I do not understand dog owners

[Kevin]

I can really start to understand how dogs think. Not yet completely, but Jelly is 5 months old and it's getting easier to know what troubles he is planning. I can usually cut him off at the pass.

But the humans I see out with their dogs, I just don't get. This morning I drove my daughter to school and took Jelly. There is a park off the main road where it's easy to stop on the way home. We go for a 20 or 30 minute walk.

Both yesterday and again today, I see other dog owners who just let their dogs off leash to do whatever.

Yesterday the woman's dog ran at least 50 yards to get up close to Jelly. Her dog did not listen at all. I kept turning around to keep myself between her dog and Jelly. It was some mix of a lab and some other really big dog.

Then today, some guy is walking two dogs. No leash. They only listened a little better than a teenager would.

What the heck?

Then just now, I'm walking Rainy around our neighborhood and some guy has a German Shepherd. I avoided him as much as possible. Told him to put his dog on a leash. He says "electronic leash." Which I looked up and it's a nicer term for "shock collar."

I try to be a good dog owner. Picking up poop etc. Each time I walk the opposite direction to remove myself and my dog from the situation.

But, I just don't understand. Are they right, that it's ok to not have your dog on a leash around other people and other dogs?

 

[Ale-8(1)]

I would say that when walking your dog around the neighborhood a leash woold be OK in consideration of your neighbors' wishes. Dunno how to handle the dog park situation. That seems to be a place to let your critter run free and "socialize" with other dogs.

 

[Hertervillian]

I've been on both sides of the situation.

No dogs around the park, and I've got a Saluki, a serious runner. I let her go for a run. Another fellow shows up doesn't see Mattie (she's at the other end of the park) and lets his German Shepard run. Nothing I can complain about I'm guilty too.

His dog sees mine and is in "attack" mode immediately. The other guy is immediately apologizing and saying this could be bad. I expressed little concern, saying Mattie was well able to take care of the situation. She teased him for a half a minute before lighting the burners, gaining a length every 2 strides. I had never seen her run seriously before, it was a thing of beauty. As she came by I told her to go home, which she did.

 

[txramfan]

We got our Golden Retriever when she was about 18 months old and Daisy had no understanding of a leash or going for a walk.
I spent the time teaching her how to go for a walk on leash and off leash. I have a graveyard behind my house and spent the time to teach her, away from people and only a few interruptions.
When it got fun was when another dog walker would ask me to walk my dog in a different way than I was walking . I walk my dog on my right side, this lady insisted I walk my dog on my left because that is how she was being trained by her dog trainer and she wanted me to walk my dog towards her yapping staring dog . Happened more than once, she never understood my refusal to do as she wished.
Daisy is calm enough off leash I have no worries about her, other dogs or people are what concerns me. So when we travel and use the doggie area at hotels I always ask if other dog owners are comfortable with my dog being off leash, she's 11 plus now and slow and frankly doesnt like taking care of business on a leash or in front of people, I leave her on leash if anyone asks.

 

[Rat76]

Dog park is one thing; regular park is a whole different matter.

Walking with a leash is in my opinion a necessity. Our sweet little 15-pound Dorkie, Flo will go after other dogs with murder on her mind. The bigger they are the more aggressive she gets.

Her brother, Eddie is very calm when out on his walks. He ignores other dogs or is friendly.

 

[Jim Walsh]

My dogs never left my property because they were walked on a leash as puppies and knew their boundaries from a young age. Never chastised them for barking at passing dogs as they walked down the street because they never left my property. A couple dog walkers didn't care for that and would cross the street just to stay away from my dogs. If kids or adults were walking by my dogs would go to greet them wagging their tails.

 

[mirglip]

I tried putting a leash on my Aussie/Heeler a couple times. She went completely berserk. I gave up. What I don't understand is people in the city who have dogs...even big dogs.
My nearest neighbor is a half mile away in dog miles.

 

[Kevin]

Yes thanks for the replies

I'm talking about regular parks, NOT dog specific parks. Those I understand dogs may be off leash.

I do not go to dog parks, the ones around here are dirty and who knows if the other dogs are sick or healthy or what.

But I appreciate the replies. Thanks.

 

[Jeepnik]

I like dogs. Always had one as a kid. But we have rules for dog owners rules born out of experience.
Dogs are to be leashed when out in public (off leash dog parks are an obvious exception). Owners are to control their dogs "at ALL times". Owners are to clean up and dispose of their pets waste.

Just because you think"your" dog is special doesn't give you the right to ignore the rules. But obviously many, many owners do. And what's worse is they think they are entitled to.

 

[wproct]

We don't have a dog, but my son does and I have become quite attached to it. My experience, I play disc golf a lot at our very nice city park. It's posted dogs must be on a leash. Some of the disc golfers let their dogs run while they play and I've never had a problem with one, but I've seen a couple of instances, first one was funny, second one wasn't. First scenario, I'm playing disc golf by myself in the park and I'm in my own little world, love the peace and solitude. So I''m on the tee pad getting ready to throw my disc and all of a sudden I had something touch my hand, I look down and it's a big Doberman, gave me a shock, but he was just saying hi. After I acknowledged him he just took off, never saw the owner. Second scenario, I'm playing disc golf again and there was a woman with a very small dog on a leash and they are just strolling in the park. Pretty soon there were 4 kids probably from 9 to 12 in age and they had a big dog which was on a leash but the kid holding the leash was the smallest one of the group. When the big dog saw little one he went into attack mode and the kid couldn't hang on to the leash. There was a vicious attack that only lasted for maybe 5 seconds, the woman was screaming and the kids and the dog ran away. The woman picked up her little dog and left, you could tell it was badly injured.

 

[Ride1949]

Now if someone could just explain people who let their kids run wild. Maybe there should be a leash law for them too.

 

[redhawker]

Yeah, I dealt with this for 22 years. It was my job. Just about nobody thinks their dog is a problem. Just about everybody thinks everybody else loves their dog. Just about everybody thinks their dog is just fine to be off leash, but it's not ok for your dog. Those signs all over the park that say "Dog must be on leash" and "Please pick up after your dog" are for everybody else and not for them or their dog. Just about everybody to whom I wrote a leash violation citation thought it was unfair, even when they were standing right next to a sign telling them what the law was. Almost every time I took a bite report, the dog owner would say, "He's never done anything like that before." And many times, the bite victim would tell me the dog owner said the dog wouldn't bite. I always thought it was strange that otherwise law-abiding people would think it was ok to violate the leash law, even if they were the type of people who wouldn't even exceed the speed limit. It was just a general attitude that my dog can do no wrong, and everybody loves him. Kind of like many people's attitude about their kids.

 

[Watertender]

I could write a book about misbehaving dogs and the morons who think that their precious turd hunter is perfect. A guy I knew when I was a kid called dogs "turd hunters" and I asked him why. He said if there was a steak and a turd on the ground that the dog would go to the turd first.

I have had dogs piss on me at least 3 times when I was servicing medical equipment. There is nothing like a Yorkie whizzing in your ear to make your day...

When I was working on rental property for a landlord who owned ghetto apartments I was attacked by a dog several times. I had to tell the people who owned the property to tell their tenants to lock their dogs up and CLEAN UP THE CRAP IN THE BASEMENT!! Walking through dog crap to fix something deserves a bonus...

I try to avoid dogs if I can and if one decides to get aggressive I have no problem thumping the thing with whatever I have handy. When I take a walk I carry a Sjambok... They get the message quickly when I have to use it.

 

[peachhead]

I do love my dog, but I also know how my dog is and she does not go out in public without a harness and a lead.
We live out in the sticks and hardly ever does my dog go out in public, but in any event never without a harness and lead.
It's one thing to be unrestrained out where we are but in town or public spaces, it's irresponsible.
just my .02

 

[XUSNORDIE]

But, I just don't understand. Are they right, that it's ok to not have your dog on a leash around other people and other dogs?

In some places its a law to have your dog leashed. My Wife is a retired Animal Control Officer.....I have countless stories of dog attacks and bites that stemmed from an owner not leashing their dog or even multiple dogs.

I do not go to dog parks, the ones around here are dirty and who knows if the other dogs are sick or healthy or what.

Good! Dog parks are, in my opinion the worst idea. Not only can disease, fleas, ticks and mange be transferred but they can turn into a open air dog fighting pit in an instant.

Now if someone could just explain people who let their kids run wild. Maybe there should be a leash law for them too.

Exactly! I agree totally......I've dealt with a ton of false "Code Adams" back in the day to "parents" letting kids wander.....and a couple were the kid was actually snatched due to the "parents" negligence.

I also know how my dog is and she does not go out in public without a harness and a lead.

Depending on the dog, and even the owner I am a firm believer in a harness. Much easier to handle and control. When I had hunting dogs (Vizsla, Labs) a lead/training lead was good. But I've come to really enjoy American Pitbull Terriers. With me aging and my current "instability" a harness really helps control larger/stronger breeds. I don't don't care if puppers is just going out back to pee or drop a loaf....I harness. I have a ton of deer, squirrels and other critters that a dogs instinct will be triggered. A couple nights ago I opened the sliding door to the lower deck to walk our newest dog. He's an adopted senior dog Pit/Mix, 8 y/o but short/stocky/muscular and strong.....I did not turn on the lower deck light until after the door was opened...10 foot away or so sat a hissing opossum....If I had a leash on puppers would have spun out of the collar, and even with a choker collar would have been hard to control. He had is harness on. Very easy to control, and he knows it. Opossum was lucky....and so was I....my. I don't know exactly what he would have done.....but I know I would have never heard the end of it from my Wife if puppers got off and mangled that opossum.

 

[Hertervillian]

I could write a book about misbehaving dogs and the morons who think that their precious turd hunter is perfect. A guy I knew when I was a kid called dogs "turd hunters" and I asked him why. He said if there was a steak and a turd on the ground that the dog would go to the turd first.

I have had dogs piss on me at least 3 times when I was servicing medical equipment. There is nothing like a Yorkie whizzing in your ear to make your day...

When I was working on rental property for a landlord who owned ghetto apartments I was attacked by a dog several times. I had to tell the people who owned the property to tell their tenants to lock their dogs up and CLEAN UP THE CRAP IN THE BASEMENT!! Walking through dog crap to fix something deserves a bonus...

I try to avoid dogs if I can and if one decides to get aggressive I have no problem thumping the thing with whatever I have handy. When I take a walk I carry a Sjambok... They get the message quickly when I have to use it.

I worked at a farm supply store, fertilizer plant. I was at a bunch of farm lots that typically had dogs. Unsurprisingly they tended towards protective of the farm. I found that carrying a hammer , pipe wrench, hitch pin Was a good policy. Never was I approached with something in my hand, one time I was surprised. Dog appears out of nowhere and grabs my pants cuff and boot top. I got to the truck bed and grabbed a big Crescent wrench, spot quickly retreated.

I respected the fact it was indeed their home and their job to defend it and never took it personally. I did expect them to understand I was there to deliver a tank or toolbar and had a job too.

 

[Don Lovel]

Dumb liberal Karen at the dog park was encouraging her mutt to be aggessive with my Airedale Gus. I jumped in and grabbed Gus just as she was saying Sic Him. Gus had just taken that Airedale head low and feet spread position Airedales do as they are fixing to destroy another critter.
I told her, "lady that is an Airedale Terrier and that wont go well for your dog. "
she said "old man you better leave before you get hurt"
I was tempted to let her FAFO but left with Gus.
Last time a dog jumped one of my Airedales it was almost fatal for the other dog.
Gus is very chill with other dogs and enjoys playing. But he is 80lbs of Oorang Airedale Terrier. Zero quit in them

 

[Wvfarrier]

My german shepherd wear a shock collar as it is what the military trained us to train with. He is extremely obedient and doesnt need a leash HOWEVER anytime we are in public he wears a leash. I have shot two pitbulls in the last 2 years who were let loose and attacked him.

 

[txramfan]

When I was first started training Daisy to walk on a leash a fun run went through my neighborhood. Plano Ballonfest I think still runs one from its launch site through my neighborhood, others do .
So I head out one day and walk into the start of a fun run heading towards me. Time to teach Daisy to sit / stay around a bunch of loud kids and adults having fun. Went great till some guy randomly decided to touch Daisy as she sat by my side. She went a foot in the air and two backwards getting away from that guy. Didn't bark or growl just moved.

 

[375hh1973]

I prefer dog owners to kid owners.

And its not even close