[Castiel]

So i have a pretty obedient dog, knows the commands sit, come, lie down, give paw. I live in the capital, but i've been trying to train him to walk off leash. We made great progress, he stays very close to me, always checks where i'm going. The other day i had taken him out a bit further away from my house, i knew it was a risk, but i always walk him off leash only when it's very late, cause of leash laws. Unluckaly, on our way back he had found a bone on the ground. Appereantly that was his heaven, so when i told him to give it to me he ran away like a rocket towards the house, completely disregarding any commands. He did stop after 20 meters away from me every so often to check if i'm still following him. And then when we were home he didn't even listen to me when i told him to go inside and he just ran away from me in the yard. As i am moving soon to a countryside, i would like him to stay by my side at all times and not prioritise something tasty he has found on the floor. What can i do to make this not happen again?

 

[Lillith]

So i have a pretty obedient dog, knows the commands sit, come, lie down, give paw. I live in the capital, but i've been trying to train him to walk off leash. We made great progress, he stays very close to me, always checks where i'm going. The other day i had taken him out a bit further away from my house, i knew it was a risk, but i always walk him off leash only when it's very late, cause of leash laws. Unluckaly, on our way back he had found a bone on the ground. Appereantly that was his heaven, so when i told him to give it to me he ran away like a rocket towards the house, completely disregarding any commands. He did stop after 20 meters away from me every so often to check if i'm still following him. And then when we were home he didn't even listen to me when i told him to go inside and he just ran away from me in the yard. As i am moving soon to a countryside, i would like him to stay by my side at all times and not prioritise something tasty he has found on the floor. What can i do to make this not happen again?

Have you taught the dog a 'leave it' cue? This cue needs to be highly rewarding, more rewarding than the garbage they have picked up off the ground. Use something highly valuable like cheese, hot dogs, deli meat, something the dog loves but doesn't get very often. I typically use this cue BEFORE the dog has taken possession of the prize, then reward for leaving that thing alone.

The dog runs away from you when it has a prize because it is afraid you would take it away. Instead, teach the dog to 'trade'. You would simply offer a more valuable prize in return for the inappropriate item.

You want to work on both of these cues at home in controlled scenarios. Start with a reasonably low-value 'prize' with your high value reward at first, and then increase the value of the prize. The reward for leaving the prize alone or trading the prize should always be more valuable than the prize. Until these cues are learned, the dog will have to be on a leash to prevent him from getting into garbage on the street.

 

[Crantastic]

Obey the leash laws. You never know what's going to happen. For example, those of us with reactive or dog-aggressive dogs often like to walk late at night as well because there are fewer people and dogs around. If your dog were to run up to a dog like mine, there would be a fight.

 

[3GSD4IPO]

The dog runs away from you when it has a prize because it is afraid you would take it away. Instead, teach the dog to 'trade'. You would simply offer a more valuable prize in return for the inappropriate item.

You want to work on both of these cues at home in controlled scenarios. Start with a reasonably low-value 'prize' with your high value reward at first, and then increase the value of the prize. The reward for leaving the prize alone or trading the prize should always be more valuable than the prize. Until these cues are learned, the dog will have to be on a leash to prevent him from getting into garbage on the street.

THIS

Your dog is not "ready" to be off leash (many never are).

You want the dog to walk next to you like glue. Here is a question for you, Why should he? "Because you said so" is not an answer that is acceptable. What reaso do you give the dog for this behavior? Why is it rewarding to the dog.. so rewarding in fact that he would give up a bone to stick to you? Why would a dog prioritize staying next to your leg all the time on a walk? It is highly unnatural so how can you train it and make it rewarding?

Fact is, most dogs would not do this. Dependent dogs will (afraid to leave your side as you are their security) and dogs with huge, high pack drive will (because it is their nature) but that is not most dogs.