I get very uncomfortable because I don't know if the dog will suddenly be spooked by something and runs away. Or worse, attack someone.
I'm not keen on it.
The only time my dog is ever off the lead outside of our home is when he is swimming at our local canine recreation park, and even then, the minute I call him and he exits the water I put him back on his lead. Even though this area is a designated off-lead walking area my dog is never off his lead for his walks.
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I think it is very irresponsible. like you said they can get spooked and may run out in the street and get hit by a car or something, its for the safety of the dog they are kept on the leash. Some people just think they are to good to follow rules.
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I generally don't care THAT much. However, if it's obvious that the person is not in control of their dog, it does bother me. I don't put a leash on my dog when we walk across the street to get the mail, but I also don't let him move more than a few inches away from me.
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I think its actually illegal or not allowed in most places…
At parks, while playing, is an exception.
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Well if you have properly trained your dog to be calm and submissive then it probably wouldn't attack someone or run away cause they would come back once you call if they're trained good.
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In my county (not sure about the whole state), its illegal. We have strict leash laws. I also live on a military base (with even stricter leash "laws"), so its a double whammy. I quite literally have NEVER seen anyone walking their dog without a leash.
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That is terrible!
What kind of dog would be that irresponsible, to walk their human without a leash?
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i don't mind if the dog is well behaved and properly trained. In fact i often see a dude in my neighborhood walking his pomeranian without a leash.
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I have not come across it in the streets, which thankfully is good as my dog gets completely spooked if another dog runs up to him, at dog parks or the pony club I dont mind as the ones I go to, the owners leash up their dogs when another dog is near.
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depends greatly on how much control you have over your dog,
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Even the most well-trained dog can be unpredictable. You never know what could happen.
I personally wouldn't take a chances, I try not to gamble with my dog's life.
I live in the country and there is an older couple that lives at the end of my road. They own a beagle, who is always off-leash and does really well with it. I have two large dogs. They are both trained and would walk next to me, but I'm too fearful so I leash them.
The man always asks me, "Have you ever tried taking them off-leash to walk them?"
One of my mutts could easily be mistaken for a deer. If she went off chasing something into the woods, she could be shot. It wouldn't matter if I bought one of those orange coats for her, hunters hate dogs that are let loose and chase their game. I've heard many say they will shoot any dog they see in the woods. I'm not taking my chances.
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Usually, I'm pretty impressed. In my neighborhood, I don't ever see people walking a dog off-leash that don't have total control over the dog. I mean, the dog will be following them, not leading, etc.
I wish I could trust my dog off leash! She's way too into squirrels, though.
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Not a fan of people having there dogs on a leash only if they are walking them. It could be dangerous, especially a dog like a pitbull, i wouldn't like to see them off the lead, definitely not.
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It depends where I am at if I will let my Dachshund off leash. She is an awesome obedience dog so no worries there. I don't walk her off leash on/by/or near the road because she is little and someone might not see her. When I do walk on the trail in the woods by my house (which no hunting is done on) or if I take a trip to the lake I will let her off leash since she doesn't even wonder away from me but sticks strait to my side.
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I'm not keen on it.
The only time my dog is ever off the lead outside of our home is when he is swimming at our local canine recreation park, and even then, the minute I call him and he exits the water I put him back on his lead. Even though this area is a designated off-lead walking area my dog is never off his lead for his walks.
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The only time I have my dog off leash is if I am walking trails deep in the woods. She never runs off and stays right by my side. Other than that I keep her on the leash when I am out in public
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Since I am a dog trainer, I would never tell a pet parent they are irresponsible if they walk their dog off leash, I just tell them it is not safe. You never know what will spook your dog to run off!
I work at Petsmart and we have dog adoptions and many of these dogs that are adopted were either left by their owners who lost their house or the dog ran off……
Leash train them so that you are walking the dog instead of the dog walking you…..
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Some people have sufficient control over their dogs to walk them off the leash. But that doesn't make it safe for that dog. When I'm walking my leashed greyhound, and see a small dog (one small enough to be mistaken for a rabbit, or other prey) off the leash, it scares me to death because of what my very calm gentle dog will do by its nature if that small dog comes too close – and she'll do it without aggression, growling, or warning.
If something like that were to happen, I'd feel terrible, but not very guilty. It would be the owner's fault for disobeying the leash law, and common sense.
In urban/suburban areas, all dogs must be leashed.
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