Dog walking – off leash or to heel? Ballito puppy trainer shares all

You know the feeling when you are walking your dog to heel and suddenly a super-excited Labby comes racing up to you to say hello – no leash or owner in sight.

Simbithi-based 1-2-1 Personal Puppy Training owner Belinda Bolte said off-lead walking is great, but it all depends on your relationship with your dog.

“I am an advocate for off lead, however your dog needs to have good foundation training and solid recall skills,” said Bolte, who has two Weimaraners and believes in positive reinforcement.

“When a dog is off lead, it is up to the owner to manage and understand their dog. If you do any kind of off lead walking, you have to give your dog full attention and watch them. This is not the time to have a chat with your friends. You have to be responsible.”

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Besides keeping a hawk’s eye on your own dog, Bolte said you have to be aware of other dogs as well.

“If you see a dog on lead approaching, I would put mine on lead quickly because not every dog will want a different dog in its space. Remember, excitement can lead to fighting in seconds, so keep calm.”

She said learning to understand your dog’s body language was key.

“Dogs generally respond as dominant or submissive when they meet other dogs or people. Look out for snarling, lifting the lip, panting or yawning.

“Submissive dogs may put their tail between their legs or lie on their back. Dominating dogs will probably lift their tail high and quite stiff and stand over the other dog to try get it to be submissive and calm.”

Regardless of your dog’s breed, she said it is important to remember that every dog was different and comes from a different background.

“Every dog has to be taken on its own merits, especially rescue dogs who may have had a troubled past. You need to take the time to learn your dog’s limitations and put the energy into training them so that you can assess quickly if your dog is comfortable or not in any given situation and take action accordingly.”

At the same time Bolte said you have take responsibility, especially if your dog is off leash, in case something happens.

“As a dog owner, take a photo of your vet card and keep it on your phone to show vaccinations are up to date in case they bite another dog or human. According to the Rabies protocol, you have to start the treatment if there is no proof of vaccination. As a responsible pet owner, you should pay for any medical bills for all parties involved if your dog was at fault.”

She said she was hoping to implement the overseas yellow ribbon campaign locally soon, which is a simple system to show if your dog is approachable or not.

“If a dog has a yellow ribbon attached to his or her lead or collar, it means caution – do not approach them directly and give them three to five metres space.”

When it comes to exercise, she prefers a combination of structured heel walking, loose lead walking and, if the space allows it and your dog and you are confident, off leash too.

“Letting your dog run wild off lead is not what exercising your dog is about. When dogs are walking to heel, they are working. Having the right equipment is paramount when it comes to walking – I always recommend the Rogs obedience or control collar with the little chain as this is the best piece of training equipment in my opinion. “

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