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BernieforPres2016

(3,017 posts)

172. I'm a dog owner (have been for over 15 years) and I think you're dead wrong

Reply to togetherforever (Original post)

Fri Feb 26, 2016, 11:34 PM

Feb 2016

A person has a right to walk their dog or dogs on a leash without having to worry about one or more dogs running up to them off leash and possibly starting a fight. Or maybe their dogs are aggressive, or timid, and they want to keep them away from other dogs. They have that right! The world doesn't revolve around you and your dogs!

There is an uneven social dynamic between a dog that is on leash and a dog that is off leash. The one off leash is able to run around and sniff while the one on leash is constrained.

I have a male golden retriever who is as friendly as can be. He wants to greet every dog and person he sees. However, he is an unaltered male and at least half of the dogs that we see out on walks or hiking in the woods are aggressive toward him. I wish I had a dollar for every person who said of their approaching off leash dog "Don't worry, he's friendly", just before their dog growled and snapped at my dog.

In 2014, an off leash Irish Wolfhound that weighs 160 pounds saw my dog (who weighs 70 pounds) on leash, ran toward us and tried to attack. I kept my back turned to the Wolfhound and had my arms out trying to block him and protect my dog. My dog got turned around, then whirled around and blindly bit me in the arm as he was trying to defend himself from the Wolfhound. It was a nasty bite that required a trip to the hospital and took weeks to heal. The owner of the dog said he didn't see what happened (even though he was looking right at it) and that his dog was NEVER aggressive. All he got from the police was a warning ticket for having his dog off leash and out of his control.

When your dogs are off leash and bother somebody else's dog that is on a leash, the only appropriate thing to do in my opinion is to apologize profusely and get your dogs on leash. Better yet, unless you're out somewhere without any dogs or people around, or in an off leash dog park, keep your dogs on a leash.

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Dog owners please enter . Am I wrong about what happened today?? [View all] togetherforever Feb 2016 OP

Walk away .... she is crazy and there is nothing you can do about it. Botany Feb 2016 #1

lol togetherforever Feb 2016 #10

My dog is not friendly toward other dogs. Their leashes are for their protection, not his. I don't Ed Suspicious Feb 2016 #2

I agree with you barbiegeek Feb 2016 #13

Same situation here. Sienna86 Feb 2016 #38

Same here too. I dread it when I see an off-leash dog coming toward us Bonn1997 Feb 2016 #89

Mine only exhibited aggression towards other dogs Aerows Feb 2016 #116

Keep your dogs leashed Aerows Feb 2016 #109

Yeah, Dobermans are something! The people down the street had one that was always getting loose bettyellen Feb 2016 #117

I will not apologize for owning one of the best dog breeds Aerows Feb 2016 #122

Well, they were careless about keeping him on a leash, and he was awful. But you are bettyellen Feb 2016 #124

Sorry to hear that :( Aerows Feb 2016 #126

No worries! It was actually funny afterwards because that dog kept after my damn ankle in bettyellen Feb 2016 #130

I forget that in New York Aerows Feb 2016 #131

this dog was a habitual offender, and it's owner thought it was hilarious. And we knew the whole bettyellen Feb 2016 #133

That is beyond irresponsible Aerows Feb 2016 #134

Thankfully the dog never went beyond nipping anyone. But yeah, there used to be some bettyellen Feb 2016 #136

My Doberman was not aggressive .. well not too aggressive Aerows Feb 2016 #113

I agree we have a Jack who thinks he is a Pit. unapatriciated Feb 2016 #156

Terriers are their own animals. That's for sure. Ed Suspicious Feb 2016 #198

I have the same thing...rescue dog who is not friendly with other dogs nadine_mn Feb 2016 #194

I have 3 rescue dogs and say keep them leashed. PonyUp Feb 2016 #3

I had a six foot fence Aerows Feb 2016 #112

It depends. Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2016 #4

Neutered I think you mean togetherforever Feb 2016 #14

It's a long going joke about circumcision, olive garden, breast feeding, and don't remember...n/t PonyUp Feb 2016 #17

No, circumcised. nt Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2016 #18

At Olive Garden? n/t PonyUp Feb 2016 #15

I bet they smoke. Nt msanthrope Feb 2016 #47

The drones detect them easier that way. n/t Aerows Feb 2016 #115

That's why I got my dog to vape instead jberryhill Feb 2016 #123

I read that vaping Aerows Feb 2016 #132

Just offhand... jberryhill Feb 2016 #142

That was a bullshit post in the vein of the ones before it. Aerows Feb 2016 #144

Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leash your posts jberryhill Feb 2016 #145

I'm a ma'am and Aerows Feb 2016 #147

Oh, sure jberryhill Feb 2016 #148

I'll use the one Aerows Feb 2016 #150

Well just don't bother my dog jberryhill Feb 2016 #151

... Aerows Feb 2016 #152

Classic!!! RobinA Feb 2016 #169

At a Hooters? A HERETIC I AM Feb 2016 #71

I would have put mine back on leash til she was gone. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Feb 2016 #5

exactly hfojvt Feb 2016 #44

And people who are scared amp up the fear in their own dogs truebluegreen Feb 2016 #138

I think you should keep an eye on them off leash. For their sakes, and others. bettyellen Feb 2016 #6

Agreed - see post 109 Aerows Feb 2016 #110

I have a friend with an extremely aggressive dog Kber Feb 2016 #7

What I really don't understand is why anyone would keep an extremely aggressive dog. SheilaT Feb 2016 #101

I've kept an extremely aggressive mother in law. KentuckyWoman Feb 2016 #114

I did for a while, but finally had to get rid of her jberryhill Feb 2016 #121

Dog aggressive is very different than aggressive. Aerows Feb 2016 #118

Small breed. Rescue dog Kber Feb 2016 #137

Well, if the dog is a rescue or pound animal, and the dog is reliable under control, Yo_Mama Feb 2016 #154

Maybe because you love that dog? cwydro Feb 2016 #182

Thank you for your response to me. SheilaT Feb 2016 #204

We often agree SheilaT. cwydro Feb 2016 #205

I really appreciate all the replies to me. SheilaT Feb 2016 #190

I had a dog who was aggressive to other dogs OnionPatch Feb 2016 #199

For 16 years, my brother kept an aggressive dog. ScreamingMeemie Feb 2016 #208

I agree with you. Aerows Feb 2016 #143

Well . . . Gamecock Lefty Feb 2016 #8

You handled it correctly. Euphoria Feb 2016 #9

well, one thing is for sure jberryhill Feb 2016 #11

This. nt msanthrope Feb 2016 #48

That's exactly correct. Dogs emulate the emotions being displayed by their humans. underahedgerow Feb 2016 #200

If you are in a town with a leash law, it applies everywhere in that town. mnhtnbb Feb 2016 #12

I'm going to guess where I was it doesn't because during the fall and winter togetherforever Feb 2016 #24

Yes, it probably doesn't, but you were in that situation, and that's the situation you asked Yo_Mama Feb 2016 #155

I would have put my dog on the leash until she was gone. demmiblue Feb 2016 #16

It is wrong to let dogs off leash where prohibited... SoLeftIAmRight Feb 2016 #19

If there is a leash law in place exboyfil Feb 2016 #20

Why Is Everybody Afraid RobinA Feb 2016 #77

A friend who trains dogs advised me Ilsa Feb 2016 #102

Think about that advice for a moment.... jberryhill Feb 2016 #120

He didn't say "be afraid," he said to consider Ilsa Feb 2016 #164

I guess I'm neither safe, or sorry. pintobean Feb 2016 #165

I grew up around dogs. I am generally okay with them. BUT MH1 Feb 2016 #207

I don't trust everyone with an unleashed dog to be aware of their dog's "friendliness level." ScreamingMeemie Feb 2016 #210

If I had a nickel for every "my dogs are friendly, they listen, they always come back!" I've heard Brickbat Feb 2016 #21

and ... hfojvt Feb 2016 #52

Yeah, I hate that. Arugula Latte Feb 2016 #61

Yep! laundry_queen Feb 2016 #180

A woman I know breeds Great Danes as service dogs. ScreamingMeemie Feb 2016 #212

Do the leash laws apply in the area where you were walking your dogs? If so, you were in the wrong. Arkansas Granny Feb 2016 #22

I don't want to say that I'm 100% sure that the area is a leash required or not togetherforever Feb 2016 #26

It's pretty easy to find out whether your town--and/or county--has a leash law. mnhtnbb Feb 2016 #29

I think I might have misunderstood your question togetherforever Feb 2016 #33

Hunting and working dogs are often written in as exceptions. Brickbat Feb 2016 #36

Leash laws are usually local ordinances and apply to public property. mnhtnbb Feb 2016 #43

Okay I did some googling and this what I came up with togetherforever Feb 2016 #62

In that case, you both might have been trespassing! mnhtnbb Feb 2016 #79

Oh no I would never go if the place was posted with no trespassing togetherforever Feb 2016 #88

Ding ding ding ding.... jberryhill Feb 2016 #94

Dogs should be on a leash Major Nikon Feb 2016 #85

If you weren't 100% sure, then you should have had them on a leash. kcr Feb 2016 #92

If something does happen you risk someone getting hurt, having your dog put down, & dr/legal fees.nt PonyUp Feb 2016 #23

Leash them when there's other dogs around or approaching Arazi Feb 2016 #25

My dog (75 pounds of chocolate lab puppy) is on a leash unless he is on our property peacebird Feb 2016 #27

Good doggy! A HERETIC I AM Feb 2016 #69

He's over 6years old and not slowing down in the least! peacebird Feb 2016 #80

Sounds like you were being responsible, BUT DirkGently Feb 2016 #28

I understand why someone would be upset, too renate Feb 2016 #209

As a dog owner, I'd put them back on a leash. n/t Lil Missy Feb 2016 #30

I keep my dogs leashed at all times when not in a fenced in area. Kelvin Mace Feb 2016 #31

I take my dog to cemeteries instead of parks. pintobean Feb 2016 #32

I used to do that, until one day.... jberryhill Feb 2016 #95

Yeah, but pintobean Feb 2016 #99

If it were in the neighborhood I'd encourage you to get them TBF Feb 2016 #34

I think you did OK lunatica Feb 2016 #35

I would have already put my dogs back on he leases ladjf Feb 2016 #37

Leash law or not, common courtesy says you should put the leashes on in that situation. NV Whino Feb 2016 #39

Is there a leash law? Iggo Feb 2016 #40

I worked as a letter carrier for a few years after college. Act_of_Reparation Feb 2016 #41

That's a totally different situation. pintobean Feb 2016 #54

Yes, totally different. Act_of_Reparation Feb 2016 #59

I'd keep them on a leash if there is any chance you may run into dogs or people... Phentex Feb 2016 #42

Leash law. It is what it is. Android3.14 Feb 2016 #45

I keep my dog leashed because she's a big doofus. notadmblnd Feb 2016 #46

Sorry but "My dogs are friendly" is no comfort to people who don't know the dogs. yellowcanine Feb 2016 #49

I can't even tell you how many times I've had dogs run up to my leashed dog zappaman Feb 2016 #50

I would have put mine back on a leash LisaM Feb 2016 #51

When people say 'my dog is friendly' I tell them it's not the dog I don't trust. Bluenorthwest Feb 2016 #53

You were doubly wrong. GreenEyedLefty Feb 2016 #55

"Who probably crapped and peed who knows where and trampled on sensitive plant life. A HERETIC I AM Feb 2016 #70

Okay. Excuse me for giving a fuck about wildlife and our water supply. GreenEyedLefty Feb 2016 #72

Where do you think the wildlife shits and pisses? pintobean Feb 2016 #75

HEY! jberryhill Feb 2016 #96

If there's no one there to hear it pintobean Feb 2016 #168

Depends on what he ate jberryhill Feb 2016 #173

In plastic bags that got to the landfill of course... ileus Feb 2016 #108

You can't possibly be serious. A HERETIC I AM Feb 2016 #76

What about fish urine. pintobean Feb 2016 #84

Ya gots me A HERETIC I AM Feb 2016 #105

I nominate this poster for the skunk detail. He can take on the task of teaching them to use Yo_Mama Feb 2016 #159

A single cup of doggy piss...... A HERETIC I AM Feb 2016 #161

Yes, and when the dog pees in your yard it doesn't. n/t Yo_Mama Feb 2016 #162

Doesn't crap and piss fertilize plants LW1977 Feb 2016 #106

Depends on the animal. RichVRichV Feb 2016 #196

K&R this reply LW1977 Feb 2016 #104

i agree. La Lioness Priyanka Feb 2016 #78

You know, foxes and coyotes and wolves all crap and pee in the woods. Yo_Mama Feb 2016 #157

If you were not in an off-leash area, odds are MineralMan Feb 2016 #56

In this day and age, narnian60 Feb 2016 #57

Is there a leash law that governs the area where you were? hamsterjill Feb 2016 #58

From what I gathered where I was it was private. If you were to venture off another togetherforever Feb 2016 #64

If you were indeed on private property, branford Feb 2016 #83

I think you were both wrong. bluedigger Feb 2016 #60

Let me guess, she had a little precious yappy ankle biter dog, and yours are evil toothed brutes. ileus Feb 2016 #63

Her dog was very small but he was wagging his tail wanting to play togetherforever Feb 2016 #66

We've run into this before. Blue_In_AK Feb 2016 #65

"the screaming leash law woman" jberryhill Feb 2016 #97

She gets around. LOL. Blue_In_AK Feb 2016 #98

Normally the same woman who doesn't mind her little precious continuously barking. ileus Feb 2016 #107

Yes, you are. Throd Feb 2016 #67

Crazy people everywhere. tabasco Feb 2016 #68

Leash your dogs. It's the right thing to do. nt Codeine Feb 2016 #73

Yes you were wrong. Your animals frightened another person while you were on public property. peace13 Feb 2016 #74

Were you on your property? If not, keep your dogs on a leash. Bonx Feb 2016 #81

Questions atreides1 Feb 2016 #82

I had a dog that actually trained herself, hollysmom Feb 2016 #86

Our little dog is self-trained, too. Blue_In_AK Feb 2016 #100

Your dog may be friendly CanonRay Feb 2016 #87

But they were done with her togetherforever Feb 2016 #90

That's my dog too ribrepin Feb 2016 #160

I would have put mine on leash roody Feb 2016 #91

Your dogs should have been on leash Jersey Devil Feb 2016 #93

If there's a leash law, your dogs should have been on a leash DesertRat Feb 2016 #103

I never let my dog off leash PasadenaTrudy Feb 2016 #111

I would have put my dogs back on their leash. DawgHouse Feb 2016 #119

If it's not an off leash area you are in the wrong. TransitJohn Feb 2016 #125

I hike a lot Jean Louise Finch Feb 2016 #127

That's another reason I keep my dog on leash when hiking unless I know we're the only ones there BernieforPres2016 Feb 2016 #174

There are too many variables when it comes to dogs bumping into other dogs away from home. GoneFishin Feb 2016 #128

I've always had dogs, they're ALWAYS on a leash unless they're in my yard dorkzilla Feb 2016 #129

I think a dog needs to run free. If your dogs are friendly as you say, like you I would B Calm Feb 2016 #135

thats why i am glad i live in a county drray23 Feb 2016 #139

City people are weird. I heard in some neighborhoods it's against the law to B Calm Feb 2016 #141

I live rural also gwheezie Feb 2016 #187

i agree largely with what you said drray23 Feb 2016 #197

If they have ID I call the owner gwheezie Feb 2016 #202

Keep the damn dogs on a leash. Our city it is a $100 fine and I 100% agree with it. nt Logical Feb 2016 #140

I'm pretty much against the death penalty jberryhill Feb 2016 #146

Yep. And with some of the comments in this thread kcr Feb 2016 #167

If I saw two dogs come from nowhere and run towards my dog, I would mace them. Oneironaut Feb 2016 #149

I would have called the dogs up, and either leashed them, or left the area. Yo_Mama Feb 2016 #153

Dogs should be on leashes. Stinky The Clown Feb 2016 #158

Nah. n/t miyazaki Feb 2016 #163

I would have called my dogs to heel and made them sit until she passed. Drahthaardogs Feb 2016 #166

"...and I'm just sitting on a rock looking at some beavers" Reter Feb 2016 #170

Yes, you are wrong. Alkene Feb 2016 #171

I'm a dog owner (have been for over 15 years) and I think you're dead wrong BernieforPres2016 Feb 2016 #172

I agree! redstatebluegirl Feb 2016 #201

Please keep them leashed or immediately leashed upon any request elfin Feb 2016 #175

Support you 100%. Ignore her. cheapdate Feb 2016 #176

Dog lover here: Is it a public trail, maintained by government entity? Raster Feb 2016 #177

No it's not a trail maintained by anybody togetherforever Feb 2016 #184

well then, I'd say the lady was overreating...which I can understand... Raster Feb 2016 #186

You can bring your dogs to my 240 acre farm Jim Beard Feb 2016 #178

My dream would be to live at a place like you do togetherforever Feb 2016 #185

I've had dogs all my life. cwydro Feb 2016 #179

Leash law = Keep them on a leash lynne Feb 2016 #181

I would done as as you, it's wrong though Demonaut Feb 2016 #183

As a non dog owner awoke_in_2003 Feb 2016 #188

You should have your dogs on a leash Matariki Feb 2016 #189

You need to have your dog's leashed. dilby Feb 2016 #191

Yes, you are wrong. Leash your dogs. TheManInTheMac Feb 2016 #192

I take my dogs to off the beaten trail spots BECAUSE I don't want to run into other dogs nadine_mn Feb 2016 #193

dogs in public belong on a leash. period. end of story. KG Feb 2016 #195

yeah, you are probably wrong Kali Feb 2016 #203

Some people need to calm down donna123 Feb 2016 #206

I have a 3 yr old rescue. She is half rot, half German shepard ChairmanAgnostic Feb 2016 #211

This post gave me the feels. ScreamingMeemie Feb 2016 #213

I would expect to meet dogs on the two dog trails TexasMommaWithAHat Feb 2016 #214