Do dogs behave better off leash?

What is very interesting about these cases is that many of them are not reactive when off-leash. When dogs are off-leash, they can control the distance between themselves and people or dogs. The less motivated they are to become reactive. The larger the space, the more control they have and the more likely they will do other things besides becoming reactive to create that space. Conversely, it is rare for dogs under 12 weeks to be reactive on a leash. When broadly identifying this across dogs, I consider the dog’s age. If a dog is over the age of 2 years, I consider barking while on a leash for attention to be rare. Suppose the purpose of reactivity is to increase the distance between the dog and the unfamiliar person or dog, it makes sense why dogs are more reactive on leash vs. off leash when considering the level of motivation the leash creates.

Off-leashing not only gives your dog the freedom to explore their surroundings but also significantly improves their mental and physical well-being. Being tethered to a leash can be stressful for dogs. Off-leashing provides them the freedom to exercise and satisfy their curiosity, all of which contribute to a happier, more relaxed, and less stressed pet. Walking freely helps your dog to understand and learn about surroundings and social cues better. They become accustomed to public areas, learn to behave around people and other pets, and gradually realize they cannot just act on every impulse. Off-leashing facilitates social interaction with other dogs and people in the park or walking areas. This interaction can lead to better social habits, increased exercise, and improved behavior. Being off-leash in a dog park or other pet-friendly environments can provide your dog with a community-like experience. Regular and positive interactions can assist them in overcoming fears or reservations they might have around new dogs, different places, or unfamiliar humans.

The answers that come my way overwhelmingly claim that off-leash dogs are, indeed, less assertive or aggressive than on-leash dogs. A recent essay by Wes Siler in Outside Magazine called "Why Dogs Belong Off-Leash in the Outdoors" claims, If the owners are responsible, the presence of off-leash dogs can actually make the outdoors a better place. My own observations and studies about the behavior of dogs at places where they're are allowed to run freely support this contention. One point he stresses is that it's most often humans who are the problem, and the results of two studies my students and I conducted support this conclusion. In one of these studies titled "Interactions Among Dogs, People, and the Environment in Boulder, Colorado: A Case Study,” we observed that dogs really were not a major problem for wildlife, other dogs, people, or for destroying vegetation. We also learned that Many more people reported seeing other people disturb wildlife (92.2%) … significantly more often than dogs (49.7%). If someone chooses to let their dog run off-leash where it's assumed to be safe to do so, she/he needs to be responsible for their dog's behavior. Increased human responsibility would likely go a long way towards reducing existing conflict among people wanting to protect prairie dogs and those who do not.

Dogs are social creatures, and interacting with their peers can help them learn important skills, like reading body language and understanding boundaries. This exposure can result in a more balanced, well-behaved dog. Allowing your dog to run off-leash can also serve as an excellent training opportunity. It provides a chance to practice recall and obedience commands in a controlled fenced environment. Running off-leash requires a certain level of trust between you and your dog. Over time, this strengthens your bond and helps establish you as the leader, resulting in a more obedient and confident dog. With the right training and precautions, running off-leash can be a joyous and enriching experience for both you and your furry friend. Pleas ensure that your dog is well-trained, responsive to your commands, and always under control.

My dog is better behaved off leash help. When I can let him off leash in a dog park or backyard he follows me around, always comes when I call, plays with neighbors dog instead of getting defensive and barking. When he is on leash he is pulling all the time, wants to go in any opposite direction to where we are meant to be going and barks at other dogs. I’m conflicted of training him to heel because I like that he wants to explore and sniff things on our walks using his own will and not just walk boringly beside me but it would be nice to not get pulled.