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Why do people insist on walking their dogs off leash? I understand if you are in a remote area or in a park/dog park however, in my neighborhood, which has it's share of car traffic there are at least 3 people whom I've seen walking their dogs off leash. One lady walks either so far ahead or so far behind her dog that she's not even watching it. It is a little dog. This same lady, one day while I was walking my dogs (ON A LEASH) and they saw her dog, they barked and got all excited (they love love love other dogs), so they pulled a little bit, but not even enough to jerk my arm, she yells at me to control my dogs. I looked at her and said "lady, I am controlling my dogs, you are the one that isn't, your dog is so far away from you that if anything happened to it you couldnt get to it fast enough. Leash laws are here for your dog's safety" she rolled her eyes, called her dog and walked off, without a leash. I see her all the time, even near the busiest streets. I know her dog is "obedient" but you never know what could happen and I worry something could happen to the poor thing.
Another day, while I was walking just one of my dogs, we saw a woman with a loose dog, he was walking right next her, so I wasn's as upset with him being off leash. Shortly after we saw her, we saw a police officer tell her she needs to put her dog on a leash. She picked it up and walked off.
This morning, I saw a woman also with a loose dog. He was beautiful and stayed right by her side which is good but there are leash laws for a reason, the dog's safety. I wish these people would undertand, no matter how great your dog is off lease, if you are on a busy street anything could happen and leashes are there for the dog's safety.
Grrr. Sorry, I just had to vent. I'm glad my dog doesnt mind the leash at all, while he's great off of it, and always stays by my side, the only times he's off of it is in a dog run or in our own yard or if we are hiking.
I think it is a bad assumption to call those who walk off leash when the dog is actually sticking tight to the heel position as "stupid". Some dogs really are trained that well and are less of a problem than those who have out of control dogs pulling on leashes dragging them down the sidewalk and getting others caught up in the mess of the leash in the process (usually those on the retractible leashes...don't even get me started).
Some dogs will actually not leave that heel position for anything unless commanded to do so by their owner.
I mean seriously, is a dog going to be safer on leash if a car comes up onto the sidewalk and hits the owner than off-leash? No, I'd call the "for the dog's safety" a failed arguement by the OP in this busy street scenario for the most obediently trained dogs. Is it safe for most dogs, unlikely, but for those few whose owners have done a fantastic job in their training, yes.
Some few people have dogs that are well-trained enough and have good enough judgement not to run into traffic or go up to another dog. Some have dogs that are that good 90% of the time- not good enough. Some people's dogs aren't close to being that well-behaved. If you're not in a rural area, what is the benefit to any of them of not having the leash on? What does it hurt?
lifelongMOgal, only one of these dogs was well behaved and heeled and stayed right next to its owner, another, the dog was next to her for a min and then it would wonder and she'd have to call it and then there's the lady that has it so far ahead or behind that it is obvious she's not even paying attention to it. If a dog is well behave and stays right next to you, fine, even then though, there are leash laws for a reason and there's no reason not to have the dog of the leash. Like subject2change said, what is the benefit of them not having the leashe on if you are not in a rural area?
And for the record, my dog walks right next to me, if I wanted to let him off the leash he wouldn't go anywhere but I wouldnt, there's no benefit to doing so.
When I go running, sometimes I will let my little 18 lbs dog run with me. Once we get on the path I'll let him off the leash. He runs right beside me and has never wandered. If another dog comes along he switches over to the grassy side and ignores him and then goes back on the path. I think the running helps him focus. I wouldn't try walking him off the leash.
I know I could get a fine but so far no problems. My Dad had dogs for 60+ years and never owned a leash and never a problem. Of course that was on a farm.
Ooh, this issue drives me up the wall. It really does. My dog was attacked by an off leash dog so I really kind of panic. Just recently an off leash dog followed us down the block and kind of boxed us in against a car - the dog was friendly but mine was starting to growl and then the other dog's hackles went up. Fortunately a homeowner was able to chase the other dog away (owner was nowhere to be found). I don't know what I would have done if there were a fight. My neighbor was actually taken down and bitten by a supposedly friendly off leash dog; she is elderly and nearly fell on her own little dog.
Even on a walking path it's not good. Once I was hiking with my dog in a state park (there is a leash law) and we were really far down the trail; a couple w/two off leash dogs crossed our path - one was really aggressive but they were able to hold him back, the other was an older puppy who jumped all over my dog's head. My dog handled it well at the time...she's gotten more reactive the more this has happened ... but I flipped out. Had my dog been injured I couldn't possibly have carried her back all that way.
People just need to stop being selfish and leash their dogs where it's required.
Drives me insane. People think that their dog is "trained" or "won't hurt anyone" like someone else mentioned can't fix stupid...
I agree not to mention they feel above the law. Another thing that drives me crazy is when they walk them on those 20 feet cable leashes and can't get them reeled in while they are harassing my dog who is on a leash, a traffic lead of 18 inches.
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