Dog owners please enter . Am I wrong about what happened today??

[togetherforever]

I 'm walking my dogs on a trail that is for the most part off the beaten track.
It's not a specified walking trail for dogs or anything for that matter just a trail in the woods
that leads to an old forgotten camp ground .

My dogs are playing , sniffing around having a good time and I'm just sitting on a rock looking at some beavers.

I suddenly hear a scream and do mean a scream! (get away from me ,leave my dog alone )

I jump up and see a woman with a dog on a leash standing there screaming at my dogs and now at me.
I say to her calm down my dogs are both friendly or they wouldn't be off leash.

I call my dogs back over to me and now she's screaming at me yelling there's a leash law you know.
I tell her the reason people come down to trails in the woods is so they can let their dogs off a leash .

I say you drove past 2 specified dog walking trails where everyone does keep their dog on a leash to come here
and are now surprised that you ran into a couple of dogs off a leash.

Would you have handled it the same way or would you have put your dogs back on a leash. I refused and went back and sat on the rock ignoring her .

[Botany]

1. Walk away .... she is crazy and there is nothing you can do about it.

BTW 90% + of dog people you meet are nice because their dogs have them
well trained.

[togetherforever]

10. lol

yes they are

[Ed Suspicious]

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

care if your dog bites mine in self defense, but if your dog runs up to my antisocial dog there is about a 50/50 chance that it's on. I keep him muzzled for that reason, but do yourself a favor and keep your dogs leashed near other dogs.

By the way he's a rescue who I took on because I knew he needed help. We've made progress but after 11 years he is who he is I'm afraid. He loves people, is scared of dogs.

[barbiegeek]

13. I agree with you

[Sienna86]

38. Same situation here.

My adopted dog is dog aggressive, so I count on people keeping their own dogs on a leash for their own safety.

[Bonn1997]

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

[Aerows]

116. Mine only exhibited aggression towards other dogs

or when he was supposed to, intruders in the yard. I took him through obedience school and still kept him on a leash. It was for his sake, because he wasn't vicious, but he was damn well an assertive protector.

[Aerows]

109. Keep your dogs leashed

if you love them.

I had a male Doberman Pinscher that I absolutely adored. At home, he would not hurt a fly connected with the household. He was humongous for his breed, but gentle as a lamb with family members, my frail uncle that was very sick and went out of his way to restrain his boundless enthusiasm around children that came in the home.

A teenager entered the backyard (fenced, trespassing, but certainly not worthy of a death sentence), and my dog plowed down a six foot fence attempting to keep him out of our yard. The teen escaped without harm, but I do imagine he had to change his underwear. This was in a New Orleans suburb.

He took me on walks, or more frequently, he towed me along while I was on rollerblades. We both loved it - I got to roller blade, and he got to work off his excessive energy. He was a sweetheart!

Once, though, while we were barreling along down the 2 mile stretch, a dog came out of nowhere. I smacked into a parked car, and lost the leash. He did what he was born to do - protect his person. He savaged at the dog until it ran (I think it was a malamute or a huskie) then trotted back to me, nuzzling me with his nose as I picked myself up from the street.

Jolly as you please.

I was a bit injured so we went back, and he seemed to understand and took it slowly as he towed me.

That day, I truly understood the might of what I was happily leading on a walk. It made me rather in awe of it, too, his protectiveness and willingness to put himself in harms way (while the irony that I crashed into a car for holding the leash didn't escape me) to protect his people.

Dogs need to be leashed. The very best of them will give their lives to protect you from everything that you don't see coming, and never should be put in a position where their dog instincts are put up against their need to please their owner through obedience.

[bettyellen]

117. Yeah, Dobermans are something! The people down the street had one that was always getting loose

and one day it started chasing me on my bicycle. One of those goofy two- wheelers with a banana seat.
Anyway, it was trying to bite my naked ankles as I pedaled, and pedaled and ended up a couple miles away in the heart of the South Bronx. I realized Manhattan was just a few blocks away, and I was getting exhausted.
I turned off at Hunts Point Avenue, which back then was famous for drug dealing and hookers- all the houses were boarded up. I saw a group of kids and teens and just drove toward them and crashed into a truck and jumped right off the bike and onto the roof of the truck. The dog tried to follow, and these kids drove him off with bats, rocks and sticks.
I waited a few minutes and thanked them and rode back to my block.
By the time I got there, that fucking dog was back behind the fence in his front yard. It also bit my Mom once, and tried to steal her purse.

[Aerows]

122. I will not apologize for owning one of the best dog breeds

Mine went through obedience school, was well cared for, and properly socialized.

I'm sorry that you had a bad experience with one, bettyellen. They are very kind animals if raised correctly, treated correctly and trained correctly.

Unless ... I'm supposed to pick up on a reference to something that I don't get. If so, I guess you can get a laugh at my expense.

[bettyellen]

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

a great dog owner- sending him to school and all! No reference- just a childhood recollection. It made me nervous around "tough dogs" for years! There was this thing in the Bronx with having mean dogs, people were proud of it, and it kind of sucked. Many had dobbies, years later they switched to pit bulls, and most refused to leash them. It terrified my Mom. They would just laugh at the poor little old lady and me trying to walk past their friggen dogs. My least favorite thing about the Bronx. I am better now, and can actually pet pitfalls, but it took me years!

[Aerows]

126. Sorry to hear that :(

Mine was a very well trained blue Doberman, and believe me, as big as he was, he would have been dangerous if not obedient to command.

Other than that, though, he was a goof ball and a joy to be around. He could tow me around on rollerblades for MILES. It was hilarious. I don't think I ever wore him out pulling me along. He just out ran ME. LOL.

[bettyellen]

130. No worries! It was actually funny afterwards because that dog kept after my damn ankle in

circles as I pedaled scratching it up but never getting a good grip. We must have been a sight!
I love dogs, would have one if I had a job close to my home, so I could walk them enough.

[Aerows]

131. I forget that in New York

it probably was unlikely to have wide open spaces.

[bettyellen]

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

family, played with their kids too. Jerks.


Have a good weekend!

[Aerows]

134. That is beyond irresponsible

that is abuse of the pet, not to mention abuse of everyone around you.

That is an awful thing to do to your neighbors and the poor animal that isn't taught what is acceptable behavior .

[bettyellen]

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

terrifying pit bulls around there, and their owners just got off on scaring people. I hated that shit.

Okay, I am going to get out, and start the damned weekend! :cheers:

[Aerows]

113. My Doberman was not aggressive .. well not too aggressive

against other dogs unless they posed a hazard to his person. He suddenly became large and aggressive if an unknown dog got to close.

The cable guy came in once, and was leering a little too much, so I let my dog in. The cable guy reverted to extremely polite and getting his job done as quickly as possible.

Blue (steel blue Dobie) grinned at him .

[unapatriciated]

156. I agree we have a Jack who thinks he is a Pit.

I would not have yelled but would have asked that he leash his dogs until we were safely out of sniffing range.

When we have guest we have to muzzle him for the first 20 minutes than he is just fine but no way will he tolerate any other dog except his sis. Some dogs just like people have their own little personality quirks. We have had him since he was a pup and he is now eight so he is what he is.

[Ed Suspicious]

198. Terriers are their own animals. That's for sure.

[nadine_mn]

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

I am not afraid of your dogs, I am afraid your dogs may get hurt. My dog has really poor social skills and misreads dog language.

[PonyUp]

3. I have 3 rescue dogs and say keep them leashed.

You never know if a child has wandered into the woods and a dog may think they are protecting their master.
I keep my dogs leashed always, unless they are in my fenced in back yard. Even then I keep a lock on the gate to keep someone from entering. They are the most loving dogs in the world, but I'm not going to risk something happening.

[Aerows]

112. I had a six foot fence

and a kid jumped it for whatever unknown reason. My Doberman took the fence *DOWN* going after the kid, who, thankfully managed to escape.

It wasn't my fault that the kid jumped the fence. It wasn't my fault my dog did what good dogs do. It was divine intervention that he got away without getting mauled, and maybe because I hollered at him to heel when I saw it happen.

Nobody ever jumped the fence again, though.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

4. It depends.

Are your dogs circumcised?

[togetherforever]

14. Neutered I think you mean

Yes both are and are very well behaved .

[PonyUp]

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

[Tommy_Carcetti]

18. No, circumcised. nt

[PonyUp]

15. At Olive Garden? n/t

[msanthrope]

47. I bet they smoke. Nt

[Aerows]

115. The drones detect them easier that way. n/t

[jberryhill]

123. That's why I got my dog to vape instead

Since she can do it at restaurants, malls, airplanes and anywhere! She loves some vaping!

[Aerows]

132. I read that vaping

diminishes the battery life of smoking detectors so severely, that if you vape near one, it drains the battery.

The battery life just goes ... up in smoke.

That's why vape fiends can smoke inside without anybody knowing about it - it short-circuits smoke detectors.

/s

[jberryhill]

142. Just offhand...

That sounds like complete rubbish.

Smoke detectors function perfectly well in kitchens, which can have all kinds of vapors present.

Now, there are different kinds of detection mechanisms, but most common "smoke detectors" are really ionization detectors, which are looking for changes in current between two charged plates across a sample chamber of radioactively-ionized ambient gas.

The other kind is photodetector based, and looks at the optical transmissivity of the ambient.

The vapor consists primarily of covalent bonded, non-conductive organics that I couldn't imagine "shorting out" anything if you poured it on.

The vapor just doesn't have the same properties as the combustion products the smoke detectors are looking for. It's why your smoke alarm doesn't go off when you boil water or spray air freshener - the smoke detectors are looking for smoke.

What's really weird is that I believe all of the airlines have now banned vaping, but the stores in the airports are selling them like hot cakes. Where do they think they are being used?

[Aerows]

144. That was a bullshit post in the vein of the ones before it.

Did you not see the "/s" sarcasm tag?

Or did you honestly think the two posts that came before it weren't absolute horse pucky?

Oh wait - I got you.

[jberryhill]

145. Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leash your posts

[Aerows]

147. I'm a ma'am and

That was excellent.

[jberryhill]

148. Oh, sure

And now you want to use the wrong bathroom, is that it?

[Aerows]

150. I'll use the one

with the smoke detector.

[jberryhill]

151. Well just don't bother my dog

She's in there.

[Aerows]

152. ...

I saw the basket of never ending bread sticks in her mouth.

[RobinA]

169. Classic!!!

Excellent!

[A HERETIC I AM]

71. At a Hooters?

While breastfeeding ?

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

5. I would have put mine back on leash til she was gone.

People who are scared do stupid things, and people who feel you're ignoring them are more likely to go to the cops about piddly little things.

[hfojvt]

44. exactly

better to try to get along with people even if they are a little shrill. I usually go unleashed when I hope nobody else is around. If somebody else shows up I try to make sure they are not bothered or feel threatened.

[truebluegreen]

138. And people who are scared amp up the fear in their own dogs

which in turn amps up aggressive / protective behavior and off you go.

[bettyellen]

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

It's very different if you run into a dog alone, than when they are with the owner. I have been attacked by off leash dogs, so yeah. Not pleasant when they pick up on my fear.

[Aerows]

110. Agreed - see post 109

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027642067#post109

[Kber]

7. I have a friend with an extremely aggressive dog

She keeps him on leash and he's not big. However he'll go after any dog who gets to close very aggressively. Same goes for kids.

So when they are out, she watches him carefully and keeps him away from strangers and animals.

Off leash dogs are her nightmare because if an even well trained dog gets his dander up over her leashed but aggressive dog, there's not much she can do to avoid a fight.

Imo, leash laws should be obeyed on public and shared property, especially if someone else using that property is there and asks you too.

While your dogs may be exceptionally well behaved, I've met enough dog owners with unrealistic views of their "kids" to not trust that every off leash sweetie is perfectly under control.

I have an energetic, but well trained boxer (especially now as she is almost 10 years old). I understand wanting to let them run, roam and explore, but if asked I've always leashed her.

[SheilaT]

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

[KentuckyWoman]

114. I've kept an extremely aggressive mother in law.

We don't throw things away just because they are challenging.......

[jberryhill]

121. I did for a while, but finally had to get rid of her

[Aerows]

118. Dog aggressive is very different than aggressive.

Dogs that adore their people, wouldn't touch a child except the lick them and wouldn't even fathom making a move against their family can go berserk around other dogs.

It's a response to a challenge to their "pack" - their family. An unknown dog triggers that response.

That's why there are leashes. Not for the dog itself, or for the people that love the dog, it's because they get triggered when other dogs get in their face.

[Kber]

137. Small breed. Rescue dog

Great with people over 2 feet tall, but scared of dogs and kids, making him kinda a jerk sometimes.

Only kid who can always approach him easily is my daughter.

[Yo_Mama]

154. Well, if the dog is a rescue or pound animal, and the dog is reliable under control,

then it is not the dog's fault.

But any dog can become aggressive under the right circumstances.

Some dogs are traumatized, and aggressive out of fear. They won't start it, but if there is trouble they will go into hyper mode.

[cwydro]

182. Maybe because you love that dog?

My Jordan is long gone...a rescue. I adored her.

I kept her close because she was so aggressive, but she never hurt my chickens or geese.

She was abused as a pup and she hated men, and she hated other dogs. However she learned to get along with my Teakie.

Both lived to 15. Sigh, I miss them both.

[SheilaT]

204. Thank you for your response to me.

I will say up front that I am more of a cat person myself, but I very much appreciate the responses I got in this thread. The fact that I don't quite understand why people keep aggressive dogs probably says more about me than about others Again, thank you for your response.

A while back I had a cat who adopted us (she showed up during a terrible heat wave, starving and desperately in need of a family) who had apparently lived with dogs in her past. I also did volunteer work at a local animal shelter a few years before, and learned to appreciate dogs in a wonderful way.

Our companion animals are very precious to us, and if there is an afterlife, those who abandon or mistreat them deserve a special punishment.

[cwydro]

205. We often agree SheilaT.

And I sure do now.

[SheilaT]

190. I really appreciate all the replies to me.

You all showed me something a bit different from what I was picturing.

But I still honestly think it's a very bad idea to keep an aggressive dog. The risk is huge. So often when a dog attacks the owner then claims that the animal never, ever, showed such behavior behavior before, which most likely isn't true. Or the neighbors say they were always afraid or worried about the animal.

But to each one of you who provided a loving a good home to your friend, you did a wonderful thing.

[OnionPatch]

199. I had a dog who was aggressive to other dogs

But not to people. And yes, my greatest fear was being approached by unleashed dogs. I usually walked her (always leashed) in places with less likelihood of meeting up with anyone else with a dog.

Why did I keep her? I loved her and she wasnt dangerous to people. She was very sweet to people. Should I have had her euthanized?

I kept her under control and away from other pets. The only danger was when other people let their pets loose to wander near her.

[ScreamingMeemie]

208. For 16 years, my brother kept an aggressive dog.

He knew Zeke's limits and didn't test them. Zeke loved my brother beyond all else. The rest of us knew it was best to walk slowly in my brother's house. He was a rescue that my brother got from PAWS (Chicago). They were going to put him down.

[Aerows]

143. I agree with you.

A boxer is smaller than a Doberman, but no matter how well trained they are, both breeds are sensitive to their owners. They need to be close to them to keep them from doing things they shouldn't do.

Even worse, they have strong drives to dominate.

Fantastic dogs, great instincts overall, but you have to plan for the instant when they slip into "dog" mode. That's where you must have a leash on them, no matter how well socialized they are.

[Gamecock Lefty]

8. Well . . .

Despite having a leash law where I live, if I got deep into the woods at my local park, I’d let my dog off her leash. But despite her friendliness I was constantly looking around seeing if anyone was coming my way then I would leash her back up.

The woman who started screaming didn’t know your dogs were friendly. It’s a natural reaction.

If it was me, leash them up to be safe for everyone.

No matter, dog people are good people. Well, I take that back – didn’t George W have a dog?

Dogs Rocks!

[Euphoria]

9. You handled it correctly.

Her fear doesn't have to be yours. You were not in a public access place - you were in the woods and away from everyone else. You were very courteous as you could've suggested To her that she interrupted and scared you and your dogs.
Just my two cents.

[jberryhill]

11. well, one thing is for sure

If she puts on a show like that in front of her dogs, whenever she sees another dog, then its a good thing that she keeps her dogs on a leash. She was probably upset that her dog acts up when it sees another dog, and does not understand that she's reinforcing that behavior.

The problem here is that there are a lot of idiots with dogs. As you note, you had specifically gone to a remote area with your dogs, and also seem to understand your dogs' behavior and temperament. Because all dogs are different, there are people who exercise no judgment or discretion whatsoever with their dogs and, consequently, there are people who freak out at any and all dogs off a leash, regardless of the location and temperament of the dog and the owner.

[msanthrope]

48. This. nt

[underahedgerow]

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

Demonstrated, calm, assertive behavior and the dog becomes calm and submissive.

Cesar Millan is a dog god. I would say only 1 in 1000 of the dogs he's treated are genuine red zone cases that can't be helped.

His work and advice could assist anyone here who has or has had problems with their dogs. Most of the time it's just a question of dog psychology and understanding their behavior and correcting it properly. I sure wish he'd been in business years ago when I had an aggressive Cocker Spaniel.

Lessons learned. My current pooch is absolutely, spot on perfect and lovely.

I believe that the original poster was perfectly right in their behavior. This was her problem, not theirs.

[mnhtnbb]

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

If the trail to the campground is not within town limits, then that's another story, unless your county
also specifies all dogs must be leashed.

If the leash law applies to the area where you were--regardless of the trail in the woods--then keep your dogs
on leash. If you want to take them off leash, take them somewhere that allows them to be off leash.

Yes, I have a dog. Yes, we have a leash law in town. Yes, she's been attacked by different dogs--on several occasions--
that weren't on-leash and not controlled by their owners--when we were out walking.
And no, she doesn't invite the attack. She's a very sweet and good natured dog that is well behaved and socialized
around other dogs.

[togetherforever]

24. I'm going to guess where I was it doesn't because during the fall and winter

I know people bird hunt that area with hunting dogs off leash.

[Yo_Mama]

155. Yes, it probably doesn't, but you were in that situation, and that's the situation you asked

about.

My vote is to call 'em up and either leash them or leave the area. You know your dogs, but you didn't know that other dog, and the woman seems, from your account, to have been not the calmest lady in the world.

A decent amount of dog trouble is really started by the owners not knowing how to handle things. An hysterical dog owner is a threat to your dogs, regardless.

[demmiblue]

16. I would have put my dog on the leash until she was gone.

Technically, she is right. Also, I have encountered several dogs off the leash that were not even close to being friendly (how the heck is she supposed to know).

You can either choose to be courteous or choose to be an arsehole.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

19. It is wrong to let dogs off leash where prohibited...

I also get away to the less traveled areas to let my dogs play off leash.

If something goes wrong I get in trouble and the dogs get in trouble.

[exboyfil]

20. If there is a leash law in place

keep them on a leash. As far as I am concerned an unleashed dog is very close to a menacing situation. It causes the individual fear and can lead to their injury (irrespective of the interaction between the leashed and unleashed dog). I have stumbled and fallen twisting my ankle when "greeted" by an off leash dog.

Like one of the other posters I have a rescue dog (aussie/sheltie mix) that is afraid of men and other dogs. She will react if another dog approaches her. She is not large but that usually starts something, and then my larger border collie will get involved (she basically writes checks that my bc has to cash because she will then get off collar and run away - her neck is as large as her head which is a problem).

[RobinA]

77. Why Is Everybody Afraid

of dogs these days? Never mind, I guess people are afraid of everything these days. I had a dog aggressive dog that was always on a leash. If my dog is dog (or people) aggressive it's on me. I don't expect everybody with a friendly dog to have to keep them leashed off the beaten path.

That said, if somebody raised a stink I'd probably leash my friendly dog just to shut them up so I didn't have to listen to them whine. Modern day 'fraidy cats get on my nerves.

[Ilsa]

102. A friend who trains dogs advised me

to consider every unaccompanied, unleased dog to be dangerous. They pick up on fear easily, and you become a high-value target.

Keep dogs leashed for everyone's peace of mind and enjoyment of public places or the commons.

[jberryhill]

120. Think about that advice for a moment....

1. "consider every unaccompanied, unleased dog to be dangerous"

2. "They pick up on fear easily, and you become a high-value target."

Point #2 suggests that point #1 is not a good plan - "be afraid of them, because they can sense fear" - ummmmm..... ok.

[Ilsa]

164. He didn't say "be afraid," he said to consider

them capable of inflicting pain and worse. IOW, don't approach them or be friendly or encourage contact. If anything, but distance and obstacles between you, just to be safe vs sorry.

[pintobean]

165. I guess I'm neither safe, or sorry.

Last edited Fri Feb 26, 2016, 11:41 PM - Edit history (1)

If I see a stray/loose dog, I'll do my best to befriend it and help it find it's home. The best dog we ever had was a stray that no one would claim.

[MH1]

207. I grew up around dogs. I am generally okay with them. BUT

I don't appreciate when people have their dogs unleashed inappropriately. (which probably doesn't apply to the OP.)

I've been bitten twice (minor) through no fault of my own. I lived, no big deal, but it's a hassle to have to get a tetanus booster, and so forth.

I don't "fear" dogs myself, so much as respect them. But I grew up around dogs. And I know what they can do.

I don't blame people who fear dogs. Most dogs and dog owners are fine. But there's the bad ones out there that ruin it for the rest.

(what I don't understand, is people who hate cats. )

[ScreamingMeemie]

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

I kept my dog on a leash for her own protection and not so much for the people we came across. But then, I kept a pretty docile Sheltie

[Brickbat]

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

when they're unleashed in a leash-only area...

[hfojvt]

52. and ...

That WAS of one of my pet peeves as a paperboy. There is probably NO dog alive who is not gonna chase a boy on a bike who comes up to their house. Do NOT expect your dog to be an exception.

Then again, one Sunday morning I met a huge unleashed dog, and we became buddies. His name was on his collar, and he followed me around for most of the rest of the route. At one point I slipped on some ice and was lying there on my back and the dog comes up and is nervous and barks and I sit up and say "hey aqualung, it's only me" (okay I cannot remember the dog's real name) and he comes up wagging his tail.

Thinking about that now I should have tried to bring him home so I could call the owner. I sorta figured that he would find his way home.

When I was much younger there was a dog named Penny who used to run the neighborhood, lived half a block away, and sometimes I would play fetch with him/her. My neighbor's dog Cinder was the same way, except she would not play fetch. A few times though when she was out in a thunderstorm she got scared and ran off and was lost for days. She also got hit by a car twice (and survived). So there is that too.

[Arugula Latte]

61. Yeah, I hate that.

A lot of dog owners are oblivious, a bit entitled, and don't understand not everyone is a dog person and enjoys having strange canines rush up at them in a park at full speed.

[laundry_queen]

180. Yep!

My aunt breeds huskies who were obedience champs and always used to say that. And they always came back. Until the one day one didn't. The dog took off after a deer and they didn't see her for a week. It happened off and on again over the years. She stopped saying 'they always come back when I call them' after the third time

[ScreamingMeemie]

212. A woman I know breeds Great Danes as service dogs.

Great Danes (for the most part) are as laid back a dog as you can get. Even then, she tells people all the time that more than 2 off leash at a time is asking for trouble.

[Arkansas Granny]

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

If it's not posted as such, then she should only take her dogs to areas that require all dogs to be leashed.

[togetherforever]

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

I never had this problem before going down there. I've met other dog owners down there over the years
and we introduce our dogs to see how they get along.

[mnhtnbb]

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

Your vet would know. You can probably google it. Or call your local town hall.

[togetherforever]

33. I think I might have misunderstood your question

My state has a leash law if that's what you were asking. I don't know if it applies in the woods?

How do bird hunters let their dogs off a leash then?

[Brickbat]

36. Hunting and working dogs are often written in as exceptions.

[mnhtnbb]

43. Leash laws are usually local ordinances and apply to public property.

If the woods where you were walking is private property (a lot of farmers will let hunters come
on their land and that means leash laws don't apply to hunting dogs) then that's a different story.
But if those woods are part of a park system in town, then whatever the local ordinance
is regarding having control of a dog on public property would apply.

[togetherforever]

62. Okay I did some googling and this what I came up with

The camp ground which is just a few over grown camp sites is still privately owned .

The dirt road you drive to get to it is owned by a power company now. So I'm going to say the leash law didn't apply there.

[mnhtnbb]

79. In that case, you both might have been trespassing!

But if the owner(s) haven't posted anything about dogs being on leash--or No Trespassing signs-- then I'd ignore the crazy dog lady--but you better
be 100% sure your dogs would come when called just to avoid any trouble with someone like that or their dog.

[togetherforever]

88. Oh no I would never go if the place was posted with no trespassing

They came right away when I called them. I just want to emphasize that I hope
you or any other member is not picturing my dogs circling around her
or even getting that close to her. When she screamed and I turned my head my dogs were still
no closer than 30 or so feet from her. They stopped dead in their tracks and didn't want anything to do with her.

I then immediately gave them the command to return . I've spent a great deal of time training these guys.

I love them

[jberryhill]

94. Ding ding ding ding....

I had a similar situation a while back.

My dog has now passed away, and I live near a golf course which has gone out of operation and the land has been in litigation for years.

My dog was good off leash, but I would not generally let her off leash except at designated areas anyway. She knew better than to go running up to people or other dogs. As she became older and less mobile, I would usually take her out to play on the old golf course, which is pretty much a meadow these days.

Another person walking their dog, despite my dog expressing zero interest in either of them, flipped out at me, as some people do, and started going on about the leash law.

It took a while before she calmed down enough for me to explain, "This is unposted private property. If anything, we are both trespassing here."

[Major Nikon]

85. Dogs should be on a leash

There are a few exceptions like within a dog park or other confined area or within your own property. In my municipality the leash law even extends to cats, although my neighbors routinely ignore it.

[kcr]

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

She was right and you were wrong.

[PonyUp]

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

[Arazi]

25. Leash them when there's other dogs around or approaching

for THEIR safety!

Just because your dogs are friendly, doesn't mean the other dog is friendly. I'd be terrified for my own dogs if they were allowed to approach another dog without restraint until I was certain the other dog was ok with that.

Since you can't know that, I'd err on the side of caution and leash them

[peacebird]

27. My dog (75 pounds of chocolate lab puppy) is on a leash unless he is on our property

He is very good about voice control and stays on our 5 acres. But when we go camping or travel then he is on a leash because he is too friendly and wants to say hi to everyone..... He'll ignore other dogs or cats, but people are irresistable to him...

[A HERETIC I AM]

69. Good doggy!

Has he had the operation yet?

You know...., the one to get the tennis ball out of his mouth!

[peacebird]

80. He's over 6years old and not slowing down in the least!

Heaven help me if there's a river or lake where we camp, because he's going in dragging me behind him... LOL!

[DirkGently]

28. Sounds like you were being responsible, BUT

It's understandable where people can be anxious encountering "loose" dogs. Yours are friendly and under your control, but plenty of people who think those things about their dogs are wrong about one or both. Yours are biggish dogs, I'm guessing?

For example, I was walking our tiny dog at night a while back, when I hear a car door close behind us, and see a largish (60-80 lbs) black pit-type mix jogging down the sidewalk toward us. I think I have a fair grasp on canine body language, and I was getting a "Hey, hello there!" rather than, "Here I come to eat you!" vibe from the dog. But a dog's attitude can also change instantly, especially when it comes to strange dogs meeting.

So I stopped, picked up Ms. Precious Perfect (not her name )and addressed the big dog in friendly tones, while looking past her at the owner, a young woman who clearly had just fumbled the leash getting out of the car. I did not yell at her, but I did ask in a loud, clear voice, whether the dog was "cool" or something like that. The owner just stood there ignoring me and sort of fecklessly calling her dog, but it did eventually turn around and return. She never commented on my inquiry as to whether her huge animal was "cool" or not.

I wasn't mad to begin with, and was friendly to the owner the whole time. But had that big girl reached us, I would have had only a split second to figure out whether she was a "nice doggie" or whether I was about to be in a fight where I was either going to hurt a dog, get hurt by a dog (or likely both) and / or see my dog maimed or killed.

Going through all that just because the young woman was careless about how and whether she had control of her large dog DID make me angry, a bit. If it had gone badly, I would have blamed her 100%, involved the police -- the whole nine yards.

I guess my point would be that if you are in the woods in good control of your absolutely non-aggressive dogs, you're not doing anything wrong in my book, and I don't understand why anyone would be nasty or start screaming, but I do understand why someone might be startled or upset until you establish you're there and in control and the dogs are no threat?

[renate]

209. I understand why someone would be upset, too

In most cities there are plenty of areas for unleashed dogs to go and play in an area where people expect dogs to be off the leash. Otherwise, I think everybody should keep their dogs on a leash. It's just good manners.

A lot of people are afraid of dogs and aren't reassured by "oh, he's such a good boy." Our dog doesn't have one mean hair on his entire fluffy body but it's not up to me to decide whether somebody should be afraid of him or not.

I'm glad that dog turned out to be be okay and your little pup was safe.

[Lil Missy]

30. As a dog owner, I'd put them back on a leash. n/t

[Kelvin Mace]

31. I keep my dogs leashed at all times when not in a fenced in area.

I do that for their safety. They are sweet dogs, but other dogs are not a known quantity, and some people are kind of dog phobic (I was myself, having been bitten a few times as a child).

Too many things can go badly wrong when dogs are not leashed.

[pintobean]

32. I take my dog to cemeteries instead of parks.

Leash laws don't apply on private property. The only problems I ever run into are with people who can't control their own (leashed) dogs. I just tell them that they would be better off walking their dogs where leash laws do apply.

Most of the people I run into there go to the cemeteries to let their dogs run free.

[jberryhill]

95. I used to do that, until one day....

[pintobean]

99. Yeah, but

the dead don't whine about it.

[TBF]

34. If it were in the neighborhood I'd encourage you to get them

back on leash so they don't get hit by a car. But you're describing a trail in the woods so if anything it would just be an annoyance to keep mine on task so they don't take off to play with your dogs. Of course mine are 70 and 95 lbs so I don't worry too much when unknown dogs approach.

She needs to chill.

[lunatica]

35. I think you did OK

but if you had leashed them that would also be OK.

In reality I think people who scream at other dogs and their owners when the dogs are perfectly frienldy aren't dog people and shouldn't own one. They shouldn't own any pets.

Dogs have their own ways of communicating, which, if you're a dog person you know all about and can instantly spot one who is playing to one who is going to attack.

You did fine.

[ladjf]

37. I would have already put my dogs back on he leases

as soon as I saw other dogs or people.

[NV Whino]

39. Leash law or not, common courtesy says you should put the leashes on in that situation.

Seriously, be nice.

[Iggo]

40. Is there a leash law?

You handled it okay, though. You tried engaging. It didn't work. Disengage and ignore.

[Act_of_Reparation]

41. I worked as a letter carrier for a few years after college.

The job sucks as it is, but people like you make it unnecessarily scary.

I understand you think your dog is friendly. I understand you think your dog won't bite anyone. That does not mean your dog is friendly, or that your dog will not bite anyone. And then you have the nerve to complain about people who don't feel like taking your fucking word for it.

[pintobean]

54. That's a totally different situation.

As a letter carrier, you're going onto people's property, where dogs are naturally protective of their territory.

[Act_of_Reparation]

59. Yes, totally different.

Everyone knows dogs only ever bite people who wander onto their own front lawns. Silly me.

[Phentex]

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

people have already outlined all the reasons why but I just wanted to give an opinion.

I love all dogs but I know so many people who are scared of them even if they have dogs of their own.

[Android3.14]

45. Leash law. It is what it is.

I'm sorry to say it, but keep your dogs on a leash, move or accept that people will freak out.

[notadmblnd]

46. I keep my dog leashed because she's a big doofus.

On her quest to catch vermin, not like she ever could. she can't even catch a ball. But her head goes out her little doggie butt and she just doesn't listen when called.

Her special talent is jumping and we've had to extend the height of our fence to keep her in the back yard. She hasn't gotten loose in a long time.

But I had a similar experience a couple of years ago. I was in the house, thought my dog was in the back yard, when I hear this woman screaming bloody murder. I thought it was a domestic dispute so I go outside to see what was going on and my dog is sitting in front of her wagging her tail waiting to get her butt scratched all the while the woman screaming over and over "your dog is attacking me." I basically told her my dog wasn't going to hurt her and to stfu and go home.

[yellowcanine]

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

Particularly if your dogs are approaching them. Also sounds as if you weren't really paying attention, so maybe you did not see the entire interaction. Yeah the lady probably overreacted but you have to factor that possibility in if you are going to leave your dogs off leash in public. If your dogs approach a person or another dog even in a friendly way, things can go south quickly. Dog dynamics can get weird, particularly when there are more than 2 dogs and at least one of the humans present is stressed about the situation. I also like to keep my dog leashed while walking out and about to protect him from over friendly humans or young dogs who may not know how to appropriately interact with an older dog. I want to be able to pull him out of harms way if things start to get dicey.

[zappaman]

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

and the owner saying "it's okay they're friendly" as their dogs decide to fight mine.

[LisaM]

51. I would have put mine back on a leash

I think it's fine that you were letting them run around, but if it's not an offleash area and she was concerned, just put them back on the leash. I've done this many times. And, I've had unleashed dogs run up to mine, too, and I don't really like it.

[Bluenorthwest]

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

It's much you are asking of others and much risk you are taking with your dogs if you ask me.
And you know, very obviously she is a person who came to that public trail for reasons that do not involve unleashing her dog. So when you declare that a public trail is 'for' the use you put it to and not for the use of others, that's a bit Bundy for me. Sorry.

[GreenEyedLefty]

55. You were doubly wrong.

1, you let your dogs loose in an area not specifically set aside for off leash dogs. 2, you did not pay attention to your dogs, who probably crapped and peed who knows where and trampled on sensitive plant life.

People like you give responsible dog owners a bad name. Next time, leash your dogs or take them to a dog park.

[A HERETIC I AM]

70. "Who probably crapped and peed who knows where and trampled on sensitive plant life.

Oh, for fucks sake



Perhaps the op should just shoot the dogs for fear they may trample some damned " sensitive plant life" sometime in the future

Jesus H. Christ riding a Vespa while making meatballs at the Vatican

[GreenEyedLefty]

72. Okay. Excuse me for giving a fuck about wildlife and our water supply.

Feel free to scroll on by.

[pintobean]

75. Where do you think the wildlife shits and pisses?

[jberryhill]

96. HEY!

Do you mind?

I'm trying to have some private time.

[pintobean]

168. If there's no one there to hear it

does it make a sound?

[jberryhill]

173. Depends on what he ate

[ileus]

108. In plastic bags that got to the landfill of course...

[A HERETIC I AM]

76. You can't possibly be serious.

With all due respect, and I mean that with tongue firmly planted in cheek, posts like yours are what makes liberals look like pearl clutching nimrods

If you are that worried some dog urine is getting into your water supply then you should be advocating for no dogs outside legislation and mandatory toilet use training

Sorry but your argument is beyond absurd

[pintobean]

84. What about fish urine.

That obviously goes directly into the water supply!!!!

[A HERETIC I AM]

105. Ya gots me

A certain quote of WC Fields comes to mind!

[Yo_Mama]

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

the designated latrine area.

I haven't laughed this hard in a long while.

This is one of those people that doesn't realize that "organic" means "grown in shit".

Who is going to break it to him that dog urine is less toxic than the carcasses of animals that die in the woods? Break out the Brita filters!!!

[A HERETIC I AM]

161. A single cup of doggy piss......

Soaks right through the strata and directly into the water table where it is promptly sucked out and pumped straight to homes.....


Dontchaknow

[Yo_Mama]

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

[LW1977]

106. Doesn't crap and piss fertilize plants

#YouCantMakeItUp

[RichVRichV]

196. Depends on the animal.

Animals which eat lots of meats (including dogs) produce feces which is too acidic. Animals that graze and eat a plant based diet produce much better fertalizer. That doesn't mean their waste doesn't have other uses. Nature doesn't waste much.

[LW1977]

104. K&R this reply

[La Lioness Priyanka]

78. i agree.

[Yo_Mama]

157. You know, foxes and coyotes and wolves all crap and pee in the woods.

Also bears, deer, skunks, opossums, fishers, rabbits, raccoons etc. It's a sick forest that doesn't have scat all over it. It may shock you but there are also dead bodies and bones and so forth. I think you haven't spent any time in the woods?

It's more natural than not. I wouldn't worry about the environmental degradation!

We have knocked out the local canids in many areas, and these dogs in these woods were probably restoring more of a balance than causing an imbalance.

[MineralMan]

56. If you were not in an off-leash area, odds are

you fall under the leash law. I have two dogs. They are on leash unless we are in an off-leash dog park. That's for their own protection as much as to protect others.

I have no idea where you live, but if the law requires leashes, your dogs should be leashed. Had I encountered your dogs off-leash in a place where my dogs were required to be on-leash, I'd have insisted that you leash your dogs, too.

Want to walk them off-leash? Go to an off-leash dog park. Otherwise, keep them leashed.

[narnian60]

57. In this day and age,

I would be afraid someone would pull out a gun and shoot my dog in this situation.

[hamsterjill]

58. Is there a leash law that governs the area where you were?

That's the real issue. If there is a leash law and your dogs were off their leashes, then you are in the wrong, regardless of it being off the beaten track.

"Everybody else does it" is not an appropriate defense.

If the area is not governed by a leash law, then you were in the right.

If there is a leash law and one of your dogs bit the woman or her dog, you would be in deep shit. Many dog owners think "my dog will never bite". But sometimes, dogs (particularly those under stress) behave in ways that their owners do not expect. Leash laws are designed to protect that sort of thing from happening.

[togetherforever]

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

500 yards or so you would be in state forest that is 1500 acres where people hunt.

[branford]

83. If you were indeed on private property,

the leash law would still be in effect unless and until the private land owner permitted off-leash dogs.

It would be absurd to suggest that people have the right to bring and keep their off-leash dogs on other's private property without explicit permission.

Moreover, a stranger is under no obligation to trust your dogs, her own leashed dog may be aggressive with other dogs and the source of legitimate concern, and if there was an incident, you would be responsible because your dogs were not under your direct control, regardless of any leash law.

Unless you know for a fact that you're in an area that permits off-leash dogs, such as a designated dog park or your own property, your dogs should be leashed. This protects you, your dogs, and everyone else.

[bluedigger]

60. I think you were both wrong.

It sounds like you were both visiting a known spot where people bring their dogs off leash. In effect, an unsanctioned and unbounded dog park. She was wrong for bringing her dog there knowing that, if it couldn't do that. You were wrong for pushing the point without knowing the local leash laws, if applicable. Good citizens resolve petty problems amicably. Just leash your dog when you meet her, and go about your business unchanged otherwise.

[ileus]

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

[togetherforever]

66. Her dog was very small but he was wagging his tail wanting to play

I could tell that .He just wanted to tell her ..please let me be a dog today , just this once

[Blue_In_AK]

65. We've run into this before.

We walk our shih tzu off leash on a relatively unpopulated trail - we usually see maybe two or three other people in an hour - and sometimes encounter other dogs off leash with never a problem. Our girl is very well mannered on the trail, stays right by our side, and steps off the trail when we encounter another person. But we did run into the screaming leash law woman one day, who deliberately tried to taunt our dog into getting aggressive with her - which she didn't, hiding behind my husband's legs, wondering what was going on with the crazy lady - and refusing to shut up, walking along beside us literally freaking out. After about 10 minutes she finally got bored and went on her way, but I've never seen anyone get so bent out of shape over nothing at all.

Now, the people who piss me off are the ones who won't pick up the poop, but that's another story.

[jberryhill]

97. "the screaming leash law woman"

She really goes out of her way sometimes. I've also met her in a remote area.

[Blue_In_AK]

98. She gets around. LOL.

[ileus]

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

[Throd]

67. Yes, you are.

[tabasco]

68. Crazy people everywhere.

A lot of people just want an excuse to yell and scream and be the victim.

[Codeine]

73. Leash your dogs. It's the right thing to do. nt

[peace13]

74. Yes you were wrong. Your animals frightened another person while you were on public property.

[Bonx]

81. Were you on your property? If not, keep your dogs on a leash.

[atreides1]

82. Questions

Is there a leash law?

Why you think that just because you're walking on a non-specified trail, that the law is no longer in affect?

Was there any signage that indicated that the law doesn't apply on that trail?

Basically you violated the law, it doesn't matter if the trail wasn't marked as a specified dog walking trail, and her acting like a shrew isn't relevant either!

In this, she was in the right! Your assumption that other dog owners wouldn't use the trail is where you made a mistake...perhaps she and others like using that trail, because it's off the beaten track.

Just my opinion.

[hollysmom]

86. I had a dog that actually trained herself,

I could walk her off leash because she would just walk next to me and ignored other dogs, but I didn't because there was a leash law, so I would walk her on the street to the park, and then, even though there were laws there, if no one else was in the park, I would let her chase the geese, when I saw someone else I would call her and she would stop everything and come immediately where I would leash her. kept the geese out of the park, but the police were not amused.
Unless that trail was marked off leash dogs, I would probably only have the one trained dog off leash and call her to me when anyone else came in view. If you don't have total control of your dogs, they should be on a leash in public.
again, I did not train this dog, that was just how it worked. Wish my newer dogs would train themselves. They can't even be off leash in my backyard since their goal is to run into neighbor's property.

[Blue_In_AK]

100. Our little dog is self-trained, too.

In our case I think it's because we're with her 24/7 since we're retired, and we've been taking her for trail walks since she was a puppy. When someone approaches us, she gets behind our legs, and if it's a bicycle, she gets completely off the trail until they pass. At home if I want her to get out of my chair or off the bed, I can just snap my fingers and point to the floor and she hops right down. She's very sharp for never having been to obedience school or anything. I think if I could teach her to pick up her toys, she'd be perfect.

[CanonRay]

87. Your dog may be friendly

but mine is not. Two dogs off leash coming at her, especially when she is leashes and there's a fight. If there is a leash law you should have leashed your dogs.

[togetherforever]

90. But they were done with her

Why stand there and wait for me to comply with her demand to leash my dogs?

be on your way ? right

[ribrepin]

160. That's my dog too

He's an 11 pound dog who thinks he's King Kong. Loves people - dogs no so much!

[roody]

91. I would have put mine on leash

until she was gone. It is for all of the dogs' safety.

[Jersey Devil]

93. Your dogs should have been on leash

I see this all the time in any small wooded areas, people letting their dogs off leash and then saying their dogs are "friendly" even though they are approaching my dog with bared fangs and snarls. I tell them right out that next time they let them off leash while I am there I am calling the cops. They usually grumble and put the leash on them.

[DesertRat]

103. If there's a leash law, your dogs should have been on a leash

My cocker spaniel was bitten by an off-leash "friendly" Saint Bernard. It was walking ahead of it's owner and suddenly lunged at my dog who was beside me on a leash. I have no idea what set him off and the owner said he'd never done that before. The owner lives nearby and offered to pay for our visit to the vet.

In your case it sounds like she overreacted, but maybe she's had problems in the past. While I don't scream or yell at the owner, I do still feel fearful if a larger dog approaches us on a walk. If I were you, I'd have them on a leash if that's the law, for your own protection.

[PasadenaTrudy]

111. I never let my dog off leash

except for the dog park. Pretty easy rule to follow.

[DawgHouse]

119. I would have put my dogs back on their leash.

[TransitJohn]

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

If you believe in the rule of law, anyway. What are the rules there? Is it national forest? County land? What?

[Jean Louise Finch]

127. I hike a lot

And I have an adventurous five year old and a keen-to-explore two year old that I take hiking with me, often on very well-worn, popular trails with clearly marked signs indicating that dogs should be leashed. I can't count how many times we've run into hikers with their dogs, off leash, and it TERRIFIES my five-year-old every time. Even a moderately-sized dog looks HUGE to her. She used to be more comfortable with dogs until someone's off-leash dog tore up a hiking path at a huge park here, and jumped on her before we could scoop her up all the way. She was two. The owner apologized, and I think genuinely felt bad, but unhelpfully explained that her dog "just wanted to say hello" and "loves kids". And now my daughter screams and needs to be picked up or run to the other side of me every time we see any dog - on or off leash. We're working on it with leashed, friendly, mellow dogs, but I remain furious with that dog owner and generally have no patience for dog owners who think that the rules don't apply to them. If you don't know what the rules are, please keep them leashed until you find out.

[BernieforPres2016]

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

If my dog was off leash and picked up the scent of people and/or a dog on the trail, he would take off and find them. And while he is extremely friendly and a beautiful dog that a lot of people ask to meet, he weighs 70 pounds and has no awareness of his own strength. He could easily knock down a small child like you describe happening to your child.

Some dog owners don't seem to grasp that not everybody wants to deal with their dog. They give responsible dog owners a bad name.

[GoneFishin]

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

Your intentions are perfectly reasonable, but you are taking an unnecessary risk if your dogs are loose.

It's fun for your dogs to be able to run, but your dogs are safer on a leash.

[dorkzilla]

129. I've always had dogs, they're ALWAYS on a leash unless they're in my yard

or at the dog park. A LOT of people are afraid of dogs and I'm always mindful of that. Also no matter how well we know our dogs animals are unpredictable. They can feed off the fear of the owner and attack the dog on the leash or the owner (I've SEEN this happen). Also, they can take off running after an animal and you'd never see them again. A horrible lesson was learned by a person I knew in passing who used to walk her dog off leash at a park; I saw her walking one day with the leash in her hand calling the dog's name because he'd spotted a deer and ran. They found the dog a week later, dead...impaled on a fallen tree branch he must have tried to jump over while chasing the animal.

You're asking and my opinion is what you did was wrong. You can keep your dogs off leash at your home, never when you're out.

[B Calm]

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

have laughed in the crazy women's face and walked away!

[drray23]

139. thats why i am glad i live in a county

with no leash law. its a rural county and everybody has hunting dogs. Recently some people tried to push the issue at the board of surpervisors meeting. it got roundly defeated. In town you have to leash your dog, out in the woods its ridiculous.

[B Calm]

141. City people are weird. I heard in some neighborhoods it's against the law to

leave your garage door open. Like you I don't think I could ever live in town, country living is best for me!

[gwheezie]

187. I live rural also

My beef is with hunting dog owners, not all of them and not all hunters but dammit come collect your dogs and feed them and take them to the vet.
At the end of hunting season here it's so disgusting hound dog bodies are strewn about the road and those that survive die slower more horrible deaths.
We have an animal control round up for an entire week at the end of the season, all dogs on leashes or confined for a week while animal control rounds up the strays. They can wind up putting over 100 dogs down, no collar, no chip.
I dread it, my livestock driven crazy. My own dogs driven crazy. The chickens only protection was my killer goat.
And please don't drive out here from where ever you live to let your dogs be dogs.
Now I'm not an idiot. I love watching a well cared for pack hunt or working dogs do their thing. I used to fox hunt, I love the hounds. I've owned Australian shepherds who dedicated their lives to their goats. There is joy in being a dog. I have one old boy left and his eyes are cloudy and legs not so sturdy but he grieved when the last goat died.
Rant over, sorry to hijack thread.

[drray23]

197. i agree largely with what you said

Some hunters are irresponsible with their dogs. We have that issue here too but not of the scale you are describing.
Mostly, after a hunt you will see people driving around in their pickup with an antenna out the window to look for their dogs.
Most of those dogs have GPS collars, all of them have collars with name and phone# on it. I often see dogs showing up at my door step during hunting season. I simply call the owner and they come pick the dog up.

[gwheezie]

202. If they have ID I call the owner

Or if they have a tracking collar I just wait for the owner. When I used to fox hunt, the hound staff would collect the strays. The dogs were valued partners. Same with most decent people who have hounds but where I live it's not like that.

[Logical]

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

[jberryhill]

146. I'm pretty much against the death penalty

But this is one area where I'm on the fence.

The way things like that usually end up is that people walk around with a $100 bill in their pocket and call it a "no leash license".

But this is also a social issue, like so many, that would be best addressed by having more people carry guns around with them.

[kcr]

167. Yep. And with some of the comments in this thread

They should probably make the penalty even harsher because it's' clear some don't get it. "Crazy leash lady?" Ridiculous.

[Oneironaut]

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

You simply cannot judge a dog (or even worse, group of dogs)'s intent. I've had pitbulls run up to me and try to attack my dog, and the owner just sat back staring at what was going on while doing nothing. You might think your dogs are friendly, but that's what people with unfriendly dogs say too. Don't surprised if the next person pulls out a container of mace and sprays your dogs.

I'm sure your dogs are friendly, but being charged by a group of unfamiliar dogs is a scary experience. It's dangerous to your dogs as well.

[Yo_Mama]

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

You never know - some people have dogs who will attack other dogs. They may keep them on a leash even in the woods for that reason, and it would have been quite natural for your dogs to trot up to say hello.

The intensity of her reaction would make me think that she had some such fear.

Note: I like dogs. But dogs have their own ways, and we have to respect that.

It's not just your dogs - it's the other dogs. It only takes one to have a problem in that situation and the problem can escalate very rapidly.

If you love your dogs, you have to take another terrified owner seriously. Even if you have voice control, her anxiety means there was some sort of problem.

I had a big old Golden Retriever. Very nice dog, and not aggressive even compared to your average Golden Retriever. They are not an aggressive breed, nor prone to anxiety. But he was an alpha, and if another dog challenged him on his own territory, he would rip the dog up if he had to in order to maintain his dominance.

I've never had a dog (after training) over which I didn't have voice control, and I always trained them so they didn't have to be on a leash either on my own property or anywhere else. But I still would have cleared the area given the woman's anxiety. A dog with an anxious owner is always a potential threat, because her dog would react to her anxiety. Also many breeds would start looking around for the source of her anxiety, so your dogs might have run toward her to find out what was going on because she was freaking out.

I find leash laws somewhat stupid, because the truth is many people can't control a large aggressive dog physically, leash or no leash. So if you don't know what your dog is going to do and you don't have voice control, the leash may be of little use. But it does kind of mark out physical territories and help owners with dogs who may have a problem evade that problem.

Also, she might have been walking her dog off the normal dog trail because she thought her dog couldn't handle so many other dogs.

[Stinky The Clown]

158. Dogs should be on leashes.

[miyazaki]

163. Nah. n/t

[Drahthaardogs]

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

I trust mine and can control them on or off lead. Hers...who knows? It is not worth a vet bill. My dogs are quite capable of taking care of themselves and regularly hunt wild hogs. They know what they are doing. I still don't like paying for stitches.

My pet peeve are those stupid fucking retractable leashes. When the dog is on lead, he heels. Period. Off leash is for fun time, hunting, or tracking. Retractable leashes send the wrong message to the dog. I blame a ton of ill behaved dogs on those leashes.

[Reter]

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

Was there a nude beach nearby?

[Alkene]

171. Yes, you are wrong.

You should have apologized and then leashed your dogs, despite the fact that she ludicrously overreacted.

Not everyone wants to interact with your dogs as much as you do.

[BernieforPres2016]

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

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.

[redstatebluegirl]

201. I agree!

While walking my dogs in a park where dogs must be leashed, I was approached by a large dog who charged my three small ones. I screamed, told the owner to get control of their dog. She said "oh they are voice trained" I said then command him. She did, the kept coming. I have had it with dog owners who feel they have the right to have their dogs off leash. If that dog had hurt my three I would have sued the crap out of her royal highness, voice command.

[elfin]

175. Please keep them leashed or immediately leashed upon any request

Whether hysterical or not.

While on a neighborhood walk, my leashed dog was chomped on without any provocation by a "he's very friendly, don't worry" unleashed dog. Thirteen stitches in the head at the emergency vet. Nearly killed him according to the vet.

You NEVER know how your previously "friendly" dog will behave. Never.

I have a sweet, sweet dog, but always keep hm restrained or somehow corralled, even during free, energetic play.

[cheapdate]

176. Support you 100%. Ignore her.

Don't let her hysteria drive from the space, if that's not what you want. I run across unleashed dogs in the backcountry all the time -- like yours, well behaved and friendly, with owners to match.

[Raster]

177. Dog lover here: Is it a public trail, maintained by government entity?

Is there a POSTED Leash Law? If so, you are breaking the law. Plain and simple.

[togetherforever]

184. No it's not a trail maintained by anybody

It use to be many years ago because of a camp ground that use to be there.

Now it's over grown but there's still a trail because some people bring there dogs there to run around.

I've been going there for the last 8 years or so. I've met a lot of good people there .
Maybe the lady was a new dog owner and someone had told her about this place?

The one thing they probably didn't tell her was people let there dogs off the leash to swim , sniff around, make friends with other dogs.

[Raster]

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

...however bad dogs are like bad children.... more often than not the bad behaviour is actually the fault of parents.

[Jim Beard]

178. You can bring your dogs to my 240 acre farm

in Texas and let them run like dogs are supposed to do.

[togetherforever]

185. My dream would be to live at a place like you do

[cwydro]

179. I've had dogs all my life.

Not everyone is a dog lover.

I have large dogs, and the big sillies are harmless...but I understand that other people might not see that, I keep them leashed.

[lynne]

181. Leash law = Keep them on a leash

Sounds like a public spot. If it is then she has just as much right to be there as you. OP references a leash law and she obviously did not expect to find dogs off the leash with their owner nearby.

As she couldn't see you initially, she had no way of knowing if the dogs were friendly. Good thing she only screamed. Had she been armed, you could be grieving the loss of your dogs right now.

Leash your dogs for their protection, if nothing else.

[Demonaut]

183. I would done as as you, it's wrong though

[awoke_in_2003]

188. As a non dog owner

keep your damn dog on a leash. Just because you think he is cute doesn't mean the rest of us do. He probably stinks, and may bite.

[Matariki]

189. You should have your dogs on a leash

People don't know your dogs are 'friendly', and it sounds like your dogs found her before you even knew she was there.

It's inconsiderate to let your dogs run where there could be other people. Even where you *think* is off the beaten path - obviously there were other people there. You should take them to off-leash parks or trails that are specifically off-leash.

[dilby]

191. You need to have your dog's leashed.

Your dog's maybe the best dogs in the world and would never hurt anyone but if they approach people with dogs on a leach this can be a problem. Her dog could be aggressive and attack your dog's.

Remember leashes are not just to protect other people they also protect your dog. I always keep my dogs leashed and I hate when unleashed dogs run towards me because my dogs go into protection mode.

[TheManInTheMac]

192. Yes, you are wrong. Leash your dogs.

[nadine_mn]

193. I take my dogs to off the beaten trail spots BECAUSE I don't want to run into other dogs

I have a german shepherd who is not dog friendly. I take 100% ownership in the fact that I have failed in his training. He is a rescue, we are his 4th home and he was poorly socialized (left in a kennel 12 hrs a day, no interaction with other dogs for 2-3 yrs). I had hoped being around our pack and walking with our dogs would help. Over time 2 have passed away and he has become extremely attached to our eldest dog. He is very protective of her. Walking him alone is a different experience than walking them together if we run into another dog.

A couple of unleashed dogs running up to us would probably make me yell, a lot. Your dogs may very well be friendly but I have one that is not. And if for any reason he thinks you or your dogs are a threat to me or Jazz (the one he adores) he loses all control. He has not attacked anyone while I have had him on a leash (mainly because I am hanging on for dear life and thank goodness I am fat so I have leverage). However, once when I was away from home, he busted out the screen in our living room window and jumped out to get to a dog that had come on our property. I did not think he could fit but now we don't leave windows open when we leave the house.

I walk with a muzzle on him, but sometimes in the summer I take it off so he can pant better.

I dread well traveled trails, esp people with little dogs on retractable leashes that come storming up. I know that tenseness is sensed by my dog in how I hold the leash, which makes him tense, which makes the whole thing worse. I end up walking my dogs at 2 in the morning, not the best solution but the least stressful.

7 yrs ago I would have agreed with you...I had 2 two dogs that could be off leash and run and sniff. They were large (a lab mix and a collie mix) but super friendly to people and other dogs.
But now being on the other side of the leash...I would hate to have a dog fight start because my dog misread your dogs' attempt to say hello.

[KG]

195. dogs in public belong on a leash. period. end of story.

[Kali]

203. yeah, you are probably wrong

should have just leashed them until she was gone.

I do feel sorry for poor overweight city dogs that never get to do their thing, though.

I - or rather my mutts - are so lucky to live in the sticks.

[donna123]

206. Some people need to calm down

One time, two large dogs were off leash and ran towards me and my two small dogs who were leashed. I calmly picked up my dogs and told the two large dogs "no" as they were jumping up a bit. I had no idea if they were friendly and just interested in smelling my dogs or aggressive. The owner came running up and apologized and I asked are they friendly because if so, fine. He said they like people but not dogs so much and he left. Not a big deal as no harm.

The only time one of my dogs was bit was when my dog and the dog that bit her were both leashed. The other dog was big and a rescue and had aggression issues. We did not see one another as there was a door separating us so we were both taken by surprise. Thankfully my dog was ok, although she was a bit traumatized for a time.

I guess I am "liberal" on leash laws, my dogs are very good off leash. I have encountered people like the woman you describe though and it's blech. My attitude is if the other person's dog is aggressive and leashed and your dog is off leash and gets hurt by the other leashed dog, you shouldn't complain, you're taking the risk. Of course no one wants that to happen. There is also lease aggression where dogs are less aggressive off leash, although probably people with aggressive dogs don't want to take that risk.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

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

But she acts like a retriever with frisbee a and tennis balls. She is also unbelievably sweet. I always let her off leash and use a huge field behind two churches. The police pulled up once, and looked at me, the. Let their German Shepard K-9 out and did the same thing. So much for the ticket. Heh. The dogs got along fine.

The church lets me do it, as I always clean up after her. there is usually one or two kids playing by the church. The parents almost always are happy to see her, because at 95 Lbs, she is dainty, small, and sweet, and she loves kids. Plus, she is vey obedient, unless there is a rabbit involved. Even then, she always eats part of the body, then tries to share the rest with me.

Sqwarl, too. But rabbits are her speciality.

[ScreamingMeemie]

213. This post gave me the feels.

What a great story. Your dog keeping you from a ticket, their dog getting to be a "kid."

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

214. I would expect to meet dogs on the two dog trails

If there are two walking trails specifically for folks with dogs, I would not expect to see two dogs off leash on this other trail, especially off leash.