Dear dog owners,

[SHRED]

Many of us don't like to be confronted by your dog off it's leash, slobbered on when walking by your leashed dog, want to pet your leashed dog, or appreciated its nose in our crotch.

Please keep them away unless invited...thank you.

[hobbit709]

1. Then keep away from the dog park where I take mine.

[SHRED]

2. Not my point

I'm talking about those 20 foot retractable leashes and dog owners liberal use of them like we all want to pet their dogs.

[hobbit709]

3. You sound like the clown that showed up at the dog park with a cat.

Then got upset because all the dogs were jumping up on him trying to get at it.

My comment was "Just what part of DOG Park did you not understand?"

[SHRED]

4. I'm not talking about a dog park

[hlthe2b]

5. I hate the retractable leashes-never use them. But, I constantly have people brushing up to my dog.

coming immediately adjacent to them and in THEIR immediate space, as they approach from behind us on the trail or walk three or four abreast with their companions towards us on the trail. For gawds' sakes, if you come that close to me I'd likewise feel uncomfortable or at least "invaded".... Friendly dogs will take it as your wanting to GREET them and heaven forbid, might excitedly nuzzle you as they pass, while less socialized dogs might take it as your being aggressive towards them.

If you are guilty of doing this, all I can say is stay in your own "space" if you don't want dog contact (or human contact, for that matter) and SHARE the sidewalk/bike trail as they were intended. If you come that close to me without signaling the error with a polite "excuse me", then I might do more than just nuzzle you.


Ok, you can go back to snarling at the kids on your lawn now, Mr. Wilson....

[Major Nikon]

8. The proper way to walk your dog is on a short leash

The dog should remain by your side at all times and be constantly observing the person walking them for direction. Allowing the dog to do whatever it wants defeats the whole purpose of walking the dog. The whole idea is to teach the dog obedience while keeping them mentally stimulated by requiring them to constantly keep themselves in check.

For some real fun, try riding a bike down a multi-use trail, and round a corner to find some asshat with one of those useless retractable leashes stretched across the trail.

[GeorgeGist]

9. We're' not all subscribers to the military mentality.

[Major Nikon]

12. Obedience training 101 mentality

[mythology]

14. You say that like those are different things

[Major Nikon]

15. They are unless you think soldiers are dogs

The great thing about dog obedience training is it solves all sorts of behavioral problems whether or not you subscribe to it.

[nadine_mn]

21. How is this military mentality? It is the safest thing for your dog

I don't understand why you say that. I am the least disciplined person around and I am pretty lax with my dogs as far as obedience. But it is a whole different ball game when you are out in public with your dog - multi-use areas such as trails and sidewalks or parks that aren't designated dog parks. You have no control over other people's dogs, or other people, or other animals - so you have a duty to make sure your dog is safe. That means close by your side so that you are ready and able to put yourself between your dog and anything that may harm it.

I have had 4 large dogs at the same time, and walking them meant giving them some extra leash space so they didn't walk on each other - but still they were close to me. Currently our german shepherd is not friendly towards other dogs - he is close by my side - not just so he doesn't lunge at other dogs, but for when idiots who have their dogs on extended leashes and allow their dogs to come running up to us. I am able to protect my dog and their dog this way.

And people - sheesh - some will try to pet your dog without asking or try to give them something to eat. If my dog is 10 ft in front of me rather than by my side, there is no way I can protect my dog from some well-meaning person who nonetheless may give my dog something toxic or be too rough with him.

[cwydro]

17. That's happened to me both running and on my bike.

I've actually given up on my favorite park unless I go running really early in the morning.

I stay away completely on weekends, and I just go somewhere so populated.

[nadine_mn]

20. Ugh - I hate retractable leashes - usually there is a distracted owner on the other end

My german shepherd is a great dog but not friendly towards other dogs. I know this, so when we walk I am hyper-vigilant [side note - pretty sure this hyper vigilance is communicated to my dog, so he becomes even more protective when we see another dog]

When I go to the vet, I make sure he is by my side and has enough leash to sit. Our vet is also in a pet store, which sucks, so we have to walk through a bunch of over-stimulated dogs with distracted owners. At our last vet visit as we were walking towards the check-in desk and I saw a corgi mix blocking the aisle - there was a large pallet/display of dog food and the owner was on the other side of it - out of eye sight of his dog.

There was no way to get to the check in desk without passing this dog. He seemed quiet so I put myself between me and the two dogs and started to walk by...when that little satan charged my ankles barking and growling at us. Good news - my dog didn't eat him and I didn't slug the owner. I felt that dog's teeth on my ankle (no bite) and the owner!!!!!! The owner had the balls to give us a dirty look while saying "Oh no Freddy doesn't like other dogs, he can't be around other dogs". Listen fucker (sorry for the language)... if you know your dog isn't good around other dogs 1) don't have him on a retractable leash 2)don't have that leash wrapped around a pallet of food and out of your eyesight and 3) pay attention to your damn dog.

Later as we were waiting he moved by another aisle - same thing - owner in the aisle and dog wrapped around an end-cap out of sight. A woman rounds the other side of this aisle and that dog went fricking nuts - full on charged her snarling and barking. The owner says the same damn thing "Oh Freddy doesn't like strangers" and got pissy with the woman instead of apologizing.

Retractable leashes and inattentive owners aren't just bad for passerby's and other dogs, it's bad for that owner's dog. If I hadn't been between the two dogs when it charged, my shepherd would have bitten him I am sure. You have a duty to your dog to keep it close to you and have your eyes on it when you are out on a walk or in public.

[a kennedy]

13. I know what you're saying......why do some dog owners THINK I, who is a dog lover, love their dog???

and I hate when big dogs jump on me or, like's been said previously, smell my crotch......HATE THAT. The owners think it's ok. IT'S NOT.

[cwydro]

6. I love dogs, and I have dogs.

But I know what you mean.

I'm a runner; I run daily through a local park. Recently, at least two dogs on retractable leashes have been allowed to come WAY too close to me. I see the dog ahead, and I give as wide a berth as possible - even running off the trail.

The latest episode - I suddenly felt the dog very close to my leg. I turned abruptly. The woman said, oh he just wants to run with you. I half smiled and began to run again. Again, she allowed him to come right up on me. At that point, I said - look, no offense, but I don't want a dog coming up behind me that close. She said, oh he's just a puppy. I ran off, but jeez.

I had shoulder surgery a couple of years ago, and I don't need to be startled on a path where I could easily fall. I love dogs, but I really detest some dog owners. I would NEVER let my dogs do that.

[trueblue2007]

11. that woman was a moron.

[Arkansas Granny]

7. I'm a dog lover, but I understand what you're saying. Dog owners should have their dogs under

control in public and not assume that everyone they meet wants to interact with their pets. It's safer for the dog as well.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

10. And to other dog owners: MY dog may be friendly but I don't necessarily want him meeting yours.

And if we agree to let them check each other out, there's a way to do that safely but it means we both keep control of our pups at all times in case things go sour.

[nadine_mn]

19. and the reverse: Your dog may be friendly, but MY dog isn't with other dogs

If your dog comes charging up to me and my dog, my dog is not happy and does not want to be friends. Some people just don't get that not everyone wants their dog to meet other dogs.

[UTUSN]

16. Fala is reading this. n/t

[3catwoman3]

18. I walk every day, in residential areas. 4 to 6 miles.

Lots of dogs in the neighborhoods I frequent. I always give dogs and their walkers wide berth if we are approaching each other. If a dog seems to be friendly and acts as if it would like to approach me, I stop a safe distance away, and ask the owner, "Is it OK to make friends?" If the answer is "yes," I then approach slowly, holding out the back of my hand in a low position so it does not look to the dog like I might be preparing to strike it.

It is always unnerving when a dog, of any size, comes charging at me, growling and/or barking as I walk by their yard. Not every yard with an electric fence has a sign saying so.

I detest crotch sniffing. Not the dogs' fault, of course - that's how they are programmed. But if you are the owner, keep your dog far enough away from me that there is no risk of this happening.