dogs that don't require a leash

janetmichel3009

also there are people who are afraid of dogs, people who might have kids and are more careful for that reason. it's not about logic, but they feel safer, when they see dogs on a leash and have a right to feel safe if there are leash laws.

Definitely - I encounter a lot of people who afraid of any dog, even my very-innocent-looking little guy on-leash. It's not necessarily about restraining the dog, it's about showing respect for the people around you by not acting "above" the law. If it's not an "all dogs must be on leash" area, then I don't mind people having their dogs off lead at all. But otherwise... it's really not that complicated to use a leash, so why not?

We live out in the sticks....no leash laws and our neighbors pretty much walk their dogs off leash......we all live on 72 acres and there are 14  houses(well, could be 15 now, did see some construction at the end of the road)....kids ride their bikes, skateboard or people just strolling down the road.....it's a dead end road and a farming area.......we all pretty much know to slow down on this road.....

I agree that the laws should apply to everyone and no one should determine that THEIR animal is not a problem, therefore they needn't follow the law.

I absolutely love our first morning walks.  I'm doing one dog at a time, and they act like they are totally off lead on their drag lines.  By that I mean that they do the typical running ahead, stopping to see where I am, and then running back to me.  Having the long line on doesn't interfer at all with their leisure, or the amount of exercise that they get.  They walk many times further than I do, just as they do off lead, because they come back to me multiple times without being asked.  They were trained to walk OFF lead on the long lines so snapping them back on doesn't impede their pleasure one bit.  And, I do make sure that they get plenty of chances back in the woods to just drag the line.  But, I'll not take them off altogether.  I'm in no position to get caught breaking the rules and be asked to leave.  This is the ONLY campground open around here.

 Eggy for Glenda

Ohhhh, pretty!  Thanks!

willowchow

I think the laws are what they are and you shouldn't decide you don't have to follow them.  And, here they aren't just for dangerous dogs at all.

We have leash laws here as well. I personally think the law has more to do with general publics protection (personal & property) than with the dog's safety. I don't think it is fair no matter how well trained or well mannered your dog is to expose others to free walking dogs. Having said that, I do let my dog off leash in public areas. Never in residential or traffic areas. We go to ravines and undeveloped park areas that have access roads or walking paths. Other than the occassional dog owner we rarely see another person. Legally my dog should be leashed but if we have the area all to our selves I don't see the need. He has an excellent recall but for the most part he likes to walk beside me any ways. If by chance we happen to meet someone I can easily call the dog and clip on the leash until they pass. We have been doing this for years and my dog has never approached a stranger on his own.

We have a few dogs around that actually do walk the neighbourhood off leash. They have been doing this for years. They certainly are well trained and have never caused any problems for people as far as I know. I have no problem with them at all. I do wonder however if one day their luck may run out and something bad may happen.   

 Tootsie, is completely reliable off leash and has a great recall, but I also know that she can be really skittish when it comes to unknown loud noises, so why chance it?

OK, I'm not trying to change anyones way of doing things here.  BUT, let me just pose this question to you guys who let your dog off leash when they are supposed to be on leash.

Here's the scenario--I go to an on leash area expecting the other dogs to be leashed.  With Willow's problems I wouldn't dream of taking her on purpose someplace where dogs have the chance to approach her--even if they are great and would stop if called.  Now, your dog, off leash, runs up to my dog.  And, for whatever reason that day doesn't recall when you call him back.  And, runs right up to  my dog who is on lead.  And, my dog bites your dog.  And/or my dog gets your dog upset and a fight breaks out.  Now, what?  Whose fault is this??

Because I have to tell you guys, I've had the person mad at me when I was the one doing the right thing. 

willowchow

Here's the scenario--I go to an on leash area expecting the other dogs to be leashed.  With Willow's problems I wouldn't dream of taking her on purpose someplace where dogs have the chance to approach her--even if they are great and would stop if called.  Now, your dog, off leash, runs up to my dog.  And, for whatever reason that day doesn't recall when you call him back.  And, runs right up to  my dog who is on lead.  And, my dog bites your dog.  And/or my dog gets your dog upset and a fight breaks out.  Now, what?  Whose fault is this??

I have a dog just like this -- although for the most part friendly, he doesn't like intact males and being approached by a dog who isn't restrained like he is, so we avoid places like this like the plague.  We have a park here that has a leash law but no one obeys it so we can't safely go there for fear of a situation like this.

It especially irks me when the owners of said dogs call out that the dog is friendly so don't worry -- like that makes it an OK thing.  Well, ok, but if you insist then you must take some responsability if something happens.

I get that too, and I'm yelling, But, she's not!! It just makes my day stressful just because they feel like they can do whatever they want to.

 Thats Crusher too.  And off leash, he's fine, but on leash he's a disaster.  We're working on it, but everytime something like this happens it sets us back like months!  It always seems that just as we get to the point where he just watches other dogs rather than lunging at them, some loose dog comes running up to us, and its just too much for my poor boy to handle.  I'm almost at the point where I think it may be safer if I just encourage him to lunge right away so people will keep their dogs away while he's on lead.

 Lori if my unleashed dog approached your on leash dog and a fight broke out,it would be 100% my fault for not having adequate control of my dogs.

 My dogs are all pretty reliable to super reliable off leash BUT are only allowed off leash in certain scenerios. I could never totally trust a dog to always be 100% on any command.

 I should reiterate,that i dont purposely seek out on leash places to take my dogs,i try to avoid them.But there are times when i cant,for example one of the places i go allows dogs off leash between 7pm and 10am.Sometimes i have to go a little earlier than 7,but my walk overlaps 7pm,and they are off leash the whole time.

Yes there are people who are scared of dogs,but to be totally honest this is not my problem,nor is it my dogs fault.I respect them by not walking my dogs right next to them,but i'm not going to clip them on to make other people happy.I reassure them that my dogs will not come near them and are very friendly,and that has to be enough.

There are many places that i regularly go where there have never been any leash laws.Places i have been taking my dogs to since i was a kid,and just recently leash signs have been popping up.Myself and the many other regular dog walkers who have frequented these areas refuse to leash our dogs.Like i said,why should those of us who have well behaved dogs and have always done the right thing be punished for a handful of  idiot owners!

There are too many anti-social undersocialised dogs about and i partly blame this on these stupid leash laws.Dogs cant interact naturally whilst on leash,they certainly cant get the same amount of exercise plodding along at our pace.I know many dogs who are mega defensive while on lead,but are fine when off.

As for the original question,i have had a few different breeds over the years,large and small(toy breeds),and all have been walked off lead from their first day home with me,and this has stayed with them through out their lives,i have never really had to train them to walk off lead per say because they have never known any different.It's much more stressful walking them on lead then it is off. 

I also see problems with dogs who have been nothing but leash walked for their first 6-12mths of life and then when the owner tries off leash walking the dog bolts and doesnt know what to do with itself.The owner then gives up and the dog is forever relegated to being walked on the end of a leash :( It is so much harder to train an older dog to walk reliably off leash,but when this is done from day 1 it's no biggy.

AgileGSD

 My dogs are all pretty reliable to super reliable off leash BUT are only allowed off leash in certain scenerios. I could never totally trust a dog to always be 100% on any command.

Same here.I would never walk them off lead next to a road,which is why i avoid road walking and only go to parks,beaches,and walks along the riverbank,like you say NO dog is 100% rock solid.