Off leash??

[sharronhurlbut]

The gulls are pretty smart, and head off before the b's get there, the crows are something else, they wait until the dogs are close, and then fly up.
This beach is 7 miles of sand, with high banks on most of the walk.
BUT I woudn't put it past my girl to get a cat, if it was on the cliff and ran up.
I am just saying, somethings you just try. Re b's, its ALWAYS a gamble.
If it works out fine, but oh heavens, if you lose a beloved dog, I know you will wonder if its worth it.
Re streets, they are so dangerous for our breed.
These guys just don't get cars..

[AJs Human]

"These guys just don't get cars.." +10, Ms. Sharron. You nailed that one.

AJ understands trucks…I taught him by pulling his lead toward me and saying, "Look at that big truck!" So he looks for them now when we're out of ours and I rarely have to actually pull him in. He voluntarily moves closer to me when he sees a tractor-trailer moving toward him. Cars, on the other hand, might as well be large moving chew toys as far as he's concerned. He has not one ounce of fear regarding cars.

[stazy]

Okay…I'm going to bump this thread for a specific scenario. Pictured below is a dog park in Edmonton. There are no traffic concerns as the park is well isolated from the rest of the city. However, there are no fences and the park is extremely large (It has a circumference of just over 13 miles...I believe it's one of the largest dog parks in North America).

Would it be safe to let my basenji run around off leash? If cars aren't a concern what are the risks? Do I need to worry about him chasing something and not coming back?

[dmcarty]

YES - that is always always always a concern. Even the well trained dog - when presented with a wonderful opportunit (bunnie) will be so focused that they will loose site of any training - until they are tired - or finish eating said bunnie and then might look for you.

I had a dog once who got out my front door - who tried to run through a car - so focused on his prey that he didn't even notice when he broke his neck running into the side of the car.

[bcraig]

That is an amazing dog park. In my opinion, if you have access to a park like that you should eventually be able to let your Basenji off leash. I think the statment that no Basenji can be trusted off leash can be applied to any dog. No dog is totally predictable. Some Basenjis can be better than some Labs I have known. There is always a risk of letting any dog off leash. You have to work to minimize that risk.

Every Basenji is different, but our Ella went from being utterly the most untrustworthy dog ever, to one that in the right circumstances can be walked off leash with some degree of confidence. As long as roads and cars are not a concern, I think the positives outweigh the possible risks. For a year I didn't think Ella would ever be allowed off leash, but now that I see her joy in running free and feel that extra bond of having her follow me BY HER OWN CHOICE, I would not trade it, even acknowledging that there are risks. At first I was afraid she would run away and never come back but I consider that to be the least of my concerns.

We started slowly and figured out what things would give us the best chance of success. We trained the "come" command indoors for months (and still do). She is perfect indoors and spotty outdoors, but it is a start. We trained "come" outside in a safe area while she trailed a long cord. We walked with her trailing a cord many times. She was constantly rewarded and praised while off leash. For Ella the most important thing was being off leash with other dogs and their owners. It was leap of faith but I observed she would stick pretty close to other dogs when off leash. She learned a lot by doing many walks in safe areas as part of a small pack-even just one other dog. The first time I let her off leash by myself was on a walk we had done several times off leash with other dogs and it made a world of difference. I also carry plenty of treats, a tennis ball to get her attention. You will learn what works for you. Most important is never be in a hurry to get anywhere when you have your Basenji off leash.

[sonnyboy]

I think it's a personal decision each owner has to make with their basenji. Sonny is allowed off leash in only 2 places that are not fenced. The beach and 118 acre park we go to every night…

I understand there will be those that say it's never ok to let your B off leash in an unfenced area but in these two situations I've made the personal choice to allow Sonny to run & play with the other dogs. We constantly work on his recall and in the past three years he has become very good being off leash and sticking near me. I realize there is a chance for something to happen but in weighing the good vs bad in this situation the joy Sonny gets in that hour every night off leash running with his friends out way the other….

[SyberSade]

I agree with sonnyboy…......a personal decision taking into account the individual Basenjis and your individual situations. Haley was raised "off-leash" when walking in the desert away from roads, cars, etc (she'll run around and chase lizards and things but always comes right back to her "pack").....but "on leash" everywhere else. If she gets away from me accidently in our neighborhood there's no way she'll come back to me just by calling her name…....so what I do is say "OK...Come on Haley" (like it's a fun game) and I turn around and run for home. She will always then turn and run after me (it's either the "prey-drive" thing kicking in or a "pack-dog" thing). When we get to our front door safe and sound, with my heart beating SO HARD, I say a prayer of thanks!

[DebraDownSouth]

I think the positives outweigh the possible risks.

Positive to me is off leash.
Negative to me is dead dog.
I can't imagine the positive ever outweighing the possible risk. Yeah in the desert maybe. Maybe not.. not sure what there might tempt to run miles away. Not sure of any setting where keeping the dog on lead is that big of deal when there is no fence.

Perhaps with a shock collar so strong I could knock off feet if they did go after prey and wouldn't recall. I don't know, I just value keeping my dog alive more than any off leash experience that doesn't include a fence.

[Janneke]

@DebraDownSouth:

Positive to me is off leash.
Negative to me is dead dog.
I can't imagine the positive ever outweighing the possible risk. Yeah in the desert maybe. Maybe not.. not sure what there might tempt to run miles away. Not sure of any setting where keeping the dog on lead is that big of deal when there is no fence.

Perhaps with a shock collar so strong I could knock off feet if they did go after prey and wouldn't recall. I don't know, I just value keeping my dog alive more than any off leash experience that doesn't include a fence.

For me the positive, a happy dog that can run around and explore, interact normally with other dogs etc., does outweigh the negative: a possible accident.. Of course I don't let Tillo off leash everywhere, but there are no fenced places nearby, so we'll have to do it with relatively safe areas. Tillo is pretty good off leash and if I get the feeling he won't listen (anymore) I leash him. I try to avoid cars, but I have to confess that sometimes we walk pretty close to cars as well. That's a risk I'm willing to take. And in my eyes this doesn't make me an irresponsible owner.

[dmey]

Is that a river that swirls round that park?!!! That is an amazing park!! I'm pretty sure your safe there, he is definitely not going to go in the water!!.. You might loose him inside the park though!!!!

[stazy]

Yes, that's a river that loops around. Definitely one of the most isolated parks in the city. I guess my only concern is that I lose him in the park.

[curlytails]

Stazy, there is a nearby park with a very similar layout where I frequently walk my dogs. They go off-leash there, and I have seen other basenjis off leash there as well. There are no cars in sight, and the off-leash area is set far enough within the park that they're back on leash well before we ever get close to the parking lot.

I think off-leashing depends a lot on the layout, the topography (i.e., is it woodsy and hilly, or pretty flat with high visibility?), and on how well you know your dog(s). My shiba (another breed not known to be trustworthy off leash) always keeps me in sight, and he knows he doesn't have to play keepaway because off-leash runs are no longer a rarity for him. The first time he went to this park, he got so excited about being off leash, he bound over a small hill and lost sight of us. He panicked and had started to wander off in another direction by the time we followed to where we thought he was. Then we saw him behind us frantically looking around, whipping his head back and forth to find us. We called him, and he came running with his ears flattened against his head, so relieved to be reunited. That was the only scare we ever had (I think he was more afraid than we were). He's always made sure to keep us in sight ever since.

But I've found that if they run too far at a park this large, it is NOT easy to call them back with just your voice. We get lots of wind coming in from the water at this park, so that limits their recall a bit.

With Bowpi, we waited until her second month with us, always walking the same route around the park, before she was allowed to drag her leash. It became apparent that she wasn't interested in going far, so we let her roam free. Maybe it was easy with her because our shiba's a good off-leash model, and she knows she's with us. Or it's just her age and her mellow personality. She goes into little racing bursts every now and then and does huge, wide circles around us, but once that's out of her system, she's happy to trot alongside the pack.

Sometimes Bowpi gets a kick out of flushing flocks of birds from bushes, but she's smart enough to know she'll never catch them, so she doesn't chase.

We ran into a rabbit once. Five dogs gave chase, including my two, but wonder of wonders, they both actually came back when I called.

So I know it's not without risks. But given the hundreds of times we've been off-leashing without incident, I think it's worth it for my two dogs.

[MacPack]

For many years I have trained my basenjis to come to a sports whistle, the sound carries much further than a voice. We are not careless and are never off leash near traffic, but even chasing bunnies (in their youth, many years ago) they return after the chase. You have to use good sense about location and risks, but all of life is a risk, we are probably in more danger driving to the dog park (in city traffic) than we were in the wild places we used to go. 2 of my basenjis are almost totally deaf now, so we are on leash everywhere except the fenced parks now, but what joy they had in their youth, running free on beaches and fields and in mountain forests. A loud whistle and yummy treats can attract even a basenji!

That park surrounded by a river looks perfect, just be sure you have good treats and either a loud voice or a whistle. If you are in the company of other dogs (who come when called) yours will stay with the pack, and if you are alone, yours will likely stay close to you, at least at first!

[brendan1238]

all i have to say is that our basenji (his name is toby, a male, and who will be 2 years old in january) is extremely trustworthy in the house and backyard. listens very well, obeys almost every command he has been taught, and is a total velcro dog. he gets along with elliott (his 2 year old italian greyhound brother extremely well) they are the best of friends, and he is very nice with everyone and every dog he meets. i have heard nothing but the highest of praises when my parents watch hime for extended periods of time as well. looks to me and my wife for almost everything, maybe because he was a rescue at 6 months.

THAT being said…...you would think we could have him off leash. NOT A CHANCE. he doesn't mind water at all, not at all, in fact he jumps in every fountain we pass in the spring and summer. he goes nuts when he sees a squirrel or bird when on a walk. he would bolt from the car once we open the door if we don't hold him and the leash. he would be gone and would be gone for good, that is one thing i am 100% certain. he is ONLY off leash in the house, with the doors and windows/screens securely locked, or, in a a trusted dog park that we have been in 100 times and i know he can not escape from.

WHAT i am saying is that, no matter what, all basenjis are definitely not the same. anyone who has not walked their dog off leash from a very early age with excellent recall might be in for a horroffic surprise one day. be very, very careful.

oh, did i mention that about 3 weeks ago he started to bring a stuffed football to me to play fetch with. all on his own, at no initiation on my or my wife's part at all. and the reason he uses the stuffed football and not any other toy is because it's to big for our italian greyhound to play with.

smart dog. but can not be trusted off leash, that is for sure.

[LindaH]

We were very selective with the places we let Maxx off lead.

We own acreage south of Phoenix, Arizona that is 5 miles from any main road, and requires traveling nothing much more than a goat trail for the last mile or two. We used to go out there and let Maxx off lead. He was very good about staying close…he'd stop occasionally and look around to make sure he could still see us. He was also good about coming back to us when we called him.

We found another place on the Oregon Coast where there as a very deep beach far from a road, and since it was after Labor Day, the beach was empty of people. He had a ball chasing sea gulls...that is, until he finally figured out he'd never be able to catch any! Again, he was good about coming back when called.