How do you feel about unleashed dogs?

Question

Some dogs run up and harrass leashed dogs and trample over other people's picnics in the park. It also seems these owners who allow their hyper dogs to roam free, don't bother to pick up poo. But then some dogs not on leash never leave their owner's side, and often these owners of well behaved dogs are courteous, and willing and able to control the dog with voice command. Should the leash law be seriously enforced (police actually giving tickets) in your city?

Answer 1

I HATE it when people allow their dogs to run loose! If AC would enforce leash laws it would have a positive effect on dog attacks and unwanted litters. Many attacks happen after the dog has been reported to AC numerous times for wandering, and AC does nothing. Many dogs make their own breeding decisions loose on the street, resulting in unwanted litters. They should ENFORCE the leash laws with huge fines and court appearances! It would take care of most of our current dog problems.

Dogs charge at us all the time when we go for walks, so much so that I wait for the cold weather to walk. Even if the loose dog is friendly, the owners have no idea if other dogs are. One of mine is NOT fond of strange dogs charging at us, not that I can blame her.

I do have mine offlead when we are actively working, otherwise they are onlead. If I have one offlead, I know, without a doubt, that I have voice control no matter what would happen. Unfortunately, MANY people think they have voice control when they really do not, they are usually screaming frantically at their dog as he charging us!

Answer 2

In my country,its against the Law for not leashing your dog while walking them in the public. For some larger or 'dangerous' species, it is also required to muzzle them in public.

Should one take the chance of not leashing and an attack were to happen, the owner would be sued in court big time !!
If caught without leash by Park Rangers, they will not hesitate to issue a ticket.

We are talking about the safety and comfort of the general public. There will always be others not comfortable with a free roaming dog, however friendly or small it may be. The park is a public place for all to relax and enjoy, certainly not just for a few irresponsible dog owners to free-roam their pet-dog.

Some larger dogs like Huskies love to chase toddlers, thinking that they are preys. That freaks many parents too...

It is the owner's responsibilities to leash and control their dogs in public. The dog may be trained, but the public may not know or able to differentiate one that is well trained or otherwise. The sight of a leash would provide some sense of security and comfort that the dog is under control by the owner.

Picking up after their dog is also part of the respect owners should give to other park users...No one likes to step or sit on dog's poo-poo.

I have a chihuahua, I always leash my little one when we go for a walk in the park....even though this chap is the smallest in the K9 family...

Answer 3

I think all dogs should be leashed no matter what bread, Like they say, it's better to be safe than sorry. I had a friend who's dog bit her friend in the face. The dog was friendly, not the bitting type. At the time this happened the girl friend was arguing with her boyfriend on the phone. I guess she got kinda hyper and out of control because when my friend tried to touch her to comfort her she snaped and pushed her away. The dog being protective of my friend attacked the girl. Sometimes things happen that cause the dog to react, it's called animal instinct. Because of this, I feel all dogs, except for maybe toy dogs, should be leased.

Answer 4

I have 2 dogs. One of them can be trusted without a leash and the other one cant. But they are still always both on a leash. I dont know about tickets. Well tickets for the dogs causing problems. Warnings at 1st for the people with good dogs.

Answer 5

Yes, it should be enforced. Even though some drivers are better than others, the speed limit laws apply to everyone. Personally, I don't feel comfortable when an unleashed dog is around. The owner may feel that the dog is perfectly under control, but strangers don't know that. And any dog can behave unpredictably, given the right circumstances.

Answer 6

I am a dog owner, and I do feel that leash-laws should apply to all dogs and owners. It's for the safety of the dog as much as it is for the safety of other people. Even a well-trained dog can run into the street and get hit by a car. Even a normally gentle, well-behaved dog can snap.

Answer 7

I think a dog should be properly trained, and in a safe enviroment, before being allowed off leash. I have a dog, who is terrified of the leash, therefore never has to have one. But she's very well trained.

I also volunteer with an animal rescue, who recently had one of our foster dogs get attacked by a dog that was wandering around. He had to have surgery, and he had a spinal crack, which luckily didn't cause paralysis.

Two different experiences with dogs off-leash.

Answer 8

I have a problem with a dog down our street that runs free. It likes to steel stuff out of people yards and all the neighborhood dogs bark at it. It is also hard to walk my dog because it will follow you and you turn around and its there and my dog wants to be friends with it and pulls on the leash and drags me after her. This dog is also aggresive and I'm worried it will bite someone someday. We tried to do something about it but nobody will. I do seriously think that they should enforce the leash law because it not only protects us it protects them in case they do run out into the street.

Answer 9

If you have taken the time and put forth the effort to train a dog PROPERLY, then you can take it off leash anywhere you want, without a problem. The question is, "how much trust do you have in that dog?" Do you trust him enough to recall him off of a group of other dogs and him to respond? That is a trained dog. My sport dog has to work off leash because as soon as you get in the ring the assistant will ask you for your dog's leash and collar, and you better hand them over. The dog has to perform complicated exercises without any hint of physical control from the handler. It all depends on you and how much work you have done on your dog and how much confidence you have in him. People without control of their dogs and those that allow their dogs to run free should get arrested for animal abuse.

Answer 10

It just depends on how behaved the dog is. Some dogs can go w/o leashes and not bother the people but so should be on leashes so nothing bad happens.