dogs that don't require a leash

Edie

 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.

And yet, it would be Willow that would suffer, because it would cause her more issues in the long run.  It would be the same with Crusher, and it drives me nuts that idiot people that think their dogs are friendly and can just happily approach any dog they see even if they know nothing about that dog.  I had a little JRT looking dog come running up to Crusher not too long ago because some guy thought his dog was too well behaved to need a leash.  Well Crusher lunged, the dog retaliated by snapping and then running away and that stupid guy yelled at me to get my dog under control!  He had been under control!  He was doing great!  He was looking to me for reassurance about this dog, and I was treating away, things were good, until this dog came right up to us and started sniffing when he should have been on the other side of the road with his owner!  It took me 2 months to get Crusher to that point.  And now guess what?  Because of that idiot, we are back almost where we started from!  So yes, it would be your fault, but how do you compensate someone for that?

huskymom

and it drives me nuts that idiot people that think their dogs are friendly and can just happily approach any dog they see even if they know nothing about that dog. 

I agree,people who let their unleashed dogs approach other dogs without permission are extremely irresponsible! Even worse when they let their dogs run up to leashed dogs

When i see a dog on a leash i know they're on it for a reason so take a wide berth around them,pretty simple IMO. 

Edie

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!

 

This happened at the place we always used to walk our dogs off leash, only, they banned dogs all together! It's the only place that you could really let them off safely in the area. Most of the dog-walkers ignore it and carry on as usual, only they go early before the folks who'll find them come to work. There are some irresponsible dog owners that take their dogs in there and let them harass other dogs, but what are you gonna do. We're all there illegally!

My dog has never in her life approached a dog that was going to start a fight with her if she did, and we've met plenty. If she ever did and got into a fight, that would be totally my fault. I don't even have to warn her or call her off, though. She's just not that socially retarded. 

I guess leash laws are not so strict here. At least, not out of the city. Most dog walkers tend to figure that if the sign says dogs on leash, that means dogs on or off leash, and if the sign says dogs off leash, which is pretty rare, then you're like "Sweet!". Nonetheless, mostly Penny stays on leash because it doesn't often make much difference to her if she's off or on anyway. She certainly doesn't look disappointed when she goes back on, and she always comes back the moment I click her leash clip to get the leash put back on. In built up areas, and places where lots of people go, we obey the rules. 

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?

because it's really hard, practically impossible, to properly exercise a large dog on a leash?

we have numerous "leash optional" areas and most people's dogs seem to do fine off-leash, staying near their people without any training.  A few irritating people with the "run up to you joyfully" RUDE out of control dogs while the owner screams "he's friendly". 

mudpuppy

because it's really hard, practically impossible, to properly exercise a large dog on a leash?

...so find a dog park or other legal off-leash area...? Or perhaps you missed the first part of the quoted statement? 

I was very concerned about my dogs getting enough exercise on lead.  Granted, I'm using 50+ foot lines, but, they come back ready to veg for a bit after their romps.  I do hang on to my end of the line until we get to the back of the campground, unless someone goes off the path and is going to get tangled in trees unless I get up there too, and then just call them back to me so I can reclaim the line.  Once to the back and near the trail, yep, I let them run, but, these dogs go out near the end of the line, run back, go out again, run back, wander off the trail, come back, etc, the entire time we are out.  So they are doing a whole lot more walking and running than I am.  I honestly think that they are getting more and better quality exercise now than they were in the fenced yard which was big enough for them to run to there hearts content.

But, I am always watching.  I don't want to be in a situation where a dog or person might show up and surprise me, and my dogs.  Despite what I consider a rock solid recall, they are still dogs, and not 150% predictable.

And, as a responsible owner it IS my problem if someone is afraid of dogs.  I have a LOT of dog even when I'm just walking one at a time, and MY rights do not supercede another persons right to feel safe.  I know my dogs personalities and temperments.....a stranger who is even a bit fearful of dogs, does not.  And, I am ever mindful that gsd's have that reputation for bieng "police dogs", guard dogs, attack dogs, whatever...the history of the use of the gsd sometimes means folks ARE afraid of them.  If I am to be a responsible person whose dogs are excellent ambassadors for the breed, well then, we have to respect the laws AND other people who might have irrational fears and phobias.

I have a dog that does NOT take well to being approached by strange dogs. (Sasha). I sympathize with you, willowchow, and there are "leash only" areas I avoid at certain times because too many uncontrolled off leash dogs are running around.

For all that, if someone has a dog that is under excellent voice command and behaves as if it were on leash, I don't mind if that person doesn't use a leash. Even if it is against the law. We've been aggressively approached by ON LEAD dogs!!! Think nasty small dogs, on flexis, with elderly owners who think their dog is sooo friendly. Leash or no leash, control your dog and respect other people and animals.

 so basically you've said that no dog has 100% recall, including yours, that its isnt your fault if other's have fear of dogs and is no reason for you to leash your dogs, and that it would be your fault if your dog broke loose and attacked another's dog.

 We all work as hard if not harder to train our dogs but if we all went around disregarding the rules what kind quality of life would we have? I put more time, energy and training into my dogs then the average dog owner but I still take extra precuations to make my neighbors and community feel safe. I KNOW my dogs are extremely well behaved and would never hurt a fly but I also know it is my responsibility to keep them active and socialized with the neighbors and neighbor kids since a lot of people are scared of the breed due to ignorance.

Anyhooo my effort to reach out is called common curtesouy.

mudpuppy

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?

because it's really hard, practically impossible, to properly exercise a large dog on a leash?

And that's somehow everyone else's problem? 

If you cannot sufficiently exercise a large dog on you own property then find somewhere LEGAL to take your dogs.  If there is absolutely no place anywhere around where it is legal to exercise dogs off leash, you can't do it on your property, and you you can't think of ways to exercise your dogs without them being off a leash, then maybe you need to rethink your breed and residence choices rather than subject everyone else to your loose dogs.

My mom is afraid of large dogs.  If they are on leash she can avoid them, but if they are not, then what?  She is not a dog person.  She does not know whether the 150 lb dog headed towards her on the path is going to try to greet her or attack her.  Should she just never go to parks with walking paths because some people think that they are too special to follow the rules?  

Leash laws are not there because a handful of dog owners are irresponsible with their off leash dogs.  They are there because the vast majority of people cannot control their dogs off leash.  What generally happens when people ignore leash laws repeatedly in public areas (same with people who refuse to pick up after their dog) is that those that use the space get fed up and complain, and eventually dogs are prohibited from that area--punishing the people who do follow the rules and walk their dogs on leash.

This actually happened to some beautiful National Lake Shore trails near my mom's house.  They are horse and hiking trails in the summer, and back when I used to ride there all the time, dogs were allowed on leash.  So many people had loose dogs that freaked out the horses (even the best trained dogs tend to be a bit weirded out by horses) that eventually riders complained and now no dogs are allowed there.  There are entire communities are banning all dogs in all public parks.

huh? we do go to legal off-leash areas. Our community doesn't even have a leash law- all it requires is that your dog "be under owner's control at all times" which I've always thought was a lot more rational than this insistence on leashes. I've been bothered by LEASHED dogs that weren't under the control of their owners- dogs on flexis or long lines with clueless owner.

Mudpuppy it sounds like you have the pleasure of living in a nice small town and if that were the case for all of us I think we'd feel the same way as you.

 However when I walk the recreation trail in our town I encounter dozens of dogs in a 2 mile stretch. If even 1 of those dogs were aggressive or fearful it would only take 1 off leash and not under control dog to mess it up for everyone.

Dont get me wrong, I get what your saying. My Dad has always had the most reliable dogs and only uses leashes out of town BUT there are certain places where its just not acceptable especially when someone insinuates that they are above the law and could care less of others fearful or aggression issues IN A PUBLIC PLACE!

Public means we all have to share and you do have to abide by the law for the better of everyone in that place.

I agree that there should be more off leash places and your community sounds great but its not the reality of all of america

Most herding dogs learn pretty easily that you are the coolest thing in the world and being with you would probably work in their favor.  You do have to teach it, and you do have to actually be "interesting."  With a Border Collie, the number one "hook" for them is routine.  Once they've got expectations in life, they'll be there hanging on your every breath!  Whether you want them to or not!!!

Some pictures we took on a walk last year - a herd of Border Collies - my Ted is in there, at eleven weeks old, there's some four month old puppies, and some mature fully trained dogs in there.

Don't try this at home, kids!  Polly's got her dogs trained to stop automatically at the edge of roads.

BUT there are certain places where its just not acceptable especially when someone insinuates that they are above the law and could care less of others fearful or aggression issues IN A PUBLIC PLACE!

I'd say most places it's unacceptable even if legal. We leash if anywhere near a road, in the public non-doggy focused parks, on the majority of the walking trails. But really, the issue isn't LEASH, it's out of control dogs. Even in our off-leash dog parks I can't stand people who think it's ok for their rude, untrained dogs to come galloping up and get in my dog's faces.

AuroraLove

I have two full sized Pit Bulls who are 95% reliable on recall, can we come walk off leash in your neighborhood?

Why would i mind that? If your dogs are not dog aggressive and stay under your voice control then i would be happy to see you and them around the place. 

AuroraLove

If I had as cavalier of a attitude as you I'd say "F" my neighbors let them think what they want, I now my dogs are good..

Thats pretty much how i think.I try not to concern myself too much about what others think,especially not neighbors or total strangers! My dogs are MY responsibility and are under MY care,what anyone else thinks of them or me does not come in to the equation.If your dogs are "well behaved and would never hurt a fly" then i'm sure your neighbors are well aware of it,and if they are not i dont think having them on a leash would make one iota of difference.

AuroraLove

and that it would be your fault if your dog broke loose and attacked another's dog.

Ahh but this is something i can say with 100% certainty...My dogs would never attack another dog or person,they have no interest in mixing with other dogs either,they are rather anti-social(in a good way) in that sense,and when rude dogs come running in their faces most often then not they turn around and walk the other way. 

Well, if a person is afraid of your dogs and your dogs can sense that--they might respond in a way you don't expect.  Maybe not, probably not, but it could happen.  And, there have been so many, many times when a person would yell to me that their dog was friendly.  But, Willow's response to it caused it to not be so friendly. 

Regardless, if it's a on leash only area and your dogs are off leash, you are breaking the law.  And, in my mind, that's not a very responsible dog owner at that point.