Do you let your dog off leash ever?

[Anonymous]

There is an "unofficial" dog park near my house and some of my neighbors intentionally allow their dogs to run up on and hassle people who try to use the park for anything else, so that they leave and the dog people can have it to themselves. There's one guy in particular with an extremely friendly lab -- he will let her run up to people picnicking, kids playing, etc, and she'll just jump all over them, eat their food, lick them, etc. She's not aggressive but she has not been taught not to do those things to strangers and he just takes advantage of this to make people feel uncomfortable/unwelcome unless they are the sort of people who don't mind that kind of interaction with a dog.

I think it's really obnoxious. At one point I suggested at a neighborhood committee meeting that we ask the city if we could fence off a portion of this park for an official dog run, since there's an obvious need. This was opposed by a lot of the dog owners who currently use the park for off leash dogs, because they don't want to be confined to a portion of the park -- they want the whole thing. It's a big park -- a full city block.

[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.

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.

+1

My child is also afraid of dogs. Yet the number of times people decide it is OK to grin, sheepish, as their pet runs up to my small child, slobbering and trying to lick and paw at her, is insane.

OP, if your unleashed dog came close to me and my child, I will kick it as hard as I can in the snout, hoping to really hurt it, maybe break its jaw. I've done it before and will not hesitate to do it again. The last time a dog ran up to my child and the owners could no recall it, I think I actually broke its jaw; the sharp cracking sound and the way it yipped as it ran away from me and its owner indicate I hurt it badly, and I don't care. So I guess this is another danger for your friendly golden retriever if you leave it unleashed.

Wow, you are truly evil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

+1

My child is also afraid of dogs. Yet the number of times people decide it is OK to grin, sheepish, as their pet runs up to my small child, slobbering and trying to lick and paw at her, is insane.

OP, if your unleashed dog came close to me and my child, I will kick it as hard as I can in the snout, hoping to really hurt it, maybe break its jaw. I've done it before and will not hesitate to do it again. The last time a dog ran up to my child and the owners could no recall it, I think I actually broke its jaw; the sharp cracking sound and the way it yipped as it ran away from me and its owner indicate I hurt it badly, and I don't care. So I guess this is another danger for your friendly golden retriever if you leave it unleashed.

Wow, you are truly evil.

Again, the incredible arrogance of assuming everyone else will make the world safe for your dog when you break the law and let it off leash and out of your control.

There's a super simple way to avoid your dog interacting with a stranger's boot. It's called a leash. Use one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is an "unofficial" dog park near my house and some of my neighbors intentionally allow their dogs to run up on and hassle people who try to use the park for anything else, so that they leave and the dog people can have it to themselves. There's one guy in particular with an extremely friendly lab -- he will let her run up to people picnicking, kids playing, etc, and she'll just jump all over them, eat their food, lick them, etc. She's not aggressive but she has not been taught not to do those things to strangers and he just takes advantage of this to make people feel uncomfortable/unwelcome unless they are the sort of people who don't mind that kind of interaction with a dog.

I think it's really obnoxious. At one point I suggested at a neighborhood committee meeting that we ask the city if we could fence off a portion of this park for an official dog run, since there's an obvious need. This was opposed by a lot of the dog owners who currently use the park for off leash dogs, because they don't want to be confined to a portion of the park -- they want the whole thing. It's a big park -- a full city block.

"But my dog needs to run!!!!" Yeah, you shouldn't have gotten a sporting dog if you live in an apartment with no yard.

I would sit in that park with a camera and animal control on speed dial. I might even splurge and set up a wifi-connected camera, just to keep track of the regulars. Some people need to get hurt before they learn, and better they get hurt in the wallet with a fine than when their dog gets hurt and the have a vet bill (or worse, their dog hurts someone else and it's court costs and damages).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is an "unofficial" dog park near my house and some of my neighbors intentionally allow their dogs to run up on and hassle people who try to use the park for anything else, so that they leave and the dog people can have it to themselves. There's one guy in particular with an extremely friendly lab -- he will let her run up to people picnicking, kids playing, etc, and she'll just jump all over them, eat their food, lick them, etc. She's not aggressive but she has not been taught not to do those things to strangers and he just takes advantage of this to make people feel uncomfortable/unwelcome unless they are the sort of people who don't mind that kind of interaction with a dog.

I think it's really obnoxious. At one point I suggested at a neighborhood committee meeting that we ask the city if we could fence off a portion of this park for an official dog run, since there's an obvious need. This was opposed by a lot of the dog owners who currently use the park for off leash dogs, because they don't want to be confined to a portion of the park -- they want the whole thing. It's a big park -- a full city block.

"But my dog needs to run!!!!" Yeah, you shouldn't have gotten a sporting dog if you live in an apartment with no yard.

I would sit in that park with a camera and animal control on speed dial. I might even splurge and set up a wifi-connected camera, just to keep track of the regulars. Some people need to get hurt before they learn, and better they get hurt in the wallet with a fine than when their dog gets hurt and the have a vet bill (or worse, their dog hurts someone else and it's court costs and damages).

No comment on the rest but to the bolded: precisely.

I grew up with dogs. We lived in a midsize town in a SFH with a huge yard and I have many fond memories of playing with our dogs in the yard. We had one dog, a golden mix, who loved playing fetch off the back deck and we had this big yard where we could really launch a tennis ball or a frisbee and she loved to try and catch them midair and run them back. She was the happiest dog.

I now live in a city, in a two bedroom condo with a small balcony. We don't currently have a dog but both DH and I would love one. He will often suggest these dogs that just don't work for our current home or lifestyle though. He likes them based on looks and disposition. I've told him if we get a dog in this apartment, it needs to either be a small lap dog or an older dog with minimal exercise needs, who could be happy with a few walks a day and maybe some weekend hikes. On leash. DH used to fight me on it but now he sees how many of our neighbors have dogs who clearly need way more exercise than they get, and how ill behaved some of these dogs become because they are cooped up, under or untrained, and just have nowhere to go and *run*. It's mean to the dogs and it winds up being miserable for the owners.

Someday we will likely live in a suburb or a part of the city with a yard, and maybe we'll get a lab or retriever or viszla that he wants. Until then, I think it's likely we'll go without a dog and content ourselves with visiting our parents dogs on vacation. Not everyone needs a dog, and dogs don't need homes where they won't get what they need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

+1

My child is also afraid of dogs. Yet the number of times people decide it is OK to grin, sheepish, as their pet runs up to my small child, slobbering and trying to lick and paw at her, is insane.

OP, if your unleashed dog came close to me and my child, I will kick it as hard as I can in the snout, hoping to really hurt it, maybe break its jaw. I've done it before and will not hesitate to do it again. The last time a dog ran up to my child and the owners could no recall it, I think I actually broke its jaw; the sharp cracking sound and the way it yipped as it ran away from me and its owner indicate I hurt it badly, and I don't care. So I guess this is another danger for your friendly golden retriever if you leave it unleashed.

Wow, you are truly evil.

Again, the incredible arrogance of assuming everyone else will make the world safe for your dog when you break the law and let it off leash and out of your control.

There's a super simple way to avoid your dog interacting with a stranger's boot. It's called a leash. Use one.

I do 100percent. But deliberately injuring an innocent animal is cruel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

+1

My child is also afraid of dogs. Yet the number of times people decide it is OK to grin, sheepish, as their pet runs up to my small child, slobbering and trying to lick and paw at her, is insane.

OP, if your unleashed dog came close to me and my child, I will kick it as hard as I can in the snout, hoping to really hurt it, maybe break its jaw. I've done it before and will not hesitate to do it again. The last time a dog ran up to my child and the owners could no recall it, I think I actually broke its jaw; the sharp cracking sound and the way it yipped as it ran away from me and its owner indicate I hurt it badly, and I don't care. So I guess this is another danger for your friendly golden retriever if you leave it unleashed.

Wow, you are truly evil.

Again, the incredible arrogance of assuming everyone else will make the world safe for your dog when you break the law and let it off leash and out of your control.

There's a super simple way to avoid your dog interacting with a stranger's boot. It's called a leash. Use one.

I do 100percent. But deliberately injuring an innocent animal is cruel.

You're putting the blame in the wrong place. Deliberately letting your dog run up to people without knowing who those people are and how they might react is cruel. Nobody owes your dog, or you, a damned thing. And if your loose dog is running up on my kid, my responsibility is to protect my kid, not your dog.

Again, if your dog is 100 percent leashed in public, you've got nothing to worry about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

+1

My child is also afraid of dogs. Yet the number of times people decide it is OK to grin, sheepish, as their pet runs up to my small child, slobbering and trying to lick and paw at her, is insane.

OP, if your unleashed dog came close to me and my child, I will kick it as hard as I can in the snout, hoping to really hurt it, maybe break its jaw. I've done it before and will not hesitate to do it again. The last time a dog ran up to my child and the owners could no recall it, I think I actually broke its jaw; the sharp cracking sound and the way it yipped as it ran away from me and its owner indicate I hurt it badly, and I don't care. So I guess this is another danger for your friendly golden retriever if you leave it unleashed.

Wow, you are truly evil.

Again, the incredible arrogance of assuming everyone else will make the world safe for your dog when you break the law and let it off leash and out of your control.

There's a super simple way to avoid your dog interacting with a stranger's boot. It's called a leash. Use one.

I do 100percent. But deliberately injuring an innocent animal is cruel.

You're putting the blame in the wrong place. Deliberately letting your dog run up to people without knowing who those people are and how they might react is cruel. Nobody owes your dog, or you, a damned thing. And if your loose dog is running up on my kid, my responsibility is to protect my kid, not your dog.

Again, if your dog is 100 percent leashed in public, you've got nothing to worry about.

At the unofficial dog park is usually at a huge open field where the adults are all standing right there and completely separate from a playground or anything else so you'd have to walk up to be near a dog deliberately. People constantly walk up to my dog to pet it when they are on a leash and harness. Most ask but many do not.

The issue is the crazy person with the aggressive dog who does not muzzle them or try to keep others safe. Those dogs should not be off their owners property and should have a heavy tall fence. 99% of dogs are fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

+1

My child is also afraid of dogs. Yet the number of times people decide it is OK to grin, sheepish, as their pet runs up to my small child, slobbering and trying to lick and paw at her, is insane.

OP, if your unleashed dog came close to me and my child, I will kick it as hard as I can in the snout, hoping to really hurt it, maybe break its jaw. I've done it before and will not hesitate to do it again. The last time a dog ran up to my child and the owners could no recall it, I think I actually broke its jaw; the sharp cracking sound and the way it yipped as it ran away from me and its owner indicate I hurt it badly, and I don't care. So I guess this is another danger for your friendly golden retriever if you leave it unleashed.

Wow, you are truly evil.

Again, the incredible arrogance of assuming everyone else will make the world safe for your dog when you break the law and let it off leash and out of your control.

There's a super simple way to avoid your dog interacting with a stranger's boot. It's called a leash. Use one.

I do 100percent. But deliberately injuring an innocent animal is cruel.

You're putting the blame in the wrong place. Deliberately letting your dog run up to people without knowing who those people are and how they might react is cruel. Nobody owes your dog, or you, a damned thing. And if your loose dog is running up on my kid, my responsibility is to protect my kid, not your dog.

Again, if your dog is 100 percent leashed in public, you've got nothing to worry about.

Most dogs ARE leashed and people like you come up wanting to pet them and then complain. These unofficial dog parks are generally no where near anyone or anything and the owners are right there monitoring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

+1

My child is also afraid of dogs. Yet the number of times people decide it is OK to grin, sheepish, as their pet runs up to my small child, slobbering and trying to lick and paw at her, is insane.

OP, if your unleashed dog came close to me and my child, I will kick it as hard as I can in the snout, hoping to really hurt it, maybe break its jaw. I've done it before and will not hesitate to do it again. The last time a dog ran up to my child and the owners could no recall it, I think I actually broke its jaw; the sharp cracking sound and the way it yipped as it ran away from me and its owner indicate I hurt it badly, and I don't care. So I guess this is another danger for your friendly golden retriever if you leave it unleashed.

Wow, you are truly evil.

Again, the incredible arrogance of assuming everyone else will make the world safe for your dog when you break the law and let it off leash and out of your control.

There's a super simple way to avoid your dog interacting with a stranger's boot. It's called a leash. Use one.

I do 100percent. But deliberately injuring an innocent animal is cruel.

You're putting the blame in the wrong place. Deliberately letting your dog run up to people without knowing who those people are and how they might react is cruel. Nobody owes your dog, or you, a damned thing. And if your loose dog is running up on my kid, my responsibility is to protect my kid, not your dog.

Again, if your dog is 100 percent leashed in public, you've got nothing to worry about.

Most dogs ARE leashed and people like you come up wanting to pet them and then complain. These unofficial dog parks are generally no where near anyone or anything and the owners are right there monitoring.

This + 10000

And if you followed this chain, off leash dogs are legal during certain hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

+1

My child is also afraid of dogs. Yet the number of times people decide it is OK to grin, sheepish, as their pet runs up to my small child, slobbering and trying to lick and paw at her, is insane.

OP, if your unleashed dog came close to me and my child, I will kick it as hard as I can in the snout, hoping to really hurt it, maybe break its jaw. I've done it before and will not hesitate to do it again. The last time a dog ran up to my child and the owners could no recall it, I think I actually broke its jaw; the sharp cracking sound and the way it yipped as it ran away from me and its owner indicate I hurt it badly, and I don't care. So I guess this is another danger for your friendly golden retriever if you leave it unleashed.

Wow, you are truly evil.

Again, the incredible arrogance of assuming everyone else will make the world safe for your dog when you break the law and let it off leash and out of your control.

There's a super simple way to avoid your dog interacting with a stranger's boot. It's called a leash. Use one.

I do 100percent. But deliberately injuring an innocent animal is cruel.

You're putting the blame in the wrong place. Deliberately letting your dog run up to people without knowing who those people are and how they might react is cruel. Nobody owes your dog, or you, a damned thing. And if your loose dog is running up on my kid, my responsibility is to protect my kid, not your dog.

Again, if your dog is 100 percent leashed in public, you've got nothing to worry about.

Most dogs ARE leashed and people like you come up wanting to pet them and then complain. These unofficial dog parks are generally no where near anyone or anything and the owners are right there monitoring.

This + 10000

And if you followed this chain, off leash dogs are legal during certain hours.

And if you followed the thread, and the law, you'd understand that "off leash" is not the same as "uncontrolled". Your "off-leash" dog still needs sufficient recall that you can keep it away from people. If the owners were "right there monitoring" and not socializing (or looking at their phones), they should have no trouble getting their properly-trained dog(s) recalled when they see people "wanting to pet them"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

+1

My child is also afraid of dogs. Yet the number of times people decide it is OK to grin, sheepish, as their pet runs up to my small child, slobbering and trying to lick and paw at her, is insane.

OP, if your unleashed dog came close to me and my child, I will kick it as hard as I can in the snout, hoping to really hurt it, maybe break its jaw. I've done it before and will not hesitate to do it again. The last time a dog ran up to my child and the owners could no recall it, I think I actually broke its jaw; the sharp cracking sound and the way it yipped as it ran away from me and its owner indicate I hurt it badly, and I don't care. So I guess this is another danger for your friendly golden retriever if you leave it unleashed.

Wow, you are truly evil.

Again, the incredible arrogance of assuming everyone else will make the world safe for your dog when you break the law and let it off leash and out of your control.

There's a super simple way to avoid your dog interacting with a stranger's boot. It's called a leash. Use one.

I do 100percent. But deliberately injuring an innocent animal is cruel.

You're putting the blame in the wrong place. Deliberately letting your dog run up to people without knowing who those people are and how they might react is cruel. Nobody owes your dog, or you, a damned thing. And if your loose dog is running up on my kid, my responsibility is to protect my kid, not your dog.

Again, if your dog is 100 percent leashed in public, you've got nothing to worry about.

Most dogs ARE leashed and people like you come up wanting to pet them and then complain. These unofficial dog parks are generally no where near anyone or anything and the owners are right there monitoring.

I will never approach your unleashed dog, nor will I ask you if I can pet it. I will assume you have no idea how to properly train or care for your animal, and will avoid the potential crazy to the greatest extent possible.

These "unofficial dog parks" are literally right on top of and inside actual public parks where I have the right to be. And you have the responsibility to keep your dog away from me.

If your argument is "people want to pet my dog", recall your dog, sit it at your side, and then discuss how to greet with any potential dog-petters, like a responsible owner. But you're not doing that, are you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

+1

My child is also afraid of dogs. Yet the number of times people decide it is OK to grin, sheepish, as their pet runs up to my small child, slobbering and trying to lick and paw at her, is insane.

OP, if your unleashed dog came close to me and my child, I will kick it as hard as I can in the snout, hoping to really hurt it, maybe break its jaw. I've done it before and will not hesitate to do it again. The last time a dog ran up to my child and the owners could no recall it, I think I actually broke its jaw; the sharp cracking sound and the way it yipped as it ran away from me and its owner indicate I hurt it badly, and I don't care. So I guess this is another danger for your friendly golden retriever if you leave it unleashed.

Wow, you are truly evil.

Again, the incredible arrogance of assuming everyone else will make the world safe for your dog when you break the law and let it off leash and out of your control.

There's a super simple way to avoid your dog interacting with a stranger's boot. It's called a leash. Use one.

I do 100percent. But deliberately injuring an innocent animal is cruel.

You're putting the blame in the wrong place. Deliberately letting your dog run up to people without knowing who those people are and how they might react is cruel. Nobody owes your dog, or you, a damned thing. And if your loose dog is running up on my kid, my responsibility is to protect my kid, not your dog.

Again, if your dog is 100 percent leashed in public, you've got nothing to worry about.

At the unofficial dog park is usually at a huge open field where the adults are all standing right there and completely separate from a playground or anything else so you'd have to walk up to be near a dog deliberately. People constantly walk up to my dog to pet it when they are on a leash and harness. Most ask but many do not.

The issue is the crazy person with the aggressive dog who does not muzzle them or try to keep others safe. Those dogs should not be off their owners property and should have a heavy tall fence. 99% of dogs are fine.

Unless "the crazy person with the aggressive dog who does not muzzle them or try to keep others safe" is also letting their dog off-leash, no, they're not the problem. Your off-leash dog running up on them would be the problem. You should never assume any dog is friendly, nor should you "allow introductions" without first speaking with a dog's owner and receiving consent.

Claiming "99% of dogs are fine" does not magically make it so. And with the number of idiot owners who think "unofficial dog parks" are a thing steadily increasing in the post-covid era, your odds of someone else's dog being better trained than yours are nowhere near as good as you seem to think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

+1

My child is also afraid of dogs. Yet the number of times people decide it is OK to grin, sheepish, as their pet runs up to my small child, slobbering and trying to lick and paw at her, is insane.

OP, if your unleashed dog came close to me and my child, I will kick it as hard as I can in the snout, hoping to really hurt it, maybe break its jaw. I've done it before and will not hesitate to do it again. The last time a dog ran up to my child and the owners could no recall it, I think I actually broke its jaw; the sharp cracking sound and the way it yipped as it ran away from me and its owner indicate I hurt it badly, and I don't care. So I guess this is another danger for your friendly golden retriever if you leave it unleashed.

Wow, you are truly evil.

Again, the incredible arrogance of assuming everyone else will make the world safe for your dog when you break the law and let it off leash and out of your control.

There's a super simple way to avoid your dog interacting with a stranger's boot. It's called a leash. Use one.

I do 100percent. But deliberately injuring an innocent animal is cruel.

You're putting the blame in the wrong place. Deliberately letting your dog run up to people without knowing who those people are and how they might react is cruel. Nobody owes your dog, or you, a damned thing. And if your loose dog is running up on my kid, my responsibility is to protect my kid, not your dog.

Again, if your dog is 100 percent leashed in public, you've got nothing to worry about.

You don't have to break it's jaw. And my dog hates kids so we aren't allowing him near any. Hope an owner breaks your jaw for attacking their dog

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

+1

My child is also afraid of dogs. Yet the number of times people decide it is OK to grin, sheepish, as their pet runs up to my small child, slobbering and trying to lick and paw at her, is insane.

OP, if your unleashed dog came close to me and my child, I will kick it as hard as I can in the snout, hoping to really hurt it, maybe break its jaw. I've done it before and will not hesitate to do it again. The last time a dog ran up to my child and the owners could no recall it, I think I actually broke its jaw; the sharp cracking sound and the way it yipped as it ran away from me and its owner indicate I hurt it badly, and I don't care. So I guess this is another danger for your friendly golden retriever if you leave it unleashed.

Wow, you are truly evil.

Again, the incredible arrogance of assuming everyone else will make the world safe for your dog when you break the law and let it off leash and out of your control.

There's a super simple way to avoid your dog interacting with a stranger's boot. It's called a leash. Use one.

I do 100percent. But deliberately injuring an innocent animal is cruel.

You're putting the blame in the wrong place. Deliberately letting your dog run up to people without knowing who those people are and how they might react is cruel. Nobody owes your dog, or you, a damned thing. And if your loose dog is running up on my kid, my responsibility is to protect my kid, not your dog.

Again, if your dog is 100 percent leashed in public, you've got nothing to worry about.

You don't have to break it's jaw. And my dog hates kids so we aren't allowing him near any. Hope an owner breaks your jaw for attacking their dog

I'm not even the jawbreaker PP and you sound utterly unhinged.

If an owner assaults me after letting their dog off-leash and into my space, well, that's two charges (at least). Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

Or, again, you could just leash your stupid dog and keep it and your stupid self away from others. So easy, even stupid people can do it!