Hiking with Dogs in Maine (house, purchase, live)

[algo]

Hello all,

My wife and I, residents of Eastern Mass, are on the market for a summer house in Central Maine. We own two Australian Shepherds that need lot off-leash exercise and start making mischief around the house if they do not get enough of it. Fortunately, we live near a park where the dogs can run amok because a park rule that requires dogs to be leashed is not enforced. If worst comes to worst, the penalty is only $50.

Maine's Bureau of Parks and Lands requires that "Pets must be on a leash under the physical control of the pet handler and must not be left unattended." Is this requirement rigorously enforced and what are the penalties for violating it? Thank you for your help.

[AustinB]

Really the law isnot enforced... usually. Lots of dogs and few officers. Of course, all it takes is one bite and you can kiss that dog goodbye. The choice is yours.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

In Baxter Park, the rules are like East Germany with permits gates, etc. If they catch you with a dog in Baxter it could be jail time.

In other state lands you just have to he your dog "under control"which means you can call the dog and the dog will come.

[Danica32]

I urge you to consider this scenario that happens at least a couple of times a month (meaning I hear or read of this happening).

Person is walking on trial in area where leashes are required, yet because they feel they will not get caught they off leash their dogs.

Another person, and perhaps another is doing the same thing.

One of the people in this scenario has a reactive dog, this dog is especially reactive to off leash dogs that are moving quickly.

Disaster and you won't forget the experience.

And yes I'm very familiar with dogs that need a ton of mental and physical stimulation in order to be able to settle.

Just be careful.

[Submariner]

There seems to be a lot of emphasis on you being able to control your dog verbally.

One time a man came to visit my farm, to discuss bartering a deal. Once he was parked in my driveway, he asked me if he could let his dogs out. He assured me that his dogs were well behaved, so I gave him permission. As soon as they were loose those dogs went into a frenzy chasing my chickens. He was screaming at his dogs but they paid him no attention, as they killed four of my chickens and tore them into pieces. I went into my house and got a shotgun, but he got his dogs back into his car before I could get back out there.

We have friends whose dogs are under verbal control of their owners, and running loose is not a problem here.

You need to spend a huge amount of time training your dogs before you can honestly control them verbally.

Otherwise keep them on a leash.

[Vance Mack]

So...you are asking people on this forum to give you advice on breaking the law?

[svband76]

Just purchase a home with ample property to let them run...?

[399083453]

Last time I had a dog off leash he got away. I didnt see him for another 6 months. He came back to the house with a new collar. Seems another family found him and simply decided to keep him. People suck.

[Kiwiluver]

Have you ever considered getting a flock of domestic geese for the dogs to herd? I’m being serious. My father in law in New Zealand had these dogs for hearing stock. He kept some geese around to keep them occupied when he sold the stock, or other times when their services were not required. Very smart dogs.

[maineborzoi]

I Never Ever let my dogs run at large !

Never mind the fact it is against the law, with the wildlife around here, the ability to get into poisons, injured by a car ( or worse), or even by a person that is defending their livestock the legal right to shoot your dogs, - And even more reasons than this- Never Ever let your dogs run at large.



May I suggest a fenced in yard for them to play in ?