Do you let your dog off leash ever?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never do! But I regularly see people doing this, which makes it so difficult when I’m walking my dog. Their dog inevitably comes after mine.

People get so testy if you ask “is that your dog?”

Is your dog aggressive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no such thing as an "informal dog run". There may be a group of dog owners regularly breaking the law. That doesn't make it legal. The park is not your personal or collective doggy socialization zone. They do have dog parks for this, if you're interested. That's the appropriate location (or your backyard, but something tells me you'll see the liability issue there, in which case, just apply it to the potential disaster you're creating in a public park and you can answer your own question).

Yes, you should immediately begin following the laws that say you must not only have your dog leashed, but under your control. Do not let your dog approach, sniff, or bark at people without their consent. It's not "being friendly" or "socializing", it's illegal. If you use a retractable leash, STOP. They break, they're dangerous, and they don't allow for sufficient control of your animal.

While you're at it, put your phone away, and make sure your dog's license is visible and their shots are up to date (just in case).

The BS logic of "my dog would never hurt a flea" makes you sound like an idiot, BTW. You know this. I don't. My dog definitely doesn't. And, most importantly, it's not the responsibility of every other person at the public park to learn and know this about you/your dog. It's your job, as a responsible owner, to keep your dog fully under your control at all times.

You've been lucky up until now. Don't push it. You know better, so do better, and tell "all your neighbors" so they can suck less, too.

Relax, lady. Yes it’s an informal dog run. Obviously I know it’s not official, but it’s a small section of a park where dog owners convene. I didn’t create it.

No backyards, but thanks for assuming.

Somehow I think you might be a pit bull owner and frankly we all hope you don’t come around with your dog and ruin it for the rest of us.

5 posts in and we're already here. "relax, lady" said the hapless idiot breaking the law. "Obviously I know..." but you're still doing it wrong? "I didn't create it" Well, "it" doesn't actually exists. You do break the law there, as do your friends/neighbors. Too bad "they did it first isn't a defense, eh?

You're not entitled to a backyard, so that's a nothingburger. Let's get to the best part:

"Somehow I think you might be a pit bull owner and frankly we all hope you don’t come around with your dog and ruin it for the rest of us."

You already ruined it for yourself. If I come through with my on-leash pit bull, and one of your "friendly" off-leash dogs gets too close and gets bit, guess who's liable? You. Doesn't matter if I have a pit bull. Doesn't matter if my pit bull (or any other breed) kills your dog. I owned an Akita who would've absolutely shredded your golden. You want to see that? Because that's what you're inviting when you play this stupid game. You think your dog is safe because the dog on leash isn't a pit bull? You know what makes almost all breeds of dogs defensive and bitey? Being approached by a strange, off-leash dog while they're leashed. You are literally asking for a bite encounter.

I'm relaxed. My dog doesn't go anywhere off-leash, she has excellent recall, and I carry bear spray when I'm on trails because of the number of times I encounter idiots with dogs just like you/yours. I'm on duty when I'm walking my dog, so I'll probably see yours coming. If your dog is close enough to me to get bear sprayed? I'm not liable for your dog's pain and suffering. I don't wait to see if they're friendly, so if you haven't protected your dog, well, I guess you don't really care about your dog then, do you?

I tried to take your first post as 'clueless but trying' but it seems like you're just the new standard dog owner: entitled, smug, and stupid. I really hope you (and your poor, sweet, innocent dog) don't have to live through a tragedy to learn and do better, but you seem hellbent on your stupidity so...

Best of luck, I guess?

TLDR

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no such thing as an "informal dog run". There may be a group of dog owners regularly breaking the law. That doesn't make it legal. The park is not your personal or collective doggy socialization zone. They do have dog parks for this, if you're interested. That's the appropriate location (or your backyard, but something tells me you'll see the liability issue there, in which case, just apply it to the potential disaster you're creating in a public park and you can answer your own question).

Yes, you should immediately begin following the laws that say you must not only have your dog leashed, but under your control. Do not let your dog approach, sniff, or bark at people without their consent. It's not "being friendly" or "socializing", it's illegal. If you use a retractable leash, STOP. They break, they're dangerous, and they don't allow for sufficient control of your animal.

While you're at it, put your phone away, and make sure your dog's license is visible and their shots are up to date (just in case).

The BS logic of "my dog would never hurt a flea" makes you sound like an idiot, BTW. You know this. I don't. My dog definitely doesn't. And, most importantly, it's not the responsibility of every other person at the public park to learn and know this about you/your dog. It's your job, as a responsible owner, to keep your dog fully under your control at all times.

You've been lucky up until now. Don't push it. You know better, so do better, and tell "all your neighbors" so they can suck less, too.

Relax, lady. Yes it’s an informal dog run. Obviously I know it’s not official, but it’s a small section of a park where dog owners convene. I didn’t create it.

No backyards, but thanks for assuming.

Somehow I think you might be a pit bull owner and frankly we all hope you don’t come around with your dog and ruin it for the rest of us.

Wow. Not PP you replied to, but why on earth do you think it's OK to just attack someone on a completely off-topic thing? You literally created this thread to discuss off-leashing. Why are you so offended to find that people have different opinions than you?

You're looking petty, thin-skinned and juvenile right now with this response. And I was going to post that off-leashing the kind of dog you described didn't seem that bad!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the house. In a fenced in area outdoors. Dog parks without fencing are ... no.

"dog parks without fencing" are not a thing. OP is breaking the law, knows it, and thinks it's somehow magically okay because others are also breaking the law.

The worst kind of stupid: stupid in groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nah, this isn’t by a playing field.

Are you always this much of a scrooge? People love this little area, and I can see why, and the people and dogs who use it are well behaved, and the dogs get much needed socialization and exercise.

But reading the posts on here makes me think there’s a group of dog owners who think it would be acceptable for their dog to attack and kill the dogs in this area because they ‘provoked’ them or something.

Okay so now we now you're a troll, but I'll engage anyway.

If you care about this community, you should get together and advocate for this to be turned into a real dog run sanctioned by the city. Then everyone would be covered. No one could blame you for letting your dog off leash there and most real dog runs have rules regarding dog behavior -- if someone brought an aggressive dog there, you could report them.

But in an "informal" dog run, anything goes. You are already breaking the law by letting your dogs off leash there, so if someone comes around with an anti-social dog, they can claim just like you are currently claiming "whatever everyone lets their dog off leash here." There are not rules.

Also, my experience with informal dog runs is that often there ARE people who are bothered by it. There are actually several of these in my general neighborhood (Capitol Hill in DC) and it's an ongoing problem and lots of people hate them because it makes it impossible for people to use these parks in other ways. People don't want to take young kids to a park where there are a bunch of dogs off leash, even if most of the dogs are friendly (because you never know, and also because a lot of kids are afraid of dogs who aren't leashed). When it's not set up as a proper dog run, dogs wind up peeing everywhere which can ruin the grass and make it unusable for people picnicking or using the grass for sports or working out.

Just set up an actual dog park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no such thing as an "informal dog run". There may be a group of dog owners regularly breaking the law. That doesn't make it legal. The park is not your personal or collective doggy socialization zone. They do have dog parks for this, if you're interested. That's the appropriate location (or your backyard, but something tells me you'll see the liability issue there, in which case, just apply it to the potential disaster you're creating in a public park and you can answer your own question).

Yes, you should immediately begin following the laws that say you must not only have your dog leashed, but under your control. Do not let your dog approach, sniff, or bark at people without their consent. It's not "being friendly" or "socializing", it's illegal. If you use a retractable leash, STOP. They break, they're dangerous, and they don't allow for sufficient control of your animal.

While you're at it, put your phone away, and make sure your dog's license is visible and their shots are up to date (just in case).

The BS logic of "my dog would never hurt a flea" makes you sound like an idiot, BTW. You know this. I don't. My dog definitely doesn't. And, most importantly, it's not the responsibility of every other person at the public park to learn and know this about you/your dog. It's your job, as a responsible owner, to keep your dog fully under your control at all times.

You've been lucky up until now. Don't push it. You know better, so do better, and tell "all your neighbors" so they can suck less, too.

Relax, lady. Yes it’s an informal dog run. Obviously I know it’s not official, but it’s a small section of a park where dog owners convene. I didn’t create it.

No backyards, but thanks for assuming.

Somehow I think you might be a pit bull owner and frankly we all hope you don’t come around with your dog and ruin it for the rest of us.

5 posts in and we're already here. "relax, lady" said the hapless idiot breaking the law. "Obviously I know..." but you're still doing it wrong? "I didn't create it" Well, "it" doesn't actually exists. You do break the law there, as do your friends/neighbors. Too bad "they did it first isn't a defense, eh?

You're not entitled to a backyard, so that's a nothingburger. Let's get to the best part:

"Somehow I think you might be a pit bull owner and frankly we all hope you don’t come around with your dog and ruin it for the rest of us."

You already ruined it for yourself. If I come through with my on-leash pit bull, and one of your "friendly" off-leash dogs gets too close and gets bit, guess who's liable? You. Doesn't matter if I have a pit bull. Doesn't matter if my pit bull (or any other breed) kills your dog. I owned an Akita who would've absolutely shredded your golden. You want to see that? Because that's what you're inviting when you play this stupid game. You think your dog is safe because the dog on leash isn't a pit bull? You know what makes almost all breeds of dogs defensive and bitey? Being approached by a strange, off-leash dog while they're leashed. You are literally asking for a bite encounter.

I'm relaxed. My dog doesn't go anywhere off-leash, she has excellent recall, and I carry bear spray when I'm on trails because of the number of times I encounter idiots with dogs just like you/yours. I'm on duty when I'm walking my dog, so I'll probably see yours coming. If your dog is close enough to me to get bear sprayed? I'm not liable for your dog's pain and suffering. I don't wait to see if they're friendly, so if you haven't protected your dog, well, I guess you don't really care about your dog then, do you?

I tried to take your first post as 'clueless but trying' but it seems like you're just the new standard dog owner: entitled, smug, and stupid. I really hope you (and your poor, sweet, innocent dog) don't have to live through a tragedy to learn and do better, but you seem hellbent on your stupidity so...

Best of luck, I guess?

TLDR

Your dog could easily die playing this stupid game.

Is that a concise enough summary for your trollin' ass?

[Anonymous]

Yes, we have similar by our place, but pitbulls are banned where we live, so I don’t worry as much. Of course there can always be dogs who might be aggressive- so far no thankfully- but at least I don’t have to worry about a dog being killed by a Pitbull. A friends cat was killed by her pit bull and sorry, that’s all I need to know about that breed. They are not safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no such thing as an "informal dog run". There may be a group of dog owners regularly breaking the law. That doesn't make it legal. The park is not your personal or collective doggy socialization zone. They do have dog parks for this, if you're interested. That's the appropriate location (or your backyard, but something tells me you'll see the liability issue there, in which case, just apply it to the potential disaster you're creating in a public park and you can answer your own question).

Yes, you should immediately begin following the laws that say you must not only have your dog leashed, but under your control. Do not let your dog approach, sniff, or bark at people without their consent. It's not "being friendly" or "socializing", it's illegal. If you use a retractable leash, STOP. They break, they're dangerous, and they don't allow for sufficient control of your animal.

While you're at it, put your phone away, and make sure your dog's license is visible and their shots are up to date (just in case).

The BS logic of "my dog would never hurt a flea" makes you sound like an idiot, BTW. You know this. I don't. My dog definitely doesn't. And, most importantly, it's not the responsibility of every other person at the public park to learn and know this about you/your dog. It's your job, as a responsible owner, to keep your dog fully under your control at all times.

You've been lucky up until now. Don't push it. You know better, so do better, and tell "all your neighbors" so they can suck less, too.

Have you ever met a golden retriever who bites? I have not. I do know Pitt bulls who have maimed and killed other animals, and various other breeds who have attacked but not with the same lethality as pitts.

The golden retriever is the number 3 breed in terms of bites (after German Shepherds and Chows). Not because they're inherently aggressive, but because they're such a popular breed. It's a numbers game.

[Anonymous]

+1

A pit mauled the face of its owner near our town

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no such thing as an "informal dog run". There may be a group of dog owners regularly breaking the law. That doesn't make it legal. The park is not your personal or collective doggy socialization zone. They do have dog parks for this, if you're interested. That's the appropriate location (or your backyard, but something tells me you'll see the liability issue there, in which case, just apply it to the potential disaster you're creating in a public park and you can answer your own question).

Yes, you should immediately begin following the laws that say you must not only have your dog leashed, but under your control. Do not let your dog approach, sniff, or bark at people without their consent. It's not "being friendly" or "socializing", it's illegal. If you use a retractable leash, STOP. They break, they're dangerous, and they don't allow for sufficient control of your animal.

While you're at it, put your phone away, and make sure your dog's license is visible and their shots are up to date (just in case).

The BS logic of "my dog would never hurt a flea" makes you sound like an idiot, BTW. You know this. I don't. My dog definitely doesn't. And, most importantly, it's not the responsibility of every other person at the public park to learn and know this about you/your dog. It's your job, as a responsible owner, to keep your dog fully under your control at all times.

You've been lucky up until now. Don't push it. You know better, so do better, and tell "all your neighbors" so they can suck less, too.

Have you ever met a golden retriever who bites? I have not. I do know Pitt bulls who have maimed and killed other animals, and various other breeds who have attacked but not with the same lethality as pitts.

Leash laws aren't just for biting. I also don't want your friendly, non-biting golden retriever running up to my 4 year old who is afraid of dogs and scaring the ever living daylight out of her. Which happened once at the "informal dog run" in our neighborhood. The dog was perfectly friendly so I was thankfully not worried about the dog mauling my kid, but it also was obviously untrained with zero recall, as when the owner sauntered up a moment later, the dog fully ignored its owner for several minutes while eating all my kid's goldfish and licking both of us on the hands and face. Were we hurt? No. Was it a totally unwelcome and inappropriate interaction? Yes.

Leash your dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, we have similar by our place, but pitbulls are banned where we live, so I don’t worry as much. Of course there can always be dogs who might be aggressive- so far no thankfully- but at least I don’t have to worry about a dog being killed by a Pitbull. A friends cat was killed by her pit bull and sorry, that’s all I need to know about that breed. They are not safe.

My sister's cat was killed by their Australian Shepherd. He was an energetic dog who was neglected as a puppy because like a lot of irresponsible dog owners, they adopted the dog and then lost interest in him when they had kids. So he was never properly trained and became highly aggressive. The dog killed the cat in the house when the cat was just sitting on the arm of a couch. Maybe the cat moved in a way that upset the dog or maybe the dog just lost its mind. Who knows.

I don't even like pit bulls and would never ever adopt one, but it's training and caring for dogs that is most important. A lot of pit bull owners don't care for their dogs (or even specifically train them to be aggressive) which sucks. But they are far from the only dog owners who do this. And there are good pit owners too, even if the breed tends to attract crappy owners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no such thing as an "informal dog run". There may be a group of dog owners regularly breaking the law. That doesn't make it legal. The park is not your personal or collective doggy socialization zone. They do have dog parks for this, if you're interested. That's the appropriate location (or your backyard, but something tells me you'll see the liability issue there, in which case, just apply it to the potential disaster you're creating in a public park and you can answer your own question).

Yes, you should immediately begin following the laws that say you must not only have your dog leashed, but under your control. Do not let your dog approach, sniff, or bark at people without their consent. It's not "being friendly" or "socializing", it's illegal. If you use a retractable leash, STOP. They break, they're dangerous, and they don't allow for sufficient control of your animal.

While you're at it, put your phone away, and make sure your dog's license is visible and their shots are up to date (just in case).

The BS logic of "my dog would never hurt a flea" makes you sound like an idiot, BTW. You know this. I don't. My dog definitely doesn't. And, most importantly, it's not the responsibility of every other person at the public park to learn and know this about you/your dog. It's your job, as a responsible owner, to keep your dog fully under your control at all times.

You've been lucky up until now. Don't push it. You know better, so do better, and tell "all your neighbors" so they can suck less, too.

Have you ever met a golden retriever who bites? I have not. I do know Pitt bulls who have maimed and killed other animals, and various other breeds who have attacked but not with the same lethality as pitts.

Leash laws aren't just for biting. I also don't want your friendly, non-biting golden retriever running up to my 4 year old who is afraid of dogs and scaring the ever living daylight out of her. Which happened once at the "informal dog run" in our neighborhood. The dog was perfectly friendly so I was thankfully not worried about the dog mauling my kid, but it also was obviously untrained with zero recall, as when the owner sauntered up a moment later, the dog fully ignored its owner for several minutes while eating all my kid's goldfish and licking both of us on the hands and face. Were we hurt? No. Was it a totally unwelcome and inappropriate interaction? Yes.

Leash your dog.

Serious question. Why are you on this sub if you dislike animals so much? Do you have a pet goldfish?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, we have similar by our place, but pitbulls are banned where we live, so I don’t worry as much. Of course there can always be dogs who might be aggressive- so far no thankfully- but at least I don’t have to worry about a dog being killed by a Pitbull. A friends cat was killed by her pit bull and sorry, that’s all I need to know about that breed. They are not safe.

My sister's cat was killed by their Australian Shepherd. He was an energetic dog who was neglected as a puppy because like a lot of irresponsible dog owners, they adopted the dog and then lost interest in him when they had kids. So he was never properly trained and became highly aggressive. The dog killed the cat in the house when the cat was just sitting on the arm of a couch. Maybe the cat moved in a way that upset the dog or maybe the dog just lost its mind. Who knows.

I don't even like pit bulls and would never ever adopt one, but it's training and caring for dogs that is most important. A lot of pit bull owners don't care for their dogs (or even specifically train them to be aggressive) which sucks. But they are far from the only dog owners who do this. And there are good pit owners too, even if the breed tends to attract crappy owners.

Why would someone keep a highly aggressive dog with kids around?? That seems awful

[Anonymous]

https://www.thesun.ie/news/13237882/plastic-surgeon-restricted-dogs-ban-attack-psychological-damage/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, we have similar by our place, but pitbulls are banned where we live, so I don’t worry as much. Of course there can always be dogs who might be aggressive- so far no thankfully- but at least I don’t have to worry about a dog being killed by a Pitbull. A friends cat was killed by her pit bull and sorry, that’s all I need to know about that breed. They are not safe.

My sister's cat was killed by their Australian Shepherd. He was an energetic dog who was neglected as a puppy because like a lot of irresponsible dog owners, they adopted the dog and then lost interest in him when they had kids. So he was never properly trained and became highly aggressive. The dog killed the cat in the house when the cat was just sitting on the arm of a couch. Maybe the cat moved in a way that upset the dog or maybe the dog just lost its mind. Who knows.

I don't even like pit bulls and would never ever adopt one, but it's training and caring for dogs that is most important. A lot of pit bull owners don't care for their dogs (or even specifically train them to be aggressive) which sucks. But they are far from the only dog owners who do this. And there are good pit owners too, even if the breed tends to attract crappy owners.

Australian shepherds aren’t banned where I live. But pits are. Do you think there’s a reason for that?