A dog hears the sound of the snap swivel clicking when the leash is removed and the dog runs away. The click
signals, "You are free to run away."
Solution
While holding the leash slack and out of sight behind you, reach down and click the snap swivel, but don’t
take it off. If the dog gets up, you can teach the dog that the sound no longer means, "You are free to run away."
Reason 2 - Leash off means freedom
A dog hears the sound of the snap swivel clicking and sees and feels the leash coming
off and the dog runs away. The sound, sight and feel say, "You are free."
Solution
Put two leashes on the dog and, while holding your backup leash slack
and hidden behind you, take the decoy leash off and toss it out in front of the dog. Your dog will learn that the leash off
no longer means, "I’m free."
Reason 3 - Collar off means freedom
A dog feels the collar being taken off and the dog runs away. The feel signals, "You
are free to run away."
Solution
Put two collars on the dog and then, while holding your backup leash slack and hidden
behind you, take the decoy collar off and toss it out in front of the dog. Your dog will learn that the collar off no longer
means, "I’m free."
Reason 4 - The head halter is removed
A dog walked on a head halter knows when it is on and when it is off.
Solution
If a head halter is used to control the dog during walks, understand that the dog is being
restrained (nothing wrong with that) but not being trained to mind when the head halter is removed. Restraining a dog behind
a fence or using a head halter works as long as the restraint is in place. Restraining is not training for off-leash reliability.
Reason 5 - Constant tension and tugging on the leash tell the dog the leash is on
When the leash is removed, the absence of the tension or tugging lets the dog know,
"You are off leash." Using a retractable leash with tension on it, or keeping tension on a tight leash is fine for walking
and exercising the dog. But, if the dog is always pulling, the leash will always be tight, won’t it?
Solution
Yes, if the dog is pulling, it will be tight and that is why "Heeling Free" uses the highly
effective "North South" technique to teach dogs first not to pull and then to mind, even when the leash is off.
