I unleash my dog as often as I can. My dog is a lover not a biter. You are all paranoid.

NP here -- leash aggression is a real thing, plenty of trainers have written about it and I see it with my (always leashed in public) dog all the time. It's the reason that many dog park rules actually prohibit leashed dogs in the off-leash area. PP accurately states that in an otherwise controlled situation, like maybe your back yard, everybody dropping leashes would be ideal. But this is just not feasible on the street, on a busy public trail, when you don't know and haven't coordinated with the other dog's owner, etc.

So when you allow your unleashed dog to approach my leashed dog, you create a very dangerous situation -- and no, I'm not going to drop my leash to defuse it. I'm going to yell at you to leash your damn dog, and then I'm going to pull out my pepper spray.

Basically, leash aggression is yet another great reason to always leash your dog in public. We have a responsibility to our pets to not set them up for situations they cannot win.

+1, well trained lab and golden retrievers are better off leash. It's a fact that dogs get aggressive when leashed.

The naysayer above probably has never owned a dog. My view is based on 45 continuous years of dog ownership in this city. I admit I am no dog behavior specialist.

To clarify, it's not that the dogs are aggressive on leash and you drop it, it's that when they meet another on leash dog and a consenting owner, it's better with certain dogs, like labs, to just drop the leash and let them circle around and sniff each others privates. Experienced dog owners know the difference between serious danger and dogs really getting angry. And if your experience with dogs is limited to certain breeds that are less friendly then I can imagine you're skeptical.

Dude, you're totally changing what you're saying. There's a huge difference in saying dogs 'are better off leash and it's a fact dogs get aggressive when leashed' and "you should drop the leash when one dog meets another". That first sentence is just plain wrong.

You ought to try watching Cesar Millan's The Dog Whisperer. Doesn't matter how long you've owned a dog, doesn't make you a good dog owner.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

+1, well trained lab and golden retrievers are better off leash. It's a fact that dogs get aggressive when leashed. Use a rule of reason. You should know your dog or face the consequences.

Bullshit. If your dog is aggressive when leashed it's because YOU let it be aggressive. Doesn't matter what the breed is.

No. It's a fact, dogs feel when you tug on your leash and think there is a problem. Often the best thing to do is to drop your leash when you come upon another dog that is unleashed.

I believe from your strong reaction that you are probably not very thoughtful about this. But it's a fact.

Where I walk my dog on weekends it's a leash free country area and a lot of my friends and I agree that the worst thing is when someone comes along and sees your dog and leashes theirs.

Not all breeds of course are good off leash, but retrievers, spaniels, and s

You keep repeating what you’re spewing is ‘fact’. What’s your source?

I’m thinking you’re a troll because your post is just so preposterous and ignorant. No one could be that stupid.

I am a new poster, but this is basic animal behavior and behavior modification. A dog is naturally protective and most owners ruin their dogs with improper leash training. it IS often best to drop the leash and walk away. the dog gets insecure when you are walking off and typically follows. Now, as the normal dog owner does not bother to spend the money and time to go to a good trainer, i would not try this w/out seeking professional help first. As a dog owner and parent, it drives me nuts how many people are completely ignorant when it comes to basic animal behavior and training. Some breeds are more easily trained than others based on what they were breed to do. I have sight hounds, so although they are great at recall, they are not 100% and have a high prey drive...ergo, no off leash. dogs should be watched in public and so should kids. dual responsibility.

Maybe both should be on a leash come to think of it! ha!

The naysayer above probably has never owned a dog. My view is based on 45 continuous years of dog ownership in this city. I admit I am no dog behavior specialist.

To clarify, it's not that the dogs are aggressive on leash and you drop it, it's that when they meet another on leash dog and a consenting owner, it's better with certain dogs, like labs, to just drop the leash and let them circle around and sniff each others privates. Experienced dog owners know the difference between serious danger and dogs really getting angry. And if your experience with dogs is limited to certain breeds that are less friendly then I can imagine you're skeptical.

Sorry, but I would flip out if a dog started acting aggresive and the owner dropped the leash and walked away.

If it attacked or bit in that specific situation, I would call both the police and animal control, and go after both the dog and the owner to the fullest extent possible, due to such idiotic behavior.

Sorry, but that just sounds like a good way to get yourself sued and your dog put down.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

+1, well trained lab and golden retrievers are better off leash. It's a fact that dogs get aggressive when leashed. Use a rule of reason. You should know your dog or face the consequences.

Bullshit. If your dog is aggressive when leashed it's because YOU let it be aggressive. Doesn't matter what the breed is.

No. It's a fact, dogs feel when you tug on your leash and think there is a problem. Often the best thing to do is to drop your leash when you come upon another dog that is unleashed.

I believe from your strong reaction that you are probably not very thoughtful about this. But it's a fact.

Where I walk my dog on weekends it's a leash free country area and a lot of my friends and I agree that the worst thing is when someone comes along and sees your dog and leashes theirs.

Not all breeds of course are good off leash, but retrievers, spaniels, and s

You keep repeating what you’re spewing is ‘fact’. What’s your source?

I’m thinking you’re a troll because your post is just so preposterous and ignorant. No one could be that stupid.

I am a new poster, but this is basic animal behavior and behavior modification. A dog is naturally protective and most owners ruin their dogs with improper leash training. it IS often best to drop the leash and walk away. the dog gets insecure when you are walking off and typically follows. Now, as the normal dog owner does not bother to spend the money and time to go to a good trainer, i would not try this w/out seeking professional help first. As a dog owner and parent, it drives me nuts how many people are completely ignorant when it comes to basic animal behavior and training. Some breeds are more easily trained than others based on what they were breed to do. I have sight hounds, so although they are great at recall, they are not 100% and have a high prey drive...ergo, no off leash. dogs should be watched in public and so should kids. dual responsibility.

Maybe both should be on a leash come to think of it! ha!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

+1, well trained lab and golden retrievers are better off leash. It's a fact that dogs get aggressive when leashed. Use a rule of reason. You should know your dog or face the consequences.

Bullshit. If your dog is aggressive when leashed it's because YOU let it be aggressive. Doesn't matter what the breed is.

No. It's a fact, dogs feel when you tug on your leash and think there is a problem. Often the best thing to do is to drop your leash when you come upon another dog that is unleashed.

I believe from your strong reaction that you are probably not very thoughtful about this. But it's a fact.

Where I walk my dog on weekends it's a leash free country area and a lot of my friends and I agree that the worst thing is when someone comes along and sees your dog and leashes theirs.

Not all breeds of course are good off leash, but retrievers, spaniels, and s

You keep repeating what you’re spewing is ‘fact’. What’s your source?

I’m thinking you’re a troll because your post is just so preposterous and ignorant. No one could be that stupid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a dog and children. I wish people would not try to pet my dog. period. She's a terrier and impossibly cute, but she (like many dogs) is startled and over excited by high pitched squeaky voices of children and some women. When I bring her to pick up my kids I stand well off to the side 9like 50 yards or so--but squealing kids come running at her screaming "awwwwwwwwwww, she's so cute!" --their parents do nothing to restrain them. The 6 or 7 year old girls are like dog maniacs.

Okay. This is, uh, crazy. What do you expect bringing your dog to pick up? I would LOVE to bring my dog with me, kill tow birds with one stone
but I do not fully trust her around throngs of kids and there is no way I expect the kids not to want to get up in Her big furry cuddly goodness.

You're an idiot.

actually you're the idiot for lacking reading comprehension. I said I am 50 yards away (at least!) at pick up. As in I'm on the public side walk. It's unreasonable to think I can never have a dog even near a school. Train your kid (these are 8 year olds!) to stop pestering to pet the dog even after they've been told no.

This post is timely. My son and I were at the tennis court today and a woman walked by on the path with a dog, off its leash, while she was gabbing away on her phone. My son had two tennis balls in his hand and the dog went after him! I figured it just wanted him to throw him a ball but my son panicked and took off running. The dog ran after him and I finally yelled, "Just throw him a ball!" DS did and the dog was so happy!

Poor DS, on the other hand, was scared to death. I went up to the dog to get it to drop the ball. He wouldn't. Finally, I had to look at phone lady, who was beaming at me for some unknown reason, and say loudly, "Would you please help me get my ball from your dog?!?!" She looked shocked and started screaming at the dog.

She grabbed the slobbered up ball from him and kept on walking and talking. I mentioned too DS (perhaps a bit to loudly) that people should really use the leash they carry. Phone lady could give a shit. Seriously, I don't think poor DS will recover until I hand over ice cream!

Anonymous wrote:I have a dog and children. I wish people would not try to pet my dog. period. She's a terrier and impossibly cute, but she (like many dogs) is startled and over excited by high pitched squeaky voices of children and some women. When I bring her to pick up my kids I stand well off to the side 9like 50 yards or so--but squealing kids come running at her screaming "awwwwwwwwwww, she's so cute!" --their parents do nothing to restrain them. The 6 or 7 year old girls are like dog maniacs.

Okay. This is, uh, crazy. What do you expect bringing your dog to pick up? I would LOVE to bring my dog with me, kill tow birds with one stone
but I do not fully trust her around throngs of kids and there is no way I expect the kids not to want to get up in Her big furry cuddly goodness.

You're an idiot.

Anonymous wrote:

+1, well trained lab and golden retrievers are better off leash. It's a fact that dogs get aggressive when leashed. Use a rule of reason. You should know your dog or face the consequences.

Bullshit. If your dog is aggressive when leashed it's because YOU let it be aggressive. Doesn't matter what the breed is.

No. It's a fact, dogs feel when you tug on your leash and think there is a problem. Often the best thing to do is to drop your leash when you come upon another dog that is unleashed.

I believe from your strong reaction that you are probably not very thoughtful about this. But it's a fact.

Where I walk my dog on weekends it's a leash free country area and a lot of my friends and I agree that the worst thing is when someone comes along and sees your dog and leashes theirs.

Not all breeds of course are good off leash, but retrievers, spaniels, and s

I have a dog that spends a LOT OF TIME off leash. I watch when other dogs are coming and leash it. I leash it when I think other people might be afraid of it. But my dog is not aggressive and I trust it totally.

+1, well trained lab and golden retrievers are better off leash. It's a fact that dogs get aggressive when leashed. Use a rule of reason. You should know your dog or face the consequences.

Bullshit. If your dog is aggressive when leashed it's because YOU let it be aggressive. Doesn't matter what the breed is.

Anonymous wrote:Dog owner here- Keeping your dog on a leash is not only about biting people but also dogs biting dogs. My dog who loves people does not like other dogs. I don't go to dog parks but when your un-leashed dog runs up to us and I see you don't have them on a leash on purpose then I accept no responsibility when my Bull mastif eats your Yorkie.

(This is directed to the man down the street who lets that yorkie run free. I am not saving that dogs life again)

+1

Anonymous wrote:Dog owner here- Keeping your dog on a leash is not only about biting people but also dogs biting dogs. My dog who loves people does not like other dogs. I don't go to dog parks but when your un-leashed dog runs up to us and I see you don't have them on a leash on purpose then I accept no responsibility when my Bull mastif eats your Yorkie.

(This is directed to the man down the street who lets that yorkie run free. I am not saving that dogs life again)

Small dog owner here. I always leash my dog. I hate unleashed dogs outside of dog parks because they DO pose a threat to my dog, moreso than to my child. You know those dogs that are SOOOOOO friendly with kids? They tend to love chasing squirrels and rabbits. I have had to pick up my little runt many times and shield him from a "friendly" lab or retriever that would lick a toddler but pounce on a small animal.

I also would like to strangle with a leash the woman that lets her big dog run (I mean RUN) circles around Norwood park on Saturdays when there are 3 year olds playing soccer, toddlers on the playground, babies on the grass and all sorts of people everywhere. The damn dog weaves in and out of terrified kids and adults while that cocky bitch stands back, holding a leash and a bag of shit, arrogantly assuring everyone "he's fine!"