Off the Leash!
The author and Penny at the top of Mt Belford at 14,203’.
This summer in Colorado was special for many reasons, but one of the most rewarding personal experiences was getting my dog, Penny, trained off leash on the trails. She has spent many days before on the trails and in the mountains with me, but it has always been on a leash. She puts up with a leash pretty well but has nevery gotten rid of a bit of pulling. It’s like she has finally compromised with me that no she won’t pull too hard but just a reminder that she is in charge.
Penny and her big sister, Zoe, out for a run.
This summer I purchased an e-collar. I purchased the Educator ET-400 which has a 3/4 mile range, tones and multi-level vibration.
Let the hate mail begin, which will be led by my wife and daughters, who cringe at the idea of a “shocking” Penny. First let me explain what an e-collar is all about. There are many models with a range of features, but the one we use can deliver a tone or vibration, a low level prick of a shock and a higher level shock. The tone or vibration is what I use most often and just serves to communicate to her that I need her attention. She then responds to my commands well. If the pika or squirrel she has spotted is particularly juicy looking, I go up to the first level shock which is a setting of 7 out of 100. I have tested it on myself on my arm with good pressure pushing it into my skin, and I can barely feel it. Dogs are more sensitive, and it is enough to get her attention. That shock almost always works. If she just can’t help herself and takes off, I do have to go to the higher level which is a 14 out of 100. I have tested that too and while I can feel it, it is not painful at all, just startling. I can’t remember the last time I had to use the higher level. She has learned that the vibration and sometimes the lower level shock are cues that she needs to pay attention.
We started with using the collar in the house where I would simultaneously call her and use the vibration on the collar. She came to me and got a treat. We then took it outside where there were more distractions. Once we were getting consistent responses, we went to some fields with fences where she could roam around. Once she was far enough away, I would call her and use the vibration. She would come and get a treat. A few times, she was more interested in the smell she was following, and I had to use the shock. It startled her, and I repeated the come command which she followed to get her treat. We did all of this for about a total of 3 hours of training over a weeks time.
From there we started using the ecollar to go for runs, something she knows well. We then used it on remote trails that I know well and had little traffic. On those trails we did meet some other dogs and plenty of distractions, but she quickly got the idea. “When I am on the trails and particularly when I am wearing this collar, I am at work. I need to pay attention and stay with Dad.” Now she stays by my side almost without fail when she is wearing the ecollar. We can walk through crowded sidewalks or have rabbits cross our path, and she stays put. She is happy to not have to pull me on the leash, and I don’t have a leash pulling on my arms and shoulders all the time.
The most rewarding part of this is how alive she is on the trails. Obviously she is a domesticated dog. She is a doodle after all. But when she is on the trails she is alert and excited. Her fitness shines as she bounds up rocky trails. Her senses are on high alert with her nose sniffing, her ears pricked up and her eyes gleaming. It is a wonderful sight to see.
Photo Credit: Andrew Holmes, http://www.aholmesphoto.net/
For me the most important factor in managing a dog on the trails is how it relates to humans. This includes people with a dog of their own. I have had many experiences where I wasn’t comfortable with the behavior of someone elses dog, and it disrupted my experience. I will admit that I struggle with how other people feel about seeing a dog without a leash. Even though I know she doesn’t have an agressive bone in her body, they don’t know that. I have settled on a position where I am confident in Penny’s behavior and do everything I can to give space for others and their pets. Penny and I will happily step off a trail or a sidewalk to give others room. This has led to Penny just doing it naturally. She knows that it is not greeting time. She can even act almost snobish to people who want to pet her. “Uh, excuse me. I am working here. I don’t have time for you to pet me.” In the end, I will never be able to make everyone comfortable, and I carry a leash with me all the time so that I can put it on if anyone seems uncomfortable with her.
If you want to move to an off leash setup with your dog, I highly recommend ecollars and specifically the Educator ET-400. Just strive to get to lowest shock level possible. If you are using it as a punishment rather than an attention getter, you aren’t doing it right.
If you have questions about ecollars or any other dog related questions, I am happy to do my best to answer them. You can write me at DaveS@TopOutAdventures.com.
About the Author:
Dave Smithey is the owner and a guide for Top Out Adventures. His passion for the outdoors and people comes from his experiences as an ultra runner and mountaineer. You can contact him at DaveS@TopOutAdventures.com. He would love to hear about your adventures.