Program fit
Who Functional Off-Leash is for
Off-leash freedom is earned twice: once by the dog, once by the owner who has to call it back past a goose, a cyclist and someone else's picnic. Functional Off-Leash is the three-week program for the dog that already walks reasonably on a leash and is ready for the next thing. Here is the owner it fits, the dog it fits, and the two neighbouring programs the consultation weighs against it.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
The right owner
Built for the owner who intends to unclip the leash somewhere real.
The owner this fits has a destination in mind: a river pathway with the dog trotting ahead and coming back when called, an off-leash park where recall has to compete with other dogs, a trail or campsite where dogs are allowed off lead and the leash stays in the pack. Those places lean on one skill, a recall that holds around distractions, and that is the centre of the three weeks. The dog should already have decent manners; this program builds on them.
Alongside recall, the program works on off-leash house manners, socialization, distraction training and basic behaviour modification, so the work covers what the dog does after it comes back, not just the return. An Educator remote collar is included. It is always introduced properly, never as a shortcut past teaching, and owner education on using every tool properly is part of the package, because a remote collar in untrained hands is just a button.
- Recall around real distractions
- Off-leash house manners too
- Educator remote collar included
- Owner education on every tool
Either side of it
A program on either side, chosen at the consultation.
If the dog still drags on a leash, lunges at whatever moves, or treats heel as optional, the recall work has little to stand on. On-Leash Foundations, two weeks at $1,865 + GST, covers loose-leash walking, heel, sit, stay, down and place around everyday distractions, and comes with a free follow-up session, lifetime phone and email support, and a slip lead and training collar. It is the smaller program, and when it is the right one, that is what we will recommend.
Above it sits Advanced Off-Leash: four weeks at $3,940 + GST, which works on off-leash heel, advanced recall, distance commands and public manners, with a remote collar and two free follow-up sessions. Functional is built for the dog that needs to come back and behave at the park; Advanced is built for the owner who wants the dog along everywhere, markets included. We decide which one, or neither, at the consultation after meeting the dog.
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
Does a dog need basic obedience before off-leash training?
In practical terms, yes. Functional Off-Leash is built for a dog with decent manners already, because recall around distractions is layered on top of leash skills, not instead of them. If the leash is still a fight, we will talk about On-Leash Foundations at the consultation.
Is an e-collar included in the off-leash program?
An Educator remote collar is included in Functional Off-Leash, along with owner education on using it properly. Skills are taught with markers and rewards first, the collar is introduced properly, and you learn it at the handover so it is used the same way at home.
What is the difference between Functional and Advanced Off-Leash?
Functional Off-Leash is three weeks at $3,030 + GST, focused on reliable recall around distractions and off-leash house manners. Advanced Off-Leash is four weeks at $3,940 + GST and adds off-leash heel, distance commands and public manners, with two follow-up sessions. The consultation recommends one based on what you need the dog to do.
Can a dog go off leash at the park after this program?
That is what the program works toward, and we will not promise it on a web page. The follow-up session and the owner education are where you can raise how the recall is holding up, and we will tell you plainly what we see. Check that the specific park allows dogs off leash before you unclip.
Keep reading
Earn the off-leash walk
Book a consultation and tell us where you want to unclip the leash. We will recommend the program the dog is ready for.
From real owners
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Real Northline dogs