Should dogs be kept on a leash in public places?

twinketta

What is your opinion?

Personally, I think they should. I have a dog and would never let him off his leash in a public area even though he is a cute toy poodle.

There are so many stories that I read in the news of people/animals being mauled by dogs that are not safely controlled by their owner.

latenitelucy

Around where I live, it is the law

itsscottwilder

Depends on the dog. A well behaved dog that is obedient and easy to control are better behaved than most teens nowadays

PBsMommy

Yes, no exceptions, end of story.

No one should be the victim of someone who "thought" that Mr.Fluff would just do what they said, when they said, without a leash.

randomtai

Yup. It's the law around here.

pastryari

Yes.

Vintimus

Where I live it's the law, even though not too many people follow it. I believe dogs should be kept on leashes. I keep mine all unless we're in our shared backyard or the off leash dog park.

rml_16

Yes, as much for their safety as people's.

I see dogs off-leash around here all the time. As someone who has never had a fear of them and loves them, to me it's no big deal if a dog comes running up to me. But other people feel differently and you're risking that person even doing something like calling animal control and claiming an attack.

My friend has a pit bull. He was IN HER CAR with the windows up one day and she came out to see some woman yelling at him to get away from the window and the woman freaked out at my friend for even owning that breed and she said she was going to call the police and report a vicious dog.

Now, this particular dog my friend has had since he was a puppy. A friend of hers rescued the dog from people who wanted to use him as a bait dog to train fighting dogs. He's beta and the sweetest thing you'll ever meet. Plus, he was shut up in a car where he couldn't hurt anyone if he tried. Imagine if he were off-leash at a park and ran into that woman. Ugh.

So, yes. They should be leashed in public.

BondBomb

I hate when I am walking my kid (off-leash lol) and someones dog runs up to us. They always say 'oh its ok - he won't bite'. Um excuse me if I don't care about your warning. Put that damn dog on a leash because Im not just taking your word for it.

supahstar71

Yes.

SoonToBeShreddedBrah

There should be some sort of test to see if the owner can even control big dogs, I have seen multiple times an owner struggle to control his/her " BIG *kitten* " dog'; just because the dude is on a leash doesn't mean he can't over power his owner and run at you

Come back to me when you have a gigantic rottweiler chase you

twinketta

Around where I live, it is the law

I wish it was the law here.

I have a little confession to make. I actually bought `keep dogs on leash` stickers from Ebay and stuck them on the posts near where I live

Grimmerick

Yes I think so, I personally do it for my dogs sake. I don't want to take any chances that somebody that has no common sense or has a kid that they haven't taught how to approach a dog is gonna run up and come at my pup the wrong way. Not likely but you never know. I don't wanna see my dog put down for anything so it's for her safety as much as everyone else's.

twinketta

There should be some sort of test to see if the owner can even control big dogs, I have seen multiple times an owner struggle to control his/her " BIG *kitten* " dog'; just because the dude is on a leash doesn't mean he can't over power his owner and run at you

Come back to me when you have a gigantic rottweiler chase you

My hubby just said exactly the same thing to me. If you buy from a breeder, you just go and pay your money and take away the dog.

If you go to a rescue center then they are a bit more stringent as to how you are going to care for the dog etc.

whierd

Also children.

BattleTaxi

I think pets need to be on leashes in public places, and even in neighborhood. I'm not questioning the animals obedience. I'm just saying you have to factor in a massive amount of STUPID when it comes to humans.

Unknown

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PikaKnight

Also children.

PaulHalicki

Depends on the dog. A well behaved dog that is obedient and easy to control are better behaved than most teens nowadays

I agree but... you don't know you have a dangerous dog on your hands until it attacks. And even if the owners are fully confident in their dog and their control over the dog's behavior, I shouldn't have to worry about it if I'm in a public place. That's my default position, but I have seen situations where off-leash seems to work fine.

stylistchicky

I work in animal rescue....too many horror stories of great dogs being put down because some kid without a parent goes up and gets in dogs face and....If your dog is kept on a leash you can protect him from.other people, dogs and kids without a leash.

Trueray

If I get bitten by a dog. I am putting it down that very instant. Enough said!

DashDeV

Also children.

This, and maybe elderly people.

stetienne

Yes. And it's not the maulings I find to be common, but those little yippy *kitten* with something to prove and possessive attitudes. Oh, and the dogs, too.

just_Jennie1

There should be some sort of test to see if the owner can even control big dogs, I have seen multiple times an owner struggle to control his/her " BIG *kitten* " dog'; just because the dude is on a leash doesn't mean he can't over power his owner and run at you

Come back to me when you have a gigantic rottweiler chase you

My hubby just said exactly the same thing to me. If you buy from a breeder, you just go and pay your money and take away the dog.

If you go to a rescue center then they are a bit more stringent as to how you are going to care for the dog etc.

Care and being able to control a dog on a leash are two completely different things. The shelter is looking to see if the dog is going to a good home. Will someone be home with them a lot? Will they be relegated to a crate the majority of the day? Is it a good home etc. They're not going to take the time to train you and the dog and see if you can 'handle' him on a leash. Also if you get a young dog who is going to grow up and be big they're not going to demand you come back to see if you can handle it and make you give it back if you can't.

With regards to not being able to control big dogs my dog is a 70+ lb German Shepherd. While most of the time I can control him sometimes he gets his eye on a something -- squirrel, bunny, chipmunk -- and wants to go tearing off into the woods after it and it is very startling and I have been pulled down by him when he does that. My husband has been jerked by him too in the same instance.

For the record we don't take him places where there are going to be people and dogs mainly because he is very, VERY hyper and doesn't always get along with other dogs and needs to be socialized slowly (he is basically a rescue dog as someone abandoned him at the end of our road last year and we took him in) For the most part when I walk him it's done off leash where I live which is in the woods with secluded back roads and woods.

CyberEd312

It is the law around our area and even if it wasn't I think it should be.....

PikaKnight

If I get bitten by a dog. I am putting it down that very instant. Enough said!

You are going to put it down? :huh:

vtmoon

When I owned a dog he was military trained, so wouldn't do anything crazy when outside without getting a command for it.

A couple of years ago I saw a dog in a park who got excited when he saw kids and would run up to them and play with them. Well after an hour being there a dad and his kids came to play and the dog saw the kids and ran to them. What happened next was just crazy.

The dad saw the dog running towards his 2 year old and without hesitation punted the poor pitbull like 4 feet into the air, the sound that dog made was soooo sad. Of course the kids are crying the dog owners are freaking out the dad is freaking out, some lady who saw it happens calls the cops. One of the owners is in a heated argument that was about to turn into a fight, the cops come and end up giving the dog owner a ticket/summon for not having the dog on a leach.

I love dogs but if the dog is not trained then leach him for his protection and others.

stylistchicky

Also children.

Exactly!

SoDamnHungry

Yes. I don't wish to be jumped on in a friendly manner or mauled.

just_Jennie1

When I owned a dog he was military trained, so wouldn't do anything crazy when outside without getting a command for it.

A couple of years ago I saw a dog in a park who got excited when he saw kids and would run up to them and play with them. Well after an hour being there a dad and his kids came to play and the dog saw the kids and ran to them. What happened next was just crazy.

The dad saw the dog running towards his 2 year old and without hesitation punted the poor pitbull like 4 feet into the air, the sound that dog made was soooo sad. Of course the kids are crying the dog owners are freaking out the dad is freaking out, some lady who saw it happens calls the cops. One of the owners is in a heated argument that was about to turn into a fight, the cops come and end up giving the dog owner a ticket/summon for not having the dog on a leach.

I love dogs but if the dog is not trained then leach him for his protection and others.

If I were in that father's situation I probably would have done the same thing (or similar) to the dog. I don't know why your dog is tearing off after me or my kid and my gut reaction would be to stop that dog immediately.

sizzle74

Of course! And please, keep your dog at home when you go grocery shopping and out of the grocery cart. It's bad enough they have to go to the mall with you.