RANT: Leashes!!!!

[maillotpois]

What is it with people who walk their dogs off leash??? I have never understood it - from the perspective of the dog's safety (getting hit by a car). But this afternoon, my (on leash, very well trained) dog and I were attacked TWICE by two separate dogs!!!

The first willowy twit walking the gigantic Rhodesian Ridgeback didn't even seem to understand what the problem was. "Oh he's sweet" she said as the dog came running up to my LEASHED sitting lab. As he proceeded to charge and attack Russo, I screamed at him, threw my water bottle at him, fell to the ground, skinned my knee all the while screaming "Get away you piece of sh!t!!! Where's your leash?????" When I finally hit the thing with my water bottle and he trotted away, I again asked her "Where's the leash? He is obviously NOT friendly!" Her response? GET THIS: "He's not my dog." I kid you not. She didn't even try to imitate Inspector Clouseau.

Sorry bimbo, but your dog or not, if you walk him, you're responsible. Get a freaking leash. I pulled my (still healing) shoulder and it still hurts.

The second dog (seriously - within the space of a half hour!) was a big Chow. He came running down at us - we were on the side of the road that drops off 20 - 30 feet down a steep canyon. Trying to pull my dog away from the Chow I FELL off the road down the CANYON!!! At least owner number two came running down, pulled his dog away, tied him to a mailbox and then helped me out of the canyon. (I fell about 5 feet down the side of the canyon, on lots of soft redwood detritus, so I was really just shaken up.) He actually gave me his NAME and ADDRESS not that I am going to follow up and do anything because he was clearly just as shaken as I was and quite chagrined.

Ok. Rant off. I need a glass of wine. And a band aid. Maybe a valium.

Oh - also after attack # 2, literally around the corner was the fattest oldest Basset Hound I have ever seen, just wandering in the street doing that big Bassett baying woof thing. His stomach was literally dragging on the ground. By that point, Russo and I were hugging the other side of the street, shaking. If anyone had seen us cowering from Joe Bassett it would have been embarrassing.

[SheFly]

Oh MP - how awful! You deserve more than one glass of wine after that experience. And take care of that still healing shoulder, too.

I don't get people who walk their dogs off leash either. Especially the ones who do so on the bike path. Although I'm not sure which is worse - them or the ones with the retractable leashes whose dogs are running around on the other side of the path .

Clearly, I am not a dog owner (although I did have a dog growing up), but there are leash laws for a reason. I just wish people would abide by them.

Take care, MP!

SheFly

[Blueberry]

MP-

That sucks. I have no patience for that cr@p either. I was attacked as a child by an unleashed dog, and still have some residual fear (and one small scar). I currently have a very well behaved, but very large golden. He's very friendly, and I've taken him to obedience classes (many classes). I get tired of 1) unleashed dogs charging us 2) on leash but out of control dogs charging us and 3) little kids who are out of control running up. Hope it didn't set you back with your shoulder, and that your knee heals fast. I'd have lost it with the "not my dog" woman - I'd probably have told her that if it isn't her dog, then she shouldn't object if I called animal control.

My own rant - people, please keep your kids under control. I have my very well behaved, leashed dog sit when kids are close. This does not mean that your child should run screaming, arms flailing, up to him. Not a good idea. He's gentle - but your kid isn't necessarily. Ask nicely, and I'll be happy to control him so your kid can pet. Otherwise, stay away

Yep - I'm grouchy. It's raining, I can't ride, and I'm still employed in the job from h3ll.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Ok. Rant off. I need a glass of wine. And a band aid. Maybe a valium.

And some pepper spray.

[maillotpois]

I'd have lost it with the "not my dog" woman - I'd probably have told her that if it isn't her dog, then she shouldn't object if I called animal control.

Brilliant! I always think of good stuff like that to say AFTER the moment! sorry about the H.E.doubletoothpicks job.

[sundial]

Trying to pull my dog away from the Chow I FELL off the road down the CANYON!!!

Oh my gosh!! Bless your heart! I hope you didn't reinjure your shoulder.

I don't know what has happened to common sense, but it must have left with Elvis. I mean, come on people! Keep your dogs on a friggin leash. I can't tell you how often I've encountered strays who run up to us out of nowhere and I immediately jump off the bike, get between the stray and my dog, and yell at it. One family said, "It's ok, it's friendly." Well, how would you like a perfect stranger to come running up to you and stick his face in yours?? Huh?? And honestly, just because we live in the county and there's no leash law, that doesn't give you a license to let your dog wander all over timbuktu and crapping on people's driveways and flower beds and contributing to the pet overpopulation. One time I was riding my bike with Kali, my big gsd girl, and 2 dogs spotted us not a quarter of a mile away. They ran after us and caught up to us! I had to fight off a chow and lab mix while my neighbor comes driving by and slows to watch the drama unfold. She didn't even try to help. I got so cotton pickin' mad at her!

[shootingstar]

Dogs without leash..are friggin' annoying. This is quite frequent around where we live....and we live downtown with many owners walking their dogs.

Yesterday, there was tiny little toy dog that suddenly turned around the path/corner. It's possible it was a puppy that it didn't seem alert at all to anything in front of its face.



On the other hand, I was so impressed once on a multipurpose path in morning. After seeing me approach on bike, the owner yelled at her unleased dog, "Bike"......and the dog froze and moved aside.

[mupedalpusher]

Bad dog owners are as obnoxious as bad parents! If those dogs and children had better parents they would all be very enjoyable!! Having a dog and having children both take lots of "training" time.

[GLC1968]

OMG, I totally agree. I'm glad you survived, MP - you do deserve a glass of wine...and some chocolate!!

I used to have a shephard/doberman mix who was extremely dog agressive. She was as sweet as pie to humans (and cats) but she hated other dogs with the white hot passion of a thousand suns. Because of this, she was never, ever, ever off the leash.

I can't tell you how many small dogs I had to pay vet bills for because their owners had them off leash and they ran at us! Multiple times, my dog picked up theirs, shook them, and then tossed them in the bushes. And yet I was the one responsible for the vet bills because MY dog hurt theirs. Nice.

I really have issue with people who walk dogs off leashes.

[rij73]

I feel for you! That's a terrible experience. It doesn't happen too much in the city here, but there are a couple of dogs on my block that get walked off leash, and I'll never understand it. My dog is not thrilled to be approached by an off leash dog when he's on leash. I think it makes him feel powerless. People say, oh my dog is friendly, but that's not really the point. It inconveniences me and my dog to have your dog just ramble on up to us like that!

In your case, being attacked like that, I would really blow a gasket at whoever was responsible for the other dog... owner or not!

[Trek420]

My dog is not thrilled to be approached by an off leash dog when he's on leash. I think it makes him feel powerless.

Exactly! I'm not a dog trainer and I don't play one on TV. I have a shelter pet who has "issues" so I read a lot. The worst situation is leashed dog and unleashed dog. Your dog wants to protect you yet has limited options. Unleashed mutt is free to move at will.

So the situation escalates with even two "best of dogs".

Best situation everybody's leashed or nobody is (secure dog park).

My mutt and I have been attached by: a rottie, loose pits (2), some kind of lab huge thing mutt .... it's scary and makes me mad. It's been fun on both ends of the leash to exorcise her demons but a lot of work. All it takes is one *&^% person too lazy to pick up a leash to undo a lot of good.

Unleashed dogs: get hit by cars, chase or get hit by cyclists, find other unleashed dogs and become a pack, get eaten by predators, "dog-napped". Mae is always leashed.

I'm sorry if this offends anyone but an untrained/unleashed dog is an unloved dog.

[Trekhawk]

Oh no MP what a horrible day.

I too hate it when dogs are not on a leash it is very irresponsible of the owners.
People wonder why you dont see many kids walking their dogs anymore and Im guessing this is one of the reasons. Imagine a kid trying to control a dog situation like that. SCARY.

Don't even start me on the ones that run out at cyclists and then the owners (if they are around ) state oh its ok it wont bite. HELL - bite or not it could still knock me off my bike.

[maillotpois]

Thanks for the dog psych 101, Trek. (The kid watches "It's me or the dog" all the time. You'd fit right in. )

My dog is an unneutered male dog. He is also: (1) docile to the point of wimpy (2) impeccably trained (3) a stud dog for Guide Dogs for the Blind. As in: his job is to go make baby guide dogs. For BLIND people. I was told that unneutered males may be seen as targets by male dogs. Today was really the first time I'd witnessed that. And the whole leased vs. unleashed thing just fits right in as well.

He's almost 9. His swimmers aren't swimming so well right now. Issue #3 may be "fixed" as it were, soon. ("Hey! I'm going to the vet to get tutored!!")

If you can't laugh at your dog who can you laugh at?

Thanks for all the good energy you guys. I am feeling better. It was a nasty afternoon.

[snapdragen]

You need polenta. And wine.

I'm sorry MP, people are idiots. Chloe never leaves the house undressed, leash and harness always.

[Trek420]

I am feeling better. It was a nasty afternoon.

Is it the wine or the chocolate

Totally un-expert opinion (but hey, maybe I need my own show on Animal Planet) dogs are pack animals, everything's about position in the pack. S/he who holds the leash can be the pack leader.

Some people think "oh, the doggie just wants to be free to roam around". No, your dog wants a 'benevolent dictator", a pack leader. Leash training makes dogs feel more secure.

And Mall', your doggies job, nice work if you can get it