You may have read my previous entry about Quinny being attacked by an off-leash dog.
That event inspired me to educate others why it is so important to keep our dogs on-leash.
Here are the top 5 reasons why we all should keep our dogs on leash except in specially designated areas:
#5 – It’s The Law
Repeat this motto: “Leashless slackers meet dog catchers”
Odds are it’s against the law for you to have your dog off leash, no matter how well-behaved they are. Even if your state doesn’t have a specific leash law, chances are your city or county does. Breaking this law might not seem like a big deal until you have to explain why an animal control or police car is sitting in front of your house.
#4 – Irresistible Temptations
SQUIRREL!
You might take your dog off leash 1,000 times without a problem. But your dog is still a dog, and you can’t predict which temptation might be their undoing.
Skunk? Dead bird carcass? Unspayed female dog? Screaming small child? There are a lot of attractive nuisances in our neighborhoods.
All of us have fallen to temptation at one point or another, eating too many potato chips, or staying up too late watching television. If we can’t always control our behavior, how can we expect our pets to do the same?
#3 – Liability
You are liable for your dog’s actions. What if your friendly off-leash dog approaches a child with a life-threatening dog allergy? You don’t want to know the number of figures at stake in that lawsuit.
A leash provides emergency control over your pet. Bad things are simply more likely to happen if your dog is running loose. A court may feel letting your dog off-leash shows a reckless lack of concern for those around you. If something goes wrong, you could find yourself in a lot of hot water.
#2 – Protecting your dog
Even if your dog has perfect recall and you can control their every move from 100 feet away – you can’t control the world around them.
Online resources encourage people to carry pepper spray to prevent dog attacks. A lot of people just don’t know how to read a dog’s body language. They may mace your dog in the face in an attempt to protect themselves.
The leash is there to protect your dog from the world as much as it’s there to protect the world from your dog.
#1 – Setting a good example
In my experience, people think it’s okay to let their dogs off-leash because they see other people doing it too.
It makes sense that if someone sees your well-behaved dog off-leash in the neighborhood, they may think it’s okay for their dog too.
But inappropriately trained dogs running loose aren’t good for anyone.
As good pet owners, we should set a good example and keep our dogs on lead.
Use these 5 simple reasons to keep us and our dogs safer.
Comment below with your own stories about your encounters with off-leash dogs, and why you think all dogs should be on-leash, or not.
Here is a great flowchart Jenny Williams of ShouldILeashMyDog.com inspired by Dogs In Need of Space (DINOS), and then introduced to me through Jessica Dolce’s blog Notes from a Dog Walker.
The next blogs in this series will include:
1. What can you do to prevent your dog from accidentally get off-leash?
2. What can you do if you encounter an off-leash dog?
Stay tuned!
I’ve encountered so many people who have their dogs off of leashes while I’ve been out walking our dog who is never off his leash.Their dog has come running towards our dog and when I yell get your dog they se like they don’t care. 3 times now our dog has been attacked and now isn’t good with larger dogs.Peole say oh mine is ok with other dogs and I tell them well mine isn’t so please put your dog on his leash.Or they say mine isn’t good with other dogs and I ask them then why do you not have him on a leash.Some dogs peole I just don’t know where their heads are at or if they even think.Inslso wish dog owners would clean up after their dogs.
I’m with you, I get very frustrated about owners not picking up after their dogs either. As a vet I know how dangerous that is to everybody’s health! My dream is that someday everyone will feel the same way we do.
Would you be OK if we used your blog to help remind park visitors to leash their dogs in the parks?
Yes – I know you’ll give appropriate credit etc. Were you thinking of sharing it on facebook or on one of the main park websites?
[…] difference in the lives of pets and the people who love them. This article was first posted on On January 13, 2014 on Vet Changes World. leash […]
I have a rescue chihuahua who is fear aggressive with other dogs, especially really big ones. One day we were walking out of my apartment, with him on leash of course, and out of nowhere came this huge pointer barreling around the corner, alone, no leash. It scared the bejeezus out of me and my little guy went nuts. His owner came casually walking behind him and said, “He’s friendly!” I said, a bit loudly, “Mine’s not!” He kind of looked a me, and I asked how “friendly” his dog would stay if he was getting bitten on the legs. He still didn’t seem to get it.
I’ve had my clients come in with little dogs who get picked up and shaken – sometimes fatally – by dogs in this exact same kind of situation. Very scary. All the more reason for us to make sure we apply positive peer pressure to other pet owners.
[…] http://www.vetchangesworld.com/5-reasons-your-dog-should-be-on-a-leash/ […]
I run a self serve dog wash and require all dogs to be on the leash. Basically we follow the same rules as what Vets have established for acceptable manners. We figured if vets require owners to keep dogs on a leash then it must be a very good idea and for great reason(s).
Wish you would have mentioned about going places in public. So many dogs owners come into our shop with either 1. on a leash but they let it go as soon as they get into the shop, or they come in with no leash, OR they folllow the rules until they are finished with the bath and then let their dog out of the tub to run around everywhere.
Totally do not understand, how they know to follow that rule at all times at the vet and some how they forget at our shop. Some people even seem put off or out when we ask them to leash their dog or hold onto the leash. We are all about “fun” but we are not a park bark. We take pride in running a responsible shop for dogs, and “YES we know your dog is nice, but we don’t want your NICE dog to walk up to another dog that may not be.” Why don’t people understand that it is also about making people who may have a dog who is uncomfortable around other dogs comfortable. We want everyone to come in and not feel stressed or worried. In this situation, having dogs on leashes and in control of them creates a better relaxed vibe.
HECK, big chain pet stores make you keep dogs on a leash and in control of them.
If you ever address this again, or create a great infographic again please put examples of pet friendly shops. We love dogs, but we must have rules just the same.
Thank you for the great article.
Absolutely. At our practice clients sometimes try and do this too. We focus on that “other” pet that might come in too. I will definitely let you know if I put together more information on this topic. Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for commenting!
The best-behaved dogs can react unpredictably in new situation, especially if they’re scared. even if you’re alone om the tril / river / lake,others can show up and children.
My dog was killed by an off-leash dog five years ago. It altered my life in ways I can’t count.
I’m so sorry to hear that.