I guess I was raised around too many farms/ranches and their dogs. Also, when I had the Lacy -- I was around hog hunters and blood trailers as well as ranchers. Most (if not all) the dogs & owners I've been around let their dogs run loose from puppyhood on. If they live on any type of property outside of the suburbs.

I have a 1/2 acre lot in a rural subdivision. I am lucky in that the bottom 1/2 of my property is still naturally wooded with a creek through it. The 2 lots directly behind me aren't cleared, as are several more on further down the creek. There isn't anything larger than a raccoon in the woods and when we walk, I rarely see anything but squirrels and birds. So no danger there.

I just think training off-leash is better for my situation. The last trip I took Ranger, my Lacy on, we were in the Angelina National Forest in a primative camp. We were able to take a trail into the forest with him exploring off-lead as I walked. Never any danger as he never was out of eyesight. We only met one other hiker while out -- I saw the man coming and gave Ranger the 'leash' command. He came right back, I put the leash on him and we passed the other hiker coming back. Then we continued our 6-mile hike.

I would NEVER put my dogs in a dangerous situation and of course I don't leave them out free and unsupervised. But my dogs have never been high-drive, high-prey dogs either -- maybe that's the difference. They're perfectly willing to lay around on the front porch while I pot plants!!

 Quote: Deb Collier

is better for my situation.

This is what I'd go by.:wink:

I have a fenced yard, so I take advantage of that area to practice off leash focus.

Living in the city means that there are leash laws, so I often use a drag line (or even retractable leashes for my older dogs) when out in public areas. I do not always hold on to the drag line, but keep it close enough to step on or even tie it to something if we are working on something. Started doing this with my now 4 year old when she was a pup...she would look at my hands to determine if I was holding on lol.

When I am in an area that my dogs do not need to be leashed, I use an e-collar as soon as they are old enough and know what "come" means. That back up is worth the world to me, especially with the Michigan K-9 that took off after a deer last fall while on a track and was never seen again.

my dogs have about 1/4 acre to run in. I feel very confident they are safe. In our area we have coyotes and also people live in our area who feel dogs need to be free and never close their gates. So I keep my dogs on leashes. Also, In a dogs mind especially a pup they can get distracted and run after anything and not pay the least bit of attention to their surroundings. My cody does that anyway. A lizard, a cat and especially a bunny is just so tempting. I would not want to say I guarantee he would never jet out in front of me. It only takes a second and he is lightning fast. So, I think safety first. I do know how fun it is to let your dog romp around in a field free. I love watching it, but would prefer to do it on line. It just takes one time. I am supposed to be my dogs pack leader, since I can't communicate as well as another dog would, I want to keep my pups safe. It is the most horrible thing to watch a dog get run over, or a puppy picked up by an owl, or hawk. (one of my dogs almost got snatched up ( as a puppy) when my husband took it outside to potty. The owl barely missed it. The puppy was playing and ran under a pine tree.

Sharon