Hiking with dog off-leash?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Sorry you had that experience. I don't let my dog off leash and don't do dog parks because like pp said they are dangerous. If there were designated times and places dogs could be off leash it would work well for everyone. You wouldnt hike during those times and dog owners hopefully wouldn't go outside those hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Sorry you had that experience. I don't let my dog off leash and don't do dog parks because like pp said they are dangerous. If there were designated times and places dogs could be off leash it would work well for everyone. You wouldnt hike during those times and dog owners hopefully wouldn't go outside those hours.

Our local "shared use" urban parks with limited off-leash hours have become de facto off-leash at all times, with limited enforcement. The dog owners assume that everyone is ok with this (because people get tired of asking them). Given that enforcement is almost exactly zero on hiking trails, better not to uncork that bottle.

[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).

We took our (leashed) dog out in Rock Creek Park today and were appalled by how many people had their dogs off leash on narrow trails. I would push back on the poop issue though - we hiked several miles and saw no dog poop on the trails.

[Anonymous]

I love trail hiking and it amazes me how many entitled dog owners think that off-leash is their right. I do not want digs sniffing me, shaking water on me - none of it. Parks are for people not dogs. Live with it.

[Anonymous]

This is pretty much the only area in the country where there is not some large open area where dogs have at least a few hours a day run off leash in a significant open space. Even Central Park in Manhattan sets aside several hours (before and after 8 am. and 8 pm.) when dogs can be off leash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is pretty much the only area in the country where there is not some large open area where dogs have at least a few hours a day run off leash in a significant open space. Even Central Park in Manhattan sets aside several hours (before and after 8 am. and 8 pm.) when dogs can be off leash.

Perhaps people should have thought about that before getting a dog in this area?

There are at least 6 dog parks within a 5 mile radius where I live in Alexandria. But that still doesn't stop entitled, completely selfish and irresponsible dog owners from taking their dog off leash elsewhere.

Being a dog owner is a responsibility. If you don't like the responsibility of owning one, then don't get a dog. Simple.

[Anonymous]

Congressional Cemetery is 35 acres, fenced, and allows off leash dogs with membership: https://congressionalcemetery.org/dog-walking/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Congressional Cemetery is 35 acres, fenced, and allows off leash dogs with membership: https://congressionalcemetery.org/dog-walking/

Great place for digging too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Congressional Cemetery is 35 acres, fenced, and allows off leash dogs with membership: https://congressionalcemetery.org/dog-walking/

This is so awful. I would be so upset if I went to visit the grave of a loved one and there were dogs everywhere. I didn’t know this was a thing but I recently saw a sign at a cemetery prohibiting dog walking. Dog owners have no shame I swear.

[Anonymous]

DC is the only city of its size in the U.S. that doesn't have a large open area where dogs can run off leash. This is a solvable problem considering it also a city with huge amounts of green space in DC and fed hands. it is going to take some leadership and standing up to the anti-dog folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is pretty much the only area in the country where there is not some large open area where dogs have at least a few hours a day run off leash in a significant open space. Even Central Park in Manhattan sets aside several hours (before and after 8 am. and 8 pm.) when dogs can be off leash.

Perhaps people should have thought about that before getting a dog in this area?

There are at least 6 dog parks within a 5 mile radius where I live in Alexandria. But that still doesn't stop entitled, completely selfish and irresponsible dog owners from taking their dog off leash elsewhere.

Being a dog owner is a responsibility. If you don't like the responsibility of owning one, then don't get a dog. Simple.

I totally disagree. People will have dogs. Dog parks are unsafe and not good for most dogs. Why not have a dedicated off leash park during times that most people aren't using?

It reminds me of the argument against family leave with kids. Ie dont have kids if you know the rules about non parental leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is pretty much the only area in the country where there is not some large open area where dogs have at least a few hours a day run off leash in a significant open space. Even Central Park in Manhattan sets aside several hours (before and after 8 am. and 8 pm.) when dogs can be off leash.

Perhaps people should have thought about that before getting a dog in this area?

There are at least 6 dog parks within a 5 mile radius where I live in Alexandria. But that still doesn't stop entitled, completely selfish and irresponsible dog owners from taking their dog off leash elsewhere.

Being a dog owner is a responsibility. If you don't like the responsibility of owning one, then don't get a dog. Simple.

I totally disagree. People will have dogs. Dog parks are unsafe and not good for most dogs. Why not have a dedicated off leash park during times that most people aren't using?

It reminds me of the argument against family leave with kids. Ie dont have kids if you know the rules about non parental leave.

How many times do we have to say it?? Dogs are not kids.

[Anonymous]

Every city major city in the country has large areas for dogs to run off leash. New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Fran, Oakland...

DC does not. The result is scads of unofficial dog parks creating tensions. Someone should step up and solve this problem. There are too many dog owners to ignore. Someone try to fix.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Congressional Cemetery is 35 acres, fenced, and allows off leash dogs with membership: https://congressionalcemetery.org/dog-walking/

This is so awful. I would be so upset if I went to visit the grave of a loved one and there were dogs everywhere. I didn’t know this was a thing but I recently saw a sign at a cemetery prohibiting dog walking. Dog owners have no shame I swear.

Several generations of my family is buried in Congressional. I love how the caretakers have found ways to keep the site connected the neighborhood and community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every city major city in the country has large areas for dogs to run off leash. New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Fran, Oakland...

DC does not. The result is scads of unofficial dog parks creating tensions. Someone should step up and solve this problem. There are too many dog owners to ignore. Someone try to fix.

Your belief is that the unofficial dog parks will go away if there are large areas for dogs to run off leash. But this is not correct.