Hiking with dog off-leash?

[Anonymous]

Battery Kemble.

Maybe Sky Meadow on a weekday?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know - and you shouldn't have to deal with that. So would you support s designated large park where "rough neck" can go and not be a bother to you?

They can go in their yards! Yard not big enough? Don’t have a large dog that needs to run free in a large area on a regular basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would let your dog romp in the dog park, then go for a hike with the dog leashed with your kid.

Dog parks are places where people take their untrained dogs. We avoid the dog parks since my pup was bitten.

[Anonymous]

there is a dig beach in Annapolis. all offleash.

[Anonymous]

I used to live in NYC and Central Park has off leash hours for dogs. I think there were a couple places where they always had to be leased, but it was great to be able to let my dog run free during the designated times. I wish there were times/sections in Rock Creek Park that were the same. It's purely anecdotal but I think there were fewer off leash dogs in my neighborhood in NYC because there were times that it was allowed. Here it's never allowed and I think people are always trying to sneak the off leash time so it seems like I'm always seeing an off leash dog on trails.

[Anonymous]

My sister used to let her dog off leash while hiking every chance she got until her dog was attacked by a racoon. It was a terrifying experience, and her dog had to go to the vet due to multiple bites and scratches. Dogs can also get attacked by fox and coyotes. I honestly don't mind a happy spaniel romping through the woods off-leash, but I am sick of being charged by "trained" German Shepherds. I used to think they were really cool dogs, but they terrify me now because their owners always seem to have them off leash and they always seem to come after my leashed dog. Just last night an off leash German Shepherd stop walking and just stared at us and then started towards us, the owner had to call it multiple times to get it to stop coming towards us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to live in NYC and Central Park has off leash hours for dogs. I think there were a couple places where they always had to be leased, but it was great to be able to let my dog run free during the designated times. I wish there were times/sections in Rock Creek Park that were the same. It's purely anecdotal but I think there were fewer off leash dogs in my neighborhood in NYC because there were times that it was allowed. Here it's never allowed and I think people are always trying to sneak the off leash time so it seems like I'm always seeing an off leash dog on trails.

I have a young dog, but I am a native NYer and have traveled with my young dog to NYC, staying right by Central Park. They have designated areas of the park specifically intended for off-leash dogs certain hours and...it's fantastic. Most places, actually, I do think they need to be leashed but the off-leash during specified areas are GREAT! Really expansive and just wonderful. DC could totally do this and I don't get why they don't. Instead, there are these teeny tiny little graveled or fake grass area "dog parks" that are basically fight rings. I don't off-leash my dog here, but man, the "dog park" situation is really bleak so I get why people do. It's like having 20 dogs over to play in your 2 bedroom condo. Chaos. If we could give some actual SPACE to pets and do like NYC and say "free rein" from 6am-9am and 8pm-10pm in these sections of the park I think it would make a world of difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to live in NYC and Central Park has off leash hours for dogs. I think there were a couple places where they always had to be leased, but it was great to be able to let my dog run free during the designated times. I wish there were times/sections in Rock Creek Park that were the same. It's purely anecdotal but I think there were fewer off leash dogs in my neighborhood in NYC because there were times that it was allowed. Here it's never allowed and I think people are always trying to sneak the off leash time so it seems like I'm always seeing an off leash dog on trails.

I have a young dog, but I am a native NYer and have traveled with my young dog to NYC, staying right by Central Park. They have designated areas of the park specifically intended for off-leash dogs certain hours and...it's fantastic. Most places, actually, I do think they need to be leashed but the off-leash during specified areas are GREAT! Really expansive and just wonderful. DC could totally do this and I don't get why they don't. Instead, there are these teeny tiny little graveled or fake grass area "dog parks" that are basically fight rings. I don't off-leash my dog here, but man, the "dog park" situation is really bleak so I get why people do. It's like having 20 dogs over to play in your 2 bedroom condo. Chaos. If we could give some actual SPACE to pets and do like NYC and say "free rein" from 6am-9am and 8pm-10pm in these sections of the park I think it would make a world of difference.

* specified times AND areas

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would just like to thank the dog owners who are trying to do the right thing by not letting their dogs off-leash except in places where this is actually allowed, and for being cognizant that many people (and animals) do not want to encounter your off-leash dog.

I live near Rock Creek Park and unfortunately it seems like the majority of people who bring their dogs to walk in the trails near our house let their dogs off-leash even though this is not allowed. It means I basically cannot bring my toddlers to those trails b/c I am afraid they will get bitten (and they inevitably step in dog poop from the unleashed dogs and get it all over themselves).

Yes it is really scary. We enjoy hiking as a family but only go when dh can come. There have been too many times he has had to put himself between our child and an aggressive off leash dog. People in this area do not care about the rules. Now dh works weekends so no more family hikes. I just don’t feel comfortable going myself and it is specifically because of unleashed dogs.

[Anonymous]

I let my lab off anytime I’m in woods and there are no people around. I’ve had dogs for close to 20 years that I do this with. It’s funny how many of you seem to run into aggressive off leash dogs so frequently, and killer raccoons…… literally never happened to me.

[Anonymous]

Definition of aggressive to non dog owners: dog is big and was running off the leash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Battery Kemble.

Maybe Sky Meadow on a weekday?

Battery Kemble is US Park land. Dogs are to be leashed at all times.

Sky Meadow

Pets are allowed on most of the trails in Sky Meadows State Park. ... Pets must be kept on a leash, no more than six feet in length, at all times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I let my lab off anytime I’m in woods and there are no people around. I’ve had dogs for close to 20 years that I do this with. It’s funny how many of you seem to run into aggressive off leash dogs so frequently, and killer raccoons…… literally never happened to me.

There are “no people around” until there aren’t. When I saw aggressive I mean a dog runner by straight for my small child, barking a growling. Sorry I don’t care how “friendly” your giant dog is, keep it away from my family.

Dog owners are so entitled I swear. Buy some property if you want your dog to run free. Sorry you don’t want to use the dog parks that are provided for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definition of aggressive to non dog owners: dog is big and was running off the leash.

If the dog is wagging, panting, and relaxed I'm not worried, but if the dog stops to stare and starts slowly walking towards me and my dog with tail and hackles raised, I get nervous. Unfortunately this has happened enough that I now carry pepper spray when I hike.

[Anonymous]

Try the site Bring Fido. It will identify whether trails and areas are off leash.I’m on the west coast so can’t help but out here a lot of beaches are off leash until 10 am, back on leash until 4 or 6 pm.

For hiking even if you find an off leash trail be cautious until you know the trail. Who frequents the trail? F there are owners with power breeds that they don’t have control over off leash this is bad. Make sure there are not packs of coyotes or mountain lions in the area. Avoid hikes with drop offs or areas that you can’t retrieve your dog from until you know how he behaves. Bring extra water, first aid, make sure he is microchipped etc.