Do you abide by the leash law?

[ParNone]

I personally like to start right off the bat working with my puppy to be off leash in certain situations and continue that on throughout adulthood, for their safety. The reality is, that it would be a rare case, that at some point in their life your dog didn't get loose off leash. I want to be prepared for that eventually. Of my 3, Murph is the only one I didn't do this with, and he's the only one I get panicked about if he gets loose. He is never purposefully off leash.

With Maddie and Oz, I took a different approach and it's made for not only a happier dog, but for a less panicked me.

Now would I let them off leash around heavy traffic of cars or people or other animals? No. But one thing I do, that I honestly believe saved Oz's life the other night, is play an off leash racing game with him. We do this whenever we go walking through the neighborhood. When we get about 50 yards from the house, if there's no cars or people in sight, I let go of the leash, yell out "Home" and then race him to the front door. The other night I was putting out the garbage and didn't realize I didn't shut the door all the way. Oz used his nose to open it and came running out behind me. He was racing towards the street, just as a car came barrelling around the corner. There was collision written all over the situation. I dropped the garbage, yelled out "Oz, Come!" and took off as fast as I could for the front door and sure enough he beat me to the door. Doubtful, if we hadn't practiced this, that he would have known what to do or that he would have just been so overcome with excitement from a lil' taste of the fun of freedom, that he would have come either.

Do I let them harass other people or animals? No. I only let them off leash in an area devoid of others, and as soon as I see someone heading our way, I call them back to me and snap the leash back on. But while no one else is around, they get some freedom and the shear pleasure of exploring and getting to be a dog, that unfortunately Murph has never gotten to experience. When I lived in Florida, I use to take Maddie to the beach and let her off leash to chase the birds into the surf. I wouldn't trade for one moment of the shear joy she experienced during those romps. I sure wish Murph could have one of those moments too.

Is there risk? Sure. There's always risk in living. You can try to cocoon yourself in a completely safe existance, but is it really achievable? My philosophy on life is that if it's meant to be, it's going to happen. So I'm not willing to give up a certain fun and happiness, to strive for a safety that's not even attainable. Would I be upset if something happened? Well of course. I was upset when Murph, supposedly safely tucked away inside the house, jumped off the bed and hurt his leg. But that's how life is. Unfortunate things are going to happen, when it's meant to, no matter how much you try to protect against it. You keep them shut inside, for fear of what will happen if they're left outside unsupervised and they could end up dying because the house burns down. You put a collar on them in case they get loose, and they could die getting it hung on something. You can make yourself crazy and your dog too, trying to always be safe. That's just not how I want to live my life. Not telling other people how to live their lives, but I am going to live mine, my way.

If I had an aggressive dog, would I let him off leash? No. I would not put other people's animals at risk. That's one of the reasons I got a Collie, so I could have a nice, trustworthy dog to be able to enjoy some off leash excursions. I got a small taste of it with Maddie, because she could care less about approaching other dogs, but I didn't trust her in the woods around wildlife, like rabbits or squirrels. Oz has an extremely low prey drive, so I get to have some really fun hiking experiences with him. What's the point of having a breed, like a Collie, if you have to treat them exactly like a terrier?

Am I breaking the law? Yes. So if I was cited and fined, I'd pay the ticket without complaint, but it wouldn't stop me from letting my dogs off leash when the situation's right.

Par...

[Moose]

Wow, Par...I don't think that could have been said better...and I agree with every word of it!

[lv4dogs]

I agree w/ par exactly, thats what i do too!

I use leashes when walking my dogs on sidewalks, in towns, cities etc... but if we go for a hike, camping or to the park & there are no aggressive dogs there then they are off leash. They both are gentle & have a VERY good recall!!!!!
When we are hanging out in the yard they are both off leash as long as I am there supervising, If I am inside or something, one is leashed, the other one is rarely leashed. He never leaves my yard. He is old & trips over his tie out, he has arthritis etc. I live in a trailer park away from the road, not even a main road no neighbors on either side of me. Friendly dogs through the whole park.

[binka_nugget]

Mine are always on leash unless they're in the (fenced) backyard or at the dog park. But even at the dog park, I think I may need to leash Kaedyn because he can slip out from under the fencing and we've only had him for a half a year so he's still a bit unpredictable with lots of other dogs. So next time, Kai will be off leash at the dog park and Kaedyn will be on leash to socialize a bit more.

Other than that, they're always on leash. We're surrounded by busy roads full of trucks, buses, car, people, dogs, etc. I don't think I could ever trust two herding dogs off leash with a bunch of 'sheep'. But, I've been doing something with the two that is a bit like what Par's doing. I've started using the flexi-leash so that I could have them come during any time of the walk and so that I could teach them to 'go home' but still be within my control, just in case I ever needed to use that command.

[ParNone]

moose writes:

Wow, Par...I don't think that could have been said better...and I agree with every word of it!

ah well, I had a momentary channeling of Julia Sugarbaker, I think.

Par...

[catnapper]

I'm one of the ones who voted occasionally. I had a LOT of problems with Nicki when we didn't leash her. She was actually hit by a car once because she sprinted when we opened the door.... she went flying whenever she got out of the house without a leash. We moved to a house right off a busy road. If she went running, she'd most certainly run into the road and get hit. We spent a lot of time learning to trust each other and learning where the boundaries are. She knows the people she can greet and those she can't. She has the 6th sense of people that are afraid of dogs and I have to watch her because she has taken it as her duty to greet them in her extra special way to prove she's nice. But since I'm out there with her, I say "no" and she wags her tail with her whole body ready to greet if the person shows signs of welcoming her greeting (they never do)

As for being off our property, she is ALWAYS leashed. But we also play the "home" game ParNone talked about.

[DoggiesAreTheBest]

There is no leash law here in Germany. But I still keep Drake on a leash at all times unless we are at the nature park. When we were in America, Drake would go unleashed if we were hiking or out in the woods. The leash if for his safety and my peace of mind!

[Shelteez2]

My dogs are rarely leashed on walks through the neighborhood. If I am walking near busy roads then I will throw a leash around their necks. My dogs are curb trained, which means that they are trained not to step off the curb until I tell them it's okay. They also have a command for crossing roads that I give them if it's all clear, which is go get up and means that they are to run across the street and jump up onto the sidewalk and wait for me to finish crossing. We also have a go home command that I can give from half way down the block and sends them tearing into the yard. Clipse actually runs up the steps to the door and waits there.

If another dog or person is coming I call my dogs to me and put them in sit stays out of the way until that dog and/or person passes. I always carry my leashes with me in case I need to swat at an off leash dog that won't leave us alone. Personally I'd rather have my dogs meet strange ones off leash, I think it's a bit safer.

I agree with what ParNone wrote. If I was caught and fined, then I would pay with no complaints.

Also, one final thing is that I don't take my dogs on regular walks around the neighborhood. I instead walk them straight to an open field and let them run.

[micki76]

But see, the whole reason I don't take my dogs for regular walks is because when we encounter an off leash dog, how am I supposed to know whether the dog is going to try to kill mine or not? Granted if I saw Par & her boys I wouldn't be scared, but what about the morons who aren't training their dogs, but just think it's ok to let them off leash anyway. I have one very small dog and for some of these dogs it would just be one bite and Chester could be dead.

I guess I've always had bad experiences with off leash dogs. Our Chihuahua was nearly killed when I was 12 and I also had a foster dog that was attacked years ago by someone who said their dog was "friendly & under control".

All I'm saying that not all those off leash dogs out there belong to Pet Talkers, and I don't think it's right to endanger others, not to mention prevent them from walking their own dogs comfortably & without stress.

I know there are always strays & escapees that can be just as harmful, but I still think it's rude to disrespect others and cause stress to them by not leashing your dog, IMO.

[Cheshirekatt]

Always, always always!

We have a leash law here in my town and I seem to be the only one to abides by it.

Number one, I got most of my dogs because they were strays. What that says to me is that they like to run.

Number two, I have a dog aggressive dog. He can't be trusted if another strange dog runs up to him. He's fine if all dogs are leashed and walking by. It's not like he'll lunge and grab a dog I think he's just very protective of me. It's gotten to the point where I cannot walk Buford in our neighborhood. Too many off-leash dogs.

Number three, I don't want to take the risk of one being HBC.

Number four, the bloodhound can NEVER be off-leash.

Plus, it's the law. It's not like me or my dogs are so special that the law doesn't apply to us.

Plus there's the unfortunate incident where the lady had her dog off leash and Buford and her dog got into a fight and I broke my wrist trying to break it up. Stupid lady.

[lv4dogs]

Originally posted by micki76
But see, the whole reason I don't take my dogs for regular walks is because when we encounter an off leash dog, how am I supposed to know whether the dog is going to try to kill mine or not? Granted if I saw Par & her boys I wouldn't be scared, but what about the morons who aren't training their dogs, but just think it's ok to let them off leash anyway. I have one very small dog and for some of these dogs it would just be one bite and Chester could be dead.

I guess I've always had bad experiences with off leash dogs. Our Chihuahua was nearly killed when I was 12 and I also had a foster dog that was attacked years ago by someone who said their dog was "friendly & under control".

All I'm saying that not all those off leash dogs out there belong to Pet Talkers, and I don't think it's right to endanger others, not to mention prevent them from walking their own dogs comfortably & without stress.

I know there are always strays & escapees that can be just as harmful, but I still think it's rude to disrespect others and cause stress to them by not leashing your dog, IMO.

I know exactly what your talkking about & how you feel, I have ran across many many idiots out there that say the same & the next thing that happens is their dog is out of control. My one dog was attacked twice by *friendly, well behaved, obedient* dogs, both times my dog was on a leash, she was over friendly before that but after the second attack that made her turn on stray dogs, she was then not out of control but would not hesitate to fight back & be very cautious. This took years of work & she is now once again her old self.
But like I said (or copied from par as I didnt want to type much lol) I only have them off leash in the country, park, woods etc.. & even then as soon as I see an unleashed dog, their leashes go on. unless it's a friends dog that they already know.

[Moose]

Originally posted by micki76
All I'm saying that not all those off leash dogs out there belong to Pet Talkers

Unfortunately.

[ParNone]

micki writes:

But see, the whole reason I don't take my dogs for regular walks is because when we encounter an off leash dog, how am I supposed to know whether the dog is going to try to kill mine or not? Granted if I saw Par & her boys I wouldn't be scared, but what about the morons who aren't training their dogs, but just think it's ok to let them off leash anyway. I have one very small dog and for some of these dogs it would just be one bite and Chester could be dead.

I guess I've always had bad experiences with off leash dogs. Our Chihuahua was nearly killed when I was 12 and I also had a foster dog that was attacked years ago by someone who said their dog was "friendly & under control".

All I'm saying that not all those off leash dogs out there belong to Pet Talkers, and I don't think it's right to endanger others, not to mention prevent them from walking their own dogs comfortably & without stress.

I know there are always strays & escapees that can be just as harmful, but I still think it's rude to disrespect others and cause stress to them by not leashing your dog, IMO.

Hey micki, having small dogs, that I do pick up off the ground when we encounter unleashed dogs and Oz actually being attacked by 2 unleashed Great Pyrenees, I can totally understand where you're coming from. And I would not want my off leash activity to cause somebody else undo stress. So If I was to encounter you and Chester walking, I would automatically leash Oz. Even when he's leashed, I won't infringe on people's space. I'll walk him wide of other people out walking or jogging. I see many a leashed dog that's out of control though, to the point that I've picked Murph or Maddie up off the ground until they're away from us. Unfortunately I can't do that with Oz, so we just walk by as quick as possible, before they get the chance to break free of their owner. Anyway, I do understand the need for the leash law, and again I would not protest paying the fine, just as I wouldn't if caught speeding.

Oh and Murph you should be wary of, I can just see him wanting to eat Chester.


Par...

[primabella]

Yes, Mickey is always on leash. The only time he isn't is when (during the summer) we'd sit out in the front and he'd usually come join us outside. He'd sit quietly. He's an obediant dog but he is still a dog with natural instincts that I don't trust. For example, he loves to chase birds. He could easily run off into the streets chasing a bird. That's what I'm afraid of.

I know one man who walks his dog without a leash. The dog is VERY obediant. But I still wouldn't use than as an excuse to take my dog without a leash. What about other dogs who are offleash that are dog agressive? You just have less control of your dog. I just wouldn't feel comfortable.

[isis]

There isn't any leash law here. It's just a small town where nobody puts there dog on a leash. The only people that put there dogs on a leash is my guitar teacher and me. Ofcourse my guitar teacher loves her dogs to death. They have two Bloodhounds and one Border Collie so they kinda have to keep them on a leash so they won't run off. I keep my dogs on a leash because of the way people drive down here. It'
s just for there own protection.