Off-Leash Freedom Program
A 6-week progression that builds calm, reliable off-leash control through positive reinforcement. The e-collar is 100% opt-in and, if used, is paired with food, toys, and praise—never punishment.
Serving Bassett & Southwest Virginia • (276) 229-2625
Two Ways to Transform Your Dog
6-Week Board & Train
Your dog lives with us for total transformation—then we hand you the keys for real-world success.
- Full immersion training in distraction-rich environments
- Daily structured training, rest, and decompression
- Perfect for reactivity, off-leash goals, or total resets
- Weekly progress updates with photos/videos
- Multiple handler transfer sessions at your real-world locations
Best for: Busy owners, serious behavior issues, or dogs needing intensive work away from home distractions.
6-Week Private Lessons
Your dog stays home. We work together weekly with customized training plans and ongoing support.
- Weekly 60-min sessions at your home or training locations
- Hands-on coaching for you AND your dog
- Customized homework plans based on your lifestyle
- Text/email support between sessions for questions
- Lifetime follow-up guidance after graduation
Best for: Owners who want to be deeply involved in training and have time for daily practice.
Both programs follow the same proven curriculum. The difference is whether your dog trains with us full-time or you work together at home with weekly coaching.
What Makes This Program Different
E-Collar is 100% Optional
No pressure to use an e-collar. Many dogs succeed with reward-based training and long-line work alone. If you choose to use one, we show you how to do it humanely.
- • Correct fit and lowest effective level only
- • Always paired with rewards—never punishment
- • Functions like a "tap on the shoulder"
- • You decide if it's right for your dog
Real-World Reliability
We don't just train in perfect conditions. We proof skills where you actually need them: trails, parks, busy neighborhoods, around other dogs and distractions.
- • Trails, parks, storefronts, sidewalks
- • Distance × Duration × Distractions layered progressively
- • Neutrality around people, dogs, and surprises
- • Skills that hold when it matters most
Lifetime Guidance
Training doesn't end at graduation. You get lifetime text/email support for questions, setbacks, and continued growth.
- • Text/email check-ins anytime
- • Troubleshooting support for life
- • Home setup and maintenance plans
- • We're in this for the long haul
The 6-Week Journey
Here's exactly what happens each week, whether your dog boards with us or trains with you at home through private lessons.
Week 1 — Reset & Relationship
Building trust, engagement, and the foundation for everything that follows.
- • Decompression & routine — Creating calm through structure and predictability
- • Marker timing & engagement games — Making training fun and clear
- • Foundation obedience — Sit, Down, Place, structured leash walks
- • E-collar introduction (if chosen) — Proper fit, finding working level, pairing with rewards
Week 1 Goal: Your dog is settled, engaged, and understands the training game.
Week 2 — Skills & Structure
Adding duration, building confidence, and refining communication.
- • Duration work — Longer holds on Sit/Down/Place
- • Calm handling — Collar grabs, paw touches, vet-prep exercises
- • Confidence building — New surfaces, sights, and sounds
- • E-collar pairing (if chosen) — Gentle use on recall and heel for clarity
Week 2 Goal: Reliable basics with calmer, more thoughtful daily behavior.
Week 3 — Recall & Real-Life Manners
Building bombproof recall and teaching everyday household manners.
- • Long-line recall work — "Come" with increasing distractions
- • Heel position & auto check-ins — Engagement during walks
- • Doorway manners — No rushing through doors
- • Polite greetings & settle routines — Calm around people and in the home
Week 3 Goal: Recall is taking root; manners show up reliably at home.
Week 4 — Distraction Proofing & Confidence
Testing skills in real-world chaos and building unshakeable confidence.
- • Field trips — Storefronts, parks, busy sidewalks, neighborhoods
- • The 3 D's layered — Distance × Duration × Distractions progressively increased
- • Early off-leash reps — In safe, fenced spaces
- • Confidence reps — Keeping your dog thoughtful, not frantic
Week 4 Goal: Skills hold under real-world pressure and distractions.
Week 5 — Off-Leash Reliability + Handler Coaching
Advanced work and your first hands-on transfer session.
- • Advanced recalls — Distance, distractions, real-world scenarios
- • Neutrality training — Passing dogs and people calmly
- • Off-leash heel and recall — Where safe and appropriate
- • First transfer session — You practice with live coaching from us
Week 5 Goal: You and your dog perform together as a team.
Week 6 — Transfer, Home Setup & Graduation
Smooth hand-off, home plan, and setting you up for long-term success.
- • Final transfer sessions — At your typical walking spots and locations
- • Home setup plan — Schedule, tools, and simple maintenance drills
- • Next steps guidance — Trail etiquette, hiking prep, sport foundations (if interested)
- • Graduation & lifetime support — You're never alone after this
Week 6 Goal: Confident off-leash partnership with a simple, sustainable upkeep plan.
What You Get Every Week
Progress Updates
Photos, videos, and detailed reports
Custom Homework
Tailored to your dog and lifestyle
Direct Support
Text/email for questions anytime
Your Daily Training Rhythm (Private Lessons)
What You'll Do Each Day
- • Two short training sessions (10-20 minutes each)
- • One decompression walk (sniffing, exploring, low-pressure)
- • 3-5 "Place" reps throughout the day for calm on cue
- • Quick notes on distractions, distance, and success rate
Training doesn't have to consume your life. Short, focused sessions build better results than marathon drills.
Optional Add-Ons
- • Trail/Hike Etiquette Session — Prepare for real outdoor adventures
- • Mini Agility & Engagement Games Pack — Fun physical and mental challenges
- • Scent-Intro Lesson — Recall around novel odors and game scents
Want to go beyond the basics? We can customize advanced work to fit your goals.
This Program Is Perfect For
Trail & Park Lovers
Dogs who need dependable recall around wildlife, hikers, and other dogs
Leash Reactivity
Turning reactive responses into calm neutrality around triggers
Confident Decision-Making
Dogs who need to think through distractions instead of reacting impulsively
High-Energy Dogs
Teaching calm engagement and impulse control instead of constant arousal
Household Manners
Calm greetings, doorway control, and polite behavior at home
Serious Owners
People ready to invest time in building a real partnership
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we have to use an e-collar?
No. It's 100% optional. If you prefer not to, we run a reward-based track with long-line proofing to build reliable recall and heel. Many dogs graduate without ever touching an e-collar.
How do you use an e-collar humanely?
We fit it correctly, find the lowest effective level, and pair stimulation with food, toys, and praise. It functions like a "tap on the shoulder" for communication—never a correction or punishment.
Will this help with reactivity?
Yes. We focus on neutrality around people and dogs, build handler engagement, and gradually add distance, duration, and distractions to reduce reactive responses and teach calm decision-making.
What results should I expect in 6 weeks?
Clear, measurable progress in recall, heel, and neutrality across real-world environments. You'll have a simple maintenance plan to keep building after graduation. Results depend on consistency and follow-through.
Board & Train or Private Lessons—which is better?
Board & Train: Best for serious issues, busy owners, or dogs needing immersion away from home distractions. Private Lessons: Best for owners who want to be deeply involved and have time for daily practice. Both follow the same curriculum.
What gear do we need?
We provide a starter gear checklist at the beginning: long-line, place mat, rewards pouch, and (if you choose) e-collar recommendations. We help you get the right tools for your dog.
What happens after graduation?
You get lifetime text/email support for questions, setbacks, and continued growth. Training is a journey—we stay with you for the long haul.
Is this program right for puppies?
This program is designed for adolescent and adult dogs. For puppies (under 6 months), we recommend our Puppy Starter Program, which focuses on foundation work and socialization without the intensity of off-leash training.
Ready for Real Off-Leash Freedom?
Let's build a calm, confident partnership—on- and off-leash. Whether you choose Board & Train or Private Lessons, you'll get the same proven system that creates real-world results.
Leash Legacy K9 Training • Bassett, Virginia • Serving Southwest VA