How I decide whether to let my dog off leash

For our first four years together, my blue heeler Scout was almost always on some form of leash. Since we moved into our converted van, she’s had more off-leash time than ever! This is largely because we finally have access to environments where it’s appropriate for her to be untethered (something lacking in our previous apartment and house neighborhoods).

While I love watching my dog run freely, there’s a time, place, and risk assessment to approach it safely. Here’s how I decide whether or not to let her off leash in a given situation.