Dog walking off leash

The dogs I walk aren't going to get any more exercise walking 30 feet ahead of me than they are within 6 feet of me.

 
the whole point is that off-leash dogs don't WALK. They run ahead, stop and sniff, get left behind, run ahead, run in circles, run after the rabbit, chase each other, chase the ball you're throwing, go swim in the creek, run to catch up. You can walk a mile and they'll have covered five miles at a run. Tons more exercise.
 
Dogs need to run. I know it's all PC to always have them on leash, but dogs who never get off leashes are really not having their needs satisified.

ORIGINAL: mudpuppy

The dogs I walk aren't going to get any more exercise walking 30 feet ahead of me than they are within 6 feet of me.

the whole point is that off-leash dogs don't WALK. They run ahead, stop and sniff, get left behind, run ahead, run in circles, run after the rabbit, chase each other, chase the ball you're throwing, go swim in the creek, run to catch up. You can walk a mile and they'll have covered five miles at a run. Tons more exercise.

Dogs need to run. I know it's all PC to always have them on leash, but dogs who never get off leashes are really not having their needs satisified.

Then people can have their dogs' needs satisfied by running OFF leash in a FENCED in area. They don't make leash laws for nothing. And this isn't so much directed at you, mudpuppy, as I know you said you only allow your dogs off leash where you're sure there won't be any other dogs or people.

To me, if you own a dog, it's not about letting the dog run free off leash where it shouldn't be off leash because someone feels that their dog should be able to be "free". To me, it's about being a responsible owner and putting your dog's safety first.

We feel pretty confident with walking our pet without his leash. We have yet to have any incidents.

Where I live there is no excuse though. There are ample, large, fenced off-leash areas where your dogs can run until they pass out. They are so large you don't even have to socialize with the other people and dogs if you don't want to, just go to the other end. There are groups currently working on timed-use off-leash trails, which I'm also fine with. Just as long as everyone knows, if you don't want to encounter off-leash dogs, don't go to this area between this time and this time. There's also a more rural municipality north of here that does not have leash laws at all (!) that has several large parks that are acknoweldged as "off leash parks" just by default. No one living here has no other option to safely exericise their dog than to let it run around a multi-use city park, yet people do it (a LOT!) anyway.

Dogs need to run. I know it's all PC to always have them on leash, but dogs who never get off leashes are really not having their needs satisified.

I agree, but I don't think it's appropriate for dogs to be running off leash on sidewalks, in neighborhoods, downtown, along public trails where it's not allowed, etc.  That's why we have dog parks where they can let loose, agility classes for intense off-leash stimulation, or we have our own personal property for the dog to run around on and play games with the dog.

I am not surprised to hear that some of you have "never" seen a "responsible" off-leash pet owner.  Might that be because those of us who ARE responsible are acutely aware of our surroundings and have our dog recalled to us and on leash before you even realize that we are around?
 
I just find it highly insulting that some of you insinuate that no dogs should be allowed off leash at any time (other than a fenced in area, of which there are none I know of around here).  I can't help but wonder if you would change your tune if you actually had a dog like mine.  One who is completely and 100% trustworthy and trained to be off leash.  My dog is NOT one of those dogs who comes running up to your dog in either an aggressive or friendly manner.  Do not lump all dogs into the same category.  Some of us DO train our dogs and care enough about their well-being to be aware of their surroundings at all times.  Quite frankly, I *want* my dog on a leash when we pass you & your dog, because I do not know what *your* dog will do.

ORIGINAL: KarissaKS

I am not surprised to hear that some of you have "never" seen a "responsible" off-leash pet owner. Might that be because those of us who ARE responsible are acutely aware of our surroundings and have our dog recalled to us and on leash before you even realize that we are around?

I just find it highly insulting that some of you insinuate that no dogs should be allowed off leash at any time (other than a fenced in area, of which there are none I know of around here). I can't help but wonder if you would change your tune if you actually had a dog like mine. One who is completely and 100% trustworthy and trained to be off leash. My dog is NOT one of those dogs who comes running up to your dog in either an aggressive or friendly manner. Do not lump all dogs into the same category. Some of us DO train our dogs and care enough about their well-being to be aware of their surroundings at all times. Quite frankly, I *want* my dog on a leash when we pass you & your dog, because I do not know what *your* dog will do.

Oh, don't get your panties all in bunch because I think that if there are leash laws in your area, then your dog should be on leash when out in public places. I'm not trying to insult you or your dog. And no, I wouldn't change my tune if I had a dog like yours because the fact of the matter is: I have a dog like mine and even if I had a dog like yours I would understand how unpredictable dogs can be and I'd care enough about the safety of my OWN dog for various reasons, that I'd want to keep him/her leashed out in public places where leash laws are in place.
And further more, even though I don't have a dog like yours and I have a dog like mine, I STILL care about your dog's safety and that's WHY it bothers me that people allow their dogs off leash where they aren't supposed to!

Actually, my lab Jack is great off leash, as we have been working on it since puppyhood.  However, I do NOT walk him anywhere where there are rules against off leash dogs.  If we do it out in the country we are on private property with permission.  If we do it on the beach it is in the VERY early morning or extremely off season times and if someone comes along he goes on the leash as soon as I see them in the distance.  Personally, I think it is insanity to walk an off leash dog near a road, near houses, near other dogs, people, etc. 

Jack has a solid temperment and listens well off leash.  However, he is a large dog and it is my responsibility to keep him, other people, and other dogs safe, period.  If you feel comfortable saying that your dog *never* runs up to strangers, *never* wants to interact with other dogs, and *never* fails to mind you when you call him then that is fine, but I have learned that with animals it is best to never say never......

I am not surprised to hear that some of you have "never" seen a "responsible" off-leash pet owner. Might that be because those of us who ARE responsible are acutely aware of our surroundings and have our dog recalled to us and on leash before you even realize that we are around?

I just find it highly insulting that some of you insinuate that no dogs should be allowed off leash at any time (other than a fenced in area, of which there are none I know of around here). I can't help but wonder if you would change your tune if you actually had a dog like mine. One who is completely and 100% trustworthy and trained to be off leash. My dog is NOT one of those dogs who comes running up to your dog in either an aggressive or friendly manner. Do not lump all dogs into the same category. Some of us DO train our dogs and care enough about their well-being to be aware of their surroundings at all times. Quite frankly, I *want* my dog on a leash when we pass you & your dog, because I do not know what *your* dog will do.

My dog is fine in any type of collar and off-leash.  She's three years old and has already been doing obedince and agility training.  I've met 4 other dogs from this breeder (one was my dog's offspring) and none of them so much as batted an eye in the direction of any other dogs or people.  She has a U-CH title (UKC conformation champion), so obviously she's calm and under control around other dogs.  Like I said in my first post, I won't have her off leash b/c she's a German Shepherd and most people who don't know dogs are nervous around GSDs ON a leash.  I don't feel it appropriate to create a situation that makes other people uncomfortable, especially by something I'd be doing illegally.  There will be no reason for me to have her off-leash on walks because if I want her to run and play, we'll do so at the cottage, in our own yard, at a dog park, or at agility training.

I stand by the fact that where I live it is illegal to walk dogs off leash.  So for me, it's a non-issue.  I'm not going to go around reporting people who don't use a leash, but I won't have any sympathy for them when they get cited and fined.  If the dog is so obedient, then why have it off a leash in the first place?  Either way it's going to walk calmly, not run away, and pay attention to the handler.

Because of this thread, I spent some time this afternoon reading through my county's ordiances.  As I believe mudpuppy stated, my county also only mentions that dogs must be "under control" of the owner.  The only ordinance which mentions leashes is the one about any city or county park (where around here most have "no dogs allowed" signs posted).
 
So I guess you'll all be happy to note that my off leash dog isn't breaking any laws.

ORIGINAL: KarissaKS

Because of this thread, I spent some time this afternoon reading through my county's ordiances. As I believe mudpuppy stated, my county also only mentions that dogs must be "under control" of the owner. The only ordinance which mentions leashes is the one about any city or county park (where around here most have "no dogs allowed" signs posted).

So I guess you'll all be happy to note that my off leash dog isn't breaking any laws.

Hey, good! That's good stuff!

ORIGINAL: KarissaKS

I am not surprised to hear that some of you have "never" seen a "responsible" off-leash pet owner.  Might that be because those of us who ARE responsible are acutely aware of our surroundings and have our dog recalled to us and on leash before you even realize that we are around?

I just find it highly insulting that some of you insinuate that no dogs should be allowed off leash at any time (other than a fenced in area, of which there are none I know of around here).  I can't help but wonder if you would change your tune if you actually had a dog like mine.  One who is completely and 100% trustworthy and trained to be off leash.  My dog is NOT one of those dogs who comes running up to your dog in either an aggressive or friendly manner.  Do not lump all dogs into the same category.  Some of us DO train our dogs and care enough about their well-being to be aware of their surroundings at all times.  Quite frankly, I *want* my dog on a leash when we pass you & your dog, because I do not know what *your* dog will do.

I have no idea if this is somehow directed at my post, but if you'll read what I said again, you'll see that I said that it's not that I don't believe well-trained off-leash dogs are out there, it's that I've never experienced one while walking Jack (in my neighborhood, in my town, etc.).  In fact, this is exactly what I said:

I'd be very impressed to see an off-leash dog who has 100% solid recall and follows commands pitch-perfectly... but I haven't yet.  I'm not at all saying that they're not out there, but it hasn't been my experience when I've encountered off-leash dogs.  Around here, it seems that most of the off-leash dogs I've had personal run-ins with have been almost completely untrained, have terrible recall, and their owners pay very little attention to them.

I was very careful to say that I wasn't implying that well-trained off-leash dogs don't exist, but that in my area, in my experience, this hasn't been the case.  And I stand by that.

And like a previous poster, I wouldn't change my opinions if I "had a dog like yours".  Not that I want your dog, because I think my dog is pretty perfect (whether or not he's 100% trained... especially since he is just a puppy, after all).  I could have the best-trained dog in the world, and I would still think that breaking the law (in my county, mind you... I did read your post saying that your area has no leash law) is inappropriate, and that creating a situation that could frighten or upset other people and/or their dogs is a bit selfish.  I absolutely believe that there is a time and place for off-leash dogs, but that this doesn't include the city, near a street where cars drive, in a place where it is illegal, or in an area that people and/or dogs frequent that is not designated as off-leash. 
 
I never lumped all dogs into the same category.  If someone had an off-leash dog who they leashed before I approached them, then right on.  If I had no idea your dog was unleashed because you're just that awesome, then more power to you.  Those aren't the dogs and owners I was talking about.  I'm sure you realize that not every dog owner is like you.  And those irresponsible owners or owners who overstimate their dogs' obedience and recall are the ones who create negative experiences, which could harm or negatively impact your wonderful dog.  It doesn't really matter how well-trained your dog is if he is attacked or harrassed by a poorly-trained dog.

My opinions have nothing to do with you and your dog, and you really shouldn't feel insulted by them.  This is based on my experience, in my town, and the laws I live under.

so the dog can get in lots of sniffing and more exercise than on -leash?

 
No, not neccesarily. Though I do guess that's what some people think and do...

To all of you with dogs with SOLID recalls who don't wish to go up and greet others, does that include other dogs??

 
It certainly does include not wanting to meet other dogs.  My dogs don't care what is going on around them.  They know that play occurs in the confines of my yard, on the hiking trails, & at the dog park.  They don't try to greet anyone.
 

  
Are you all 100% sure of how to read your dogs and what their intents are?

 
Yes, I'm 1000% sure as to how to read my dogs & I do know exactly what their intentions are.  I am constantly aware of our surroundings & I look for small changes that could lead to a distraction.
 

  
And would any of you walking your dogs off leash be offended if your dog ran up to a dog reactive dog and the dog reactive dog attacked yours?

 
I certainly would not be offended IF my dog ran up to a leashed dog.  It won't happen because of their recalls, but if it did it would totally be my fault.
 
I took Bevo with me today to meet a friend for lunch, as we had planned to eat out on the patio.  I had to park 3 blocks from the resturant & walk.  Bevo & I navigated 3 blocks in downtown Houston, at lunchtime, without a leash.  He was told to heel & he never looked away.  It is because of experiences like this that I am 1000% confident to allow him off leash.

I think I made some big mistakes with Tojo because he's my first dog (and Loki I didn't train as I adopted him at the age of 7). With the next dog, I would like to train to heel before anything else. Once she has mastered heel, I'll move to loose line walking, then long line, then off leash (on my property). With Tojo I just wanted him to loose lead walk because I thought there was no fun in walking at heel all the time, but now I realize that he should have learned it that way first because now trying to get him to heel is impossible because he thinks he can do whatever he wants as long as he's close to me. I also think I let him off leash too young. I took him to the dog run as soon as he was old enough (has all his vaccinations) which I think turned out fine (he knows not to go out of sight off leash, which is a lot more than most shiba owners can say) although it COULD have ended up very badly. It was so hard not having a yard, though. I just wanted him to get good exercise and I let training slip because of that.

Next dog, I'll have a smaller fenced yard and a lot of open, isolated property to train on and we'll all be happier.