it is maybe 100 yards to a small creek. we walk down the same path off leash every day, several times a day. this gets the puppy used to the path and they are familiar with it and know which way we always go. after a week or two they start to feel pretty confident and bold. they will start running ahead. when they get out of sight i jump off the path and hide. they will know their name by then and i call them while hiding.
it only takes a couple times and they will continually stop and check around to make sure i am in sight. this lesson 