"But it's against the LAW!"

I'm not sure if I'm more put off by the fact she can't control her dog or by the fact that she's got such a snotty attitude about it.

As a 100lbs girl who walks two full size pitties my first concern is "why have such a large protective dog if you cant control it"?

So is she totally non-approchable or do you feel comfertable offering suggestions to her? Would she freak if you said something nice like "you sure have a pretty dog but some of us neighbors are wondering if you might liek suggestions on how to better walk him:?

Ooh its always such a tough situation with neighbors!

Sadly there is a shortage of laws against people being complete jerks.  I don't know of anywhere that leash laws say you can't have your dog off-leash in a contained area, so I don't think you're doing anything wrong.  If she yells at you again, just tell her that its not your fault that she's unable to control her own dog and she's welcome to find somewhere else for her walks.  I've got a short fuse today, lol, so if I were in your shoes I'd probably have a few choice words for her.

That would be completely according to local law -- your town, city, county -- whatever area has jurisdiction.

However -- word of warning - she could cause YOU extreme trouble.  If she' toes the letter of the law (albeit ineptly -- and there's usually no law anywhere that says how *well* you have to do something), she could easily call your complex, association, etc. and report YOU.  Particularly if you and your dog are easily identifiable and she can say "they're always there every day at ____ p.m. when I'm walking MY DOG **ON LEASH**" -- frankly she could bring down the wrath on you.

 Being nasty won't do a thing positive.  However, asking her for a minute of her time and attempting to do a little training might not be amiss -- but she's likely not going to be receptive.   You might carry a 30' clothes line leash with you -- snap it on to give your dog some freedom while yourself toeing the line of complying with the law. 

Usually the law will read something like "controlling your dog on leash".  And "on leash" is jumped at as the most easy to pin down in black and while.  Either the dog is or is not on leash -- it's objective, not subjective.

 It's one of those you're wrong but you're right situations. 

this is where a law can be TOO black and white.... what good is the leash if the owner is turf surfing behind the crazed dog as it lunges to attack someone or their dog? 

lol i would have asked her if she was jealous. "What? you're mad at ME because you cant let that ruffian off leash without risk of a lawsuit?" 

Spotnik

I'm a little upset about one young lady, who is being pulled around by her large, aggressive dog as she walks her dog with one hand and the other hand always holds her cell-phone.

Sounds like one for the idiot police!
 

This type of incident happened to my sister-in-law.  She has a pit mix.  They have done a good job socializing her with other dogs.  On the way home from the dog park, Nali was walking alongside them, not on a leash, but with them on the sidewalk.  This woman came at them and she had several dogs on leashes.  They were pulling HER and she could not control them.  Then one of her dogs on the leash jumped at Nali and attacked her.  Nali had to have stitches in multiple places and drains put in because the bites were so deep.  The woman was screaming at them and they were screaming at her.  I think they took down her info b/c they wanted her to pay for the vet bills (several hundred), but they are not sure if they can force her since technically Nali was not on a leash, even though she never ran towards the dogs and all the wounds are on her.

I feel the same way about people who can't control their larger dogs.  Rory's small, so maybe I don't understand, but I had a frustrating incident at my apartment.  We were going away for the night and my husband had taken stuff to the car and I grabbed the pillows, my purse, a gift and Rory, who was on her leash.  So she's walking with me on the sidewalk and there was a golden mix with her owner (20 something female) in the grass, so we stayed on the sidewalk, no prob, right?  Oh no, the dog wanted Rory so bad she pulled the owner down on her butt, dragging her owner along in the grass til she got to Rory.  Rory didn't like it at all, and she usually loves other dogs.  This one wouldnt leave her alone, I'm trying to walk and get outta there but my hands were sorta full and this golden was pushing Rory into the bushes, nipping and nudging, I yelled for my husband and finally the girl's mother came and helped get the dog off.  Granted I wouldn't have freaked if I hadnt had other stuff in my arms and I could have whisked Rory away, but come on, they could see I was walking with stuff on the side walk, you can't keep your dog in the grass away from mine?  Maybe the girl's bf should take them out if she can't control them.  But then again, they don't pick up their poo and half the time the goldens (they have two) aren't even on leash. 

Neighbors:  Can't live with'em.  Can't shoot'em.  Because its against the law.

I'm just kidding folks.  But, dang'it, why do people have dogs, then don't have the brains to learn how to control them.  I just don't get it.

some people think they will hurt the dog if they pull too hard on the leash.

YES. i have seen this/heard this excuse given even while the dog is lunging, strangling, and pulling on their owners arm. they're afraid to hurt the dog, and yet the dog is hurting himself and the owner and possibly something else.  

thats how they get away with this leash pulling madness. they're afraid of hurting their dog. simple. too simple... simple logic for a simple mind? ohyeah! 

Here, in Texas, the state law states that all domestic animals will be contained. It does not require a particular containment. That containment may be leash, remote collar, fenced yard, or voice command. Some cities do have a leash law, though, where all dogs must be on leash. Which wouldn't do anything to change the problem with the lady who's dog is out of control, even on leash. Ignore her.

Yeah.. I don't understand walking a dog you can't physically or otherwise control. I'm a girl with a large (ish? 65 pounds) aggressive dog, but...even if she's lunging at the end of her leash (which I'm very proud to say hasn't happened in a looong time), I'm still firmly standing my ground. There's no pulling me down the street, or yanking me around, even though she wears a harness, because while she's a strong dog, I'm stronger. If I wasn't, I wouldn't walk her. Plain and simple.

And seriously.. a cell phone? I don't do or think about ANYTHING besides Cherokee while I'm walking her. The second I do is the second she starts lunging like a maniac...

I don't have any problem with dogs being off leash as long as they're not running up to MY dog (and that's for their own safety). Since it doesn't sound like yours were, I really don't understand the girl's problem.

chelsea_b

And seriously.. a cell phone? I don't do or think about ANYTHING besides Cherokee while I'm walking her. The second I do is the second she starts lunging like a maniac...

This is how Teddi is too, I have to constantly pay attention to him and give commands at any given moment if needed to him. I don't even think of taking my cell phone with me when I walk my dogs. Whomever needs to speak with me can wait an hour. I agree with what Ron said, Ignore her. 

i'm rather anti-cell phone..... i only carry one when out and about just to make my mom shut up. she worries constantly. i dont make calls on it and dont answer it unless its her (and i get mad if she calls to talk about nothing... again.. emergencies only please.

when i walk my dogs i am focussed on the work out and how they are moving along.. i cant understand how anyone could go about with a phone to their ear, especially while walking a dog OR driving....

jenn52

I feel the same way about people who can't control their larger dogs.  Rory's small, so maybe I don't understand

I have to large dogs, and I agree!  There's a HUGE Bouvier in Kenya's agility class.  He is SO BIG and strong he literally drags around his owner.  Not to mention, he's very rude in the dog sense.  He CHARGES up to other people and dogs and stands over them.  Last class I spent more time avoiding him than working on the equipment.  In Kenya's pet therapy class there was a young Leonberger and he was always trying to jump on other dogs and pawing them hard in the face.