22/09/2026
Chester’s Real-World Road to Freedom 🌊🐄🐾
Look at Chester out walking in this video. To his left, the River Lagan (he's a complete water baby who had to learn where river access is allowed!). To his right, cows (he’s not a fan of "The Moos," but is well-travelled around mountain livestock). Ahead, a couple walking their dog.This is an environment with, real-world distractions, yet he is navigating it off-lead with calm, relaxed focus.
This isn't an overnight gimmick. It does show that reward-based training gives dogs true, safe freedom. Here is the raw truth behind Chester's journey:
🌱 Off-Lead from 11 Weeks Old
His freedom started on day one in quiet parks. Now, I know this scares many people, but back then, I couldn’t take a p*e without him wanting to be right by my side, so I was fairly confident he’d stay close outside! We spent that early developmental window exploring and teaching him that checking in with me was the most rewarding choice in the world.
⚠️ Note: Freedom is earned. If your dog currently prioritises the environment over you, use a long line and harness in quiet spaces while you actively build engagement first.
🏡 Early Loose-Lead Foundations.
While he enjoyed freedom in open parks, structured lead walking was practiced early around the garden and local streets. Having previously owned two Border Collies, I knew the importance of getting a dog comfortable with traffic before adolescence hits and breed instincts kick in. With Chester, I was highly aware of his natural spaniel drive to hunt at a distance, so we built loose-lead walking as a solid habit early to prevent frantic pulling before it could even start.
📉 The Adolescent Long Line
When the adolescent hormone surges hit and his developing brain started testing boundaries, we didn't panic or restrict him to a tight, short lead. We adapted. We used a long line to grant him controlled autonomy while keeping everyone safe. I chose to keep Chester intact which always comes with an added layer of community responsibility so working hard on his recall and giving him zero opportunity to rehearse the wrong choices was vital.
🐶 Meeting Real Social Needs
Dog are a social creature and Chester loves dogs more than people. He is allowed to interact with the regular dogs we see each morning when it is safe and appropriate; he is never expected to rigidly march past like a robot but can walk on and ignore when asked. Because we have carefully rehearsed both on- and off-lead social scenarios, he remains entirely relaxed when navigating real-world challenges.
🤝 Common Courtesy & Flexibility
Today, Chester enjoys off-lead freedom when it is safe for everyone. If we see an approaching dog on a lead, I clip him back on. Could he pass perfectly off-lead? Yes. But that simple physical action reduces stress for the oncoming owner and is basic common courtesy.
Is Chester 100% bombproof? No. Nothing is. We are dealing with a sentient being with a mind and a thought process of their own.
On top of that, he is a fully intact male dog and definitely my most spirited! If he picks up the scent of an ovulating female in the near distance, his head hits the air and he moves like he’s about to collect a winning Euro millions ticket. 🫣
Thankfully, it’s rare and he has never been a Usain Bolt sprinter type of guy; he moves more like an Olympic race walker, so he is easy to retrieve but while this one situation may make his recall iffy he does always stands and wait when asked. When this happens, it simply means our session is over and we go home, as he will struggle to listen or relax and I don’t want to walk like an Olympic racer following scent all over the park.
But I would never dream of using an tool to suppress his natural biology. It is my choice to keep him entire, so it is entirely my job to remain vigilant and manage his environment.
Real freedom isn't about suppressing a dog; it is about building deep emotional regulation and navigating the world step-by-step. When you invest in the connection, the reliability follows naturally.
