I run with my off-leash dogs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My then three year old were walking dow. The sidewalk whe we passed a medium sized dog on a leash who was stopped to relieve itself.

My three year old did nothing more than smile at the dog. He did not move towards the dog, grab it or run towards it.

The dog growled, lunged at him and tried to bite my kid's face.

Thank God the owner had the dog on a short, non retractable leash. He had good enough reflexes to pull back as his dog was about three inches from my child's face.

The owner apologized and said the dog had never done something like that before. Who knows if he was telling the truth, but if he was that is very terrifying that an unprovoked dog would do such a thing on a whim. Perhaps he didn't like my child's smile?

A dog is still an animal no matter how human you think it is.

Leash your dogs when out.

There is a reason for leash laws.

I am not a suing person but if that dog had not been leashed and had succeeded in biting my child in the face, I would have insisted the dog be put down and then would have sued that homeowner for everything possible under the law for being so irresponsible as to have their dog on a public sidewalk off leash.

This happened to my 3 year old and it terrified the crap out of me. All she did was pass the dog, who the owner brought to a kids' baseball game at the neighborhood field to "socialize" around kids. He said that never happened before and I believed him, but THANK GOD that dog was on a leash. Little kids are particularly susceptible because they meet dogs eye to eye at their level.

We have a happy-go-lucky lab who would probably let you poke both of his eyes without the slightest growl, but I am mindful that it's not just about me or him. The people in my neighborhood have the right to feel safe and (like me!) may be wary of strange dogs. I prefer that all dogs are kept on a leash and regardless of my strong belief that my dog would never hurt anyone (even if provoked), that rule includes him too.

This happened to my 7 year old. She reached out to pet the dog which was on our front yard, and quick like a snake it lunged forward and bit her on the face. The owner yanked it back before the dog had a chance to get a good grip. Later the neighbor told me that the dog was a rescue that had "issues" but that she could control it "most of the time."

Please teach your kids to always ask the owner before reaching out to a dog to pet it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My then three year old were walking dow. The sidewalk whe we passed a medium sized dog on a leash who was stopped to relieve itself.

My three year old did nothing more than smile at the dog. He did not move towards the dog, grab it or run towards it.

The dog growled, lunged at him and tried to bite my kid's face.

Thank God the owner had the dog on a short, non retractable leash. He had good enough reflexes to pull back as his dog was about three inches from my child's face.

The owner apologized and said the dog had never done something like that before. Who knows if he was telling the truth, but if he was that is very terrifying that an unprovoked dog would do such a thing on a whim. Perhaps he didn't like my child's smile?

A dog is still an animal no matter how human you think it is.

Leash your dogs when out.

There is a reason for leash laws.

I am not a suing person but if that dog had not been leashed and had succeeded in biting my child in the face, I would have insisted the dog be put down and then would have sued that homeowner for everything possible under the law for being so irresponsible as to have their dog on a public sidewalk off leash.

This happened to my 3 year old and it terrified the crap out of me. All she did was pass the dog, who the owner brought to a kids' baseball game at the neighborhood field to "socialize" around kids. He said that never happened before and I believed him, but THANK GOD that dog was on a leash. Little kids are particularly susceptible because they meet dogs eye to eye at their level.

We have a happy-go-lucky lab who would probably let you poke both of his eyes without the slightest growl, but I am mindful that it's not just about me or him. The people in my neighborhood have the right to feel safe and (like me!) may be wary of strange dogs. I prefer that all dogs are kept on a leash and regardless of my strong belief that my dog would never hurt anyone (even if provoked), that rule includes him too.

This happened to my 7 year old. She reached out to pet the dog which was on our front yard, and quick like a snake it lunged forward and bit her on the face. The owner yanked it back before the dog had a chance to get a good grip. Later the neighbor told me that the dog was a rescue that had "issues" but that she could control it "most of the time."

Please teach your kids to always ask the owner before reaching out to a dog to pet it.

Give me a break (I'm not that PP). Many small kids will reach out automatically to pet a dog. You'd blame an injured child on the kid, not the aggressive dog?
dog owners are the WORST. The absolute worst.

[Anonymous]

I have a shiz tzu mutt who looks like a stuffed animal, and kids love her and she loves kids. BUT I still keep her leashed. I totally trust her, and I know she's great with my kid, but I would be devastated if she hurt someone else. I'd rather have the ability to yank her away if needed - which happens more than I expected. Some kids are just afraid of dogs...even little fluffy ones.

[Anonymous]

Two answers:
1) Because when you're walking down the street with your unleashed dogs, and I'm walking down the street with my two preschoolers, I don't know whether your unleashed dogs are going to attack my kids or not. So I now have to figure out what to do. Running's not an option (don't try to outrun a dog, right), so I have to coach my kids to hold still and avoid eye contact.
My kids aren't afraid of dogs, and I don't want them to be. But unleashed dogs who are strangers are not to be trusted by any thinking parent. You and your kind present me with an untenable situation. I particularly hate this when people do it at my neighborhood playground. I mean, COME ON.
2) yesterday, a 6 year old dog who had never bitten anyone bit my 3 year old. My kid did everything right, asked the owner first, has met and petted this dog many times before, etc. For a lot of dogs, they don't bite until there's something going on in their life, their health, or something. The owner doesn't necessarily know there's a problem until the behavior changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could be your choice of breed. Border collies are perceived as intilligent and they are usually good at controlling themselves. Other breeds, not so much. Try running 3 dachshunds off-leash and you'll see a real shitshow.

And yet they're not smart enough to learn to run in positions so they don't twist up the leash.

[Anonymous]

OP seems to have disappeared. OP, you're wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could be your choice of breed. Border collies are perceived as intilligent and they are usually good at controlling themselves. Other breeds, not so much. Try running 3 dachshunds off-leash and you'll see a real shitshow.

And yet they're not smart enough to learn to run in positions so they don't twist up the leash.

And why should they? OP untwists it for them as he jogs down the sidewalk. Sounds intelligent enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My then three year old were walking dow. The sidewalk whe we passed a medium sized dog on a leash who was stopped to relieve itself.

My three year old did nothing more than smile at the dog. He did not move towards the dog, grab it or run towards it.

The dog growled, lunged at him and tried to bite my kid's face.

Thank God the owner had the dog on a short, non retractable leash. He had good enough reflexes to pull back as his dog was about three inches from my child's face.

The owner apologized and said the dog had never done something like that before. Who knows if he was telling the truth, but if he was that is very terrifying that an unprovoked dog would do such a thing on a whim. Perhaps he didn't like my child's smile?

A dog is still an animal no matter how human you think it is.

Leash your dogs when out.

There is a reason for leash laws.

I am not a suing person but if that dog had not been leashed and had succeeded in biting my child in the face, I would have insisted the dog be put down and then would have sued that homeowner for everything possible under the law for being so irresponsible as to have their dog on a public sidewalk off leash.

This happened to my 3 year old and it terrified the crap out of me. All she did was pass the dog, who the owner brought to a kids' baseball game at the neighborhood field to "socialize" around kids. He said that never happened before and I believed him, but THANK GOD that dog was on a leash. Little kids are particularly susceptible because they meet dogs eye to eye at their level.

We have a happy-go-lucky lab who would probably let you poke both of his eyes without the slightest growl, but I am mindful that it's not just about me or him. The people in my neighborhood have the right to feel safe and (like me!) may be wary of strange dogs. I prefer that all dogs are kept on a leash and regardless of my strong belief that my dog would never hurt anyone (even if provoked), that rule includes him too.

This happened to my 7 year old. She reached out to pet the dog which was on our front yard, and quick like a snake it lunged forward and bit her on the face. The owner yanked it back before the dog had a chance to get a good grip. Later the neighbor told me that the dog was a rescue that had "issues" but that she could control it "most of the time."

Please teach your kids to always ask the owner before reaching out to a dog to pet it.

Give me a break (I'm not that PP). Many small kids will reach out automatically to pet a dog. You'd blame an injured child on the kid, not the aggressive dog?
dog owners are the WORST. The absolute worst.

Not blaming the child no, but I do believe it is an important role of a parent to teach their kids to always ask owner's permission before petting any dog.

[Anonymous]

^^^Agreed. I'm a dog owner, and I have always taught my children that you always always ask before petting a dog. I keep my dog tightly leashed, and am always happy to stop and allow children to pet him, but when I do I keep an extra tight hold on him. He is a very sweet dog and loves kids, but he is an animal and therefore unpredictable. I would feel terribly if he hurt a child and would feel it was my responsibility to have him put down if he did, also not something I want.

[Anonymous]

just know that you are terrifying people who are fearful of dogs. and you suck. know that too.

[Anonymous]

Parents are incredibly careless when it comes to allowing their children to approach dogs.

Please, people, control your kids and ask respectfully before approaching any dog.

Kids can be terrifying to dogs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents are incredibly careless when it comes to allowing their children to approach dogs.

Please, people, control your kids and ask respectfully before approaching any dog.

Kids can be terrifying to dogs.

Oh, poor widdle doggie.

[Anonymous]

Parents are incredibly careless when it comes to allowing their children to approach dogs.

Please, people, control your kids and ask respectfully before approaching any dog.

Kids can be terrifying to dogs.


Oh, poor widdle doggie.

What an idiotic response. When dogs are terrified, they can bite. It is in your best interest and the best interest of your child to avoid provoking an animal.

How stupid can you be not to realize this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Parents are incredibly careless when it comes to allowing their children to approach dogs.

Please, people, control your kids and ask respectfully before approaching any dog.

Kids can be terrifying to dogs.


Oh, poor widdle doggie.

What an idiotic response. When dogs are terrified, they can bite. It is in your best interest and the best interest of your child to avoid provoking an animal.

How stupid can you be not to realize this?

In a thread about keeping dogs off-leash, it's not the point to tell parents to educate their kids. My kids are educated. They always ask first, they let the dog sniff them, etc. But an off-leash dog is STILL not a safe thing around kids.

[Anonymous]

Your kid runs up to my leashed dog....