In this video, I sat down for a casual off-leash training chat with Adam Skandarani (Flash of Brilliance Dog Training) inside my Small Breed Dog Training Group. We talked about why off-leash time can be so valuable—agency, confidence, resiliency, problem-solving, and just letting dogs move like dogs—while also being really honest about the risk. Long lines can be incredibly enriching (I use them a ton), and it’s completely okay if your answer is “we’re never going off leash.” We also got super practical about when not to do it: anywhere near cars, if your dog is a runner, if your dog has negative feelings about getting leashed (because they won’t come back), and honestly any time it doesn’t feel safe to you. For small dogs, we covered extra safety layers like bells to deter wildlife and alert others, choosing open terrain with good line-of-sight, and considering protective gear like a coyote vest. On the training side, we emphasized that off-leash success isn’t just “a recall word.” I loved Adam’s focus on micro-skills: clear reinforcement markers (like “here” vs “get it”), comfort with handling, yielding to leash pressure, and building a relationship so off-leash time isn’t “escaping” you. We also discussed prey drive, the “whiplash turn” to the dog’s name, and creating a fast, classically conditioned recall that’s paid one-for-one to keep it powerful.