15/11/2025
🎓 5 Training Tips for a Safer Walk 🎊
🐕 Giving your dog the freedom to run off-lead is a wonderful experience, but ensuring you're both safe is a priority!
This makes a reliable recall and good impulse control incredibly important.
Here are the five essential commands we use ourselves and believe every dog should master for safe, off-lead adventures. 🐾
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1️⃣ "Come Here" or "Here" This is the most important recall command. Your dog must come back to you immediately, no matter the distraction.
️🔹️Practice in a secure, low-distraction area first.
🔹️Use high-value treats and lots of praise.
🔹️Never call your dog to punish them, as this will create a negative association.
🔹️As your confidence grows, practice in busier locations to reinforce these skills.
2️⃣ "Wait" or "Waiting" This command lets your dog know to stay in place and is crucial for preventing them from approaching hazards.
🔹️Start by teaching "Wait" before going through doorways, before meals, or for a treat. Use "Ok" as a release command.
🔹️Gradually generalize this to outdoor environments.
🔹️This is invaluable on hikes for letting others pass or near a hazard.
🔹️You can also use "Sit" with "Wait" for even more impulse control.
3️⃣ "Leave It" or "Leave" This tells your dog to ignore an item, from discarded food to wildlife.
🔹️Practice with low-value items first.
🔹️Reward them with something better when they obey.
🔹️Master this at home, then bring outside into busier environments, helping to reinforce impulse control and strengthen recall.
4️⃣ "With Me" This asks your dog to walk closely by your side, even without a lead. It's useful on crowded paths or when passing other dogs.
🔹️Keep it positive and reward them for staying near you.
🔹️Try recalling your dog ("Come Here"), putting their lead on, then using "With Me" as you continue walking, to help them understand.
🔹️Repeating this several times during a walk will help to reinforce this positive behaviour.
5️⃣ "Check-In" (Unspoken Command) This is a trained behaviour, not a verbal command. However, this can be one of your most powerful tools, as it ensures your hound is listening for their next command.
🔹️Encourage your dog to voluntarily look back at you or return periodically.
🔹️Watch for their glance and reward them every time they do this on their own.
🔹️Use treats at first, then move to more verbal rewards such as "Well Done"
🔹️This builds a strong, natural habit of staying connected with you.
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✅ ️Mastering these commands takes patience and consistency, but the payoff is a safer, more relaxing, and enjoyable walk for you both
As your hound's abilities increase, you will find that using these commands becomes second nature, enabling you to link commands like "Come Here" and "With Me" to recall your dog and have them walk by your side.
We can't wait to hear stories of all your progress and your hound's adventures in the future! 🐶
