because i wont.....?

Question

...let my 2 greys ( 1 i have had since last thursday)off the lead when out walking i have just been told im cruel!! can u believe it? one of my greys retired last oct and my new one has never raced,they are sight hounds and thats what they are bred to do...chase, i no im not cruel in keeping them off the lead so why do so many people judge you about the way you choose to walk your dog? the lady who commented to me today has a grey who she has had a year and is scared stiff of other dogs and little kids and she has started to walk him on an extended lead so she can let him off in time coz she says thats how dogs should b ? but in my eyes that doesnt include dogs that have been bred to chase, Do people think im wrong in NOT letting my 2 greys walk off the lead? your coments plz thanx xx

my 1st grey has had one good run off the lead at the track i got her from she is due to go again in a few weeks along with the newest member of the clan they both live very happily with my yorkie so thank you everyone for you comments..keep em coming, i need to no im not going mad..tho the situation has infuriated me some wot!!!

Answer 1

having had one of my beautiful persian cats torn apart(literally)by two greyhounds,I feel you are being very reponsible by keeping them on the lead,these dogs have been bred/taught to chase,they are very beautiful dogs,and do not need as much exercise as some would think,they like nothing more than snuggling up in an armchair for a good sleep,
the woman in my case also thought it was cruel to keep them on the lead,uum my poor cat was not killed outright,all in all from start of attack to moment she died it took just under one hour,that was with the attack,and with our beating the dogs off of her,and getting her to a vet,which is crueller allowing her the slow lingering death,or to keep the dogs on a lead or muzzled,I know which I prefer,these two dogs also killed an old ladies poodle in the park behind my house,sadly because of all the owners irresponsible handling of her dogs,one of her neighbours laced dog food with rat poison and threw it over her fence,they too had slow and lingering death,
Wendy

Answer 2

Never let a sighthound off a lead unless your in an area which is surrounded by a fence too high for them to jump,remember if they are chasing something a greyhound sized sighthound can easily jump any fence/wall less than 6 feet high.

Even if they normally come when called they will ignore you if they see something to chase.They have great eyesight and any moving creature within about a mile will draw their attention and may be chased.

Letting them run loose in unfenced areas can lead to them getting lost,hit by cars or killing wild animals or worse still other peoples animals.

Use a strong extendable lead meant for large dogs and a greyhound collar(wider than a normal collar for most of it's length so if they pull towards something they don't choke themselves.)Watch them and lock the extendable lead the second they start to look like they are going to run at something-if you let them get the lead to full length while running they will be jerked to a stop and can hurt their necks because by then they will be going quite fast.

Sighthounds make wonderful pets as they are so affectionate and graceful but they are a responsibility as the have a very high prey drive.They don't need as much exercise as people think as they are sprinters not distance runners so a short run in a fenced area or garden and a long walk on a lead is fine for them.

Answer 3

I think it is more cruel to walk a dog OFF a leash!!! There are so many reasons to keep your dog on a leash, especially grey hounds. No matter how well behaved your dog is, and how well they know their commands, sometimes instincts just Take Over. If one of your dogs saw a bunny, they will probably chase it, and not even think twice about it. This could land them in a LOT of trouble. That bunny could take them out into the road, and they could get hit by a car. And because they are grey hounds there is no way you would be able to catch up to them. This is my biggest fear, when i get a dog he will NEVER be allowed off leash if he is not confined in a fenced in area. And not only that, but a lot of people don't appreciate it when dogs are walked off leash. My mom is terrified of big dogs, and even though a dog may be nice, she has no idea, and get VERY uncomfortable when a dog is walked off leash. And a dog might love kids, but if a dog wanders up to a kid that doesn't know how to properly play with a dog, it might accidentally hurt the dog, and the dog might bite it out of self defense. I think walking your dogs ON leash all the time is the most responsible thing to do, and it shows that you actually care for your dog, and do not want them to get hurt.

Answer 4

You're not being cruel because you use a leash. Before letting any animal run free, one should check with the city and county laws about 'leash laws'. A lot of cities and counties require the animal be under constant control while out walking. Plus the fact that in controlling the animals while walking, you could also be saving its life. It won't be able to chase whatever catches its attention, OR cause a car wreck because it decides to dash across the street.
The other woman that let's her animal run unleashed could be in for serious law suits should her dog run across the street and cause an accident. Or, pity the poor dog, get hit by the car and be killed or permanently disabled.
You're in the right on this one.

Answer 5

Wow.

Where I live, we have leash laws. You would be fined if you walked your dogs off lead! Personally, I don't think you are cruel for wanting to follow the laws and protect your pups from darting after a squirrel and possibly into the path of an oncoming car!

As long as your dogs do get some time to run around and play off-leash (whether they're greyhounds or not, all dogs should have this opportunity!) there's not a thing wrong with it.

Answer 6

No, you are not being cruel. Most people with sight hounds say not to let you dogs off leash unless you are in an enclosed area. A sighthound will chase anything that interests them, and because they are so fast, they can be gone in an instant. It is much more cruel to let a dog run where ever it wants and get hit by a car than to not. I recommend finding a nice place (maybe a dog park or doggie day care) where you can let them run in a fenced in area.

Answer 7

No dog, regardless of breed and function, should be allowed off-lead unless it is in a confined space (like a yard or dog run) and they are being supervised at all times.
Especially in your case, though, you're correct in ALWAYS keeping your greyhound on a lead. They are sight hounds and are predatory by nature. They're very touch sensitive, but are NOT at all noise sensitive when they are in hunting mode. What's that mean? Well, if your dog gets a glimpse of a squirrel while off-lead ... gone. You will not be able to catch him (trust me, you won't) and no matter how much calling and yelling you do, your dog won't even hear it. That's how they were bred, to function as independent hunters. Keep your dog on a lead, you're doing the right thing!

Answer 8

Well behaved dogs can walk off the lead but there are many city ordinances that say they have to be on the lead on a public sidewalk.
The woman who said it was cruel, well just don't pay attention to those types, they are part of the thought police who just get into everyone's business with no real reason, they are all a bit psycho.

Answer 9

You are not being cruel! I am sick of people who do let their dogs off the lead/leash and who then terrorise other people's dogs! Dogs should be kept under control unless in a fenced in area- and I also think that aggressive dogs should be muzzled by their owners in public parks. This is coming from someone with two pugs who we have to pick up in the air when anotehr dog comes bounding over- with the owner nowhere in sight!

Answer 10

I used to get the same comment using child reins on my toddler. People said I was treating him 'like a dog'. They weren't wrong - I don't let my dog run on to the road either!
Wherever you go you are going to offend someone, and if you're unlucky it'll be one of those people who think nothing of telling you what to do.
I recently answered a Q from a woman who was thinking of owning a rescued grey, and recommended a muzzle and long lead; I also mentioned they will hunt cats and small dogs and got several thumbs down.
You are being responsible to your dogs, plus other people and other pet owners. Don't worry, your dogs would be acting up if they were unhappy.