Off Leash Dogs
Some of you may remember Marley has some female aggression issues which we are working on and she is getting better - but still. So here I am with my two on leads having to yell back at this woman - who ends up having a second dog on lead - "we'll she isn't". It all got sorted out fairly quickly but before it was done Marley did start her barking at the pit bull (who had by then invaded Marley's space along with the other dog on lead and the woman) There was also a man with a third dog on lead who was clearly in command of the group - the third dog not the guy 
We went on to have a pleasant hike - but its very frustrating to be constantly working to correct this situation and no matter where we go we run into brainless people. Am I wrong to expect that if you don't have a good recall on your dog you don't let them off leash unless they are in your own fenced in yard? |
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| Absolutely not. I've run into this situation before and on more than one occasion I've asked why they felt like the rules do not apply to their dogs. It's frustrating when you're doing the right thing and other jerks mess up your efforts. |
| I have to deal with this all the time, I actually don't take Walter to the forest preserve anymore because of all the dogs off leash. It sucks because people get mad at me because my dog is not friendly, but I have him leashed and under control!
I've been thinking about getting Wally a shirt that says "I bite" so people don't let their dogs/kids wander towards him. |
| Marley doesn't bite - at least I don't think she does I always have her under control. But she does make a lot of noise!
When I posted this I forgot that Saturday night the dogs were in the back yard - we have an invisible fence and Marley was whining (not her thing Morgan is a whiner). The kid (late teens early 20's ) up for the weekend at the house behind us was whistling to her. He stopped, I went around the front of the house to mow and heard her bark - this "kid" was walking up to the yard holding something out in his hand and calling her. Of course Morgan the couch was nappping away but Marley started barking. I told the kid it wasn't a good idea and he has the nerve to ask me "what isn't she friendly?". I wanted to say "she is really friendly, just not to stupid people", but settled for a rather incongruous "She's behind a FENCE" (I kept the you idiot part to myself!) |
Lil Walty wrote: I've been thinking about getting Wally a shirt that says "I bite" so people don't let their dogs/kids wander towards him. How about one of those big basket muzzles? They look like they don't interfere with the dog's breathing or comfort (other than having something on their face).
While it's other people's fault, and it's commendable that you've given up going to a place I imagine you'd like to go to protect them, maybe you can still go if Lil Walty will tolerate the muzzle??!?? |
| I know what you mean-- Harley is very good with people, and good with most dogs, but with some dogs he just goes berserk, so I could never off-leash him. As soon as I would, there would be a dog that set him off.
The off-leash thing is something I especially have problems with at my parents house (not quite country, but close). Just because these people don't live in town, they think they don't have to keep their dogs on a tie-out or behind a fence. I was walking Harley on the road, on a leash, and a mastiff and a rottweiler came charging us growling and barking-- they weren't playing. Granted, Harley was barking and growling back. I really don't know who started it, but all the owner was doing was calling her dogs back (who obviously couldn't hear her). Talk about one of the scariest times in my life. When I was younger and still living with my parents, I took our Shih Tzu for a walk, and same thing (except different house, only one rottweiler, but I never walked the dog there again). I just refuse to walk Harley at my parents' house anymore. Where we live in another town (city-ish), I've never had an off-leash issue, so I just assumed it was a living out in the country thing where people think those rules don't apply to their dogs, but maybe there are not-so-smart people everywhere. |
| When there's a leash law, the dog is supposed to be on a leash. It is NOT too much to ask that people follow the law and keep constant control of their dog.
When I've had my Schipperke-mix out, there have been a couple of times that people hollered to me that their off-leash dog doesn't bite. I follow a vet's advice and holler back, "MINE DOES!". It usually gets them moving to leash their dog. All it takes is one failed recall to have a problem... either in loosing the dog or having it killed by a car. You know how well police dogs are trained... even they loose their dog on occasion when let off during a search- http://www.record-eagle.com/2007/jan/09missing.htm I love my dogs too much to let them off-leash in an unsecured area. One of our trainers had taken Meesha and Maggie out during a doggie daycare adventure. They had them on long leads but let them drag them on the ground behind them. A ruffed grouse scared Meesha and she took off... they couldn't catch her. Luckily, she was sitting on the porch when they returned. I give the trainer credit for telling us because we never would have known but it was the last time any of them spent the day at that center.  |
kerry wrote: I told the kid it wasn't a good idea and he has the nerve to ask me "what isn't she friendly?".
When strangers come to my door (sales people, etc) and ask if my dogs bite I respond with "Well, they don't bite me". I just don't feel comfortable with that question. Maybe I've seen too many movies but I feel if I say "no, they're as friendly as can be" I might as well add "we'll be gone from 10 - 2 tomorrow...why don't you come over and help yourself to my valuables!"  |
| As I was 30 miles away, calling my home town Fire Department and sending the EMTs into my locked house to get to my semi-conscious diabetic wife, I told them I had a 106 pound dog in there. (He was my big dominant intact dog.)
"Does he bite?" "Not yet, but nobody has ever broken into the house with him there before." When I got to the house he had been put in the garage, a place where we would never allow him to be alone. He had been well behaved. Good thing I didn't have any rat poison out there. |
MissingMurphy wrote: When strangers come to my door (sales people, etc) and ask if my dogs bite I respond with "Well, they don't bite me". I just don't feel comfortable with that question.
I feel that way, too. It is an uncomfortable question. I really can't guarantee what they'll do. History tells me that they'll be fine but you never know how someone is going to affect them. In the home is much different than being out, too. Bear and Clyde are so protective of me, it's just not something I want to test, especially in their territory. Bear, in particular is so in tune with when I don't like someone and makes no effort to hide it. I like that I have a guardian but, for that reason, I'm very cautious with him as well. However, when we're out on walks and other places, guess who has become the kid lover out of my group? Bear! We see kids on the street and he wants to greet them and snuggles right up for hugs and love. He gets so happy as soon as he sees them. He starts prancing and his tail wags like crazy. He's very gentle and leans up against them so they can put their arms around them. It's so cute to see such a giant beast be calmed by children.  |
ButtersStotch wrote: Bear and Clyde are so protective of me, it's just not something I want to test, especially in their territory. Bear, in particular is so in tune with when I don't like someone and makes no effort to hide it. I like that I have a guardian but, for that reason, I'm very cautious with him as well.
This is EXACTLY how Merlin is with me...ALL the time, on leash, off leash, at home, at the park. The only places he doesn't do this is at the vets or the groomers. At both those places he is the nicest dog ever. But since I can't trust how he will react, I stopped taking him out, every one wants to see a sheepie here they are very rare and I frankly can't trust how he will behave. So he has to settle for running in our 11 acre field with Avalon and Scarlet |
kerry wrote: He stopped, I went around the front of the house to mow and heard her bark - this "kid" was walking up to the yard holding something out in his hand and calling her. Of course Morgan the couch was nappping away but Marley started barking. I told the kid it wasn't a good idea and he has the nerve to ask me "what isn't she friendly?". I wanted to say "she is really friendly, just not to stupid people", but settled for a rather incongruous "She's behind a FENCE" (I kept the you idiot part to myself!)
We have an invisible fence too and I am amazed the number of people who try and call our dogs to them from across the street, which really makes me mad, because obviously they are calling them into the street. I usually just end up saying "please don't call my dogs" and that ends it. Not sure what these goofballs are thinking. |
VerveUp wrote: We have an invisible fence too and I am amazed the number of people who try and call our dogs to them from across the street, which really makes me mad, because obviously they are calling them into the street. I usually just end up saying "please don't call my dogs" and that ends it. Not sure what these goofballs are thinking.
That's insane! And they probably just attribute it to you being mean when they are being really idiotic and unsafe. |
Valerie wrote: VerveUp wrote: We have an invisible fence too and I am amazed the number of people who try and call our dogs to them from across the street, which really makes me mad, because obviously they are calling them into the street. I usually just end up saying "please don't call my dogs" and that ends it. Not sure what these goofballs are thinking. That's insane! And they probably just attribute it to you being mean when they are being really idiotic and unsafe. If adults try calling across the street, I'm pretty curt, and if they think I'm mean that's fine, because I look at it as they are putting the dogs at risk. If kids call them, I am much nicer about it.  At least the dogs know better than to even dare try it! |
MissingMurphy wrote: kerry wrote: I told the kid it wasn't a good idea and he has the nerve to ask me "what isn't she friendly?". When strangers come to my door (sales people, etc) and ask if my dogs bite I respond with "Well, they don't bite me". I just don't feel comfortable with that question. Maybe I've seen too many movies but I feel if I say "no, they're as friendly as can be" I might as well add "we'll be gone from 10 - 2 tomorrow...why don't you come over and help yourself to my valuables!" When I answer the door, Violet ALWAYS accomanies me. People will ask if she will bite and I always say "Animals are unpredictable." and I leave it at that. I NEVER say she won't because I don't want them to feel comfortable coming around the house.....my sercurity force lol! |
Ron wrote: Lil Walty wrote: I've been thinking about getting Wally a shirt that says "I bite" so people don't let their dogs/kids wander towards him. How about one of those big basket muzzles? They look like they don't interfere with the dog's breathing or comfort (other than having something on their face).While it's other people's fault, and it's commendable that you've given up going to a place I imagine you'd like to go to protect them, maybe you can still go if Lil Walty will tolerate the muzzle??!?? I have a basket muzzle for him that I used when he was really unpredictable. I found that him feeling restrained in any way makes him freak out.. and believe it or not the most I've ever been scared of my dog was when I was trying to train him with that muzzle on. He is a big boy and not afraid to knock people/dogs down! I have been thinking of giving it another try though... if it worked out it would really expand where I could take the big lug! |
| I would try the basket muzzle, and then go do something he REALLY likes. By association he will come to see the muzzle as a sign he gets to do something fun.
I did that with my basset Simon and his hats. When I got them he hated them - pawed them, did nose dives to the floor and along couches to get them off. I got the hats for his therapy dog visits. He learned real quick that the hat went on and he was going to a visit! It was actually amazing how quick he made the connection. (and this was with a 7 yr old basset - imagine how quick a younger OES would learn!!  ) |
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