Why do you walk your dog off leash?

[Anonymous]

So tired of bad dog owners walking their dogs off leash on the sidewalk, park (not a dog park), or elsewhere. In most or all of the area, it's illegal to have your dog off leash in public parks or areas.

I'm all for sharing parks - but please keep your dogs on a leash (not a retractable one). No one knows your animal, and no one should be responsible for judging your animal's character. Your dog, your responsibility. If you don't want to be responsible for your animal, why did you get one in the first place? Please don't be so selfish.

[Anonymous]

These same people must also set off fireworks 3 weeks before the 4th of July, bring their children's siblings uninvited to birthday parties in parks, have illegal basement apartments, say "Let's get together soon." but never actually make plans, and refuse to use washcloths.

[Anonymous]

Why don't you snap a picture of the owner and dog, off leash and then strike up a convo about why the dog isn't on a leash and remind them that it's the law?

[Anonymous]

My DH does this. He thinks it's cute. Drives me nuts. To be fair, the dog weighs 4lbs. and is as old as Methuselah, so not a danger to anyone but himself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH does this. He thinks it's cute. Drives me nuts. To be fair, the dog weighs 4lbs. and is as old as Methuselah, so not a danger to anyone but himself.

Eh, small dogs can still bite.

[Anonymous]

Because I am special and so is my dog - didn't you know that???!!!!

[Anonymous]

Do you have a fear of dogs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH does this. He thinks it's cute. Drives me nuts. To be fair, the dog weighs 4lbs. and is as old as Methuselah, so not a danger to anyone but himself.

To be fair, and not an idiot..., there is not a weight limit to leash laws. It doesn't drive you nuts if you allow him to keep breaking the law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you snap a picture of the owner and dog, off leash and then strike up a convo about why the dog isn't on a leash and remind them that it's the law?

OP here. I've asked people "please leash your dog" - politely and nicely, but have had dog owners bluntly say "no" or "go fuck yourself." These aren't trashy people, but people dressed nice, professionally, and in suits. They don't care about the law.

I'm so tired of it. I don't want to be the crazy lady that takes pictures of the bad dog owner or carries pepper spray to warn the owner - but I'm so damned fed up. I don't understand what's so difficult about keeping your dog by your side on a leash in public, it seems like the normal, decent thing to do, and not a lot to ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you snap a picture of the owner and dog, off leash and then strike up a convo about why the dog isn't on a leash and remind them that it's the law?

OP here. I've asked people "please leash your dog" - politely and nicely, but have had dog owners bluntly say "no" or "go fuck yourself." These aren't trashy people, but people dressed nice, professionally, and in suits. They don't care about the law.

I'm so tired of it. I don't want to be the crazy lady that takes pictures of the bad dog owner or carries pepper spray to warn the owner - but I'm so damned fed up. I don't understand what's so difficult about keeping your dog by your side on a leash in public, it seems like the normal, decent thing to do, and not a lot to ask.

Are these dogs bothering you in any way? Sniffing you, following you, snapping at you? I don't understand why you're so worked about about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DH does this. He thinks it's cute. Drives me nuts. To be fair, the dog weighs 4lbs. and is as old as Methuselah, so not a danger to anyone but himself.

To be fair, and not an idiot..., there is not a weight limit to leash laws. It doesn't drive you nuts if you allow him to keep breaking the law.

I hate dogs off the leash but to be fair… "allow him?" Really? Is pp his mother? Is he a child? What kind of relationship do you have with your spouse where s/he would "allow" you to "allow or disallow" him/her to do anything? lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a fear of dogs?

I've had dogs lunge and aggressively jump on me, so yes, I view all strange animals as the unpredictable creatures they are. I know not all dogs are aggressive, but it's not up to me to decipher that - it's the dog owner/caretaker's responsibility to be in control of their animal at all times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you snap a picture of the owner and dog, off leash and then strike up a convo about why the dog isn't on a leash and remind them that it's the law?

OP here. I've asked people "please leash your dog" - politely and nicely, but have had dog owners bluntly say "no" or "go fuck yourself." These aren't trashy people, but people dressed nice, professionally, and in suits. They don't care about the law.

I'm so tired of it. I don't want to be the crazy lady that takes pictures of the bad dog owner or carries pepper spray to warn the owner - but I'm so damned fed up. I don't understand what's so difficult about keeping your dog by your side on a leash in public, it seems like the normal, decent thing to do, and not a lot to ask.

Are these dogs bothering you in any way? Sniffing you, following you, snapping at you? I don't understand why you're so worked about about it.

Yes, I've had dogs do that. And it's the law. I don't know your dog. Your dog, your responsibility when you take it off private property.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a fear of dogs?

I've had dogs lunge and aggressively jump on me, so yes, I view all strange animals as the unpredictable creatures they are. I know not all dogs are aggressive, but it's not up to me to decipher that - it's the dog owner/caretaker's responsibility to be in control of their animal at all times.

Just wondering. I don't think the leash will help though. I find my dog on a leash scares the crap out of people even if we are a football field away.

Some people are just afraid of dogs and a leash really does not help with that.

Have you ever heard the phrase you can only control your own reaction to a situation, you can't control others. You may want to work on your own fears, you won't change others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a fear of dogs?

I've had dogs lunge and aggressively jump on me, so yes, I view all strange animals as the unpredictable creatures they are. I know not all dogs are aggressive, but it's not up to me to decipher that - it's the dog owner/caretaker's responsibility to be in control of their animal at all times.

+1. Also, even the friendliest of dogs might want to walk up to my leashed dog. Mine's leashed partly because it's the law and partly because he isn't very social with other animals and gets stressed when strange dogs approach him. My dog is trained to heel and ignores other dogs that pass us on the trail, but a dog heading straight for us is upsetting for him. By keeping your dog off-leash you are trusting him not to needlessly upset my leashed dog or scare my child since you don't have him fully under control.

We had a woman in our neighborhood who for years refused to leash her dog. Her dog would race towards other dogs on leashes barking and growling and then stop 5ft away, never actually attacking. But every single one of those leashed dogs themselves ended up growling, barking, straining on their leash thinking they were about to be attacked. Finally after this happened when I was six months pregnant, it scared me and I'd had enough, so I called animal control and they issued her a citation and warning and she stopped. Unreal and selfish.

It's definitely a thoughtless and me-first behavior.