Reign-in Rover's Roaming

Today's TMJ 4 anchor Michelle McCrady invited Able and to demonstrate the keys to controlling your dog off-leash. Here are some of the tips I shared on Sunday, October 21, 2007.

OFF-LEASH TRAINING FUNDAMENTALS

• When your dog is leashed, use the leash to train, not to restrain.

• Practice hands-free control.

• Look for safe challenges in which you give and enforce commands when your dog least expects them.

• Don’t repeat commands or take obedience for granted.

• Find several ways to effectively correct bad behavior and congratulate great behavior.

• Anticipate problems and don’t take chances.

OFF-LEASH CONTROL QUIZ
Does your dog:
1. Listen when he gets around to it, or if there is nothing better to do?
2. Lose emotional control around guests, other dogs, children, rabbits, squirrels, or birds?
3. Does he get excited or fixated on his agenda, and strain at the leash or become hard to handle?
Yes responses indicate training weaknesses that must be remedied to achieve off-leash control.