Dogs off leads.

[Fran101]

I think its up to you, you know your dogs more than I do. as long as there is no leash law.

Im paranoid lol i would NEVER EVER let kenya walk in public off leash, even if shes great about it.. i see no harm in just snapping a leash on her for my peace of mind and just in case something unexpected happens. I would never be able to forgive myself if something happened to her that couldve been prevented with something as simple as a $2 leash.

Also, ive noticed that its polite in places with other people to have my dog leashed. not everyone likes dogs.. and some people are scared of them. it gives others peace of mind when your dog is on a leash, it shows you have CONTROL. to a scared person, even a dog walking by your side offlleash can be very scary.

 

[lizzybeth727]

if you're out hiking in the middle of nowhere, fine. i don't let my dog's offleash, but i can understand that it is appropriate for some dogs to be.

but not near cars. not ever near cars. there are too many possibilities for bad endings there.

and as others have said, it is not acceptable to let your dog run up to other people/dogs no matter how friendly your dog might be.

and every time i see an unleashed dog it makes my blood pressure shoot up, because i've had so many bad experiences.

^^^this.

I think the reason a lot of people let their dogs run off leash is that it is a huge ego boost. "My dog is SO well behaved that I don't have to keep it locked up like those other people do." I moved to a large property about a year ago, 6 acres, and let my dog run off leash. She has a pretty good recall, so I was confident enough to let her do it, and let me tell you, it IS an amazing feeling to know that your dog is under voice control alone. But then she discovered the neighbor's kids next door (she LOVES kids), and if I let her off leash that's where she's headed. So I can't do it anymore, and it's very dissappointing. My roommate also lets her dog off leash, he has an excellent recall and sticks pretty close to her anyway, when she's paying attention. He knows when her attention is on something else, and that's when he goes and steals a chicken from our other neighbor. She truely feels terrible about the chickens, and pays for them, but that 95% of the time when he's under complete control is so reinforcing for her that she can't resist taking the risk.

 

[Brattina88]

I walk Maddie offleash, she has a very good recall. I've called her off of rabbits, cats, whatever. I have worked on recalls with her since she was a baby...
With that being said I do NOT let her walk offleash in the city, near cars, etc. She heels better offleash than on, but its just not safe! Even if we were on the sidewalk, what if some drunk hopped the curb and came at us? It creeps me out! There is a man who walks his dog offleash downtown - and everyone always makes comments "Wow that dog is so well trained", which I agree with, but then I have to ask why is it worth the risk in such a high traffic area?
Probably the only exeption for me is when I'm in the driveway, I open the car door and tell Maddie to go to the house... which she does. But the driveway is now 3/4 the way fenced

Even when "out in the middle of no where" I am always obsessivly watching the envoirnment... for other people, dogs, animals, other dangers... If you were to call me during this time, I either call Maddie to me for a brief stay practice, or I ignore. That's just how it has to be for me

 

[Blue_Dog]

I only ever walked Blue off-leash if I knew that it was safe, I had 'control' of the area and there were no roads near-by. I knew that I could trust Blue it was other dogs I worried about.

 

[Saje]

Dogs that are well trained off leash will not just run up to strange dogs if they are told not to. They have a decent recall and if that fails (squirrels, etc) they have a strong emergency recall. Of course people should follow the leash laws but the laws change depending on the location and many places still have room for common sense. You know your dog best. Nanook is only off leash in remote areas. There is an undeveloped subdivision behind us that she runs in every day and the last two days we were camping so she had an entire beach to herself since it's too cold for the beach bums lol

 

[FluffyZooCrew]

I only let certain dogs off leash because their recall, off leash, is 100%. Blue and Jake are about the only two, along with Mattie (but he's blind/deaf and old, he walks at a snails pace and isn't going to get anywhere quickly). I only allow Jake and Blue off leash in areas where I have control -- not pet stores, public places, or anywhere near roads. They are usually off leash at a large lake with very few people around, or at the park and pond near the house, which is very large, not many people, and not near any main roads. And their recall is very good.

The rest enjoy their time on flexi leads, where they can still romp, run and play, but be under my control.

Bo's recall is absolutely, 100% perfect. But Bo is a beagle, and even with that 100% perfect recall, I don't trust that if he ever saw a squirrel or a rabbit, or something else, that he wouldn't take off doing what beagles do best. So he stays on a leash when we are places.

 

[Romy]

if you're out hiking in the middle of nowhere, fine. i don't let my dog's offleash, but i can understand that it is appropriate for some dogs to be.

but not near cars. not ever near cars. there are too many possibilities for bad endings there.

and as others have said, it is not acceptable to let your dog run up to other people/dogs no matter how friendly your dog might be. i have a pit bull who is so reactive due to having been attacked by an offleash dog in town that he will absolutely bite first and ask questions later. he loves to play with other dogs and he's well-enough controlled that he can be off-leash in agility class, but he's scared to death of dogs rushing him while he's on leash because bad things have happened repeatedly in the past.

and every time i see an unleashed dog it makes my blood pressure shoot up, because i've had so many bad experiences.

:hail::hail::hail:

Strider and I were attacked by three dogs, three separate incidents when he was about a year old. He was fine on leash around other dogs until those incidents, and it very nearly DESTROYED his ability to be service dog for me. I was so incredibly pissed off. It is NOT EASY to find a service dog prospect, and to have an animal ruined for it's work after a year of training invested is the most horrible feeling ever.

Thankfully, he has recovered enough to work. I still do not trust him to stand right next to another dog on lead. He seems fine and hasn't been reactive at all in the past 6 months, but after how reactive he got after the attacks I just can't trust him like I did before that happened. And that makes me very sad.

If people had kept their "voice controlled" dogs under physical control, there would have been no damage done. To walk them off lead in public around cars and strange dogs to me is the epitome of stupid and selfish. And yes, I am very bitter about what happened. Even now there is a part of me that worries a "friendly" off leash dog could provoke a reaction if he was having an off day, or it happened to remind him of the dog that attacked him before. I do know that every time an off leash dog approached while I was desensitizing him, he would react and we'd have to start all over.

One time we were at a street fair and there was a blind man with his seeing eye dog. Some idiots let their dog off leash, and it started pestering his guide dog. They called it and called it, and it totally ignored them in favor of trying to hump that man's service animal. They finally pulled it off with a lot of "Oh gee he always comes when called. He's never done that. He usually perfect. blah blah blah." Guess what? No being is "perfect" and they were lucky that their dog's momentary lapse didn't end up with him splattered in the road, or getting his face ripped off by a large defensive dog, or shot by someone who thought he was attacking, etc. As it was they put that blind man's life in danger and risked totally ruining his service animal. :madgo:

 

[Doberdogs]

My dogs are walked off leads, I trust them with people, other dogs, traffic and any other obstacles we may come across while exercising. .

I am glad you trust your dogs, train them, and have a bond with them. It is the other dogs (and their owners) and cars I don't trust and it is up to me to protect them, as they don't know the dangers as well as an adult human. Cars are a worry because all it takes is ONE small mistake and then dead dog. Too risky. Too much at stake there. My dogs are good, but not robots. Accidents are just that, accidents, not planned for specifically. The better safe than sorry thing goes for me. So basically, never off leash around traffic.

Mine are off leash in forests and at remote beaches, but I will leash them if people or other dogs come because I feel this is the right thing to do, not because I worry about my dogs being bad. I do not enjoy when other dogs come rushing me or my dogs. I feel it is rude and don't appreciate this behavior from strange random dogs.

 

[aussiemyf7]

On the other forum, I never said they would ignore me, they have perfect re-call but I did say I will allow my dogs to approach other dogs if I, and the other owner feel ok about it. If their dog is on a lead, then I wont, but if their dog is off a lead and I make eye contact, then I allow. If the other dog looks un-easy or the owner wasnt looking too confident, I'll read those and put them on the lead. The bit about them learning a lesson, if a fight does break-out, I feel my dogs should have read signs and as soon as it happens, they would be at my heal. I have had dogs run up to me while my pups are healing, and out of no where, a fight has started. No one expected it, I dont blame anyone. Roly skids away, and I know Lady wouldnt be the one that starts it, so if she needed, she could defend herself. I'll repeat, my dogs wont ever go up to anyone/anything unless I allow it and there are no parks around so there definately arnt any laws about keeping your dog on a lead.
Tankstar, I dont belive that was the reason I was attacked, because I got bashed on many things I said, basicly because it was different to how a lot of the Americans dealt with things and was seen as 'cruel'.
Im happy at least there are more Aussies here that i can relate too.
Ok, thanks again for all the replys.

 

[mrose_s]

People letting their dog run up to me is my biggest pet peeve. Especially when accompanied by "don't worry, he's friendly" except if the dog gets close enough Buster WILL fight, he's yet to back down from another dog when onleash, no matter the size or sex or age.
I've also heard the "will teach them a lesson" thing aswell, fine... if thats how you want to help your dog. But Buster doesn't need another fight, especially when I'm trying to teach him not every interaction with another dog will lead to a fight.

 

[Dizzy]

In living in the UK and it being so much more dog friendly, I do wonder what negative effect all these restrictions have on people and their dogs.

In nearly 4 years of owning Bodhi and us walking off lead, she has not once been attacked by another dog.

The only places I am wary of other dogs are in parks.... So by ONLY allowing people to walk in parks they just make more issues for themselves.

Stupid lead laws and few rights of ways and you create yourself a boiling pot were accidents happen!!!

 

[StillandSilent]

I would never let Argon off leash. With his mix of breeds, he would be gone in a flash, even though his recall is picture perfect on lead.
Lilly was the same way, trained to a high level, but if that little beagle nose ever smelled something, she would have been gone.
I personally have found that most of the people who think their dogs are under voice control, are wrong. I've had Argon, who is leash reactive, charged half a dozen times, in situations where I personally found it foolish to have the dog off leash at all (Meaning we were sandwiched between a very busy road and a Super Walmart parking lot-there's a reason we don't use that trail any more)
Like Romy said, it's extremely frustrating to work and work on desensitizing your dog to these siturations, and have months of work destroyed. Obviously, her (His? Sorry- my memory is failing), situation is much more severe, but it is still a pain.

 

[Brattina88]

People letting their dog run up to me is my biggest pet peeve. Especially when accompanied by "don't worry, he's friendly"

Oh, same here! My favorite is when they let their dog run up to me, say their friendly, meanwhile the dog is snarling and showing its teeth. Yes, real friendly!! I usually put a bunch of slack in he leash for Maddie to be able to interact without being restricted by the leash, and put myself in between them. I've even started carrying a water bottle to squirt. I always "miss" the first time (on purpose) and usually my threats suffice. *sigh*

 

[Gempress]

There is aboslutely NOTHING wrong with walking your dog off lead if they have a good recall and are generally good around new places/dogs/people/etc.

Unless it's illegal in your area. That's my only concern.

 

[sillysally]

Unless it's illegal in your area. That's my only concern.

Yeah, that's the thing. It makes all dog owners look bad when some break the leash laws, even if their dogs have excellent manners. In some areas there have been parks that have banned dogs because people refuse to follow the leash laws there--that ruins it for everyone.

 

[FluffyZooCrew]

People letting their dog run up to me is my biggest pet peeve. Especially when accompanied by "don't worry, he's friendly"

^^ Yep!

Audubon is very DA, and there have been times where I've had to take her to the vet, and someone in the waiting room will let their unleashed dog come bounding up to her and they'll yell out, "don't worry, she's friendly!" and I yell back, "don't worry, mine's highly dog aggressive!"

 

[AllieMackie]

Adding to what others have already said (I'm always late to the party!):

I see nothing wrong with dogs with solid recalls being offleash in open areas, hiking trails, etc. As long as they can be called off of people and other dogs, as opposed to the aforementioned "don't worry, he's friendly!" folks that also aggravate me.

I've been in situations where folks have their dogs offleash in designated city parks that allow it, and when I walk Finn through, their dogs see Finn, but don't come over. The owner asks if Finn is friendly, and if their dog may play with him. I say yes, and they have a release command, be still my beating heart - "go see him!" and then the dogs play.

This is certainly the rarer of the cases, but if the owner is like that and has the dog trained well enough? NO problems with it. In my case, once Finn's recall is 100% in my eyes, he will only be offleash in more rural locations like hiking areas and camping, and if he's playing with other dogs in a park (since his attention will consistently be 100% ont he dogs, Finn always is ;P)

 

[smkie]

VIctor just walked around the block with me off lead. BUt he was at heel, and fully in my command. IF a squirrel or a cat had run by he would not have bolted. IF another dog had come by he would not have left my side. IT took years to get to this point. We practice daily. There is a difference between heeling off leash, and just being a loose dog running. IT isn't legal here, but no one cares. In fact there are 5 dogs that run regularly loose, and one that is turned out each night, even trash night. I would not take Victor this way if i didn't know he was a hundred percent and if anyone was bothered by it. In a couple hours i will take the hula hoop out and all three will be off leash as we practice and play. IF you all saw PEpper sit and wait, then fly through and whip around to DOITAGAIN you would be proud of her. NOT concerned that she isn't leashed. SHe isn't going anywhere or bothering anyone.

 

[FoxyWench]

i dont have a problem with well behaved dogs off leahs if the owner is aware that in a situation that their dog may be friendly but the dog they aproach is NOT that THEY are responsible for any damage done, it can be done responsibly...

BUT i do have a problem with ANY dog off leash in an area that CLEARLY has a leash law...

your dogs may be well behaved...
but what about the guy that sees you walking your dogs off leash and thinks, hey...i can do it too...
but their dog is NOT well behaved...but they walk them off leash nyway making it dangerous for those of us who are responsible dog owners

i personally do not feel safe walking my dogs on the streets neer our new apartment, its simply unsafe because there are people out there blatantly ignoring the "leash your dog" signs...and ive seen these dogs growl at people trying to pass them...and go after other dogs neer by.
but of course, thie friend doesnt use a leash...so we dont have to either.

its even worse at the parks.

i was walking ruby a couple months back at the park when this large mix comes running down the path and dives at her. all the time his owner was screaming his name and when she finally caught up to us (where i had ruby in a sit stay on a long leash (hard because she was freeked out) and my hand on the dogs collar...and he goes "oh hes usually so good about listening but ever since he got in that fight the other week" *blink blink* this dog could have seriously hurt my dog just by landing on her...if hed attacked my little 10lber wouldnt have survived...and all you can say is "hes usually so good"

i told him "the park is CLEARLY posted every 10 ft with "dogs must be on leash" sighns and next time i see his dog off leash i will call animal control.

unfortunatly its the idiots who spoil it for the rest of us.

id happily walk ruby off leash in the park, shes well behaved with a good recal...but the law is that my dog has to be on a leash...so she is. Plain and Simple.

this also goes for picking up your dogs waste...
ive actually had people in the park LAUGH at me because i stop and pick up after my dog...

duh people its the law AND common deacency...

so at the end of my long ramble...
i have no problem with it as long as your gonna end up spoiling it for everyone..
leash laws were origionally put into place because of people who THOUGHT they had control over their dogs...

 

[Romy]

On the other forum, I never said they would ignore me, they have perfect re-call but I did say I will allow my dogs to approach other dogs if I, and the other owner feel ok about it. If their dog is on a lead, then I wont, but if their dog is off a lead and I make eye contact, then I allow. If the other dog looks un-easy or the owner wasnt looking too confident, I'll read those and put them on the lead. The bit about them learning a lesson, if a fight does break-out, I feel my dogs should have read signs and as soon as it happens, they would be at my heal. I have had dogs run up to me while my pups are healing, and out of no where, a fight has started. No one expected it, I dont blame anyone. Roly skids away, and I know Lady wouldnt be the one that starts it, so if she needed, she could defend herself. I'll repeat, my dogs wont ever go up to anyone/anything unless I allow it and there are no parks around so there definately arnt any laws about keeping your dog on a lead.
Tankstar, I dont belive that was the reason I was attacked, because I got bashed on many things I said, basicly because it was different to how a lot of the Americans dealt with things and was seen as 'cruel'.
Im happy at least there are more Aussies here that i can relate too.
Ok, thanks again for all the replys.

If your dogs ran up to mine, they'd learn a lesson via pepper spray....