When training your dog off-leash, remain in a protected area for at least the first month of training. Continue to work on all previous commands and all new safety commands with the regular leash, the drop line, the tab, alternating in no particular pattern. As you work, test your safety devices off leash with the fence bolted. Try the “Drop” on recall, the emergency down, the serious “Come,” “No,” and “Wait.” However, do not work your dog to death or make him into a game.

You can begin to work your dog in the park. Use both the short and long lines so that when you take the drop line off, the dog is still wearing something. After he is working well on drop line, take it off and remind him immediately to heel. If he lags or moves out to the side, make a sharp correction with the tab and then praise him. Work only for a few minutes so that at the time you quit he is still working well. Do not push him into errors. Instead, build the time he will stay with you and obey you smartly without his leash and in this exciting, new environment.

When you are really confident and you are sure that your dog is sharp and obedient on all the safety commands, begin to try “Stays” and “Comes” from a distance in the park, first with the long line dragging and then with just the tab. If he is attentive and obedient now, you may begin to work him on the street.

When you first work your dog on the street with a drop line, work when the street in your area is least crowded and when traffic is lightest. First, there's the problem of distractions, which you do not need at this most difficult stage of training. Second, there's the mechanical problem of people stepping on your dropped long line, unintentionally giving your good dog a correction.

In order to fully concentrate and so that your dog can do the same, keep your first street lesson very short and work when no one is around. Of course, your drop line is dragging so that if your dog tries to run off, he will not be harmed. You will simply step hard onto the leash.

Plan at least a month for each new stage of training to make sure your dog behaves reliably even on his bad days. After a month of work in the park and a month of drop-line work on the street, you should be ready, if that is what you choose to do, to try working on the street with only the tab.

After months and months of training your dog off-leash in a fenced area, in the park, with the drop line, and with the tab, you have now mastered your dog and his behavior. He is well trained, better than most dogs you have ever seen. Now, after a run or a hike and after some good obedience work in the park, you are now ready to take your dog to a familiar, quiet street. Start with a heel exercise while holding onto the leash tab. Drop the tab and heel him for half a block. Before you get near the corner, stop, have him sit, then praise him.

Pick up the tab and heel him home. Build his confidence with each session. You may never want to work your dog on busy city streets off leash, but by now when you run your dog in the park, you are sure he will come back when you call him. In addition, if you love the idea of taking a quiet stroll with your off-leash dog on a busy city street, you are well on your way toward that goal. You have to keep working with the tab on your dog's collar and your full attention on him. Soon, this kind of practice and pleasure will become second nature to both of you.

Below are some final points to keep in mind about training your dog off-leash.

1. Your dog does not have to be off leash every minute of an off-leash walk. If you meet a friend, see a great store window or find some other tempting distraction, snap the leash on your dog until you can once more give him your full attention.

2. Always keep a leash with you, even when you plan to keep it off the dog, just in case.

3. Once in a while, remind your dog that you are the leader of the pack. The best nonviolent way to do this is with the long “Down” (one-half hour). This is problem prevention at its finest.

4. Never expect great concentration from your dog when he is all pent up and needing exercise. Always give him a good run before off-leash street work.

5. Be sure you don't get lost on one aspect of dog ownership, training, showing, control. Remember that your dog has a wide range of needs.

6. Even as your dog gets older, give him reminders of you being the leader and reviews of his training. If he doesn't use it, he'll lose it.

7. Keep the love and high spirits in your relationship with your dog. When seeking fine control, don't forget to play some games and have some laughs.

8. When training and behavior starts to look messy, don't be afraid to go back to square one and tighten everything up again, on leash.

9. Don't forget the larger goals: good communication, mutual admiration and understanding, good times, and respect.

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