Do you walk your dog on a leash?

Yes? No? Sometimes?

I always walk my dogs on leashes. I put them on extra extra long ones when we're somewhere besides a sidewalk but I am just not comfortable letting them off because A. they are still intact (which is reason enough to keep them on a leash regardless of anything else) and B. Spanky is overly friendly and gets easily excited. He has been attacked twice due to him wanting to play and other dogs even though I was told they were friendly just snap. So wee Spanky, for his own saftey, is never let off for that reason too.

How about you guys? What are your reasons for what you do? How do you guys feel about other dogs that are off leash? How about the dogs that are let off leash but don't listen to their owners?

Always. There is too much that can happen off leash. If we were way out in the country and a long ways from a road, then yeah. But just on our regular walks and such, they are always on a leash.

As far as other off leash dogs. I don't mind them if they are obedient. Its the off leash ones that come charging at you while their owner stands and yells uselessly from the yard that tick me off.

Depends. She's got a good recall down. But if she's in an area where theres lots of other dogs/people, I would keep her on leash(6ft) till she was "calmed" down a bit and gotten used to things.

Basically like said, she has a good recall.

I think it's great other people have taken the time to train a good recall because their dog benefits and the owners.

That should NOT be. You shouldn't let your dog off leash unless it's got a solid recall. And if it doesn't you need to practice off leash in a place that the dog is used to and doesn't have many distractions, but not home. IMO.

All my dogs from now on will be taught a solid recall and won't use retractible leashs.

Again, this is just all my opinion.

Always. If Charlie sees a cat, it's a dead kitty if he's not on a leash.

Oh, lemme clear up my post some....walking her off leash would be in a place that's safe, away from cars, streets, ect. Not just on the side walk or in town or places like that. hehe.

Also, I've taught my dog to "come and check in" with me and normally she won't get without me 20-30ft of her.

I always use a leash. I have a long one for if we're just running about and he ought to get some exercise instead of standing right beside me, but usually I use the short one (always the short one in public). He doesn't have a very solid recall, especially not around birds and squirrels and deer... and we encounter many of each during our walks.

Once he has a solid recall, off-leash walking is definitely a possibility... just not in any sort of crowded area. Doing off-leash walking unless the dog is solidly heeling with you is a big no-no IMO if you are in a public place.

Whats the deffinition of "puplic place"?

I know a few great parks that don't get that many people, but it's a great walking area with atleast 10 acres.

I mean in town where there aren't any real grassy areas, only sidewalks, buildings, or private yards/gardens... a suburban/city neighborhood... near shops... A park is okay, or a large grassy area even if it's in town.

I just feel very uncomfortable when people walk their off leash dogs in neighborhoods and such, where they are running around the parking lot and whatnot. I don't know what kind of recall they have, their temperament, or whether they are vaccinated or carrying communicable diseases. In the vast majority of cases I would prefer to stay out of arm's reach, but if owners have their dogs off-leash and aren't paying attention or haven't trained their dogs well enough I can't. On-leash, well behaved dogs with friendly owners I might chat with or give the dog some love... but an off-leash dog approaching me because their owner won't call it back or is ineffectively doing so is very alarming.

I'm not ragging on you, Liz... and these are just my opinions.

I ALWAYS walk my dogs on a leash.

I personally find it irresponsible to not leash your dog, regardless if it is trained or not.

Sh!t happens and the dog could be hurt or hurt someone or something else.

I actually get pretty p!ssed when I see people walking their dogs off leash.

She's on her lead when walking on the pavement but in the park, woods, fields ect shes off her lead.

Always, no exceptions. If we're not in a fenced area, the Horsemen are on leashes.

Zeus has no recall to speak of. When he catches a scent or sight of a small animal, he's off like a rocket.

Voodoo has a wonderful recall, but he can also be dog aggressive. And I don't want to jeopardize somebody else's pet because my dog was running around loose. Also, he looks very much like a pit bull, and people tend to panic and freak out if they see him running loose. The last thing I want is for someone to shoot my dog!---a definate possibility in Texas.

I personally do not like off-leash dogs in urban areas. There's almost always a LEASH law in populated areas nowdays. To me, it's very disrespectful of others to deliberately disregard it. I mean, does it really hurt your dog to be on a leash when out in public spaces? A well-trained dog should be staying within leash-length of you in public anyway, so what difference should the leash make?

Always on leash. Bear likes to investigate too much off leash. Dixie's still training to heal on leash. She's getting pretty good but every once in a while she wants to take off. She's got a solid recall but still. No way I'd walk them off leash. Even on the private dirt road I live on. On leash at all times.

Always, no matter what, and I get really annoyed when I see ppl walking their dogs w/o one.

Kai is always on a leash. He has a decent recall, but it's not proofed against rabbits and the like. We are working on it, but I don't know if it will ever be worth the risk for me.

She is on her lead in town situations or in situations I deem it necessary - roads, livestock etc.

She ALWAYS gets off lead time.

That is part of the pleasure of having a dog.

I could NEVER imagine having her on the lead all the time, it'd break MY heart - never mind hers.

I think it's ok to walk a dog off leash in a non busy area. It just shocked me today when I was walking Spanky that I was the only one with a dog on a leash.

I am lucky - Bodhi will ignore other dogs, and her recall is pretty **** good.

I work on it constantly - it's not just a learnt technique - it's always reinforced.

Always, Max had no recall and our area is relatively busy.

Always on a leash. first of all she likes to run, and second, she is still being socialized due to the crappy job they did b efore we got her.

Do your dogs get opportunity to run and run and wear themselves out? I mean more than in the back garden....?