"Your dog can't have fun on a lead." "All dogs should be able to be off lead." "It's not fair on them if they're always on lead."
Sound familiar? I disagree completely. Dogs can have just as much fun on a lead as they can off lead - we just need to know how to make it work for them.
There's this massive misconception floating around that dogs on lead are somehow missing out. People think they can't get proper exercise, can't sniff about, can't play with other dogs and basically have no fun whatsoever. But letting your dog off lead isn't a right - it's a responsibility. And you need to spend proper time training them to be comfortable and have solid recall before you even think about dropping that lead.
The Off-Lead Problems We All Recognise
We've all heard these complaints, haven't we? "My dog won't come back when he's called." "My dog wants to play with every dog he sees and runs across the field to say hello to strangers." "My dog chases wildlife, runners, gets so excited he pulls all the way to the field so I just have to let him off."
All of those problems? They exist because the dog was let off lead before they were ready. I'm not saying never let your dog off lead. Of course there's a time and place for it. But many of the issues we experience come from letting dogs off lead too frequently before we've built that connection and trained them to be happy on a lead first.
Why I'm a Convert to Lead Walking
To be honest, as a dog trainer, people are probably surprised that most of my dogs stay on lead most of the time. Aren't I supposed to have perfect dogs that walk by my side like robots? Absolutely not! I let my dogs be free to be who they are - but I'm responsible about it.
The truth is, I'm much more relaxed when my dogs are on lead and frankly, I need my dog walks to be stress-free. When Fred's off lead, I'm constantly scanning the environment - where is he? What's changing? What's coming into view that might set him off? I'm hyper-vigilant, ready to act at any moment.
On a long line? That vigilance drops massively. I'm still aware of what's going on but I'm not in that "ready to spring into action" mode. I can actually enjoy our walk together.
The Magic of Long Lines
Where people get it wrong is that "on lead" doesn't mean a tiny one-metre lead where your dog can barely move. Leads come in all lengths: 2 metres, 5 metres, 10 metres, 20 metres - whatever works for your space and situation.
When you're walking down a road, a 2-metre lead is perfect. In an open field, break out that 10 or 20-metre line. Your dog is still on lead (safe and under control) but they've got freedom to be a dog - to explore, sniff, run about and even interact with other dogs. The difference is they have to stay connected to you to do all those fun things.
My Holiday Story
I was on holiday in Norfolk recently and it really highlighted how differently people approach this. I keep Fred on a long line unless the beach is pretty much deserted because he's a barker - an excited, nervous, startled, "I want something" barker. He's a big golden retriever with a big bark and while I know each bark and what it means, strangers don't.
One day, there were people in the sea about 10 metres out. Fred gave a few subtle woofs (probably thinking "Don't you know the waves are terrifying? Why are you in there?") and I redirected him. Job done, we carried on.
Behind us, I could hear another dog barking excitedly. When I looked back, that dog was in the sea, circling the people, woofing at them constantly, which even a dog lover might find intimidating. That whole situation could've been avoided with a lead - the dog could still explore and have fun, just without practising the behaviour we don't want.
Making Lead Time Fun Time
So how do we make sure our dogs have a brilliant time on lead?
- Invest in that longer line for open spaces. Your dog can display all their natural behaviours - sniffing, zigzagging and exploring while being connected to you.
- Try some lead-based activities! Parkour (interacting with objects around you), tracking, trailing and scent detection are all done on lead. These aren't boring alternatives – they're fantastic ways to engage your dog's brain and build your connection.
- You can play games on lead too - chase games where they follow you, hiding toys, training sessions. The lead isn't the end of fun. It's the tool that lets you communicate and share experiences together.
Building Connection for Better Off-Lead Success
The brilliant thing is that everything you do on lead actually supports your off-lead time. If you build a connection with your dog so they genuinely want to hang out with you, then whether they're on or off lead becomes less relevant. They'll choose to stay near you anyway.
That's where I'm at with my dogs now. Rem will chill out next to me whether he's on lead or off. Fred hangs around and checks in constantly. But when those tricky distractions appear, I know they can't practice the wrong choice because they're safely attached to me.
The Bottom Line on Lead Walking
There's absolutely no pressure to let your dog off lead if you're happier keeping them on. Think of the lead as connection rather than restriction, a way to share experiences together rather than you being here while your dog's off doing their own thing miles away.
Dogs on lead can be well-exercised, can sniff, explore and have just as much fun. Sometimes more because you're both relaxed and actually enjoying each other's company. And other people relax too when they see a dog on lead rather than wondering if an off-lead dog might pinch their picnic!
Remember, if your dog can't behave on a lead, there's no way they'll manage off lead. Master the connection on lead first and everything else becomes so much easier.
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