Off leash hiking?
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Anonymous
| We're visiting family in DC and bringing our dog. Where we live, there are a lot of hiking areas where dogs are (unofficially and officially) allowed to hike off leash. Are there any places like that within 45 minutes drive of DC? (We're pretty familiar with the area bc we used to live in NOVA, just not since we've had a dog.). |
Anonymous
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You should never have your dog off-leash "unofficially." Stick to areas where it's official -- your private land or parks that specifically allow it.
It's not safe for my LEASHED dog or children when yours is off-leash in an area that's officially not off-leash but you think it's okay to unofficially do it. |
Anonymous
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No. There are various sanctioned dog parks in the area, but there are no off-leash hiking spots in Maryland, DC, or VA. Please do not do this.
If we encounter your dog hiking on any trails or paths, we will pepper spray it. If you want to travel with your dog, that's fine, but it does not mean others want to encounter your animal on our outing. |
Anonymous
| OP here- it's nice to know how warm and inviting you all are. I understand your answer is no, but why are you lecturing, criticizing, and just plain being rude? Is that how you would respond if we were face-to-face and asked a simple question? |
Anonymous
| LOL OP. This is DC and people here are mean, hate visitors and hate dogs. |
Anonymous
OP, "warm and inviting" doesn't mean condoning illegal, inconsiderate behavior. You best look at yourself, before criticizing others. Just because others do not want to make acquaintances with your dogs, does not make them "rude." |
Anonymous
| If your dog is unfamiliar with the area, and off-leash, don't you worry about him wandering off or chasing a squirrel or rabbit and getting lost? That would be my main concern. |
Anonymous
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OP, the quick answer to your question is No, there's nothing like that close in here.
I'm not entirely sure why, but the Pets forum is not supportive of pets or pet owners, frequently. |
Anonymous
Huh? Where is the non-support? "Support" doesn't mean supporting a free-for all, do-what-you-want pet-parenting. There's no problem with bringing well-behaved/trained, (short, non-retractable) leashed dogs with you for a hike. |
Anonymous
I know of places like OP describes back where I'm from, so I see nothing wrong with her question. As I said, the quick answer is No. The responses she has received to her question have not been welcoming. |
Anonymous
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This trail... http://www.traillink.com/trail/seneca-creek-greenway-trail.aspx
Potomac River to Berryville Rd.: hikers only (2.2 miles) * Berryville Rd. to Darnestown Rd./SR 28: hikers and horses only; NO bikes (4.4 miles) This portion of the trail does not have high traffic and you would be fine taking your dog off a leash, there is also water if you dog enjoys getting in the water. |
Anonymous
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Try Glen Carlyn park in Arlington. Not the best "hike" you'll ever have but it's close.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/glencarlyn-dog-park-arlington More ideas: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/457913.page Ignore the pepper spray haters. They are too uptight to ever enjoy life. |
Anonymous
+1 DC is full of haters |
Anonymous
| OP here- thanks for the responses! Just as a point of reference, where I live it's actually more uncommon to see a dog on a leash in the woods with their owner than it is for the dog to be on leash. There are some areas designated as off leash, but most are "unofficial" in that dog owners know it's an area where owners frequently let their dogs off leash. It's a word of mouth thing, which is why I thought this would be a good resource. Obviously, you have to know your dog and the area since the dogs tend to run up to each other and interact. Is it 100% safe? No, but we do everything possible to minimize the risks and everyone has fun. FWIW, there's lots of dogs out there that aren't safe to be around humans whether on or off leash. |
Anonymous
OP, try and ignore the PPs who lectured you. People here go nuts whenever the topic of hiking offleash comes up. As soon as I read your original post I was like oh boy...this will not be fun. FWIW, I have a dog who does awesome off leash and no one has ever given me any trouble about having him off leash when I take him into rock creek park. Granted, he's not on the trail, he's in the woods, so he doesn't really come in close proximity to anyone. I'm jealous of wherever it is that you live, though, because it sounds like people are much more laid back than they are here (which is not setting a very high bar, to be sure). |