AboutDave Expertise My wife and I are active Sheltie owners. Helpful hints on discipline, training, disposition, selection, and of course acquisition. We think like dogs, so we can help you understand yours!
Experience 2 Shelties currently owned. Rescued and placed 9 dogs (3 non Sheltie).
Thanks so much for your advise last-time about making outdoors more enjoyable (in the winter). Riley is finally started to enjoy being outside, mind you the warm weather is probably helping ;-) Funny note though, he's running out of snow to pee and poo on. He's going to have to figure out grass is okay soon, lol.
My question today is regarding being off-leash. All I've ever read is that a Sheltie cannot be trusted off leash. Trained or not. That they will either chase something, or get spooked and run. I just wanted your opinion since you've owned many Shelties. Once you have recall down pat, do you ever go to a safe place for off leash time? We have a HUGE backyard and live on a country road, and would love to play with him back there without a leash. Is this something I should accept will never happen? (he's only 4 months now, so recall is not trustworthy yet..).
Thanks again!
Chantale
Answer Chantale,
Thank you! I'm glad it's working!
Off leash: yes, they can be off leash outside in your backyard. I would start by doing an on leash perimeter walk every day to reinforce the area that is his. If he tries to wander out, give a growl no and pull him back into his yard.
Assuming you both have a grasp of sit, stay, halt and the perimeter; I would start with that perimeter exercise and then play some games with him in the farthest part of the yard away from the road. Once I get Possum out with his ball, nothing can distract him from playing, but with jinx she'll go after the neighbor sitting on his front porch if I'm not careful.
Socialization and upbringing impacts how they behave outside. Possum was ours from a puppy and Jinx is a rescue from a less than ideal situation. Jinx is not well adjusted. Possum is great.
It is a good idea to train for an emergency stop. We use "down" for the command and added it into sit when sit was trained.
Shelties are excitable and can go after things like garbage trucks and the UPS guy. Be alert to the noises going on around you and be ready to grab your pup's collar and stop him when these things happen or if your neighbor comes home. You need to practice being off leash now, but also be very vigilant of the surroundings while he is adjusting.
I would also advise that the cost of a physical fence (not electric) is well worth the investment in the long run and is the best way to keep them out of harms way.
