Should dogs be kept on a leash in public places?

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  • pawnstarNate
    pawnstarNate Posts: 1,728 Member
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    Why yes.....yes they should!
    Flying_Dog_Bite.jpg
  • kikicast
    kikicast Posts: 4
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    I think it's as much the owner as it is the dog. I have an 8lb miniature dachshund puppy with way too much energy for my puny backyard. The park I go to is only a stone's throw from my house but it's not an off-leash site. That being said, I take her off the leash when I get there so she can run herself silly. But you also have to know this park isn't frequented a whole lot by other people because it's the backend of a school which is out of session for summer right now - and I also take her for walks right before bedtime when most sane people are in bed sleeping. But if I'm there during the day and she's off leash and I see someone walking or at the park playing I put her right back on the leash so she doesn't excitedly go and introduce herself to them. Of course, if they're not heading in my direction or going the opposite way and she's not going to see/bother with them I won't put her on the leash. She's more interested in butterflies frankly, she can't figure out why they just won't stop and play with her.
  • emAZn
    emAZn Posts: 413 Member
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    I'm sure there are a bajillion good dogs that are kid, other dog, cats, and effin' unicorn friendly but mine is not. She got attacked by an off leash dog when she was a puppy so without the proper introduction it scares her when she sees another dog and she can be reactive. Sometimes she just shies away but most of the time she freaks out and tries to back out of her collar. (Yes, I do have her in a martingale collar for her protection and a harness during light runs but harnesses seem to rub her wrong during our long runs.)

    I swear to god a ticket for dog at large is the last thing a person will be thinking about if they cause my dog to back out of her collar into oncoming traffic...
  • perdie7
    perdie7 Posts: 278 Member
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    depends a lot on the owner and the dog.

    I run(with my two leashed dogs) and ride my bike on a trail and have encountered lots of dogs.

    A big dog on a leash, crouched and ready to attack, who's owner was an older man, no way could he have held that dog if he decided to attack.

    I've seen many many dogs off leash who were very well behaved, never bothered me as a rode or ran by (even with my dogs).

    I have missed getting bit by about an inch by a dog on a leash, as I passed on my bike he lunged before the owner could stop him. I saw a small child on a bike farther down the path, warned the dad to be careful, I'm pretty sure the dog would have bitten that child. A dog like that shouldn't even be allowed out, leash or not
  • redheaddee
    redheaddee Posts: 2,005 Member
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    Also children.
    Agreed. And I have them. Kids and dogs.
  • twinketta
    twinketta Posts: 2,130 Member
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    depends a lot on the owner and the dog.

    So is it the owner or the dog that is in control?
  • sm1zzle
    sm1zzle Posts: 920 Member
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    yes.
  • twinketta
    twinketta Posts: 2,130 Member
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    depends a lot on the owner and the dog.

    So is it the owner or the dog that is in control?

    ETA I am not picking on your reply I am just asking in general
  • shannashannabobana
    shannashannabobana Posts: 625 Member
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    It's the law around here but I don't really care if people let their lab off a leash in public so long as they are well behaved.
  • joolywooly33
    joolywooly33 Posts: 421 Member
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    Kinda mixed because I had an amazing collie dog they was better behaved then my children, but tonight I went out for a run and wes partially mauled by a terrier!
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
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    depends a lot on the owner and the dog.

    So is it the owner or the dog that is in control?

    There in lies the problem, too many people "think" they are in control, when, in fact, they aren't. I am not opposed to the idea that a dog could be off leash and in control of the handler, assuming the handler has trained the dog and actually knows/understands the dog. The problem is, this isn't the case most of the time.
    I also have 3 large dogs, and I am fully aware of how uncomfortable they can make people even if they are obviously well behaved and friendly. I leash my dogs because of this.

    ETA- I am also not a fan of dog parks.
  • shannashannabobana
    shannashannabobana Posts: 625 Member
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    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 saw a pitbull running towards my nieces, I'd have done exactly the same thing.
    I probably would too, except I think it's strange to give a ticket for a dog not on a leash in a dog park! Also, survey the dog park before you go in there with a two year old. In the one I've been too, they have different pens for large or small dogs. I might not take a 2 year old in with large dogs.

    Once someone brought like 4 dogs that started bad pack behavior towards people and dogs. They were getting a little bit scary. Don't bring your dogs to the dog park and let them off leash unless they can behave.
  • CaliforniaBarbie
    CaliforniaBarbie Posts: 346 Member
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    yes. its law where i live. unless you're at the new dog park. but i dont think i would let mine off their leashes there either.

    i for one have 1 very behaved dog, and 1 who behaves when she sees fit to. but i would never allow either off their leash in public, i hardly let them off in our front yard, seeing as it isnt fenced like the back is.

    it seems every time i think it may be okay, something happens and i re think it. like today, i had both big dogs in the back of the truck and went into town, they love going for rides, my alpha likes to bark at everything but wouldnt hurt a fly, layla doesnt bark unless she wants something. we were on our way home (btw they are chained to the bed because i have the biggest fear of them accidentally jumping out, so their chains dont reach over the bed, there for there is no way to jump/fall out) i was driving down town, and we passed these people on the sidewalk with a good looking dog, that started to bark at my dogs, and layla started getting pissed off and barking and tried to jump out, and alpha attempted to follow. there would have been nothing for me to do if they had gotten out, other then stop in the middle of the road and try to stop a dog fight. Alpha is behaved and wouldnt jump out or attack another dog on his own but he would defend Layla if he had to, now they only travel together and you cant separate them for anything

    so they stay on their leashes
  • larsensue
    larsensue Posts: 461 Member
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    Absolutely! just like cats should not be let out to roam the neighborhood....
  • sunnyside1213
    sunnyside1213 Posts: 1,205 Member
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    Absolutely. I have bitten by a dog who "wouldn't hurt a fly."
  • twinketta
    twinketta Posts: 2,130 Member
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    Kinda mixed because I had an amazing collie dog they was better behaved then my children, but tonight I went out for a run and wes partially mauled by a terrier!

    Wow. hope you are OK... this is a classic example for sure :grumble:
  • GetSoda
    GetSoda Posts: 1,267 Member
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    Any animal should be bound 100% of the time. Front yard? Leash.
    Cat? Leash. Dog? Leash. Lizard? Leash? Toddler? Leash. Snake? Leash.
  • Jersey_Devil
    Jersey_Devil Posts: 4,142 Member
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  • lisamarie1780
    lisamarie1780 Posts: 432 Member
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    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.

    I think society is having a bigger problem with people than it is with dogs... dogs are the least of our problems. Every day I turn on the news only to hear that someone has been shot, stabbed or raped .... dogs are the least of my worries. Most dogs I meet are well behaved and friendly... unfortunately I can't say the same about people :ohwell:
  • Jersey_Devil
    Jersey_Devil Posts: 4,142 Member
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    Any animal should be bound 100% of the time. Front yard? Leash.
    Cat? Leash. Dog? Leash. Lizard? Leash? Toddler? Leash. Snake? Leash.

    how about significant others? Leash em up?

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