2. Most of the time it's not a problem as I put him outside before walks and have found a swing park with soccer pitch which I let him run about on for a while before continuing on the walk.
One of the parks here right beside a big river is not off leash but I have not had anyone object to him being off leash. I always get him to sit/stay while I pick up his business and put him on leash if there are kids or a lot of people about. He is great at re-call, with kids (we have a 5 yr and a 3 yr and my 5 yr old can do anything to him and he would never hurt him) and will surrender to probably the most vicious of dogs (i've always distracted him if I think one gives the stances of attacking my dog)

However we are about to move to the next town and I'm yet to get a feel of whether I can do the same there at their parks. One walking area is just 10mins walk from the house and there is a kids swingpark, then beside it is a trail. (not sure if you are allowed to let a dog roam free at an enclosed swingpark if there are no kids about) So not really anywhere to let him free to do his business part through our walk.

So my question is how do I get him to do his business on leash if I'm not able to let him off leash?
Sorry for long post.

 

[hulkamaniac]

Why do you not allow him to do his business on leash?

 

[aorourke]

Probably because he is a sniffer dog and I didn't want to stand around waiting for him to do his business. I had seen my MIL doing this with his dad, she would stand for a good 10 mins just letting him stiff for no reason at all and I would rather him have fun running around off leash. So on leash has alway's really been for just walking and training to heal and usually we were on our way to a place where he could roam free and I wold do the reacall and other training. While on leash I was in control and not him. He's my first dog so am still learning as I go along.

 

[hulkamaniac]

All dogs like to sniff the ground. It's part of being a dog. I've not seen a dog yet that didn't enjoy sniffing the ground.

In any case, just teach him to eliminate on commmand and give the command while he's leashed.

 

[aorourke]

I do agree that all dogs like to sniff, but he got all the sniffing he wants off leash. It's just a habit that we have formed, since there were plenty of places to let him off leash back in Scotland. So now we are restricted here and I need to do some more training with him. His dad was pretty dominant on the leash, as in pulling my MIL, sniffing at every opertunity and barking at any other dog that passed. So I didn't want him to think he could just do anything he wanted on the leash.
You have just jogged my memory that we have an extendable leash so he can still roam about and sniff and he will do business on it. Sorry I forgot that I had the extendable as was so used to the park near us to let him off and used the normal leash for walks.

 

[jbsmomto1]

Welcome to Canada, hope you enjoy our very cold and treacherous winters lol (unless you are in B.C, in which case they are much more easier to handle. At any rate, each province, town, or county have their own rules as to leashing a dog. Sadly most places have leash laws and dogs MUST be leashed at all times, unless you are in a dog friendly place. For his sake and yours I would really teach him that it IS ok to elimnate while on leash. I'm not sure where you are in canada, but I know that here in Ontario there are dog parks in the bigger cities, I have yet to see any in the smaller towns, not that there aren't any just I haven't seen them....

That extendable leash is probably going to be your best bet for now. Being stuck on a leash all the time, is going to be tough but not for the dog as they will adapt, you will also adapt but it will take a human a bit more time.

 

[aorourke]

We are in Ontraio and are in a very small town. Population about 14000, I was at a park (more like forest with set tracks) this morning took the extendable and he did do his business while on it. It was quiet so I let him off when no-one was looking. Just as we were heading out I introduced myself to another owner and dog and she said that most dogs here are allowed off leash. So I think we will be fine. We are moving on Friday so we will only be 10mins walk from that park so will use it regularly. With more dogs off leash it will burn off his energy as well.

Knowing that he is going to get off leash some of the time will help and i'll abide by the laws the rest of the time and take the extendable.