Hi
i have two three month old pups. I have them walking out on a leash but I am aware that I need to get them acclimatised to running loose.

At the moment I work them separately as I found the concentration was better ( together couldn't be worse they just want to play!!!)

I have a lunge line ( actually a long rein from the horses as its light nylon) and have been advised to start with this on the ground.

I am nervous that we have 25 acres and their comfort zone is likely to be different from mine to them!

Any advice welcome!

Oh and I also have to bear in mind the horses are inquisitive.......

I've never bothered with lunge lines to start with they are off lead all the time, obviously in safe areas. If they wander off and don't come when called, runaway from them if, hide from them, panic them a bit, let them run around desperately looking for you then call them to you.
NEVER chase after them if runaway, you will spend the rest of their chasing them while they anything know you will be following where ever you go.

I personally think the lunge line will give you more problems than solutions with Saluki's, deny them freedom they will crave it. This is when they start running off and not coming back, knowing when they return their freedom will be lost.

How about the rest of you guys and girls what are your thoughts and opinions?

I agree with Mark. My saluki's have been off lead from day one! Even my older rescues they have never ran away! I find the more freedom you give them the better they are. My house backs onto woods that lead over the moors. Full of deer and fox ect. My lot will never run away and only go in the woods with me. They can get out the garden if they want but they have no need as they know they will get their run as a group twice a day! I have never used a lunge line either. My lot are not perfect but I haven't had any problems with them. The salukis chased a deer today. I just whistled and they came back. Didn't panic just walked the same was as I was going! I have never had two pups at the same time, I think that could be tricky as they will watch and influrence each other. I am sure I would still walk the two together, with extra walks on their own!
Good luck! I am so jealous I have always wanted two pups at the same time!

Let me just preface this by saying my dogs are not really 'trained.' I don't do any formal training with them; they don't 'work', I don't expect them to feed me or themselves, I just expect them to be dogs. I also expect them to act like idiots until they grow up, which, with my dogs, has been about the age of two. I have Afghans, though, and they are willful contrary things, even into old age. They like to yank your chain and get a rise out of you.

I don't use a long line; I've tried it, I thought it would be a good way to take the dogs out in the summer evenings, as there are rattlesnakes here, and nearly got my arm yanked out of the socket. I think it would be useful for areas that are not safe, due to traffic or strange dogs.

Really, the only words of advice I can offer are to bond your pup to you, so they want to come to you because you are the center of their world, and let the pup get their ya-yas out on a regular basis. A pup that gets as much exercise as it needs is going to listen better than one who is pent up and super excited about being someplace new and interesting. I don't call a pup unless they are already started towards me and they get a treat when they get to me.

Also, with my dogs, attitude is everything. If I get excited and upset because they've gotten out and run off, they will not come back, it's too much fun to watch me go ballistic. This past winter I had 6 or eight dogs get out because the gate was not properly closed and they were gone, poof! I tracked them in the dirt until I found them, called them to me and started walking back home. By the time I got home they had all joined up with me. I do the same thing if I take a dog out and they don't want to come back home; I just turn around and start home, and they will come along. I think the key is having a safe place to let them off lead; if you live the city it's much harder.

Thanks for the advice. I actually feel alot more confident now about letting them off lead. I have been walking them out together the past two days and their attention is improving. That said I will let them loose individually as I just know they will pay attention to each other rather than me. I agree that if you deny them their freedom they will crave it and not come back, which is why I want them loose as young as possible

We have reasonable fencing at the boundaries so it is a fairly secure environment for them. That said the deer find their way through regularly enough.....

Fina saw her first hawk yesterday, the reaction was amazing, she literally froze and watched it intently until it was out of sight.

I agree with Mark, I never keep my puppies on a lead, they have all the freedom they want. I kept 2 pups last year until they were 5.5 months old before they both flew off to their new homes abroad and never had any problems with them, they came when called - it helps to have a pocket full of treats but I don't give treats all the time, just now and again. If you have bonded with the pups they want to keep close(ish) to you anyway and have a comfort zone. Usually any puppy I have just trails along behind me when I'm lead walking the adults. When I'm free running the adults the puppy goes on the lead for a while until the adults have done their main running and blown the cobwebs out then the puppy is allowed playtime with the adults. As it grows it's allowed longer running time.

At 9 months this year's puppy is running most of the time with the adults, she's as fast as the other bitches and seems to have boundless energy. I don't try recall until she looks ready to slow down a bit.

At around 7 to 9 month's old you can usually expect some sort of rebellion especially with dogs should push on the boundries/rules nip them in the bud before they become real problems be firm where needed and above all consistent.

I needn't have worried they are both loose and listening to me. I will watch for the dog rebelling however I strongly suspect the bitch will be the one pushing the boundaries!

They are simply so wuick on the uptake. its not like training, more like repetition embedding the response so its not questioned.

Totally spoiled for any other dog now :lol: