Maximizing Off Leash Dog Walks for Safe and Joyful Adventures

Off leash walks with our dogs are the ultimate experience that most people dream of when they get a puppy or an adult dog.

There can be a variety of hurdles that keep us from the dream of enjoyable hikes with our dogs.

Locations to walk dogs off leash are not in abundance (at least here in Alberta) and it’s important to find places where you and your dog can feel safe together. Dog parks may seem like a good option but they are not suitable for many dogs for a variety of reasons. Private off leash areas have become popular since covid and have remained a good option, where you can rent a fenced area to enjoy explorations and off leash play time with your dog, without the risk of unwanted interactions with other dogs.

Mick is the only one of my dogs who has the skills and enjoys interacting with unfamiliar dogs; neither Hope nor Jai enjoy ‘dog parties’ and being ‘hugged by strangers’. My puppy Davy seems like a dog who will enjoy meeting and playing with other dogs but at 4 months of age I will not take the risk of exposing him to unfamiliar dogs since one bad experience can sour a dog for years to come and it’s my responsibility to protect his confidence.

So, let’s say you’ve found a nice place where you and your dog can enjoy an off leash hike; I’d love to share some tips to make the most of it!

Learning / training is happening all the time, whether intended or not, so we might as well incorporate some learning & positive rehearsals into our walks.

• Spontaneous recalls when your dog is not paying close attention to you => reward with a game of tug or some tasty treats
• Random food scatters in the grass are a great way to lower arousal, should the excitement start to build or get out of hand
• How about a bit of off leash heeling now and then? I teach all my dogs a “get behind” where they learn to walk behind/beside me, on cue. This works great with a group of dogs; the aim is for them not to pass me at any time! I prefer not to release them forward as it would just grow the excitement and expectation to bolt; instead we transition to free time with a little hunt for bits of food in the grass before we continue on our way, in a much calmer way
• Incorporating objects we find out and about, like logs, rocks, park benches etc. for tricks like “paws on”, “climb on” or “walk on”, “jump over” or “crawl under” ….this is called Dog Parkour! You might have been doing it all along without being aware!?

So, instead of just walking together, which is fun too, we can grow our relationship by adding a few games and activities to each walk…. everybody wins!!!

I’d love to share a little video from a recent off leash walk at a nearby provincial park.