RANT: Leashes!!!!

[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.

[maillotpois]

You need polenta.

How did you know???? It wasn't nearly as good....

[aka_kim]

Wow. I check on the forum and first see MM_QFC has been hit by a car () and you and your dog have been attacked and you've fallen into a canyon (). I'm not sure I want to continue reading today's new posts.

Take care, relax, eat, drink ...

[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

[jesvetmed]

n 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.

Wow... now that IS impressive. My dog would never be that good!
Mall.. I'm so glad you are okay. That can be very scarey. I live in a town where NO one, and I mean NO ONE believes in fencing in their dogs, chaining (which I hate, but the alternative is worse), or keeping them safe in the house. I used to jog around town b/c I thought it was safer than alone on a trail, but SO many dogs would come running at me from yards...finally gave up and decided the maniacs in the woods would be safer.

I've had loose dogs follow me for miles -- and cars honking and yelling at me to leash "my" dog! Ha! I've brought a large number of dogs home -- lock them in my outdoor kennel and call the humane society to come get them. They are safer that way -- and MAYBE, WHS can influence owners to neuter them when they come to pick them up. And I also hope that the fee they have to pay to bust them out makes them think the next time that they open the door and let them run!

I have found that most dogs respond to a very loud yell "NO... GO HOME". If you really mean it as if in charge and point your finger at them... it still at least makes them think about following -- especially works on a bike. I yell when I see them heading my way. Seems to work pretty well. Haven't had any be aggressive after that.

We walk our dog on our local trail (running / walking / horse trail). I do let her off leash once I'm to a safe area (away from the roads), and yet I am very aware of anyone coming from in front or behind... I always make her heal and releash her when we are passing anyone. And if a biker or horse rider comes by, I always take her off to the side and make her sit and wait as they go by.

My hubby had a situation when the dog was only a few months old -- she was on leash. A guy with his big intact rottie, off leash (he was carrying the chain), walked by. The rottie attacked Mac, and when he had her on the ground belly up and the owner did nothing, my hubby tried to pull the dog away -- it growled at him and went back to our dog -- so DH kicked him enough to interfere. Then the owner got involved, yelling at DH!!! Whatever. Got quite an earful after DH separated the dogs and picked ours up to carry her away. Luckily she was unhurt. What a jerk!

I see so many dog bite injuries at work. I work in ER and the amount of damage even one bite can do to any size of another dog is extensive. Too many need extensive surgery. It's scarey out there.

OK.. done ranting! Sorry this is so long! Everyone keep your critters safe out there!

[imdeanna]

On Sunday I was riding down a 5' wide bike path, another cyclist was coming the other direction....with 2 unleashed dogs jogging beside him....all 3 taking up the entire lane......I slowed way down...and kept on the far right THINKING he would call his dogs over...or you know..do something decent to help me out...but nope....I almost collided with one of the dogs that was trotting straight toward my tire....there was no where for me to go.

I let out a "whoooooah' as I wobbled through between the 2 dogs .... never did hear a oooh sorry....or come pooch from the guy (aka jerk)

I really shouldn't refer to him as a 'cyclist' as he also had no helmet so really...he was just some guy, on a bike, with loose dogs.

[Brandi]

I lost the best cat ever from dogs not being on their leashes! I love dogs too but.....I lost a good friend because of it!

[rij73]

When you don't have your dogs on leash, it's like a big "screw you" to the people you come across who might be afraid of dogs. You might know your dog is an angel and perfectly trained, but some people are truly afraid of dogs with or without reason, and I think it's only fair to take them into consideration. I walk my dog on a 4-foot leash in the city, and even then he has scared the daylights out of people on occasion. He is a sweetie pie, but he likes to make eye contact with people and walk up to strangers out of curiosity. I've trained him to stay practically surgically attached to my knee now, but when I first got him, there were people who really flinched as he went towards them.

[emily_in_nc]

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.

This happened to me, but we were the small-dog owners. Our neighbor's golden retriever picked up our Boston Terrier Pepper (the BT we had before our current pup Paisley) and shook her. I know that Pepper instigated the "attack" because she didn't like other dogs at all, unfortunately. BUT...there were mitigating circumstances: this happened on OUR property (neighbors dogs ran onto it when they saw our dog), and our dog was on leash, our neighbor's dog was not. So, I didn't feel guilty taking the payment he offered for our vet bill. Pepper was pretty seriously hurt...scary.

We never, ever let any dog of ours off leash off our property. Since I fractured my pelvis in my road-cycling accident three years ago due to loose dogs running out at me, I'm absolutely adamant about this.

Emily

[GLC1968]

This happened to me, but we were the small-dog owners. Our neighbor's golden retriever picked up our Boston Terrier Pepper (the BT we had before our current pup Paisley) and shook her. I know that Pepper instigated the "attack" because she didn't like other dogs at all, unfortunately. BUT...there were mitigating circumstances: this happened on OUR property (neighbors dogs ran onto it when they saw our dog), and our dog was on leash, our neighbor's dog was not. So, I didn't feel guilty taking the payment he offered for our vet bill. Pepper was pretty seriously hurt...scary.

We never, ever let any dog of ours off leash off our property. Since I fractured my pelvis in my road-cycling accident three years ago due to loose dogs running out at me, I'm absolutely adamant about this.

Emily

Emily - In that case, yes, they should pay the bill! My parents had to do that once because their big golden yanked the leash out of their hands and chased a dog into a bush where they couldn't reach her. Luckily, the small dog didn't fight back after the initial 'attack' so injuries were light.

In my case, my dog WAS on a leash...theirs wasn't. I only had to pay because I had the bigger dog who did the most damage. It's so NOT fair since I was the responsible one. But what can you do when it's your neighbors? Luckily, the bills were financially manageable.