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Message: [QUOTE="CL82, post: 2788469, member: 44"] Depends on the dog a bit. If you have a dog that responds to reward more than sanction you let that guide you. Dogs need a lot of exercise. The bigger the dog the more exercise they need. You are setting yourself (more so than the dog) up to fail if you take them off the lead when they have pent up energy. So for my dog, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, I started out walking her at a normal pace and let her 'do her business.' Then I picked up the pace for about a mile, fast walking, slow jogging to force her into a canter. Once the energy was burned off. I kept the pace up but let the lead go slack. When she stretched it, I'd tighten it back up, which made her heel. The reward was the slack in the leash over time, she learned that I wanted her to walk with me. Once she got that I took off lead at a stretch alongside a stream. Letting her walk between me an the stream. If she crossed the path, I called her to back. If she got too far away, I called her back. If she didn't come right away. I'd start that slow jog and fall right into step with me. Dogs are pack animals. You can exploit that. Now this walk (@five miles) is her favorite. I let off and she runs into the stream to play, but will stay with me. Sometimes I have to remind her by "calling her" (a clicking sound, like the noise you'd make to a horse, then a short whistle, or finally (and rarely) "Come." It worked out pretty well. [IMG]http://www.notinthedoghouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Rhodesian-Ridgeback_5246a0971aa27.jpg[/IMG] [/QUOTE]

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