RANT: Leashes!!!!

[maillotpois]

Wow - Beth - sorry about the attack on Nala!

I have to say there may be circumstances, for example if you are on back trails in bear country, where I suspect roadie gal is, where maybe it is safer to have your dog off leash. I don't know. I try to stay away from bears. Every situation is different. But I have to say if you're around other people and dogs at all, it has to be safer for everyone - not the least of which being the dog to use a leash.

I spent a lot of time and money training my rottweiler, because I knew she'd end up stronger than me, even on a leash. That was money and time well spent. Russo came to us fully trained, so we were lucky there. But kudos to all of you who have spent the time and money to train your dogs.

[nancielle]

Maillotpois, I hope you're feeling better. What a scary experience to have to go through.

I never let Chloe (Chow Chow/GSD mix/and, I'm convinced, a touch of 'fraidy cat) off her leash. She can be reactive toward dogs who bark/lunge at her. She is unpredictable around cyclists, skateboarders & scooters (which my neighborhood seems to have boatloads of). If we see someone on one of these while on our walks, I pull her aside, as far as possible, until they pass. Sometimes she's uninterested other times a bit too interested. She's getting better with voice commands but not enough that I trust her off leash, especially with other distractions around (squirrels, cats, etc. Her best bud is a cat who lives in our building so she thinks every cat wants to play with her like Jethro does.) The street we live on is very busy traffic-wise and I don't want her darting out in front of a car. She doesn't have a history of biting but I don't want someone or some animal to become the first.

I'm not sure how much training, if any, Chloe got with her original owner. I do know that she had regular training for the short time she was at the rescue but we're still working on behaviors that need improvement. She's better than she was 10 months ago when I adopted her but I need to be mindful that not everyone views her as I do, a lovable slug, and what they see is a Chow (a dog with a dangerous rep to begin with) who may or may not harm them.

[PinkBike]

While it may be perfectly safe to walk your perfectly trained, unleashed dog down the path I ride to work - *I don't know that*. I don't know the person or their unleashed dog, I don't know if the dog is prone to chase or bite, I don't know if the dog is prone to jump and beyond any of that, the dog could easliy just accidentally walk out in front of me or appear suddenly around a corner.

+1 to Eden!

i know some people have great control of their dogs, but as i'm approaching on my bicycle i dont know you, i dont know your dog, i dont know what its going to do.

so unless i see cesar millan with 'daddy' and a camera crew i am going to be afraid of your dog.

so while i have issues about dogs, i'm sure, i think dog owners have responsibilities to control their beasts, uh i mean pooches, and courtesy to keep them leashed so i can be assured they're controlled.