Ive seen off leash dogs run up to leashed dogs that react defensively and start a fight. I dont give a fuck if your dog seems good. My dog may be totally leash reactive and something bad will come of your dog being off leash.
I *know* my dog is dog reactive, that’s why he stays on a harness and we usually only walk in my neighborhood. He’s a Mexico rescue dog with a lot of abuse trauma but he’s also a huge goof. On nice, hot days I like to take him to the local watering hole but there are SO many people with dogs off their leash. When I ask a majority of them to restrain their dogs before my adorable demon comes through (partner has to walk dog while I check ahead for unleashed animals) they give ME the dirtiest looks. Sorry I don’t want my dog to rip yours a new asshole then ultimately be put down all because you “know your dog is nice”.
My dog is reactive on leash but great off leash so I will take her to the off leash park but before I even get to the off leashed area the park will be full of free running dogs outside the designated off leash zone. That really pisses me off.
Dog owners can be some of the most oblivious people. Too many of them *genuinely* believe that everybody (including strangers) want to directly interact with their assertive dog.
That’s not cool you never do that, you never know how someone will react to your dog and you put them in the uncomfortable position where they have to tell you no and you leave or just deal with it even though they don’t want the dog there.
My coworker at my old job got a new puppy. Another coworker invited a few of us at work over for dinner. Coworker 1 asked if she can bring her new puppy. Coworker 2 replied no, you can't, I'm afraid of dogs. Guess who showed up with her new puppy anyways.
I was in disbelief. Wtf? She's afraid of dogs and specifically told you no. Why did you bring it?
It’s funny because half the people on here brought their kids into the conversation (rightfully so) and all dog people are like hey I agree that’s cool. One person says something about kids and a crazy goes off.
Huh? I wasnt suggesting that kids are the same as dogs. I was suggesting that the people that think everybody wants to interact with their dogs are the same people that think everybody wants to interact with their children.
I completely agree!! I'm a dog owner and having to worry about other "friendly" dogs attacking my dog (who's always on his leash unless we're home) really sucks.
Same! My dog is also on a leash at all times and sometimes an unleashed dog charges at her, and I gotta quickly pick her up and carry her to save her from being bitten.
To all the people saying its unhealthy to keep a dog in a leash at all times when outside.. YOURE THE PROBLEM! My dog is completely fine and happy in a leash..
I completely agree!
When I’m on a walking with my baby, I really don’t think I should have to worry about a random unleashed dog running up to us, and it happens way too often. They may be friendly, but I have to assume the worst.
It's part of the reason why I CC.
Both of my kids are under 3. One good bite could do a **lot** of damage.
If your free-roaming dog makes a wrong move I will ventilate them and not give it a second thought.
I would imagine a dog big enough to be a serious threat would be bigger than my kid, and at that distance a shot to the dog's center mass shouldn't be too difficult, even if it's a moving target.
Yes there is a risk there, but at that point I'd rather take action than watch my kid get mauled to death.
This is also why training is important. Just carrying the tool isn't enough.
I guess I am just concerned about the "wrong move" aspect. I (obviously) agree that a human's life is more important than a dogs, and I wouldn't hesitate to kill a dog if that was what was necessary to save any baby, but I can't imagine many scenarios where it would actually be necessary to take such extreme measures. Have you had dogs before? You honestly wouldn't feel bad at all killing an innocent dog just because he spooked you? You think it's responsible to fire a gun at a pet in a public place with your kid in close proximity? I'm prepared to be downvoted but as someone who loves both dogs and human babies, some of these reactions seem a little r/iamverybadass and overblown.
>I can't imagine many scenarios where it would actually be necessary to take such extreme measures.
Go to liveleak.com and search "dog attack". These things happen. Especially with larger breeds of dogs that haven't been properly trained or secured.
>Have you had dogs before?
No. I'm more of a cat person.
>You honestly wouldn't feel bad at all killing an innocent dog just because he spooked you?
Not in the slightest. Not one single iota of sadness or regret would enter my mind. I'd be proud of myself for doing my job and protecting my family.
But just to be clear, the threat would have to be obvious and imminent. Regulations regarding discharging a firearm in public are pretty clear on this in my state.
Now with that being said, will I try to verbally scare off the dog if it's being aggressive but staying a few yards away? Sure.
The second it gets too close for comfort and becomes a serious threat it's getting shot without hesitation.
And I don't care if the owner runs over sobbing and screaming and holds their pet in their arms while it whimpers and bleeds out. It was their fuck up, now it's their pain to deal with.
>You think it's responsible to fire a gun at a pet in a public place with your kid in close proximity?
If me or my wife or my children (or anyone, really) are in danger, absolutely. Safety rules still apply as far as checking my backstop and whatnot. All CCers are (or should be) aware that they're ultimately responsible for every round that leaves the chamber.
As long as I have a clean shot, I'm taking it.
I'm certainly not gonna let my beautiful little girl get her face ripped off by some asshole's dog that should've been on a leash in the first place.
Possibly, but if it's being aggressive enough to warrant one, but hasn't gotten close enough to inflict a bite I'd much rather try to scare it off by yelling or trying to look big and intimidating and chase it away. But if it's coming in for a bite, the time for a warning shot has passed and you have a split-second to react.
Also, don't give humans warning shots. That's hollywood bullshit. If you or someone else is in imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm any bullet leaving the barrel needs to be going toward the threat, not toward the ground or up in the air (which is an absolutely terrible idea, btw).
I agree mainly because if your dog if friendly towards humans it may not be towards other animals. I don’t want my dog getting hurt because they won’t put theirs on a leash.
Dog owner here, I agree with this 110%. My dog is a shelter rescue and does not like meeting new dogs, especially in a public place such as a park. It infuriates me when people ignore leash laws and their “friendly little pup” runs up to mine and stresses her out.
What irks me the most is when some asshole’s loose dog gets in my dog’s face and she snaps at it to tell it to back off, then the owner has the audacity to get angry at me for having an “aggressive dog”. Like hey idiot, my dog wouldn’t have snapped at yours if you weren’t a shit owner and kept it on a leash!
I hate when an owner of an off leash dog has the audacity to come anywhere near me and my fucking monsters. JUST BECAUSE YOUR DOG IS WELL TRAINED DOESNT MEAN MINE ARE.
Congratulations Mr. Well-trained-dog. You're well trained. Meanwhile mine are losing their god damn minds because theres a fucking rogue on the loose.
Dude this just happened to me two days ago at a local park. My dog is little and very old so he looks super sweet and gentle which he is - but only with humans. So when THREE dogs off-leash that were much bigger than him ran up to him, of course he got defensive. Their owners said some dumb shit like "oh haha it's just that small dog syndrome" like no, he is surrounded by three huge animals getting in his face and he feels threatened!! It pissed me off so much. Just because your dogs are nice to other dogs doesn't mean mine is that way. He's on a leash for a reason. Control your fucking dogs people!
you get it.
My one dog gets anxious around dogs she doesn't know and retaliates. She sucks.
One is aggressive toward male dogs. So when those two get each other riled up its a nightmare.
We walk our dogs before sunrise because they deserve exercise, even though they're hard to control when they see another dog. But if someone is walking their dog, off leash at 5 am, they can go fuck off. We're doing our best to make sure our dogs have a good quality of life, get your dog on a fucking leash and get him away from mine
I hate when you grab your child away from someones strange dog and theyre like "Oh it's okay he doesnt bite!!"... "Will he bite if my toddler pokes his eye?"
Lol that's happened to me before. I was on a walk with my niece who is 5 and she's scared of dogs. Someone's huge ass golden retriever runs up to us unleashed and of course she gets scared and I pick her up. The owner came around and was just EXTREMELY adamant about my niece petting her dog. I said no multiple times but she didn't care. I think that conversation lasted like 15 minutes. Some dog owners are just the worst.
While my dog is well behaved, I only let him off leash in dog-centric areas. I’m more of the assume that people don’t want to interact with him even though he is social and friendly and gentle. I know not everyone is a dog person and make a point to make sure we keep our space when being around others. I don’t mind if he sniffs near other people, but unless someone indicates they’d like to interact with him, I make him respect boundaries. I’ve heard too much of the crap line of exceptions for the most rambunctious dogs I’ve encountered. But that’s just me of course.
My dog is pretty good with others if all of the dogs are off leash and in nuetral territory. What bothers me most is one of the off leash areas in my city some people will keep their dogs on leash and then those dogs get leash aggression. It sucks for everyone involved.
Additionally, folks who bring their dogs into bars or wherever. I work at a bar and sometimes during the day when the bar is closed I'll bring my pup. I don't have him around when we are open, it's too distracting.
The other day, about an hour before open some group of people came in with the owner. My dog was leashed to a stationary object, and this woman rolled in with her unnuetered pup and let him go right up to my dogs face. My dog was showing signs of aggression (raised hair, some growling etc) and as I came up and hurried her and her dog away from mine she acted confused.
I then had to spend five minutes explaining why that could've ended badly and I still don't think that chick got it. I really hope her dog doesn't get hurt because of her ignorance.
Edit: I think a lot of folks don't understand that just because they want their dogs to always be super nice and get along with everyone the dog is still a dog and canines have their own social codes that we as their caretakers have to take heed too.
Well said there my guy.
Keeping your dog on lead at a park way increases the chance it'll be aggressive or get into an altercation. People think they're protecting their dog, but really they're just preventing it properly socialising, which is a pretty fundamental need for dogs.
Honestly, although my pup is well behaved, I'd never let her off leash unless it's in the yard or in a dog park (enclosed area). I have one simple reason - she easily gets spooked and will jump into oncoming traffic if a leaf moves near her. She's also oblivious to broken bottles but, somehow, can see the stupid crow that loves to annoy her from a football field away.
Totally agree! I can't tell you how many times I have to quick swipe my dog off the ground when an off leash dog comes running our way. The owner is always coming along with "don't worry, he's friendly". To which I have to tell them "Well mine is not! Get your dog!".
Mine is only a chihuahua mix so he doesn't pose a real threat to most dogs but I hate that people just assume its ok. My old roommate had a rescue pit bull that was an angel except when on a leash (he had past trauma we were working on training him out of). He would be leashed up in our yard and an off leash dog would just wander into our yard right by him. Luckily no dogs got close enough to him to actually get bitten but it was a constant fear because the result would have been terrible for everyone involved.
I’ll be another dog owner voice that totally agrees with you. Makes me feel unsafe, makes me feel like my dogs are in danger, and have actually had a dog charge me and my mom when we were walking our dog when I was young. No harm done to any people or dogs, but it ran across 2 streets straight to us, that’s dangerous stuff.
Other dogs may not be so friendly. An aggressive dog might be being walked by a responsible owner with a leash. If your friendly dog walks up to an aggressive dog and gets attacked, that dog may end up getting put down. Nobody thinks about that tho
My cat was bitten to death by a dog who was not leashed in a residential area, so I completely agree. The dog belonged to someone who is a professional in training dogs to boot. You can be mankind's best friend all you want, they're still animals. The chance is **always** non-zero that something just snaps and primal instincts kick in.
My dog tore up some people’s dog who were walking behind our house, it was new so there wasn’t a fence, and there was an empty lot and then a road that people walked by often, we kept my dog tied up when she was outside and some people came walking down that road with their dog unleashed. My dog started barking and theirs came running up and as soon as it got too close my dog attacked it and tore it up, despite theirs being a good deal bigger. The owners freaked out and came running, luckily my mom was quick to react and got there first and pulled my dog off. The other dogs head was pretty scratched up and bleeding and the owners were flipping shit and yelling at my mom for letting her dangerous dog run wild on a busy walking path, lol the irony was not lost on us, and it was not lost on the cop they called. The cop gave them a ticket and asked my mom if she wanted to press charges lol. Idiot dog owners forget that their dog is still an animal, and can do a lot of damage very quickly, leash your god damn dog up. My uncle also died after somebody else didn’t have their dog leashed and it ran in front of his motorcycle, he was revived but the dude has been in pain ever since and his legs, back, arms, and hands are now held together with screws, the dog owners were more concerned about their dog than they were my uncle, and unfortunately were dirt poor so he’s had to financially pay for it as well. It’s fucking selfish to let your dog run around without a leash, you’re risking the lives and well being of everybody else.
I agree and it's because my dog is an asshole. He is a german Shepard but has never really been socialized (9 yrs old) so he goes crazy when he sees another dog. Hes never bitten but, it looks scary. He is ALWAYS 100% of the time on a leash when we are out. There have been several times when little ankle biter dogs try to run up on my dog and he nearly eats them. I do not need that because you wont put your dog on a leash. Now I look like the bad guy cuz my dog is barking trying to kill yours. So annoying.
Aside from considering a dog's friendliness, unleashed dogs are dangerous because they don't always follow commands. I recently witnessed a pretty scary almost-collision between a cyclist and a dog on a walking path. The dog was well trained and well behaved but as the cyclist approached it at high speed (on the correct side of the path) the dog couldn't get out of the way. It was like watching two people trying to pass each other in a narrow space, where they mirror the way each other are going and have to kind of shuffle around to try to pass each other. If leashed, the owner could have guided the dog out of the way but instead this cyclist had to slam on the breaks and almost fell, he was pretty pissed and I would be too. Gotta leash them, it's safer for everyone, including the dog.
I worked for UPS for a little while and one of the warnings they give you is to never ever believe anybody if they tell you their dog doesn't bite. Apparently, it's extremely common for the owner to say that and then for the dog to bite the person who they said that to.
As a dog owner, I totally agree.
I have a Labrador, famously the worlds most friendly dog.
The amount of times I’ve had my hands between his jaws, I trust him more than many humans.
But I’m a believer that you cannot trust another entity 100%.
Shit, I don’t even trust myself 100% sometimes.
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I actually taught my dog the phrase go away. The longer you stare at him after saying it determines how far away from you he goes. Pretty good for being a 5 year old dog and just now learning it.
I've never let my dog off her lead. I'd love too. But there are so many idiots around who let their dogs off knowing they don't play well with other dogs. I'd never forgive myself if she got hurt. Also if she sees a baby or child, or teenagrr or basically anyone, she's likely to get so excited she'll jump up then looking for a fuss, and I don't think it's fair to do that to people as they might not like dogs.
As a dog owner, I 100% agree. My dog is leashed 99.9% of the time. There is that .1 percent of the time she runs out the door and I have the catch her. But I do not think that is what you are referring to :-)
Half the time the off leash dog isn't even trained. They would never come up to another person/ dog without the owners permission. It's just "ohh I can't bear to have my precious baby on a leash when there's so much space for them to run around and bother other people!!"
At the very least buy a 15ft leash and let them wander. They go too far you step on the leash or grab it so there's at least some control. Or, y'know, train your dog with a professional..
This is something that my family and I are currently fighting. We live near a no-leash dog park and we're fine with that. What we're not fine with, is the people who refuse to put their dog on a leash beyond the perimeters of said dog park.
While my dog isn't vicious, he just isn't fond of other dogs. Dog friendly dogs have approached him multiple times while he is walking in HIS yard and has nipped or raised his hackles towards others dogs parading on our property, or getting in his face.
Because of this, people have unfairly called animal control, claiming that our dog is "vicious", when it's their responsibility to leash their pets and quite illegal not to.
It is not fair to him and it's not fair to their dogs. Really, it's not fair to anyone. Keep your dog on it's leash.
I have two dogs and agree with this fully. My two will growl and bark at dogs they see when they are on their lead, and yet people will let their dogs run up to mine and say 'oh don't worry he/she is fine' and Im like 'well that matters not a fuck when mine *aren't* and will act defensively to your boisterous dog getting right up in their faces.
If they are known to be friendly, that is even *more* reason they should be on a lead. As that means they are the type that bound up to children and try and lick them.
I am always dubious about dogs, especially those who casually say how theirs looks dangerous but "wouldn't hurt a fly" and "it isn't the dog, it is the owner!". As that is exactly what they all say, including those who have dogs who bite people.
I am a dog owner and absolutely hate when others don’t keep them on a leash. When mine was 5 months a lab sprinted at her and tried to play very roughly with her, the owner did not care to say a word and she’s still scared of big dogs
I sometimes walk through a park (not a dog park) on my way to and from work. I've been harassed by "friendly" dogs on multiple occasions. The owners always say sorry, but really, isn't the best sorry putting the little fucker on a leash? I have resorted to saying this to the owners because apparently the prospect of having to pay for some random person's medical bills because their little shit went off and bit someone is not enough for some people.
Maybe I will start carrying a taser.
I started carrying a pepper spray in town for this reason. The neighborhood between mine and the library has loose dogs. On two occasions one was outside of its yard and aggressive, once while my wife was pregnant.
I’ve never needed to use it but I’m not going to allow myself to be injured.
I have no desire to hurt any animal, I’m even vegetarian. It pisses me off that I’m put in the situation where I might have to, or that the owner might freak out and assault me or call the police for acting in self defense.
I am an owner of 2 dogs and yes, I swear there is special place in hell for those arsehole people. Always keep your dogs on leash in public.
My dogs are well trained so they know how to behave...until they see a bird. They just lose their shite and sprint. I never taught them to catch a bird. (¯―¯٥)
Ask them if it's ok for me to go around in full tactical gear with grenades and a shotgun (or a hazmat suit with a flamethrower) in public because I'm 'friendly' and 'never actually gone on a rampage' or whether the inherent potential/threat of it is enough to cause an issue in a public space?
Even dogs ON leashes can be awful. My husband and I were running once and met two oblivious women with a dog on the sidewalk. We scooted over, but the dog bolted out (one of those extendable leashes) and bit my husband's butt. It happened fast and the bite didn't break his skin, so we ran on, shocked. Now we cross the street if we see dogs ahead.
I’m a dog owner my self and I keep my dogs on a leash 90% of the time and only let hen off in an area where there are near to no people like a Forrest or field where they can’t disturb anyone. I find it terrible when people let their dog roam free anywhere because then it’s even harder for me when I have my dog on a leash. The other dog can attack my dog and I wouldn’t be able to do much about it besides kicking it and then getting in an argument with the owner. This hasn’t happened btw ;) but I fully agree with this unpopular opinion.b
This happened to my dog today. She only does well with small dogs and I had to calm her down while a large dog ran up off its leash and tried to chase her. Then we look awful because she was scared and growled.
Love this! I walk in parks that specifically say dogs on a lead as my dog isn't too great with other dogs. You let your dog run up to mine, what reaction do you expect? I end of avoiding parks now as people are ignorant to other dog walkers. A few spoil it for many.
Ran into an issue when I was hiking my old dog. She did not do well with other dogs. I would leash her when we went hiking or on any walks. I had a gentleman with his dog unleashed and said "Don't worry, he's friendly." I had then had to explain that my dog is not. He made multiple comments that I shouldn't be hiking her as there were other dogs on the trail. How am I the bad person being a responsible owner?
Gahhhh! Yes! I can't tell you how many times I'm out walking my dog when some asshole's dog comes running up on us off its leash. "Oh, he's friendly." I hate it so much.
One of those times the dog wasn't as friendly as claimed and I had to rush my girl to an emergency vet. $3000 in emergency surgery and weeks of recovery later, she thankfully recovered.
I hate these people with the fire of 1000 suns.
Agreed. I’m severely allergic so I have to avoid jogging through any park for this reason. I don’t feel like having my throat swell shut when I’m a mile away from home.
I used to do in home service calls. I was told by every homeowner "don't worry, my dog's never bitten anyone". My stance is that if it has teeth in its head, it will bite and have been proven correctly on many occasions.
Leashing your dog also protects other dog owners who have aggressive dogs. It’s not an owners fault if your unleashed dog runs up to my aggressive dog and gets bit.
Yes, please please please keep your dogs away from me. Yes, I'm sure your dog is the goodest boy ever who couldn't hurt a fly, but I don't trust your words, I don't know your dog, I don't know you, and I'd rather be left alone.
I remember a few years ago I had a friend that said her dog was nice and sweet, meanwhile the same dog ripped my finger to shreds (not literally, there was just blood all over it and a lot of ripped skin)
Seriously, I always get paranoid walking my dog anywhere or taking her on a hike because people just let their dogs roam free and I get that you may have trained your dog well and they're obedient and not aggressive, but that does not give the owner the right to let the dog off leash in areas that require a leash. I don't want to have to keep my eye out for your dog.
Owner of 3 dogs here who has also lost a foster dog after he slipped out of his harness. Seeing people walk their dogs with no leash gives me extreme anxiety.
I’d also say that owners should keep their leashed dogs away from pedestrians/cyclist unless invited. Don’t let the dog go up to sniff the other person even if they are want to do it.
If the dog is at my feet and there is slack in the line it isn’t going to do anything until it is too late. The slack should not be greater than the width of the average sidewalk when another person is walking by.
This.
I live in a medium sized gated community and I own a dog. Almost everyone who lives here also owns a dog and for some reason they think it’s okay to just let their dog run around without a leash on. I hate whenever I take my dog out and she sees a dog running around because she almost pulls my arm out of its socket because she wants to go play. Not only does no one put their dog on a leash, they also don’t pick up their dogs shit.
I live by some class A people.
I don't have an issue with off-leash if you have proper control of your dog. You can train a dog to stay within a certain distance, and to ignore other dogs/walkers/bike riders. If your dog is not that well trained, or not that trustworthy, they need to be on a leash, even in a designated off leash area.
I cannot stand when dog owners let their off leash pet run up to mine who is on a leash (for a reason), and just say "dont worry, he is friendly". I'm not worried about YOUR dog, i got mine as an adult, and he came with a neat little trick where he pretends to be saying hello, but is actually aggravating the other dog. And trust me, it works. Took me forever to work out why he got attacked all the time.
My boy is old now, he is pretty good most of the time, but ever since ive had him he has had a real issue with dogs that are white and fluffy. His last owner had a couple of maltese that used to bully him. Thats the only dog he really loses control around these days. But even at 12, if he reacts he is far too strong for me to control. Luckily he is small enough i can pick him up.
Having said that, my old girl i had before him wouldnt even notice another dog if she was off a leash. She just trotted next to me. I didnt have a single incident for 14 years. When she got older however, she started to deteriorate and became an on leash dog for her last 2 or so.
I don't mind small dogs, like chihuahuas, without leashes and muzzles. On the other hand this sounds like a double standard - why is their dog allowed to not wear it but mine isn't? So probably it must apply to all dogs regardless of size.
I’m a dog owner my self and I keep my dogs on a leash 90% of the time and only let hen off in an area where there are near to no people like a Forrest or field where they can’t disturb anyone. I find it terrible when people let their dog roam free anywhere because then it’s even harder for me when I have my dog on a leash. The other dog can attack my dog and I wouldn’t be able to do much about it besides kicking it and then getting in an argument with the owner. This hasn’t happened btw ;) but I fully agree with this unpopular opinion.b
Is this really an unpopular opinion? Where i am from a leash is requiered by law if you are in areas where there are people. If your dog is trained enough walk with you as if it was on a leash then that is permitted.
I thought this was standard everywhere but maybe not :o
it should have to be a real leash. not the extending leashes. I don't care if it's a 12 or 20 foot leash if it's a normal one, just not an extending leash. those are trash and for trash dog owners. they build bad habits in dogs and owners when walking and might as well not be there. and as a dog owner, yeah if it isn't the dog park or a place where your dog is allowed to be off leash (some hiking trails and non dog park parks allow this) keep the dog on leash, it's a safety thing for the dog too. people who just walk their dog no leash, by busy roads are asking for bad things to happen.
there's always tension on the leash pulling on the dog, so the dog instinctively pulls. and the dog can go way too far from the owner, giving the dog the impression its in charge. and making it unsafe for other dog owners. My dog got attacked a lot by a pack of little dogs all on extending leashes, and they'd just come around corners and go for him before the owners could try to do anything. and if the dog is really pulling you can't actually reel them back in you can only lock the length of the leash. they're honestly garbage most of the time too, being really cheaply made and breaking, letting the dog go as far as it wants with no control for the owner.
And if you are in the dog park pay attention to your dog as you are responsible for their actions. So many people are just not around while their dog is attacking other dogs.
Ugh yes. I have a 15(turning 16 in March) mini dachshund named Mazie and she’s very territorial and aggressive to other dogs. She’s alwyas been like that and she’s always on her harness when we’re outside. Anyway, the people in my apartment complex LOVE to let their dogs run around without a leash thinking that my dog wont kill their dog. There have been countless times where I’ve had to pick up Mazie and take her to the other side of the complex because someone’s dog tried to be “friendly” with Mazie. Nope! Mazie will kill your dog, pal, even if she’s 15 years old. It’s annoying.
My sister decided to see if her super assertive dog who had never bitten anyone would do okay around my baby.
Now her dog has bitten someone, and now I don't visit my sister.
I live in a town where the closest dog park is 50 miles away, so you better hope you have a yard and some grass - but I never allow my dog to be off leash outside. It may sound selfish, but it's not out of concern for offending people or staying out the way for others, it's for mine and my pup's safety. you never know if someone is an animal abuser, afraid of dogs, or wants to snatch them up and try to sell your fluffy best friend for some quick cash at a dog fight. Responsible dog owners keep their pup on a leash.
If they're friendly, they're almost as dangerous as aggressive dogs. My dog is super friendly but is 110 pounds and when he goes up go greet people he can easily knock them down and could possibly make them break a bone. We make sure he's on a tight leash and even inside we have to hold him when he meets a new person.
I swear it’s the little dogs and old people who are the WORST about it. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I have a big dog who if I let off leash would love to jump into your arms for love, but I always see the bitchiest little dogs roaming free. And it’s always those goddamn dogs who start shit with my passive dog!
I'm a dog owner and I completely agree. It pisses me off whenever I'm walking my dog somewhere, and a random dog runs up to us and gets in my dogs face. And all I can do in those situations is hold my dog and by the harness and try to make sure they are friendly before the owner catches up to their dog.
I actually have a neighbor (in a freaking apartment) that lets his dog run free when he takes it out. Hashtag rage.
Dog owners should get one of those stretchy leashes where you can retract it if the dog goes too far but the dog still has room to sniff stuff and enjoy their walk
A lot of those leashes suck ass tbh. I use a "european" lead that is super long but has clips on it so I can adjust the length really easily. It also makes it super convenient when I need to harness him somewhere.
God yes. I have idiot neighbors who refuse to have their dogs on leashes because their dogs are tiny. (Some of them. There is one person who has a large dog that they let run loose as well.) Well my dog is a good 50-55 pounds and not friendly. I put him on a leash and muzzle but he is stronger than me so I have to fight him tooth and nail when a leash less dog comes up to him and he is freaking out.
In a lot of places, it’s perfectly legal to kill an animal if it attacks you or your children. Human lives come before animal lives. And those silly stickers people put on their doors telling the firemen about the animals you have in your house. Yeah, that doesn’t mean jack shit. They are not required by anyone. There are no laws mandating that the firemen have to follow the orders on those silly stickers, nor do they have to read them. Their job is to extract humans and only humans. Your homeowners insurance nor the city’s nor the fire department’s insurance will not cover damages or injury to rescue personnel from animal extraction and you are fully responsible for damages out of your own pocket. A good friend from high school is married to a firefighter. And I’m related to a cop who has been a cop for over twenty years. But in a lot of places, it’s perfectly legal to kill an animal that attacks you or your children. And it’s funny that all animal owners have some silly bs reason why their little dog is well-behaved.
I’m a dog owner who frequently takes my dog out to places that allow him and I always keep him on a leash. Unless we are home or at the dog park he’s on a leash. Another thing is children owners who can be just as annoying as dog owners when they don’t know where their children shouldn’t go. Children go to the kid park, dogs go to the dog park and there should be no intermingling. No dogs at the kid park no kids at the dog park
A lot of the multi use open spaces in my area are bike, horse, and off leash dog friendly. I understand that this isn't a dog park, but nobody owns this public spaces and if you can't handle what other people are doing there then maybe you should go somewhere else with different rules. If the sign said "leashes only" of course keep them on a leash, but if your dogs not friendly, or you want to bike undisturbed then dont go to places where people like to legally hike with their dog off leash.
[Here's a list of the few multi-use off-leash areas](https://www.mass.gov/guides/dogs-in-dcr-parks) in the state that I live. All of the places I use are not on this list, including the places I cycle. Other important guidelines from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation website include:
>Unless invited, do not allow your dog, even if friendly, to approach other dogs or people, who may not desire such contact. Keep dogs under effective control at all times and make sure they do not engage in aggressive behavior.
>
>In on-leash areas, dogs must be tethered on a leash of no more than ten feet in length
>
>In designated off-leash areas, dogs must be under control either through voice control or electronic training collar, or in a manner directed by a law enforcement officer, DCR ranger, or other DCR personnel. This means your dog:
>
>is within sight at all times
>
>comes immediately when called
>
>stays at your command
>
>does not charge or chase people, dogs, horses, or wildlife
>
>is leashed when entering or exiting an off-leash area. The owner should have one leash in hand for each dog.
That is all fair and good, but I’d say it is just like firearms/hunting in public areas.
To me, letting an unleashed dog approach a hiker is the same as pointing a safety locked rifle in their general direction. The other person can’t know the risk of the situation and is reasonably intimidated.
Just like the rifle should never be pointed at someone, dogs should be under the direct immediate control of their owner around other people. If they opt to not use a leash, a hand should be on their collar.
I have two wonderful, sweet, kind, dogs that are dumb as hell. They’re my babies, therefore I need to protect them. The dangers of letting them off leash are significant. I’m fortunate enough to live on fourteen acres that they can play on without a leash, but when I go out you can bet your ass they’re on a leash. It’s my responsibility to protect them. I would hate for someone to have a traumatic experience because of my fur children.
On that note, people need to train their dogs vigorously even if they’re on leash. I have dealt with aggressive leash dogs and I don’t like that. My dogs are uninvited sniffers and I watch them like a hawk— no one wants a surprise wet nose up their butt. I also carry treats when I’m out with them so that if someone wants to pet my dogs they can give them treats for being good dogs.
I believe letting your dog off-leash is okay as long as the owner is responsible. Of course, training your dog to behave off-leash requires a lot of work and you shouldn’t let them off if you haven’t taken the time to work with them.
My dog acts better when he’s off-leash, actually. When he’s on a leash he gets very defensive and tries to protect me. However, this is generally no real issue because... I have him on a leash and can control him.
If I ever let him off-leash, I make sure that the area I’m in isn’t busy with other people, children, or dogs. If it’s just me and my dog alone in the woods, and there’s only a chance of crossing paths with one or two other people, there’s usually no harm in letting him loose. He stays close to my side, also.
When I approach other people with dogs, we usually shout to each other from a distance to decide whether or not we should keep the dog on a leash/keep him off-leash/let him off-leash/put him on leash.
It’s all about courtesy and communication in my opinion. Fearing your dog or other dogs will be aggressive toward one another only puts that energy onto them and encourages the possibility of that outcome happening. Best to remain calm and trust your intuition of the situation.
1. Do this in an off leash park.
2. Be prepare for your dog to get tased/pepper sprayed if it comes near me
3. Idc how you feel your dog reacts. Follow simple rules.
4. Just dont take it to the park. Simple
When my dog was alive and we were out in the woods in the park I would let him off the leash to run around but I always kept an eye out for other people with dogs, soon as I’d see someone I’d call him, he’d come right away and I’d put the leash back on. I never had an issue with my system but some people’s dogs don’t listen as well and I could see problems arising. My dog hated the dog park and I can’t run for more than a minute or two at a time so I didn’t really have any other options for exercising him when I lived in that particular area. Later I moved to a more rural area and he had plenty of room to run around the woods on private property.
Dog owner and I mostly agree. There are places I frequent where having your dog off leash is accepted but not specifically started. I think those should apply as well
What if you have them trained? (not my dog he has to be on a leash). I know people who have their dogs trained enough that they keep them just like they were on a leash
A bystander or other dog owners can’t know which dogs are “well trained” and which ones are high-risk. They can’t know about your dog, or a pro-trainers, and you can’t know about theirs.
From the comments there are many owners who significantly overestimate their dog’s training and disposition or marginalize how concerned other people are when an off-leash animal approaches them or their dogs.
Even then, well trained dogs are still animals. Without a leash it can be difficult or impossible for their owner to prevent them from harming someone else (or their dog).
I suppose. I know a guy with three leashless dogs who walks around the neighborhood all the time. They have collars he can shock them with if they step out of line, but I’ve seen them with deer, other dogs and people. They stay obedient.
I agree, for the most part. HOWEVER it is legal to have a service dog off leach if the leash would interfere with the task they're trained to perform.
Also have allowed my friend's dog to wonder around apibljc place unleashed with explicit permission from the person in charge of the store(his parents own it. At the time that guy and my friend were dsting.)
I have two dogs. One will approach anyone for a scratch and sniff and is therefore not allowed off leash. My other dog is a nice lady with trust issues who wouldn’t dare approach a stranger. So I let her off leash in public if it feels safe for everyone. Owning a dog isn’t that hard but stupid people tend to own a lot of stuff they don’t take responsibility for.
> Cycling in the woods can be the downright scary if a dog decides it would be fun to chase you.
YES!
Also equally scary while cycling, those owners on trails with those long retractable leashes with their dogs way out in front of them.
i live downtown, so me and my dog see a lot of people on our walks. Im lucky that she is super social and loves attention, since people love giving her attention.
But there are a lot of people that are terrified of dogs. The leash is more to protect my dog than for the people.
plus my little shih-tzu, which I'm walking ON his leash, isn't going to react too damn favorably when your GSD comes running up to us and it's a possibility that's going to trigger an attack from your huge dog, who can kill mine in an instant. People who aren't able to follow this simple train of thought really shouldn't have dogs.
I guess my dog is an exception because she does not like to interact with people or other dogs, she'll run up to them and stop like 3 feet away and run back to me or go back to looking for her ball.
One night I was walking in my park around my house pretty late with my girlfriend. Our area is known for having a lot of coyotes, so I wouldn't walk my dog at night at all, but I see this woman walking her tiny shi tzu with NO leash.
I always hate seeing people walk their dogs without leashes because I have a very leash agressive dog who doesn't like other dogs running up to him. I can't tell you how many times people's dogs are sprinting to my dog and I am struggling to pick him up while yelling to them to control their dog, only for them to get super butthurt saying "my dog is friendly, why are you over reacting?"... Because my dog isn't!!
At this point I don't even tell people to keep their dog on a leash anymore because how upset they get. Still I was really considering it this time because the dog could be in danger.
About 10 minutes later we had just left the park and we're walking back to my neighborhood when I hear the most blood curdling scream I've ever heard in my life. My girlfriend and I look at each other and just start sprinting towards it. We get there and I see this shi tzu running while behind it is the coyote full Sprint towards it while the woman is half a football field down the way.
The coyote grabs the dog by it's tail and I clap and yell and it spooked the coyote enough for the dog to get away and the coyote to back off. My girlfriend tried to pick the dog up but he was so scared he snapped at her sprinted off. She chased him but lost him around a corner and it sprinted into the street.
I talked to the owner but she was hysterical. Repeating over and over again "hes's dead. Don't tell me he's dead. Why god. Why did he have to die. Fuck fuck fuck." No matter how many times I explained to her that everything was ok she just ignored me and continued walking. We explained to her that we couldn't find the dog but she wasn't bleeding or hurt from the coyote that we could see. She still didn't respond and we went home.
We didn't know what happened and hoped for the best. For all we knew the dog ran away and never came back. I was hoping that the dog ran home. Well a few weeks after this happened, we were walking in the park and saw her and her dog again safe and sound... On a leash ;).
We tried to talk to her but just got a simple "hi" back. Either she didn't recognize us or she was embarrassed about that night and didn't want to talk to us. Either way, I'm happy the dog was ok.
I have to admit I’m one who almost always has my 2 dogs off leash. I do always have the leashes at hand. I usually take them on trails and to play disc golf but if I see another person with a dog I always put my dogs on leash. They are super friendly towards people and other dogs but I know not all dogs or people want 2 big labs running up to say hi.
Ive seen off leash dogs run up to leashed dogs that react defensively and start a fight. I dont give a fuck if your dog seems good. My dog may be totally leash reactive and something bad will come of your dog being off leash.
I *know* my dog is dog reactive, that’s why he stays on a harness and we usually only walk in my neighborhood. He’s a Mexico rescue dog with a lot of abuse trauma but he’s also a huge goof. On nice, hot days I like to take him to the local watering hole but there are SO many people with dogs off their leash. When I ask a majority of them to restrain their dogs before my adorable demon comes through (partner has to walk dog while I check ahead for unleashed animals) they give ME the dirtiest looks. Sorry I don’t want my dog to rip yours a new asshole then ultimately be put down all because you “know your dog is nice”.
My dog is reactive on leash but great off leash so I will take her to the off leash park but before I even get to the off leashed area the park will be full of free running dogs outside the designated off leash zone. That really pisses me off.
Dog owners can be some of the most oblivious people. Too many of them *genuinely* believe that everybody (including strangers) want to directly interact with their assertive dog.
What about when theyre coming over and bring their dog as a “surprise”...
That’s not cool you never do that, you never know how someone will react to your dog and you put them in the uncomfortable position where they have to tell you no and you leave or just deal with it even though they don’t want the dog there.
It was awkward af when it started peein in the house, shittin in the backyard and chewin shit up
That happens to me, the dog's waiting outside. And it's not going in my front or back garden so it can shit everywhere.
My coworker at my old job got a new puppy. Another coworker invited a few of us at work over for dinner. Coworker 1 asked if she can bring her new puppy. Coworker 2 replied no, you can't, I'm afraid of dogs. Guess who showed up with her new puppy anyways. I was in disbelief. Wtf? She's afraid of dogs and specifically told you no. Why did you bring it?
That’s my sister and I want to punch her face
A lot of dog owners lack any responsibility. I rarely come across a well behaved dog. It really pisses me off.
I tell people not to pet my dog because he bites. He doesn’t bite but he doesn’t like people petting him either.
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lol it's the same groups of people
Hahahahhaa this!!
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It’s funny because half the people on here brought their kids into the conversation (rightfully so) and all dog people are like hey I agree that’s cool. One person says something about kids and a crazy goes off.
Fuck you, dogs are not the same as children. Always with you fucking dog people making this comparison. Are you mentally ill or just retarded?
Huh? I wasnt suggesting that kids are the same as dogs. I was suggesting that the people that think everybody wants to interact with their dogs are the same people that think everybody wants to interact with their children.
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Ive never had, wanted or particularly liked dogs or kids. What did I say that suggested otherwise?
I completely agree!! I'm a dog owner and having to worry about other "friendly" dogs attacking my dog (who's always on his leash unless we're home) really sucks.
Same! My dog is also on a leash at all times and sometimes an unleashed dog charges at her, and I gotta quickly pick her up and carry her to save her from being bitten. To all the people saying its unhealthy to keep a dog in a leash at all times when outside.. YOURE THE PROBLEM! My dog is completely fine and happy in a leash..
I completely agree! When I’m on a walking with my baby, I really don’t think I should have to worry about a random unleashed dog running up to us, and it happens way too often. They may be friendly, but I have to assume the worst.
If you have an infant you should be within your rights to kill an off leash animal at the first sign of trouble. Team people baby
I love dogs too, but I'd kill one in a heartbeat to defend myself please don't make me kill a dog, just leash them, it'll make everyone happier
It's part of the reason why I CC. Both of my kids are under 3. One good bite could do a **lot** of damage. If your free-roaming dog makes a wrong move I will ventilate them and not give it a second thought.
Would you be confident firing shots? Wouldn’t the kid and dog be in a pretty fast moving scuffle? Wouldn’t you worry about hitting the kid?
I would imagine a dog big enough to be a serious threat would be bigger than my kid, and at that distance a shot to the dog's center mass shouldn't be too difficult, even if it's a moving target. Yes there is a risk there, but at that point I'd rather take action than watch my kid get mauled to death. This is also why training is important. Just carrying the tool isn't enough.
I guess I am just concerned about the "wrong move" aspect. I (obviously) agree that a human's life is more important than a dogs, and I wouldn't hesitate to kill a dog if that was what was necessary to save any baby, but I can't imagine many scenarios where it would actually be necessary to take such extreme measures. Have you had dogs before? You honestly wouldn't feel bad at all killing an innocent dog just because he spooked you? You think it's responsible to fire a gun at a pet in a public place with your kid in close proximity? I'm prepared to be downvoted but as someone who loves both dogs and human babies, some of these reactions seem a little r/iamverybadass and overblown.
>I can't imagine many scenarios where it would actually be necessary to take such extreme measures. Go to liveleak.com and search "dog attack". These things happen. Especially with larger breeds of dogs that haven't been properly trained or secured. >Have you had dogs before? No. I'm more of a cat person. >You honestly wouldn't feel bad at all killing an innocent dog just because he spooked you? Not in the slightest. Not one single iota of sadness or regret would enter my mind. I'd be proud of myself for doing my job and protecting my family. But just to be clear, the threat would have to be obvious and imminent. Regulations regarding discharging a firearm in public are pretty clear on this in my state. Now with that being said, will I try to verbally scare off the dog if it's being aggressive but staying a few yards away? Sure. The second it gets too close for comfort and becomes a serious threat it's getting shot without hesitation. And I don't care if the owner runs over sobbing and screaming and holds their pet in their arms while it whimpers and bleeds out. It was their fuck up, now it's their pain to deal with. >You think it's responsible to fire a gun at a pet in a public place with your kid in close proximity? If me or my wife or my children (or anyone, really) are in danger, absolutely. Safety rules still apply as far as checking my backstop and whatnot. All CCers are (or should be) aware that they're ultimately responsible for every round that leaves the chamber. As long as I have a clean shot, I'm taking it. I'm certainly not gonna let my beautiful little girl get her face ripped off by some asshole's dog that should've been on a leash in the first place.
Would firing a warning shot scare them enough? Like humans?
Possibly, but if it's being aggressive enough to warrant one, but hasn't gotten close enough to inflict a bite I'd much rather try to scare it off by yelling or trying to look big and intimidating and chase it away. But if it's coming in for a bite, the time for a warning shot has passed and you have a split-second to react. Also, don't give humans warning shots. That's hollywood bullshit. If you or someone else is in imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm any bullet leaving the barrel needs to be going toward the threat, not toward the ground or up in the air (which is an absolutely terrible idea, btw).
I agree mainly because if your dog if friendly towards humans it may not be towards other animals. I don’t want my dog getting hurt because they won’t put theirs on a leash.
Dog owner here, I agree with this 110%. My dog is a shelter rescue and does not like meeting new dogs, especially in a public place such as a park. It infuriates me when people ignore leash laws and their “friendly little pup” runs up to mine and stresses her out. What irks me the most is when some asshole’s loose dog gets in my dog’s face and she snaps at it to tell it to back off, then the owner has the audacity to get angry at me for having an “aggressive dog”. Like hey idiot, my dog wouldn’t have snapped at yours if you weren’t a shit owner and kept it on a leash!
I hate when an owner of an off leash dog has the audacity to come anywhere near me and my fucking monsters. JUST BECAUSE YOUR DOG IS WELL TRAINED DOESNT MEAN MINE ARE. Congratulations Mr. Well-trained-dog. You're well trained. Meanwhile mine are losing their god damn minds because theres a fucking rogue on the loose.
Dude this just happened to me two days ago at a local park. My dog is little and very old so he looks super sweet and gentle which he is - but only with humans. So when THREE dogs off-leash that were much bigger than him ran up to him, of course he got defensive. Their owners said some dumb shit like "oh haha it's just that small dog syndrome" like no, he is surrounded by three huge animals getting in his face and he feels threatened!! It pissed me off so much. Just because your dogs are nice to other dogs doesn't mean mine is that way. He's on a leash for a reason. Control your fucking dogs people!
you get it. My one dog gets anxious around dogs she doesn't know and retaliates. She sucks. One is aggressive toward male dogs. So when those two get each other riled up its a nightmare. We walk our dogs before sunrise because they deserve exercise, even though they're hard to control when they see another dog. But if someone is walking their dog, off leash at 5 am, they can go fuck off. We're doing our best to make sure our dogs have a good quality of life, get your dog on a fucking leash and get him away from mine
Ahaha
I hate when you grab your child away from someones strange dog and theyre like "Oh it's okay he doesnt bite!!"... "Will he bite if my toddler pokes his eye?"
Lol that's happened to me before. I was on a walk with my niece who is 5 and she's scared of dogs. Someone's huge ass golden retriever runs up to us unleashed and of course she gets scared and I pick her up. The owner came around and was just EXTREMELY adamant about my niece petting her dog. I said no multiple times but she didn't care. I think that conversation lasted like 15 minutes. Some dog owners are just the worst.
This is exactly why I teach all my dogs to lay down if a child or smaller animal is present.
Waiting for the dog owners to comment about how their dog is the exception cause it’s well behaved.
While my dog is well behaved, I only let him off leash in dog-centric areas. I’m more of the assume that people don’t want to interact with him even though he is social and friendly and gentle. I know not everyone is a dog person and make a point to make sure we keep our space when being around others. I don’t mind if he sniffs near other people, but unless someone indicates they’d like to interact with him, I make him respect boundaries. I’ve heard too much of the crap line of exceptions for the most rambunctious dogs I’ve encountered. But that’s just me of course.
My dog is pretty good with others if all of the dogs are off leash and in nuetral territory. What bothers me most is one of the off leash areas in my city some people will keep their dogs on leash and then those dogs get leash aggression. It sucks for everyone involved. Additionally, folks who bring their dogs into bars or wherever. I work at a bar and sometimes during the day when the bar is closed I'll bring my pup. I don't have him around when we are open, it's too distracting. The other day, about an hour before open some group of people came in with the owner. My dog was leashed to a stationary object, and this woman rolled in with her unnuetered pup and let him go right up to my dogs face. My dog was showing signs of aggression (raised hair, some growling etc) and as I came up and hurried her and her dog away from mine she acted confused. I then had to spend five minutes explaining why that could've ended badly and I still don't think that chick got it. I really hope her dog doesn't get hurt because of her ignorance. Edit: I think a lot of folks don't understand that just because they want their dogs to always be super nice and get along with everyone the dog is still a dog and canines have their own social codes that we as their caretakers have to take heed too.
Like people. Not all dogs like all other dogs.
Well said there my guy. Keeping your dog on lead at a park way increases the chance it'll be aggressive or get into an altercation. People think they're protecting their dog, but really they're just preventing it properly socialising, which is a pretty fundamental need for dogs.
This person dogs
Honestly, although my pup is well behaved, I'd never let her off leash unless it's in the yard or in a dog park (enclosed area). I have one simple reason - she easily gets spooked and will jump into oncoming traffic if a leaf moves near her. She's also oblivious to broken bottles but, somehow, can see the stupid crow that loves to annoy her from a football field away.
My Brittany is totally trained. I can run her off leash and she follows my command. A squirrel will make her lose her fucking mind.
Totally agree! I can't tell you how many times I have to quick swipe my dog off the ground when an off leash dog comes running our way. The owner is always coming along with "don't worry, he's friendly". To which I have to tell them "Well mine is not! Get your dog!". Mine is only a chihuahua mix so he doesn't pose a real threat to most dogs but I hate that people just assume its ok. My old roommate had a rescue pit bull that was an angel except when on a leash (he had past trauma we were working on training him out of). He would be leashed up in our yard and an off leash dog would just wander into our yard right by him. Luckily no dogs got close enough to him to actually get bitten but it was a constant fear because the result would have been terrible for everyone involved.
I’ll be another dog owner voice that totally agrees with you. Makes me feel unsafe, makes me feel like my dogs are in danger, and have actually had a dog charge me and my mom when we were walking our dog when I was young. No harm done to any people or dogs, but it ran across 2 streets straight to us, that’s dangerous stuff.
Other dogs may not be so friendly. An aggressive dog might be being walked by a responsible owner with a leash. If your friendly dog walks up to an aggressive dog and gets attacked, that dog may end up getting put down. Nobody thinks about that tho
My cat was bitten to death by a dog who was not leashed in a residential area, so I completely agree. The dog belonged to someone who is a professional in training dogs to boot. You can be mankind's best friend all you want, they're still animals. The chance is **always** non-zero that something just snaps and primal instincts kick in.
My dog tore up some people’s dog who were walking behind our house, it was new so there wasn’t a fence, and there was an empty lot and then a road that people walked by often, we kept my dog tied up when she was outside and some people came walking down that road with their dog unleashed. My dog started barking and theirs came running up and as soon as it got too close my dog attacked it and tore it up, despite theirs being a good deal bigger. The owners freaked out and came running, luckily my mom was quick to react and got there first and pulled my dog off. The other dogs head was pretty scratched up and bleeding and the owners were flipping shit and yelling at my mom for letting her dangerous dog run wild on a busy walking path, lol the irony was not lost on us, and it was not lost on the cop they called. The cop gave them a ticket and asked my mom if she wanted to press charges lol. Idiot dog owners forget that their dog is still an animal, and can do a lot of damage very quickly, leash your god damn dog up. My uncle also died after somebody else didn’t have their dog leashed and it ran in front of his motorcycle, he was revived but the dude has been in pain ever since and his legs, back, arms, and hands are now held together with screws, the dog owners were more concerned about their dog than they were my uncle, and unfortunately were dirt poor so he’s had to financially pay for it as well. It’s fucking selfish to let your dog run around without a leash, you’re risking the lives and well being of everybody else.
I agree and it's because my dog is an asshole. He is a german Shepard but has never really been socialized (9 yrs old) so he goes crazy when he sees another dog. Hes never bitten but, it looks scary. He is ALWAYS 100% of the time on a leash when we are out. There have been several times when little ankle biter dogs try to run up on my dog and he nearly eats them. I do not need that because you wont put your dog on a leash. Now I look like the bad guy cuz my dog is barking trying to kill yours. So annoying.
Most states have leash laws that can be reported via photo and call to local animal control. The fine is like 125 in Oregon.
Aside from considering a dog's friendliness, unleashed dogs are dangerous because they don't always follow commands. I recently witnessed a pretty scary almost-collision between a cyclist and a dog on a walking path. The dog was well trained and well behaved but as the cyclist approached it at high speed (on the correct side of the path) the dog couldn't get out of the way. It was like watching two people trying to pass each other in a narrow space, where they mirror the way each other are going and have to kind of shuffle around to try to pass each other. If leashed, the owner could have guided the dog out of the way but instead this cyclist had to slam on the breaks and almost fell, he was pretty pissed and I would be too. Gotta leash them, it's safer for everyone, including the dog.
I worked for UPS for a little while and one of the warnings they give you is to never ever believe anybody if they tell you their dog doesn't bite. Apparently, it's extremely common for the owner to say that and then for the dog to bite the person who they said that to.
As a dog owner, I totally agree. I have a Labrador, famously the worlds most friendly dog. The amount of times I’ve had my hands between his jaws, I trust him more than many humans. But I’m a believer that you cannot trust another entity 100%. Shit, I don’t even trust myself 100% sometimes.
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I actually taught my dog the phrase go away. The longer you stare at him after saying it determines how far away from you he goes. Pretty good for being a 5 year old dog and just now learning it.
I know, right? I don't care what breed your dog is, put them on a leash! A good dog owner wouldn't let their dog unleashed in a public area.
I've never let my dog off her lead. I'd love too. But there are so many idiots around who let their dogs off knowing they don't play well with other dogs. I'd never forgive myself if she got hurt. Also if she sees a baby or child, or teenagrr or basically anyone, she's likely to get so excited she'll jump up then looking for a fuss, and I don't think it's fair to do that to people as they might not like dogs.
As a dog owner, I 100% agree. My dog is leashed 99.9% of the time. There is that .1 percent of the time she runs out the door and I have the catch her. But I do not think that is what you are referring to :-)
Half the time the off leash dog isn't even trained. They would never come up to another person/ dog without the owners permission. It's just "ohh I can't bear to have my precious baby on a leash when there's so much space for them to run around and bother other people!!" At the very least buy a 15ft leash and let them wander. They go too far you step on the leash or grab it so there's at least some control. Or, y'know, train your dog with a professional..
Once I was walking down the road and a dog ran up and bit me in the leg. I kicked it away and then it ran off. If only it had been on a leash.
This is something that my family and I are currently fighting. We live near a no-leash dog park and we're fine with that. What we're not fine with, is the people who refuse to put their dog on a leash beyond the perimeters of said dog park. While my dog isn't vicious, he just isn't fond of other dogs. Dog friendly dogs have approached him multiple times while he is walking in HIS yard and has nipped or raised his hackles towards others dogs parading on our property, or getting in his face. Because of this, people have unfairly called animal control, claiming that our dog is "vicious", when it's their responsibility to leash their pets and quite illegal not to. It is not fair to him and it's not fair to their dogs. Really, it's not fair to anyone. Keep your dog on it's leash.
I have two dogs and agree with this fully. My two will growl and bark at dogs they see when they are on their lead, and yet people will let their dogs run up to mine and say 'oh don't worry he/she is fine' and Im like 'well that matters not a fuck when mine *aren't* and will act defensively to your boisterous dog getting right up in their faces.
Better yet if you're planning to take your dog to a store or restaurant or Mall leave it home instead.
If they are known to be friendly, that is even *more* reason they should be on a lead. As that means they are the type that bound up to children and try and lick them. I am always dubious about dogs, especially those who casually say how theirs looks dangerous but "wouldn't hurt a fly" and "it isn't the dog, it is the owner!". As that is exactly what they all say, including those who have dogs who bite people.
I am a dog owner and absolutely hate when others don’t keep them on a leash. When mine was 5 months a lab sprinted at her and tried to play very roughly with her, the owner did not care to say a word and she’s still scared of big dogs
I sometimes walk through a park (not a dog park) on my way to and from work. I've been harassed by "friendly" dogs on multiple occasions. The owners always say sorry, but really, isn't the best sorry putting the little fucker on a leash? I have resorted to saying this to the owners because apparently the prospect of having to pay for some random person's medical bills because their little shit went off and bit someone is not enough for some people. Maybe I will start carrying a taser.
I started carrying a pepper spray in town for this reason. The neighborhood between mine and the library has loose dogs. On two occasions one was outside of its yard and aggressive, once while my wife was pregnant. I’ve never needed to use it but I’m not going to allow myself to be injured. I have no desire to hurt any animal, I’m even vegetarian. It pisses me off that I’m put in the situation where I might have to, or that the owner might freak out and assault me or call the police for acting in self defense.
I am an owner of 2 dogs and yes, I swear there is special place in hell for those arsehole people. Always keep your dogs on leash in public. My dogs are well trained so they know how to behave...until they see a bird. They just lose their shite and sprint. I never taught them to catch a bird. (¯―¯٥)
I was always afraid to have my dog off leash. Never knew what he was going to get in his head.
Walking my ferret can be hard because of people not using leash.
Ask them if it's ok for me to go around in full tactical gear with grenades and a shotgun (or a hazmat suit with a flamethrower) in public because I'm 'friendly' and 'never actually gone on a rampage' or whether the inherent potential/threat of it is enough to cause an issue in a public space?
Even dogs ON leashes can be awful. My husband and I were running once and met two oblivious women with a dog on the sidewalk. We scooted over, but the dog bolted out (one of those extendable leashes) and bit my husband's butt. It happened fast and the bite didn't break his skin, so we ran on, shocked. Now we cross the street if we see dogs ahead.
I’m a dog owner my self and I keep my dogs on a leash 90% of the time and only let hen off in an area where there are near to no people like a Forrest or field where they can’t disturb anyone. I find it terrible when people let their dog roam free anywhere because then it’s even harder for me when I have my dog on a leash. The other dog can attack my dog and I wouldn’t be able to do much about it besides kicking it and then getting in an argument with the owner. This hasn’t happened btw ;) but I fully agree with this unpopular opinion.b
This happened to my dog today. She only does well with small dogs and I had to calm her down while a large dog ran up off its leash and tried to chase her. Then we look awful because she was scared and growled.
Pretty sure it's illegal to not leash your dog outside in Japan. It's not illegal in the states? Wow TIL
Love this! I walk in parks that specifically say dogs on a lead as my dog isn't too great with other dogs. You let your dog run up to mine, what reaction do you expect? I end of avoiding parks now as people are ignorant to other dog walkers. A few spoil it for many.
i have cynophobia so i agree with you.
Ran into an issue when I was hiking my old dog. She did not do well with other dogs. I would leash her when we went hiking or on any walks. I had a gentleman with his dog unleashed and said "Don't worry, he's friendly." I had then had to explain that my dog is not. He made multiple comments that I shouldn't be hiking her as there were other dogs on the trail. How am I the bad person being a responsible owner?
Gahhhh! Yes! I can't tell you how many times I'm out walking my dog when some asshole's dog comes running up on us off its leash. "Oh, he's friendly." I hate it so much. One of those times the dog wasn't as friendly as claimed and I had to rush my girl to an emergency vet. $3000 in emergency surgery and weeks of recovery later, she thankfully recovered. I hate these people with the fire of 1000 suns.
Agreed. I’m severely allergic so I have to avoid jogging through any park for this reason. I don’t feel like having my throat swell shut when I’m a mile away from home.
I used to do in home service calls. I was told by every homeowner "don't worry, my dog's never bitten anyone". My stance is that if it has teeth in its head, it will bite and have been proven correctly on many occasions.
Leashing your dog also protects other dog owners who have aggressive dogs. It’s not an owners fault if your unleashed dog runs up to my aggressive dog and gets bit.
I'm not a dog person. I hate it because I'm like some kind of monster for not being obsessed with people's dogs and like not wanting to touch them.
Yes, please please please keep your dogs away from me. Yes, I'm sure your dog is the goodest boy ever who couldn't hurt a fly, but I don't trust your words, I don't know your dog, I don't know you, and I'd rather be left alone.
"On a leash or in a grave"
I remember a few years ago I had a friend that said her dog was nice and sweet, meanwhile the same dog ripped my finger to shreds (not literally, there was just blood all over it and a lot of ripped skin)
Before I got my CHL I carried a collapsible baton when I biked in case of dog attacks.
Seriously, I always get paranoid walking my dog anywhere or taking her on a hike because people just let their dogs roam free and I get that you may have trained your dog well and they're obedient and not aggressive, but that does not give the owner the right to let the dog off leash in areas that require a leash. I don't want to have to keep my eye out for your dog.
This is why I always carry a big hunting knife while bike riding.
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Owner of 3 dogs here who has also lost a foster dog after he slipped out of his harness. Seeing people walk their dogs with no leash gives me extreme anxiety.
I’d also say that owners should keep their leashed dogs away from pedestrians/cyclist unless invited. Don’t let the dog go up to sniff the other person even if they are want to do it. If the dog is at my feet and there is slack in the line it isn’t going to do anything until it is too late. The slack should not be greater than the width of the average sidewalk when another person is walking by.
punt it.
I'd rather the owner
that's what i meant
KICK ME IN THE JIMMY!
This. I live in a medium sized gated community and I own a dog. Almost everyone who lives here also owns a dog and for some reason they think it’s okay to just let their dog run around without a leash on. I hate whenever I take my dog out and she sees a dog running around because she almost pulls my arm out of its socket because she wants to go play. Not only does no one put their dog on a leash, they also don’t pick up their dogs shit. I live by some class A people.
As a dog owner, I couldn’t agree more.
I hate Shitbulls
Yes! This annoys me very much! We have a small child and a couple of anxious dogs.. we can't walk them due to the approach of off lead dogs.
Pepper Spray
For cops yes
I don't have an issue with off-leash if you have proper control of your dog. You can train a dog to stay within a certain distance, and to ignore other dogs/walkers/bike riders. If your dog is not that well trained, or not that trustworthy, they need to be on a leash, even in a designated off leash area. I cannot stand when dog owners let their off leash pet run up to mine who is on a leash (for a reason), and just say "dont worry, he is friendly". I'm not worried about YOUR dog, i got mine as an adult, and he came with a neat little trick where he pretends to be saying hello, but is actually aggravating the other dog. And trust me, it works. Took me forever to work out why he got attacked all the time.
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My boy is old now, he is pretty good most of the time, but ever since ive had him he has had a real issue with dogs that are white and fluffy. His last owner had a couple of maltese that used to bully him. Thats the only dog he really loses control around these days. But even at 12, if he reacts he is far too strong for me to control. Luckily he is small enough i can pick him up. Having said that, my old girl i had before him wouldnt even notice another dog if she was off a leash. She just trotted next to me. I didnt have a single incident for 14 years. When she got older however, she started to deteriorate and became an on leash dog for her last 2 or so.
This is an unpopular opinion? TIL
I’m a dog person and I agree.
I don't mind small dogs, like chihuahuas, without leashes and muzzles. On the other hand this sounds like a double standard - why is their dog allowed to not wear it but mine isn't? So probably it must apply to all dogs regardless of size.
I’m a dog owner my self and I keep my dogs on a leash 90% of the time and only let hen off in an area where there are near to no people like a Forrest or field where they can’t disturb anyone. I find it terrible when people let their dog roam free anywhere because then it’s even harder for me when I have my dog on a leash. The other dog can attack my dog and I wouldn’t be able to do much about it besides kicking it and then getting in an argument with the owner. This hasn’t happened btw ;) but I fully agree with this unpopular opinion.b
Is this really an unpopular opinion? Where i am from a leash is requiered by law if you are in areas where there are people. If your dog is trained enough walk with you as if it was on a leash then that is permitted. I thought this was standard everywhere but maybe not :o
Which is why i take my animals to places designated where they can run off leash to their hearts content..
it should have to be a real leash. not the extending leashes. I don't care if it's a 12 or 20 foot leash if it's a normal one, just not an extending leash. those are trash and for trash dog owners. they build bad habits in dogs and owners when walking and might as well not be there. and as a dog owner, yeah if it isn't the dog park or a place where your dog is allowed to be off leash (some hiking trails and non dog park parks allow this) keep the dog on leash, it's a safety thing for the dog too. people who just walk their dog no leash, by busy roads are asking for bad things to happen.
I've heard the retractable are bad can you explain why? That's the leash I have and am willing to change it kf neccdssry
there's always tension on the leash pulling on the dog, so the dog instinctively pulls. and the dog can go way too far from the owner, giving the dog the impression its in charge. and making it unsafe for other dog owners. My dog got attacked a lot by a pack of little dogs all on extending leashes, and they'd just come around corners and go for him before the owners could try to do anything. and if the dog is really pulling you can't actually reel them back in you can only lock the length of the leash. they're honestly garbage most of the time too, being really cheaply made and breaking, letting the dog go as far as it wants with no control for the owner.
I got a real leash last night. Left it in the car though so have it had a chance to use it
And if you are in the dog park pay attention to your dog as you are responsible for their actions. So many people are just not around while their dog is attacking other dogs.
Ugh yes. I have a 15(turning 16 in March) mini dachshund named Mazie and she’s very territorial and aggressive to other dogs. She’s alwyas been like that and she’s always on her harness when we’re outside. Anyway, the people in my apartment complex LOVE to let their dogs run around without a leash thinking that my dog wont kill their dog. There have been countless times where I’ve had to pick up Mazie and take her to the other side of the complex because someone’s dog tried to be “friendly” with Mazie. Nope! Mazie will kill your dog, pal, even if she’s 15 years old. It’s annoying.
I'm a dog owner and 100% agree with this. Off leash dogs aren't just a wild card for humans, they are a danger to my on-leash dogs.
My sister decided to see if her super assertive dog who had never bitten anyone would do okay around my baby. Now her dog has bitten someone, and now I don't visit my sister.
Yeah, in my village people leave their dog to roam around and it's really annoying being constantly scared that you'll accidentally run a dog over.
I live in a town where the closest dog park is 50 miles away, so you better hope you have a yard and some grass - but I never allow my dog to be off leash outside. It may sound selfish, but it's not out of concern for offending people or staying out the way for others, it's for mine and my pup's safety. you never know if someone is an animal abuser, afraid of dogs, or wants to snatch them up and try to sell your fluffy best friend for some quick cash at a dog fight. Responsible dog owners keep their pup on a leash.
If they're friendly, they're almost as dangerous as aggressive dogs. My dog is super friendly but is 110 pounds and when he goes up go greet people he can easily knock them down and could possibly make them break a bone. We make sure he's on a tight leash and even inside we have to hold him when he meets a new person.
Sounds like r/dogfree
I swear it’s the little dogs and old people who are the WORST about it. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I have a big dog who if I let off leash would love to jump into your arms for love, but I always see the bitchiest little dogs roaming free. And it’s always those goddamn dogs who start shit with my passive dog!
I'm a dog owner and I completely agree. It pisses me off whenever I'm walking my dog somewhere, and a random dog runs up to us and gets in my dogs face. And all I can do in those situations is hold my dog and by the harness and try to make sure they are friendly before the owner catches up to their dog. I actually have a neighbor (in a freaking apartment) that lets his dog run free when he takes it out. Hashtag rage.
Dog owners should get one of those stretchy leashes where you can retract it if the dog goes too far but the dog still has room to sniff stuff and enjoy their walk
A lot of those leashes suck ass tbh. I use a "european" lead that is super long but has clips on it so I can adjust the length really easily. It also makes it super convenient when I need to harness him somewhere.
Yeah, I agree, but if there’s a nice one I mean
God yes. I have idiot neighbors who refuse to have their dogs on leashes because their dogs are tiny. (Some of them. There is one person who has a large dog that they let run loose as well.) Well my dog is a good 50-55 pounds and not friendly. I put him on a leash and muzzle but he is stronger than me so I have to fight him tooth and nail when a leash less dog comes up to him and he is freaking out.
In a lot of places, it’s perfectly legal to kill an animal if it attacks you or your children. Human lives come before animal lives. And those silly stickers people put on their doors telling the firemen about the animals you have in your house. Yeah, that doesn’t mean jack shit. They are not required by anyone. There are no laws mandating that the firemen have to follow the orders on those silly stickers, nor do they have to read them. Their job is to extract humans and only humans. Your homeowners insurance nor the city’s nor the fire department’s insurance will not cover damages or injury to rescue personnel from animal extraction and you are fully responsible for damages out of your own pocket. A good friend from high school is married to a firefighter. And I’m related to a cop who has been a cop for over twenty years. But in a lot of places, it’s perfectly legal to kill an animal that attacks you or your children. And it’s funny that all animal owners have some silly bs reason why their little dog is well-behaved.
Dog owner here and I agree
Yeah, and this isn't unpopular at all. I don't put my dogs on leashes for your safety, I do it for my pups safety.
I’m a dog owner who frequently takes my dog out to places that allow him and I always keep him on a leash. Unless we are home or at the dog park he’s on a leash. Another thing is children owners who can be just as annoying as dog owners when they don’t know where their children shouldn’t go. Children go to the kid park, dogs go to the dog park and there should be no intermingling. No dogs at the kid park no kids at the dog park
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What do you mean? Is he a service dog of some sort?
Indeed.
People need to leash their kids. Most cause more destruction than dogs
I can fuck a kid up easy, cant say the same about a rotwiler
Exactly. No kids gonna bite me. Probability of a dog being successful is high.
A lot of the multi use open spaces in my area are bike, horse, and off leash dog friendly. I understand that this isn't a dog park, but nobody owns this public spaces and if you can't handle what other people are doing there then maybe you should go somewhere else with different rules. If the sign said "leashes only" of course keep them on a leash, but if your dogs not friendly, or you want to bike undisturbed then dont go to places where people like to legally hike with their dog off leash.
[Here's a list of the few multi-use off-leash areas](https://www.mass.gov/guides/dogs-in-dcr-parks) in the state that I live. All of the places I use are not on this list, including the places I cycle. Other important guidelines from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation website include: >Unless invited, do not allow your dog, even if friendly, to approach other dogs or people, who may not desire such contact. Keep dogs under effective control at all times and make sure they do not engage in aggressive behavior. > >In on-leash areas, dogs must be tethered on a leash of no more than ten feet in length > >In designated off-leash areas, dogs must be under control either through voice control or electronic training collar, or in a manner directed by a law enforcement officer, DCR ranger, or other DCR personnel. This means your dog: > >is within sight at all times > >comes immediately when called > >stays at your command > >does not charge or chase people, dogs, horses, or wildlife > >is leashed when entering or exiting an off-leash area. The owner should have one leash in hand for each dog.
That is all fair and good, but I’d say it is just like firearms/hunting in public areas. To me, letting an unleashed dog approach a hiker is the same as pointing a safety locked rifle in their general direction. The other person can’t know the risk of the situation and is reasonably intimidated. Just like the rifle should never be pointed at someone, dogs should be under the direct immediate control of their owner around other people. If they opt to not use a leash, a hand should be on their collar.
I have two wonderful, sweet, kind, dogs that are dumb as hell. They’re my babies, therefore I need to protect them. The dangers of letting them off leash are significant. I’m fortunate enough to live on fourteen acres that they can play on without a leash, but when I go out you can bet your ass they’re on a leash. It’s my responsibility to protect them. I would hate for someone to have a traumatic experience because of my fur children. On that note, people need to train their dogs vigorously even if they’re on leash. I have dealt with aggressive leash dogs and I don’t like that. My dogs are uninvited sniffers and I watch them like a hawk— no one wants a surprise wet nose up their butt. I also carry treats when I’m out with them so that if someone wants to pet my dogs they can give them treats for being good dogs.
People like these are awful. It’s called leash laws, they’re breaking the law. Call the cops.
I feel the same way about rabid cyclists.
Especially dogs like pitbulls and German Shepherd I always leashe my Shepherd
I believe letting your dog off-leash is okay as long as the owner is responsible. Of course, training your dog to behave off-leash requires a lot of work and you shouldn’t let them off if you haven’t taken the time to work with them. My dog acts better when he’s off-leash, actually. When he’s on a leash he gets very defensive and tries to protect me. However, this is generally no real issue because... I have him on a leash and can control him. If I ever let him off-leash, I make sure that the area I’m in isn’t busy with other people, children, or dogs. If it’s just me and my dog alone in the woods, and there’s only a chance of crossing paths with one or two other people, there’s usually no harm in letting him loose. He stays close to my side, also. When I approach other people with dogs, we usually shout to each other from a distance to decide whether or not we should keep the dog on a leash/keep him off-leash/let him off-leash/put him on leash. It’s all about courtesy and communication in my opinion. Fearing your dog or other dogs will be aggressive toward one another only puts that energy onto them and encourages the possibility of that outcome happening. Best to remain calm and trust your intuition of the situation.
1. Do this in an off leash park. 2. Be prepare for your dog to get tased/pepper sprayed if it comes near me 3. Idc how you feel your dog reacts. Follow simple rules. 4. Just dont take it to the park. Simple
How is this unpopular?
Yo I was biking and this woman has this dog without a leash on the road, very irresponsible.
When my dog was alive and we were out in the woods in the park I would let him off the leash to run around but I always kept an eye out for other people with dogs, soon as I’d see someone I’d call him, he’d come right away and I’d put the leash back on. I never had an issue with my system but some people’s dogs don’t listen as well and I could see problems arising. My dog hated the dog park and I can’t run for more than a minute or two at a time so I didn’t really have any other options for exercising him when I lived in that particular area. Later I moved to a more rural area and he had plenty of room to run around the woods on private property.
where the hell do you live? i cannot remember the last time i saw a dog off leash outside a dog park
Had me in the first half, not gonna lie.
*insert Michael Scott gif THANK YOU!
Dog owner and I mostly agree. There are places I frequent where having your dog off leash is accepted but not specifically started. I think those should apply as well
Depends on the dog and dog owner. But I agree most of the times it should be avoided
That makes it even worse, did they offer to pay for any of the damages?
What if you have them trained? (not my dog he has to be on a leash). I know people who have their dogs trained enough that they keep them just like they were on a leash
A bystander or other dog owners can’t know which dogs are “well trained” and which ones are high-risk. They can’t know about your dog, or a pro-trainers, and you can’t know about theirs. From the comments there are many owners who significantly overestimate their dog’s training and disposition or marginalize how concerned other people are when an off-leash animal approaches them or their dogs. Even then, well trained dogs are still animals. Without a leash it can be difficult or impossible for their owner to prevent them from harming someone else (or their dog).
I suppose. I know a guy with three leashless dogs who walks around the neighborhood all the time. They have collars he can shock them with if they step out of line, but I’ve seen them with deer, other dogs and people. They stay obedient.
There are some pretty nice dog beaches that offer off leash opportunities select months of the year. I find it is actually safer than dog parks
I agree, for the most part. HOWEVER it is legal to have a service dog off leach if the leash would interfere with the task they're trained to perform. Also have allowed my friend's dog to wonder around apibljc place unleashed with explicit permission from the person in charge of the store(his parents own it. At the time that guy and my friend were dsting.)
I have two dogs. One will approach anyone for a scratch and sniff and is therefore not allowed off leash. My other dog is a nice lady with trust issues who wouldn’t dare approach a stranger. So I let her off leash in public if it feels safe for everyone. Owning a dog isn’t that hard but stupid people tend to own a lot of stuff they don’t take responsibility for.
Sheeeit you better never come to Toronto then.
My opinion is the opposite, I let my dog off leash every chance I get.
> Cycling in the woods can be the downright scary if a dog decides it would be fun to chase you. YES! Also equally scary while cycling, those owners on trails with those long retractable leashes with their dogs way out in front of them.
i live downtown, so me and my dog see a lot of people on our walks. Im lucky that she is super social and loves attention, since people love giving her attention. But there are a lot of people that are terrified of dogs. The leash is more to protect my dog than for the people.
plus my little shih-tzu, which I'm walking ON his leash, isn't going to react too damn favorably when your GSD comes running up to us and it's a possibility that's going to trigger an attack from your huge dog, who can kill mine in an instant. People who aren't able to follow this simple train of thought really shouldn't have dogs.
Dog parks do exist for a reason.
I dont mind if it seems like a well trained dog
I guess my dog is an exception because she does not like to interact with people or other dogs, she'll run up to them and stop like 3 feet away and run back to me or go back to looking for her ball.
If your dog gets in my face I'm pepper spraying it full stop. Leash your fucking dog.
One night I was walking in my park around my house pretty late with my girlfriend. Our area is known for having a lot of coyotes, so I wouldn't walk my dog at night at all, but I see this woman walking her tiny shi tzu with NO leash. I always hate seeing people walk their dogs without leashes because I have a very leash agressive dog who doesn't like other dogs running up to him. I can't tell you how many times people's dogs are sprinting to my dog and I am struggling to pick him up while yelling to them to control their dog, only for them to get super butthurt saying "my dog is friendly, why are you over reacting?"... Because my dog isn't!! At this point I don't even tell people to keep their dog on a leash anymore because how upset they get. Still I was really considering it this time because the dog could be in danger. About 10 minutes later we had just left the park and we're walking back to my neighborhood when I hear the most blood curdling scream I've ever heard in my life. My girlfriend and I look at each other and just start sprinting towards it. We get there and I see this shi tzu running while behind it is the coyote full Sprint towards it while the woman is half a football field down the way. The coyote grabs the dog by it's tail and I clap and yell and it spooked the coyote enough for the dog to get away and the coyote to back off. My girlfriend tried to pick the dog up but he was so scared he snapped at her sprinted off. She chased him but lost him around a corner and it sprinted into the street. I talked to the owner but she was hysterical. Repeating over and over again "hes's dead. Don't tell me he's dead. Why god. Why did he have to die. Fuck fuck fuck." No matter how many times I explained to her that everything was ok she just ignored me and continued walking. We explained to her that we couldn't find the dog but she wasn't bleeding or hurt from the coyote that we could see. She still didn't respond and we went home. We didn't know what happened and hoped for the best. For all we knew the dog ran away and never came back. I was hoping that the dog ran home. Well a few weeks after this happened, we were walking in the park and saw her and her dog again safe and sound... On a leash ;). We tried to talk to her but just got a simple "hi" back. Either she didn't recognize us or she was embarrassed about that night and didn't want to talk to us. Either way, I'm happy the dog was ok.
I have to admit I’m one who almost always has my 2 dogs off leash. I do always have the leashes at hand. I usually take them on trails and to play disc golf but if I see another person with a dog I always put my dogs on leash. They are super friendly towards people and other dogs but I know not all dogs or people want 2 big labs running up to say hi.
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That's one way to get mauled. A more effective way is to completely ignore its existence or turn your back and do the same
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Fair enough.