It's not really trained if it's running toward me is it? You're a lunatic for believing people should treat all strange dogs as automatically friendly.
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People who walk with their dogs unleashed
- Thread starter Dalek
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Ugh...more personal stories of how good of a boy your dog is. I mean where's the common sense? No shit you can keep it unleashed when the dog is invited to a birthday on a private property.
Also we talking about keeping children on leashes now? The fuck.
Any dog tries to bite me, I'm kicking it till it runs away. Few months ago, was taking a walk at night, dog got out of it's lawn and started chasing me. Was small like a chihuahua, and wouldn't back down, chasing me, occasional lunging, stopping and growling then chasing again for two streets. I had the urge to punt it like a football, but I didn't, it gave up and went back.
Would you say taking my dog to a forest and then taking of the leash is fine. I guess Americans don't have many forests as we do in Scotland..
Wtf is a dog park. A park just for dogs to run about in? I'm pretty sure they don't exist here. If you want your dog to have exercise you're going somewhere public
Trained service dogs(or more simply put "all service dogs") in Austria get to walk around without a leash on many mandatory leash areas, and that's pretty good.
Our neighborhood allows walking of dogs without a leash, and that's good too.
Now, obviously, you gotta respect the rules. And control you animal.
The situation OP describes is absolutely fucked up, and the owner is a moron.
Our neighborhood allows walking of dogs without a leash, and that's good too.
Now, obviously, you gotta respect the rules. And control you animal.
The situation OP describes is absolutely fucked up, and the owner is a moron.
Hopefully she doesn't come down your road, next time record her
We have leash laws in this country.
We have leash laws in this country.
My dog has to be on the lead at all times, and I HATE getting into situations where some other dog runs over and is up in his face. Thankfully this doesn't happen to often when just walking around streets, it tends to be owners who have their dog in a garden with a gate open.
Seriously...the fact that a lot of owners don't understand this is crazy. Your dog is a good dog that listens to your "training" until...it doesn't. I love my 3 dogs but they are animals after all.
Same on both statements. I understand that some are apprehensive about it, they should be.
Precisely. In Sweden the general rule is that you need to be able to control your dog as if it was on a leash. As we all know, humans do shitty things all the time, including not taking care of, or controlling/handling, their pet as they should. This doesn't just apply to dogs of course.
My favorite is the reindeer that hung out outside the shop in a small town kicking people coming in and out. The owner had to come and get it. 😂
There are a couple of big (and very busy) parks near where I live and I would say 60% of the dogs I see in there are off leash and I've never seen any problems, there are no signs about it. In that sort of area or some trail walk I think it's completely normal if the dog is used to it and the owner is responsible.
My take on this whole thread is it's nothing more than an example of differing perceptions between people in rural communities vs more urban centres. I am sure country of origin plays a part just due to sheer density of populations, as you had also pointed out.
It seems to me most small town people are more on the relaxed side of things probably due to us not only having so fucking much wide open land all around us, but also our awareness of the wildlife around us too. There is a comfort level all the space affords us.
Now on the flip side a dog off leash walking through a city centre in say Toronto, Montreal... or I dunno New York or something would probably be a bigger concern and probably for good reason. I could imagine in that scenario an off leash dog has the potential to create a lot of chaos out of fear, excitement, being overwhelmed or more likely, other humans not knowing how to approach a dog. Hell my dog is obedient I can - and have -literally put a steak in front of her, told her to stay and left the room and she will not eat it until I give the command. Even knowing that she is the goodest girl ever (I'm not wrong, fight me!) I would never dream of bringing her into that environment off leash - Not at all implying you would btw, just speaking to explain my point.
I guess what I am trying to say is I believe this thread, all the dissenting opinions, shit even the hostility that has been displayed just underlines a difference in opinion people have and hold due to the areas they live. I don't actually think anybody is wrong at all, except for when people emotions have gotten the best of them. It's just people are situationally different.
Fuck this is the longest post I have ever written on this site and I have been a member for years, Haha. I am sure I rambled my ass off.
Tl;dr - Dogs off leash in rural areas: good.
Dogs off leash in urban areas: bad.
In my area it's quite normal to let your dog off the leash on the beach. Not all beaches are open for dogs, though. There are other relatively secluded areas inland where it's considered safe, too.
We have a rescue greyhound, and it took over a year before we trusted her off the leash, because as a breed they're not renowned for their recall. She's gentle and goofy, and fortunately she's not aggressive in the presence of small animals.
We watch out for potentially problematic situations and leash her when necessary. This applies particularly when there are children on the same beach. You can't be too careful.
We have a rescue greyhound, and it took over a year before we trusted her off the leash, because as a breed they're not renowned for their recall. She's gentle and goofy, and fortunately she's not aggressive in the presence of small animals.
We watch out for potentially problematic situations and leash her when necessary. This applies particularly when there are children on the same beach. You can't be too careful.
There is a dog park a few miles from where I live. It's basically like a children's play area, but for dogs. If I didn't have access to the local beaches and other suitable areas I might take our dog there.
I walk my dog to the park every day, and there's often some dumbass out there with no leash on their dog. It's always kind of scary, and I try to keep my distance.
People that do this are unbelievably stupid. You can't predict how a dog is going to react in unexpected situations. I've walked by countless dogs, on leashes, that suddenly turn aggressive when we walk by. How's that unleashed dog going to react when some asshole untrained dog starts growling, barking, and pulling?
People that do this are unbelievably stupid. You can't predict how a dog is going to react in unexpected situations. I've walked by countless dogs, on leashes, that suddenly turn aggressive when we walk by. How's that unleashed dog going to react when some asshole untrained dog starts growling, barking, and pulling?
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I see people walking their dogs without leashes all the time in the city. Never really had a problem with them, but it's super scary as a driver. I don't know how the owners are comfortable leaving their dogs to roam freely near moving cars.
I only ever used a leash on my dog when he was sick and I had to be sure if what he was doing outside. Otherwise he was pretty much free to leave the house and come as he pleased. But I live in the middle of fucking nowhere with really no one he could bother.
I only ever used a leash on my dog when he was sick and I had to be sure if what he was doing outside. Otherwise he was pretty much free to leave the house and come as he pleased. But I live in the middle of fucking nowhere with really no one he could bother.
Surely there is a compromise somewhere between kicking an unleashed, approaching dog and assuming it's friendly.
The compromise is either leashing your dog or training it well enough it will never run at a stranger.
I'm surprised not wanting to get assaulted by a dog is such a controversial opinion, but *shrug*; guess there must be a subsection of the populace who love getting bitten by strange animals.
I think kicking is a commensurate response to the risk of an unknown, uncontrolled and potentially dangerous dog. When I take my dog off-leash I am not only taking personal responsibility for her welfare (as always) I am also taking on responsibility for potential harm the dog may cause and also the risk of harm to her as other animals and humans respond to the perceived danger of her uncontrolled conduct.
If somebody kicks my dog while she's not under leash control, that's my fault.
Truly curious how much of this is an "American" thing, or rest of the world.
Aussie here, and I take my two down to the local park daily for a run around. There would be a good, oh, 40 or so dogs all off the leash, running around and having a good time. Any anti-social dogs generally don't come back a second time, and with one of mine sorta in that category he's content to chill in my arms while the other and the others do their thing. It's an amazing sight, and I'd hate to see that go away!
-edit- No disrespect by saying it's an "American" thing, just genuinely curious whether it's a consideration or not!
Aussie here, and I take my two down to the local park daily for a run around. There would be a good, oh, 40 or so dogs all off the leash, running around and having a good time. Any anti-social dogs generally don't come back a second time, and with one of mine sorta in that category he's content to chill in my arms while the other and the others do their thing. It's an amazing sight, and I'd hate to see that go away!
-edit- No disrespect by saying it's an "American" thing, just genuinely curious whether it's a consideration or not!
I don't think it's the potential victim's responsibility to accurately assess the danger my uncontrolled, unleashed dog poses to them, their children or their animals. It's on me to ensure she's never placed in a situation where a person or dog may respond aggressively towards her. To me she may be a goofy, friendly companion who wouldn't hurt a fly, but to a stranger she may look like death on legs.
Some owners are blind to the faults of their dogs. Like some parents I guess.
I've kicked a dog before. My personal hate is people unable to control their dogs from a distance and have to come over and physically get them off you. If you can't get it to come back to you when calling ("JESUS CHRIST, FENTON") then you have an uncontrollable dog and that could be a problem.
Now, I like dogs, but my 6 year old daughter is scared of them and has been since she was tiny, we were at the park playing football and this dog comes charging over, I can hear the owner in the distance "Jasper! Jasper, come here!" and it's leaping in my daughter's face and going WUFF at her and scrambling all over us and she's screaming, literally screaming in terror, and the fucking dog just wouldn't back down or fuck off, so I gave it a swift kick in the ribs and it got the message. And across the field comes a small distant voice "It's ok, he's very friendly, he won't hurt you!". Fuck. off. I'm sure he just wanted to play, but from my daughter's point of view this slavering hound from hell is all up in her face and it was terrifying for her and the owner was incapable of getting dog under control without coming over and physically dragging it away. We had words the owner and I about her dog control skills or lack thereof.
As far as I'm concerned if a dog does that to me or my kids, I'm justfied in snapping it's fucking neck or staving its head in. I don't know the intentions of your uncontrollable monster.
I've kicked a dog before. My personal hate is people unable to control their dogs from a distance and have to come over and physically get them off you. If you can't get it to come back to you when calling ("JESUS CHRIST, FENTON") then you have an uncontrollable dog and that could be a problem.
Now, I like dogs, but my 6 year old daughter is scared of them and has been since she was tiny, we were at the park playing football and this dog comes charging over, I can hear the owner in the distance "Jasper! Jasper, come here!" and it's leaping in my daughter's face and going WUFF at her and scrambling all over us and she's screaming, literally screaming in terror, and the fucking dog just wouldn't back down or fuck off, so I gave it a swift kick in the ribs and it got the message. And across the field comes a small distant voice "It's ok, he's very friendly, he won't hurt you!". Fuck. off. I'm sure he just wanted to play, but from my daughter's point of view this slavering hound from hell is all up in her face and it was terrifying for her and the owner was incapable of getting dog under control without coming over and physically dragging it away. We had words the owner and I about her dog control skills or lack thereof.
As far as I'm concerned if a dog does that to me or my kids, I'm justfied in snapping it's fucking neck or staving its head in. I don't know the intentions of your uncontrollable monster.
I live in Sydney, and this has been my experience too. My office is near a public park and there's just a shitton of dogs off leash every day.
One thing to note I guess is that Australia has restrictions on several dangerous dog breeds, so we're a lot less likely to have like a pitbull running straight at us than someone living elsewhere
Seeing some of the replies above, I think it's got less to do with the type of breed and the act of it running up. I appreciate even my smaller dogs (pugs), could appear threatening to a child if they came bounding up. Thankfully kids seem to adore the breed, and I've never had the issue appear!
I also speak as the survivor of a vicious attack by two Rottweilers as a child, while riding a bicycle. The dogs were unfortunately destroyed (I say that now, twenty years later), but it has taken me a good portion of my life to get over. So I can sympathize with the other side. There are some locations like the beach firmly avoid because of the lack of control, and I guess I'm rather content with my local park and the relative control there. Again, it's such a delight to see a group of forty odd dogs of varying sizes and breeds all run around socialising.
I don't get it either. Just keep them on a leach, is that so hard?
Yesterday my brother almost hit a dog while driving because his owner had him unleached.
Just because your dog is "a good boy" doesn't give you the excuse of letting him free while outside. Especially when we all know that dogs can be traumatic or scary to some people.
Yesterday my brother almost hit a dog while driving because his owner had him unleached.
Just because your dog is "a good boy" doesn't give you the excuse of letting him free while outside. Especially when we all know that dogs can be traumatic or scary to some people.
Un my old apartment I had a cop as a neighbour, he would always take his dog on a walk without a leash, it was a German Shepherd. I'm guessing it was a police trained dog since the dog never looked at me and it just sat down to let me pass it on the stairs, the dog never left his side and seem uninterested in everything.
But still iffy to be honest.
But still iffy to be honest.
I've been bit by unleashed dogs while running in my neighborhood and have the god damned police reports to show for it. My dog and I have been attacked by unleashed dogs on the sidewalk, trail, and even the middle of the fucking road. If you think your dog is some special snowflake that's above the law and doesn't need to be leashed, you're wrong...and a selfish asshole.
I have the exact same problem with my pug. Pugs are just way too stubborn. My pug now does get angry at certain dogs though because they were too playful with him without realizing their size when they were pups. He has held a grudge for years against one of my neigbourhoods dogs. Had me pissed when that dog was walking without his leash.
I wholeheartedly agree that its the owner's burden of responsibility to ensure that their dog is not only securely leashed, but also behaviorally trained to mitigate any incidents that may occur. I'll never understand why anyone would ever take their dog off leash. I wouldn't blame anyone for kicking my unleashed dog as I'm aware it's a situation that I should have controlled. There are people who having suffered traumatic experiences with dogs before are unwilling to hesitate to defend themselves and I totally understand that.
That being said, and having been bit by an unleashed dog before and had to unfortunately injure the dog, shit sometimes just happens. While capable of being very well trained and obedient, dogs are also animals and sometimes they can act erratic and spaz out. I've had many dogs approach me who've wiggled out of a leash or had a weathered leash break, and I've come across many dogs who have had inconsiderate owners who for whatever reason hadn't leashed their dog.
I can't imagine how preemptively kicking any/all unleashed dogs does anything but make most situations worse.
my fuckin piece of shit neighbor walks around doing this. we live in brooklyn, not a fucking farm, put a fucking leash on your dog
also, the dog only has 3 legs so it hops and it barely listens
he stands there and calls his name over and over and over when the dog stops listening
i know this because i can fuckin hear him every day!!!!!!!!!!!
also, the dog only has 3 legs so it hops and it barely listens
he stands there and calls his name over and over and over when the dog stops listening
i know this because i can fuckin hear him every day!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't label all dog owners as jerks.
Mine walks perfectly to heal off the lead when I need her to and has perfect recall.
She stays on the lead though unless I'm in a forest or open land suitable for her
With the rare exception where her lead broke and I've had to get her back to mine with no lead - oops!
Owners like those described in the OP really shouldn't be letting theirs off though unless in a controlled environment.
Biggest trouble I have with other dog owners are those described in the OP
Poor recall
Poor inter dog social skills
Quite a few times it's left me in an awkward situation with other peoples dogs causing problems for me when I'm out with mine
It's disappointing
Mine walks perfectly to heal off the lead when I need her to and has perfect recall.
She stays on the lead though unless I'm in a forest or open land suitable for her
With the rare exception where her lead broke and I've had to get her back to mine with no lead - oops!
Owners like those described in the OP really shouldn't be letting theirs off though unless in a controlled environment.
Biggest trouble I have with other dog owners are those described in the OP
Poor recall
Poor inter dog social skills
Quite a few times it's left me in an awkward situation with other peoples dogs causing problems for me when I'm out with mine
It's disappointing
I can relate. My neighbor next door in my building has a smaller dog but still barks at everything all the time which is annoying in and of itself. I've had issues with her anyways because of other noise issues in the past, talked with her but she always brushes it off. One day, my wife and I are walking down the hallway to our elevator with our 17 month toddler who is still getting the hang of walking. Elevator door opens and out runs her dog tapping away making a beeline for my kid. Son freezes, freaked out and I have to grab him right when the dog is like a foot or two away as my son bursts into hysterics. Out walks neighbor girl, no words or apologies just a stupid fucking smirk on her face.
I really dislike her.
I really dislike her.
Your neighbour keeps a dog and barks herself?
Sorry, it's the grammar nazi in me. Slipped its leash.
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Get a can of that Halloween colored hair spray and spray the dogs when they come up (if its safe for dogs). If she complains just say it couldn't have happened if they were on a leash
A cool and fun thing to do is to be on a trail run in the woods and inadvertently get between an off-leash dog and their owner, prompting a frantic doggy freakout. Or to be approaching someone from behind while making all manner of noise to politely warn them, then somehow still surprising their oblivious dog and being subsequently chased down the trail for a quarter mile.
Non-leashed dogs are super common in Brooklyn, and if it's not a tiny dog I'm steering well clear as much as possible. Because of course it seems like they're usually massive unfixed dogs.
Thing that makes me laugh are dog owners who shout at their dog when it barks. Classic positive reinforcement.
In this instance youve described, I get why you're upset, but I've never thought anything of people walking around their neighborhood or just to their car with their dog unleashed because the dog listens. Not that this is common. But when I see it I'm like, damn, that's a good dog.