RANT: Leashes!!!!

[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.

[roadie gal]

I have to disagree here. I think dogs SHOULD ALWAYS BE UNDER CONTROL, but that doesn't necessarily mean leashed. I live in a very rural area. My dogs are unleashed about 90% of the time. BUT they are ALWAYS under voice control. They are never just let to run free without me. I have worked VERY hard to get them to this point. If I'm on the street or on a trail that's used frequently by bikes, horses, kids, etc. then they are leashed. I never let them run up to people or other dogs. If I see someone with or without a dog coming toward me I call ahead to see if they want me to grab my dogs. If they say yes, then I do without any complaints or hard feelings.

Some of the trails that we go on would be dangerous for the dogs and myself if I had to keep them leashed.

Because of a few (or even many) bad owners I don't think the rest of us should have to leash our dogs at all times.

[Tuckervill]

The problem, RG, is with the people who THINK their dog is under voice control, and then they end up saying, "I didn't think she would do THAT!"

It's the "not MY dog" syndrome.

There's a leash law in my town. Period. Leash the darn dog at the youth baseball park for crying out loud.

Karen

[imdeanna]

I've noticed on my rides...when I see an unleashed dog....it's un-nerving to me because I don't know if they are under voice control or not, the simple act of the responsible owner putting their hand on the dogs collar as a 'just in case' is very reassuring for me....and that's all I need.... same for when they are leashed...for the owner to just lead the dog in.

(most) Dogs just do not like helmets.....even the most controlled dog can get nervous and act in a very unexpected manner for all involved.

For the safety of everyone involved (and the dogs own security) I would wish that everyone show that the dog is under control by a leash or a temporary grip of the collar when passing others.

[Crankin]

I hope you are feeling better, MP. Your story echoes what I feel exactly. Whoever said bad dogs are like bad children, exactly my words! I am very upfront about not being an animal lover (I have a cat, but she's sort of just "there." She's really my son's). I never bring this up, because I feel that most pet owners and people who love animals would be all over me for saying I don't like animals. But, since I moved to the house I'm in now, I have come across so many people walking their dogs unleashed. People who don't live in my neighborhood walk up the hill for exercise and to walk their dogs. When I wasn't working last fall and winter, I saw hordes of them, always women, walking 2-4 abreast with the dogs always running ahead. The leashes are in their hands, not attached to the dogs. It doesn't matter if I'm on my bike, walking, or driving; they don't move out of the way and they make a half hearted attempt to grab their dog. I admit to getting really angry one time as I was grinding up the hill on my bike and yelling,"Get your f*n dog out of the way. Cyclists and unleashed dogs don't mix!" I was scared to death I was going to get attacked and injured like Emily was. The owners just looked at me like I was the one who had no right to be on the road....

[TxDoc]

I have to disagree here. I think dogs SHOULD ALWAYS BE UNDER CONTROL, but that doesn't necessarily mean leashed.

Yes, totally agree. Some people (I'm one of them) own working dogs that have been trained off-leash on purpose. Whenever we are in a town where it's allowed I walk the dog off-lead, and he never caused any problems anywhere.

Because of a few (or even many) bad owners I don't think the rest of us should have to leash our dogs at all times.

Of course in most cities the law assumes that dogs are not well-trained (and that is unfortunately true of many), and so we all have to walk our dogs on a lead. But the real issue is not the leash: some dogs on a leash are more dangerous than a well-trained dog walking free. The key is control and proper training. The leash is one of the tools available to control a dog, like voice, electric collar, etc... the main problem is that many owners have no idea how to control their dogs, with a leash or without.

Hope you and your dog are feeling better maillotpois, enjoy your wine and relax!

[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.

[Brandi]

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.

And he looks like a sweet boy too!

[rij73]

And he looks like a sweet boy too!

Yes, he is the sweetest. Wouldn't hurt a fly. He's just always looking to make new friends!