Letting puppies off lead

It is 4:15am, and I can't sleep so thought I would come back and ask a question

When is the best time to let your dog off the lead?
(Just in this instance I am talking about puppies)

Some say as soon as you get them so they learn to follow you before the "stage" kicks in , others say not to let them off until they have a solid recall.

I didn't let alfie off straight away (was too nervous ) so was after a few weeks, and I know I didn't ingrain it into him as much as I should have... he is a lot better now 95% of the time, and for the other 5% he gets the long line on.

Personally if I got a second dog I would want to let it off straight away as Alfies recall will be verging on 100% by then as that is my main aim with him at the moment), and because small puppies do seem to follow... but was reading before about some people saying they shoudln't be off lead until they know a good recall so was wondering if I was wrong?

I am not talking about always having them off lead - by "off lead straight away" I mean off lead from day one, but a long line goes on when they get that bit older and selective hearing kicks in

Just wondering thoughts?

If that makes no sense I do apologise - I am shattered but can't seem to sleep!

I have always had my pups off lead in safe places from day one and practised recall with tasty treats from day one too.

Sorry you can't sleep ... but at least there is always Dogsey to keep you company

I too always have my pups off from day oneworking on a good solid recall

I was wondering this myself as my last dog was already 6mth when i got him so had been "trained" but Harry is 6weeks so upto me to train him. He will be going for his 1st walk at 10 weeks he follows me around everywhere as it is and crys when he doesnt know where i am.

So would you recommend letting him off somewhere safe on his 1st outing???

I let my dogs off lead from day 1, with my youngest dog this was at 7 weeks; at that stage they are very dependant on you and think you are "God" (enjoy this period it does not last for very long)!

Eventually Velcro dog will transform in to Bogoff dog, but by this time, if you have done you work properly, the dog is conditioned to return.

Of coure at around 6 - 10 months depending upon breed the terrible "kevins" often appear, but you just continue.

I have never used long lines on my dogs as I have never needed to (but I also hate carrying "things") so I guess my abhorrence of lines makes me concentrate on recall training very hard!

I am not sure what "safe" is but I go to the Wiltshire Downs; thousands of acres of emptiness is guaranteed to make a pup think it had better stick close to its owner!

As soon as i can, i like to do it in a woody area, or narrow area on a "path" as opposed to a big open field

I go for the as soon as possible theory, give them a little bit of time indoors (whilst jabs are settling) so that you know they are responding and interested then just choose the places carefully to start, building up gradually.

I see an older couple with a 4 month old springer pup, they previously had a leonberger, but they are too scared to let the pup off lead at the moment, the little dog is running around on an extendable lead, and very excitable, I really feel for them in making the decision of when to let her off lead.

Part of me thinks if you do it from day one then it saves making a decision about when to do it later on!!!

I've been giving this a lot of thought lately for when I eventually get my puppy. I don't know what I'd do. I'd want to prevent it thinking that it's ok to run off and up to every dog it sees. Id also want to check what the other dog was like before letting it socialise (we have a lot of poorly socialised dogs around here) and not sure how I'd do that if it was off lead. I'd never forgive myself if it decides to leg it, got nailed by an aggressive dog and ended up so traumatised that I ended up with another DA dog! Yea I may be paranoid, but I don't want my puppy to have the same issues as Cain.

I do it from day one too and have never used a long line either. when the kevin stage starts to put in an appearance I just step up a gear with the training. All my recall training although started at home is done around whatever distractions are around.

Theres a couple near me who used to have a springer who was always on lead, never really made me thing otherwise as i always saw them road walking.

The springer either got rehomed or died as I never saw them with it again but now they have a stunning cocker spaniel pup, who is constantly on a short lead, having now met the guy in the park and said hello to him he has told me that he will never be letting his dog off the lead as 'he wont come back'

I have suggested a flexi just to give pup some freedom and even offered to loan him my smaller flexi and/or my longline and do some free recall training with the pup but they have all been declined Hes so desperate to play with my lot and the other dogs at the park that now I make a point of keeping away from him as its not fair that hes not allowed to play