These are good tips. I always have my dogs on leash even when off-leash is permitted—becaues I’ve never (and I mean never!) seen a well-trained dog on any of my walks. Most of them are lunging at the end of their leashes, madly barking and totally oblivious to the owner. The rest of them are more or less the same thing but not on leash. As long as my dogs have a harness and leash, I can lift them to safety.
I think it’s frustrating that you can’t go for a walk safely. Sometimes I wonder if the people who don’t care enough or know enough, aren’t the ones who have more access to more areas. It should be the owners who care enough and are trying to the do the right thing. You lucky you can pick your dogs up… it would be a major trick to pick up all four of my border collies!
I can’t even walk my dog safely around the street to start training him (he’s too fearful right now to even listen) and to practice because all the neighbors just open their doors and let their dogs roam. I never know when one might vault around the corner and send poor old Marty into an hysterial mess.
you know, that is a problem in Bozeman too. In our classes we always talk about ‘just because it’s your neighborhood, or just because the trail is by your home, it doesn’t make it the right place for you and your dog’. I love driving to new areas and walking my dogs in areas where we can both breathe. If your neighbors don’t care enough, find a place that is safe and stress free to start with… Here is to zero conflict walks for you and Marty!
I love these recommendations! Since I have a husky mix, being off leash really makes me nervous. They are known to just take off running and never look back! Luckily, mine is highly trainable and super food motivated. We have a long, thin line we work with because 1) I don’t have a backyard and 2) he’s too smart and knows when he is on leash and off leash so we are trying to fade out the feeling of the leash as we work on distance and distractions.. 🙂 Thanks for the extra tips!!
northern breeds can be tricky for sure. Most of our clients with northern breeds either keep their dog on a long long or take up mountain biking, or some type of joring sport (roller blading, ski, bike, sled). It seems like faster motion going forward keeps their attention even with distractions. I love long lines…
I guess I did not realize just how blessed I am to have my blue heeler, the first dog I’ve raised fro a pup. We live next to 1200 acres of state land, very few hikers. I give him tons of exercise/play/fetch, and he is so devoted and obedient, he always responds when I call him. I know nothing about training, just love and consistency; must be the breed? Anyway, I guess we’ve got a chunk of doggie heaven here!
heelers are great if they like and trust their people and get the exercise they need, so good job to you! Enjoy a bit of those `100 acres for me, I’m envious…
I’m not sure who these people are but I have never had a problem in Bozeman with off leash dogs. If your dog is on a leash I will put mine on a leash, if not they will meet and greet and move on. Coming from Phoenix Bozeman is a great dog town with some of the best dogs I have ever met. If I do see a dog that looks like trouble we just ignore him and pick up the pace a little.
A dog that never gets to run free is like a cat that never gets to go outside. They get a little crazy.
My dog was lucky and got to go Nancy’s classes as a puppy and also went through her canine good citizen class. That was time and money well spent for both of us.
Have a great summer enjoy your dogs.
Colby, it is so great to hear from you. I wish everyone was as respectful while out and about as you are with Hunter. Hope you are all doing well! send us a new photo, the last one I have is Hunter in teh golden light of sunset I think, gorgeous, but I’m sure he has matured since then.
I agree!! I hike a ton with my yellow lab off leash and never have run into any problems with dogs off leash (but mostly I think that is because my dog is too obsessed with finding the perfect stick to be bothered with any other dog). But I also attribute my well-behaved dog to spending the 1st year of her life being fairly strict and going to a lot of Nancy’s classes. My top recommendation for anyone who gets a puppy is to spend the 1st year of the dog’s life with a lot of training and being strict at home (meaning no feeding from the table, telling them to go to bed and not beg, don’t allow on furniture, don’t allow access to the whole house when they are home alone, etc..) After the first year- my dog knew wrong from right and has access to whole house and is allowed to snuggle with me on the couch and bed (and sometimes I have to bribe with a treat to get up on the furniture).
I wish more places would recognize canine good citizens and that dogs that get certified should be able to have more privileges like access in stores or being allowed off-leash in some leash only places, or even being able to stay in hotels… If there were more rewards to getting your dog certified (besides having a good dog), I think more people would do it.
Great advice. Just one clarification question….you mention “call name” a bunch…is that different than a dog’s name and “come”….that’s what we use. Are you suggesting developing an alternative call?
your ‘call word’ should be the word that you use to call your dog to you that has the definition of ‘come to me!!!’. If you use a word or word phrase for ‘come’ and also other things, it can get a bit confusing for a young dog for sure.
The main rule is whatever word you use for COME TO ME should never be a word or phrase that is ever used in a correction, or less than awesome tone.
Nancy Tanner 
These are good tips. I always have my dogs on leash even when off-leash is permitted—becaues I’ve never (and I mean never!) seen a well-trained dog on any of my walks. Most of them are lunging at the end of their leashes, madly barking and totally oblivious to the owner. The rest of them are more or less the same thing but not on leash. As long as my dogs have a harness and leash, I can lift them to safety.
I think it’s frustrating that you can’t go for a walk safely. Sometimes I wonder if the people who don’t care enough or know enough, aren’t the ones who have more access to more areas. It should be the owners who care enough and are trying to the do the right thing. You lucky you can pick your dogs up… it would be a major trick to pick up all four of my border collies!
I can’t even walk my dog safely around the street to start training him (he’s too fearful right now to even listen) and to practice because all the neighbors just open their doors and let their dogs roam. I never know when one might vault around the corner and send poor old Marty into an hysterial mess.
you know, that is a problem in Bozeman too. In our classes we always talk about ‘just because it’s your neighborhood, or just because the trail is by your home, it doesn’t make it the right place for you and your dog’. I love driving to new areas and walking my dogs in areas where we can both breathe. If your neighbors don’t care enough, find a place that is safe and stress free to start with… Here is to zero conflict walks for you and Marty!
I love these recommendations! Since I have a husky mix, being off leash really makes me nervous. They are known to just take off running and never look back! Luckily, mine is highly trainable and super food motivated. We have a long, thin line we work with because 1) I don’t have a backyard and 2) he’s too smart and knows when he is on leash and off leash so we are trying to fade out the feeling of the leash as we work on distance and distractions.. 🙂 Thanks for the extra tips!!
northern breeds can be tricky for sure. Most of our clients with northern breeds either keep their dog on a long long or take up mountain biking, or some type of joring sport (roller blading, ski, bike, sled). It seems like faster motion going forward keeps their attention even with distractions. I love long lines…
Yes, we go bicycling together too! 🙂 He’s got *long* legs! lol
Thank You, for the excellent article.
I guess I did not realize just how blessed I am to have my blue heeler, the first dog I’ve raised fro a pup. We live next to 1200 acres of state land, very few hikers. I give him tons of exercise/play/fetch, and he is so devoted and obedient, he always responds when I call him. I know nothing about training, just love and consistency; must be the breed? Anyway, I guess we’ve got a chunk of doggie heaven here!
heelers are great if they like and trust their people and get the exercise they need, so good job to you! Enjoy a bit of those `100 acres for me, I’m envious…
Thanks great article.
I’m not sure who these people are but I have never had a problem in Bozeman with off leash dogs. If your dog is on a leash I will put mine on a leash, if not they will meet and greet and move on. Coming from Phoenix Bozeman is a great dog town with some of the best dogs I have ever met. If I do see a dog that looks like trouble we just ignore him and pick up the pace a little.
A dog that never gets to run free is like a cat that never gets to go outside. They get a little crazy.
My dog was lucky and got to go Nancy’s classes as a puppy and also went through her canine good citizen class. That was time and money well spent for both of us.
Have a great summer enjoy your dogs.
Colby, it is so great to hear from you. I wish everyone was as respectful while out and about as you are with Hunter. Hope you are all doing well! send us a new photo, the last one I have is Hunter in teh golden light of sunset I think, gorgeous, but I’m sure he has matured since then.
I agree!! I hike a ton with my yellow lab off leash and never have run into any problems with dogs off leash (but mostly I think that is because my dog is too obsessed with finding the perfect stick to be bothered with any other dog). But I also attribute my well-behaved dog to spending the 1st year of her life being fairly strict and going to a lot of Nancy’s classes. My top recommendation for anyone who gets a puppy is to spend the 1st year of the dog’s life with a lot of training and being strict at home (meaning no feeding from the table, telling them to go to bed and not beg, don’t allow on furniture, don’t allow access to the whole house when they are home alone, etc..) After the first year- my dog knew wrong from right and has access to whole house and is allowed to snuggle with me on the couch and bed (and sometimes I have to bribe with a treat to get up on the furniture).
I wish more places would recognize canine good citizens and that dogs that get certified should be able to have more privileges like access in stores or being allowed off-leash in some leash only places, or even being able to stay in hotels… If there were more rewards to getting your dog certified (besides having a good dog), I think more people would do it.
Thanks Nancy for always sharing good advice!
Great advice. Just one clarification question….you mention “call name” a bunch…is that different than a dog’s name and “come”….that’s what we use. Are you suggesting developing an alternative call?
your ‘call word’ should be the word that you use to call your dog to you that has the definition of ‘come to me!!!’. If you use a word or word phrase for ‘come’ and also other things, it can get a bit confusing for a young dog for sure.
The main rule is whatever word you use for COME TO ME should never be a word or phrase that is ever used in a correction, or less than awesome tone.