Here are a few photos of Thane in action during our 20 some odd dog, leash free hike. Thane was the only husky and people were shock that he could be off leash and could respond to my recall.
THIS IS ANOTHER VICTORY FOR THE HUSKY NATION!

I hardly consider a 7 month old dog being off-leash on a hike with other dogs a "victory for the husky nation."

Looks like a nice hike and that you had a lot of fun.

Koda wrote:

I hardly consider a 7 month old dog being off-leash on a hike with other dogs a "victory for the husky nation."

Looks like a nice hike and that you had a lot of fun.

+1 for Tori...fwiw, my male had fantastic recall and then BOOM he didn't. Now he's just a normal husky that can't be trusted off leash.

Yea kale was a gem until he hit 10-11 months, then I was invisible when we're we outside. Just be careful and vigilant.

Looks like a really fun time!

Freaking hell. Really? Here? Everywhere? It does get tiresome.





At least someone gets to enjoy some run around free time.




My husky doesn't bolt out open front doors. So there.

What exactly does that mean?

Yeah my youngest, 9 months old can be off leash too, but I don't. His safety is worth more to me then him having a few extra feet of freedom.

Nice beach pics though. Looks fun.

harrise wrote:

Freaking hell. Really? Here? Everywhere? It does get tiresome.





At least someone gets to enjoy some run around free time.




.

Amen With Huskies being dogs and dogs being pack animals I think the possibility of running off was less then if alone. Would I do it probably not but I think its great when they don't.

Looks fun,

some nice pics of the whole event there. Really like the water one.

I bet thane had a good time, and thanks for sharing.

~Chris~

Koda wrote:

I hardly consider a 7 month old dog being off-leash on a hike with other dogs a "victory for the husky nation."

Looks like a nice hike and that you had a lot of fun.

That's your opinion and I respect that but I like to look at things this way....

"Victory is won not in miles but in inches. Win a little now, hold your ground, and later, win a little more."

So we'll consider this another...small victory lol. We'll make sure to train extra hard so we can gain more ground.
Thank you all for your nice comments, he and I had a blast!

xredrainx wrote:

Koda wrote:

I hardly consider a 7 month old dog being off-leash on a hike with other dogs a "victory for the husky nation."

Looks like a nice hike and that you had a lot of fun.

That's your opinion and I respect that but I like to look at things this way....

"Victory is won not in miles but in inches. Win a little now, hold your ground, and later, win a little more."

So we'll consider this another...small victory lol. We'll make sure to train extra hard so we can gain more ground.
Thank you all for your nice comments, he and I had a blast!

You're entitled to your opinion and to do what you like. So long as you are aware that I've known several huskies to be fine off-leash until they hit the teenage years. They give you a false sense of confidence and then all of a sudden they are gone. Other dogs around or not. You are free to train and treat your dog however you see fit. I just want you to do so with the knowledge of people's experience.

Yup, I don't discredit the knowledge that you, this forum, my trainer or my vet have and give me. I use it to my advantage in order to raise the best dog I can as safely as I can. My ultimate goal is for Thane to be leash free and also happy.

Hands down I'd say the majority of people here have been around dogs longer then I've been and know more then I do. I to have seen and met a great handful of huskies who never get let off lead past the teens. But I've also seen and met a few huskies who were leash free after the teenage phase so what I am working towards is not impossible, just hard. I have people who support me and others who tell me what I'm doing is a fools errand but I rather look like a fool who has failed then a loser who never tried. Especially when the goal is attainable.

Don't worry Tori I will not take your advice lightly nor for granted and I'll practice as safely as I can...but at the same time I will not give up on something that is possible but not many can achieve. There are going to be risks and I'm fully aware of the prices I will have to pay if something happens, so I will continue to move forward but with caution and safety in mind.

It is, as always, your decision. I'm glad that you move forward with the advice of others.

For what it's worth, I don't think anyone in the world can claim that my two aren't happier than pigs in sh*t... and they are always leashed except in fenced areas. Being leash-free is a convenience for me, not a necessary risk to take for my dogs' happiness. For me, being leash-free is not worth the risk of losing, injuring, or potentially killing my dogs.

Lots of true information & advice here - nothing that actually contradict others too much. Everybody knows their own husky better than everybody else. Keeping others' advice in mind while keeping your own husky yours is the way to go I think.

I know of one owner around my area that walks his husky of 13 years off leash - and the dog has been off leash since he was around 6 months or so. So it can be done. Kudos to you for trying (and heeding the advice of others), let us know how it turns out.

P.S. love the pics - where was the hike trail?

Valens Conservation which I believe is just in Hamilton or Cambridge.

Not too far from me (Mississauga)... Is this something you guys do often or was it a one-off?

We haven't taken Stark hiking yet, but it's definitely on our to-do list.

My trainer told me about it. Her and a group of trainers and students do this every 3rd weekend of each month at different locations around the gta and outside it. I believe the next one is at Dundas or something I'm waiting for an email, I also believe its open to guest and stuff to,

Doggie pack hikes are the best way to let your huskies off leash, because they stay around the action. huskies are bred to run, so they need to run. If i had a doggie GPS, i bet i would find that my dog runs 5 miles for every 1 mile the people do on most hikes. This is probably going to go down as the longest running argument about huskies ever. To each their own.

Anyway, keep up the doggie pack hikes...especially with other dogs that stay real close to their owners, he is in his learning phase and can learn from the pack.

My only issue with people having their dogs off leash, is what happens when it does go wrong. how many people do it and then come back saying "My dog got out," or "Help! My dog is lost." I just don't want someone to come here with another lost dog story.

I forgot to mention one shining husky point. No matter if it's hiking with two dogs or a dozen dogs.... the huskies are ALWAYS, always, always, the dogs leading the pack!

massak wrote:

This is probably going to go down as the longest running argument about huskies ever. To each their own.

Exactly! Our dogs are as close as our own family. I think that's why people can get so protective of their own - I know I'd be just as protective over the way I'd choose to raise my kids. This is one of those things that we should just offer our advice on, but ultimately, nobody knows a person's dog better than their human so things like this will come up always and forever.

how is your off leashing doing?
i support your desire to train a husky to off leash walking, im off leash with my husky from 2.5 month to now his 16 month old and doing great, he got great recall and he always keep me on his eyes..
i have few friends with huskys too and they all walk them off leash, its just a thing about persistence and consistency

He is perfectly fine leash free when we hike. Since 10 weeks I have been training him and have him "check in" with me on our hikes and to this day he still does it be it alone or in a group. He will stay within line of sight (even when chasing bunnies or squirrels) and if I call him in he will come in. I'm not worried really my training and constant practice has paid off. I would like his recall to be more instantaneous but I think that's me being a tad overzealous at the moment.

He is like fine wine...gets better with age lol.

im glad to hear that, keep it up that way