Too often when I take my dogs out for a walk there are far too many dogs that we encounter that are off leash. Having a Great Dane and a Jug (Jack Russell/Pug) there is a bit of a size difference between the two. When we encounter dogs off leash and they want to come meet my dogs who are on leashes it makes for a very tangled encounter. My Great Dane has also been attacked by many off leash dogs while walking on our very beautiful town trails that are just a minute away from our home. I have since had to stop walking Him on those trails. We have been forced to the busy city side walks. But even there we are not even safe there from "at large dogs." I have to say that I completely understand where some people are coming from when they let their dogs off leash because the are well behaved and stay with them. Growing up on a farm in the country I remember myself taking family walks and our big muts that we had would walk leash free by our sides. I have to point out the huge difference between doing that in a country environment and the busy city. In the country there is less commotion and less chance of encountering others when walking. How ever in the city you encounter others every few feet it seems. When walking your dog you should always have them leashed for two main reasons, to protect others and to protect your dog.
There is a time and a place for your dog to be off leash. At a dog park, and in the safety of your back yard. When you take your dog off leash while walking on the sidewalks or even other heavily populated trails you are putting your dog at the most risk of danger. When your dog is off leash you have very little control of what your dog will/can do and what can get to them. The main reason I use a leash is to protect my dog. I know my dog is very friendly with others, however I NEVER know what someone's dog is capable of. Too many times I have been walking my dog and a dog off leash will rush away from the control of their owner and approach my dog. Several times they have come right to attack and I can only control my dog. I walk my Great Dane with a halti, so He has been rendered helpless through many attacks. The owners are "dumb stricken" when they finally are able to catch up that their dog reacted that way. I have heard it MANY times. They will immediately leash their dog, however a day later we will encounter the same dog and owner walking without being leashed. People need to understand that dogs are, at the end of the day capable of many things you would never imagine your dog doing. Many people put their dog on a leash because they are not friendly and will have off leash dogs approach them, putting that owner in a horrible position. And that owner was doing the right thing and keeping their dog leashed.
Often many times a dog will see a critter across the street or another dog and could very well run across the street and get hit by a car or cause an accident. No one wants the death of someone's beloved dog on their conscience. No other dog owner wants their dog to hurt another dog. But when you do not leash your dog you are putting so many others at risk of being hurt. It doesnt matter the size or breed of your dog, you should always have them leashed when not in the safety of your home/backyard.
When you bring a dog into your family it is your responsibility to care for them and make sure nothing bad happens to them. Keeping them leashed while away from the security of your home will ensure a safer environment for your dog. If you want to take them out and have a leash free experience, try the dog park. But always remember that even at a dog park where there are many other off leash dogs, there can be problems. By knowing how to read the environment that the current dogs that are there are portraying you can safely make the decision if that pack is a good match for your dog. Keep your dog leashed so that you can keep your dog and every other dog safe.
