Walking dogs?

Lynxe · Post by **Lynxe** » June 19, 2003, 9:11 am

Yesterday after work I nabbed my dogs and mountain bike and took off along woodland trail on the outskirts of the city where people tend to walk their dogs off-leash. We stopped about halfway, jumped in a pond for a swim and headed back before dark- it was great fun!

I have 2 Labrador Retrievers (yellow male, chocolate female). On the way back we met a couple of folks walking with a German Shepard. We three (dogs and I) tried to bike/run by with a nod to say hello, but the Shepard attacked my chocolate lab. The owner grabbed him before my dog was hurt and before my yellow lab knew what happened.

In the news a few months ago there was a story about a lady who was killed by her neighbours two dogs that had a history of aggression but were not restrained. About a month ago another story of a young child who was killed by his family dog.

Yet if you searched the internet I know there are a ton of stories where dogs have also saved people's lives.

:vv_devangel:

For the purpose of this poll:

- the context is walking/running a dog outside of the home or garden (if fenced) and in an area you could have them off a leash if you were inclined.
- an aggressive dog is one who is an aggressive breed and/or has shown aggressive tendencies to people or other dogs.

Lor · Post by **Lor** » June 19, 2003, 9:49 am

I have a Non-Aggressive dog and I let him in our non-fenced yard off leash, he is very discplined... when I take him for a walk he is on leash to the park and If there are no other people or Dogs there I let him off leash to get a good Run, once I see another person or dog he go's right back to the leash, I personally think anyone who just leaves a dog off leash when there are others around is very irresponsible, It sets up the owner for a lawsuit.

Kindo · Post by **Kindo** » June 19, 2003, 10:00 am

I suppose I have to classify my dog as aggressive since he is a Chow, but he is the best dog I've ever had. He is very protective of our house and us, but he's never been aggressive. If a stranger comes to the door, he lets them know that they are on his turf, but as soon as we tell him it's ok he "stands down". He's a big baby though and loves to cuddle! At night (or early morning, whenever we're done playing EQ!) he races Neverflee and I to bed, whoever gets there first gets cuddled with, the other has to wedge in between Tao and the edge of the bed.

We always leash him on walks though since Chows do have a bad reputation. And quite frankly, with the neighborhood I live in, I like that people may think my dog is vicious.

Homercles · Post by **Homercles** » June 19, 2003, 10:44 am

I own a very old dog that can barely take two steps in the grass without falling over. He has maybe three teeth left. Cant hear or see. I dont think a leash is required to restrain him.

Hell, he doesnt even like to go outside anymore. I take him out. He stands there for a second, then turns around and heads for the door, where I have to pick him up to carry him up 2 steps.

When he was younger, a leash was rarely used. The dog has always stayed in the yard, almost knowing the precise borders with the neighbors. When on a leisurly walk, a leash might have been used just because he tended to obsess over every bush, tree, fire hydrant, and mailbox we came across. Never a threat to others but he could easily turn a 10 minute walk into a 40 minute walk. So he was leashed and dragged along.

Sirensa · Post by **Sirensa** » June 19, 2003, 12:28 pm

I own a non-aggressive dog - I leash her when she walks in my neighborhood with me, but if I am at my beach house I will take her down on the sand unleashed - unless I am planning on walking a good distance along the beach, then I bring her leash. She roams my unfenced front yard supervised when I am outside with her.

I had an instance once where an unrestrained dog tried to attack my dog when my dog was leashed on a walking trail. My dog is small so I pulled her into my arms to get her out of reach of the other dog - who then proceeded to try to climb me to get to my dog. Wasn't a very pleasant experience for either my dog or myself.

I don't mind unleashed dogs - but I do very much mind unleashed dogs with aggressive tendancies and owners who are unwilling or unable to control them.

Taly · Post by **Taly** » June 19, 2003, 1:35 pm

I used to have an unagressive dog but she was always leashed for walks and around town. When i took her to the lake every weekend she did not have a leash. she was always with in eye view.

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » June 19, 2003, 1:36 pm

I have a german shepher but he's been trained as a guard dog and basically never leaves my side when were out walking (unless I throw a stick or his ball for him to chase after). I have never put a leash on him in the 2+ years I've owned him and he has never so much as barked at someone or another dog, except for people he knows he just barks because he is excited to see them.

Obedience school should be mandatory for any large breed dog.

German Shepherds aren't really known for their aggresive behaviour though, especially towards other dogs. Are you sure he attacked your dog and wasn't just playing or establishing dominance? I mean if a German Shepherd really wanted to kill a labrador I don't think it would really take him more than a second to do it.

Wulfran · Post by **Wulfran** » June 19, 2003, 1:36 pm

I don't own a dog at the moment. I grew up outside a small town, where my parents and all our neighbours owned large lots (9 acre parcels usually) and they backed onto government owned forrest. We and our nieghbours owned dogs (my best friend was our border collie in my ealry teens) and none of us knew what leashes were except as punishment (when pup made a mess in someone's garden they got a boot in the ass and a week on the 30' chain). My dogs were also taught that it was bad to go on the road. In that context,where you have lots of room, and you know your neighbours and their dogs, I have no issues with them being off leash.

In a city, or more populated area, there is no way for people to know your dog, you to know other dogs, or you to know how others will react to you dog. I agree with Lor, letting your dog off a leash in those circumstances is irresponsible, unless you are in an open area where you can see anyone/anything else coming in time to regain control.

Seriously, most of us view our pets as family members: would you let your toddler run free in similar circumstances?

Lynxe · Post by **Lynxe** » June 19, 2003, 4:25 pm

kyoukan said:

Are you sure he attacked your dog and wasn't just playing or establishing dominance?

I completely understand why you ask Kyoukan. I've grown up around large breed dogs and have been through training with my oldest and hopefully will with the youngest after the summer. There was no play, though it started as a dominance thing and unfortunatly changed very quickly. Shepherds are not known to be aggressive but they are known for being protective which can cause aggression (but not often). The folks I met also had a baby in a carriage with them which for me explained the protective behavior but didn't make the aggression "ok".

rhyae · Post by **rhyae** » June 19, 2003, 4:41 pm

Owners should know their own dogs, unfortunately they are fatalistically shortsighted when it comes to their pets.

I also had a chowchow. GREAT dog, good protection, smart as a whip. Always leashed her though cos she loved to roam. She never attacked anyone or was overly aggressive if left alone.

She was attacked twice by other dogs though, once by two unleashed greyhounds, I guess she looked like a fuzzy racing rabbit when she was a puppy and thats why. Seems the owner was warned of that problem, but ignored it so they could run with him freely.
And the other time by an unleashed pit bull. Luckily the pit bull was old and previous fights had knocked most of its teeth out. It locked onto her neck but basically just locked on with gums. BTW you dont have to pry a pit bulls jaws apart with a bar, just shove a broom up their asshole, that worked. yipe yipe yipe.
Anyway, dogs are gonna be dogs, properly controlled dogs make everyone happy, including the dogs. You just gotta know your own pet.
If you don't, you don't deserve to own it.
P.S. If you love dogs read "The Hidden Life if Dogs"

Denadeb · Post by **Denadeb** » June 19, 2003, 5:20 pm

I don't have them any more but I used to have 3 Pitts.

I guess they would be under the Agressive dogs. Over the Years I have owned many diffrent breeds of dogs some that are known to be agressive some not. The thing is though no matter the breed most of it is how they are raised and treated.

The 3 Pitts I owned were 3 of the most friendly dogs I owned very playfull and very loving. Its sad that people have abused this breed to the point where its very difficult to own one.

I used to let the run free around the yard or the park / beach as long as I was there playing with them. They went on leashes when we were walking or just sitting around. I used to have people that lived around me complain that my dogs were dangerous and tried to make me get rid of them all because of the rep they get from stupid people who abuse them for fighting purposes.

So sad people do this shit to dogs.

And the other time by an unleashed pit bull. Luckily the pit bull was old and previous fights had knocked most of its teeth out.

Any breed can be mean and dangerous if you treat them bad. Granted some breeds have a more agressive nature but if you train them well and treat them right most of the time you wont have any problems.

Mort · Post by **Mort** » June 19, 2003, 6:00 pm

2 7month old Rottweilers..... Cute and cudly as can be unless they see another dog/cat/animal. I have much work to do, obidience classes coming soon, then park/beach walks on leash for training.

I rescued them from a Humane Society so who knows what the fuck happened to them in the early months, but Im gonna fix em

**EDIT, forgot to mention the $3000.00 worth of backyard lanscaping they've eaten while I'm at work /sigh

cid · Post by **cid** » June 19, 2003, 6:18 pm

I have a male and a female American Bulldog. The male is a year and a half and the female is six month old. These are the best two dogs I have ever had. I will be taking the male to school in August, then the female when she is older.

The male is extremely protective, but not in a aggressive matter. Before he goes to bed, he will walk into my children’s bedrooms and sniffs them to make sure they are ok then he sleeps at the floor of our bed. When he hears a noise, he does not bark, he just goes and makes his rounds checking on everyone again.

The only incident I have had with him is when we brought the female home. He sniffed her and immediately lifted his leg and pissed on her (poor puppy).

However, since then they have gotten together famously! They make a good team.

If you are looking at getting a pet look up the American Bulldog cannot go wrong with the breed if you ask me.

Legenae · Post by **Legenae** » June 19, 2003, 8:02 pm

When I was in grade 1, I was over at my babysitter's house for the day. She had a German Shepherd mix, and usually kept him tied up on a chain outside. I was told the dog was friendly, as long as you didn't approach it while he was eating. Being the animal lover that I am, I went over to pet the dog... he had JUST finished eating. Unfortunately, I should have maybe waited a moment longer... his jaw clamped down on my lower leg and foot. My babysitter's son and his friend were outside with me thank god and they grabbed my arms and had a tug of war match with the dog until he finally let go of my leg. The scars are so faint now you can barely see them even if I point them out. The dog was put to sleep after the incident, as most dogs are.

You'd think that an incident like that, at such an early age, would make me terrified of large dogs for the rest of my life. On the contrary, I prefer a larger breed of dog. My faveorite breed? German Shepherd of course!

When growing up, my dad bought a pure bred German Shepherd. He brought it to obedience school. He had the choice of training it to be a "family" dog or a "guard" dog. We stuck with family. The nice thing about our dog was that while it was non-aggressive, it was a large enough dog to keep away strangers.

Like Wulfran, we grew up outside of the city and had 7 acres of land, surrounded by forests. All the neighbors had dogs and we never kept them on leashes while going for walks. Everyone in the neighborhood knew each other, and their dogs for that matter. We let our dog roam free outside while we were home. When we weren't home, we had a large, fenced in pen to keep the dog in.

If we had lived in a more populated area, we would probably have put her on a leash while going for walks.

cid · Post by **cid** » June 19, 2003, 8:23 pm

A well trained dog will stay no matter what

Aireanna Wyndcather · Post by **Aireanna Wyndcather** » June 19, 2003, 8:52 pm

Ive got a Great Dane/Mastiff mix and a Golden Lab/Retreiver mix. Bailey(the dane) is about a year and a half so hes still alittle puppyish. Ben(the lab, although he looks more like a Dingo hehe) is about 2 and a half years old or so. We have to keep them both on leashes because of their sizes. Bailey is a HUGE dog, as Drustwyn can tell you. He also isnt aware of how big he is, so we dont usually take them on walks. Ben has problems with other dogs being around him. Hes very dominate towards others. He also had problems when he was little with his health, so we kept him inside most of his "puppy" months. I think thats why hes so aggressive towards everyone but my family. After you come over a few times, he warms up to you though. Baileys just a big,dumb, and goofy looking puppy. Gotta love the horse hehe.

Sometimes · Post by **Sometimes** » June 19, 2003, 9:09 pm

I own two "barkers" but just in case they decide to become truly aggressive I have an invisible fence that the dogs have learned to respect w/ or w/o the shock collar on.

Jivundus · Post by **Jivundus** » June 20, 2003, 12:16 am

I've got an english mastiff and her breed is generally non-aggressive but even knowning that she is well trained I still would not take her off her leash if other people or dogs are around.

She loves to play like she is aggressive when she knows ppl are scared of her and I don't want to take the chance that she could accidentally hurt someone/thing.

Zamtuk · Post by **Zamtuk** » June 20, 2003, 1:43 am

I kept my dog chained in our backyard. It wasn't trashy or anything, my dog just didn't really like the outside, so it was pointless walking him. But he was aggressive as hell. Best inside dog a family could want.

Asheran Mojomaster · Post by **Asheran Mojomaster** » June 20, 2003, 2:45 am

My family has 2 little dogs, one is half golden lab half something else, very strange cause while golden labs arent small this dog is (not tiny but small...). I guess one of the parents was some sort of small dog. The other one is just some mutt, little black dog and both are very very friendly, never saw em even growl at a person. Of course I dont like our current dogs, they are my brothers mainly. My dog that died 2 years ago was half bulldog half chow, best guard dog you could ever have, hell once a great dane and lab came into out yard and she bit the danes ear off (all the way off) and made em both run yelping out of the yard

. I loved that dog but even though she was such a good guard dog, she wasnt aggressive, not to people anyway, only time she ever bit anyone in a violent manner was when someone broke into my dads storage shed thing behind our house...we didnt see the guy but the next day we found a bunch of things knocked over in there and a lot of blood on the ground.

I'm getting sad just thinking about her, she was older than me, my mom got her 2 months before I was born.

Brittney · Post by **Brittney** » June 20, 2003, 4:17 am

Cats are sooooooo > Dogs

Mak · Post by **Mak** » June 20, 2003, 5:26 am

I've got a red Husky that I have to leash or he's gone without looking back. I also have a shepherd mix that is pretty good about staying, but he's still leashed 99% of the time.

Legenae · Post by **Legenae** » June 20, 2003, 12:20 pm

Brittney wrote:Cats are sooooooo > Dogs

I agree with you there Britt. I have 2 cats myself.

Stalker Vacio · Post by **Stalker Vacio** » June 20, 2003, 6:49 pm

Lynxe wrote:...On the way back we met a couple of folks walking with a German Shepard. We three (dogs and I) tried to bike/run by with a nod to say hello, but the Shepard attacked my chocolate lab. ...

Sounds like you put your dogs in a bad situation to begin with.

edited: misquoted

Lynxe · Post by **Lynxe** » June 23, 2003, 8:41 am

Stalker said

Sounds like you put your dogs in a bad situation to begin with.

Curious...how do you figure that? Even if my dogs had been leashed it wouldn't have stopped the unleashed GS from getting access to my dog. In fact had I been on the other end of a leash I would have been even more scared. Perhaps you mean I shouldn't take the dogs out of the house/garden at all?

Stalker Vacio · Post by **Stalker Vacio** » June 23, 2003, 7:02 pm

Lynxe wrote:Stalker said
Sounds like you put your dogs in a bad situation to begin with.
Curious...how do you figure that? Even if my dogs had been leashed it wouldn't have stopped the unleashed GS from getting access to my dog. In fact had I been on the other end of a leash I would have been even more scared. Perhaps you mean I shouldn't take the dogs out of the house/garden at all?

Something like that...

I wouldn't recommend bringing your dogs back to the lake if there are aggressive dog breads running around without leashes.

Doesn't matter if it was a isolated case or not.

That GS sounds like it could have fucked your dogs up royally...espically the puppy and it's your job to make sure your pets are safe.

The owners of the GS are not responsible and are fucking it up for everyone not just you...that is your problem unfortnately.

Best to leave the doggies at home in a controlled environment.

Kaluian_CT · Post by **Kaluian_CT** » June 23, 2003, 7:28 pm

I have a Great Dane, and I just started trying to walk him since he just got through with obedience school. I do leash him, but only for other peoples peace of mind. He is the sweetest dog in the world, but his presence alone intimidates people.

Leash or no leash, if he wanted to go off on something, there is exactly ZERO I could do about it. He dumped over my couch the other day when my boyfriend threw a tennis ball under it. He is probably 10x stronger than me.

Large dogs must go to obedience school if you are going to take them out in public, or your asking to be sued.

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » June 23, 2003, 7:30 pm

yeah great danes are bulldozers. probably second only to bull terriers when it comes to sheer destruction around a house. my friends have a great dane and he is a great dog but a total menace. he will knock you down on your ass, pin you down and lick your face when he is happy to see you, and when he drinks water out of his bowl it flies around like a sprinkler.

it's pretty cool in small doses but I couldn't own a dog like that. its just always doing something big and dumb.

cid · Post by **cid** » June 23, 2003, 7:39 pm

I have always wanted a ST Bernard, but just cringe when thinking of the mess they would make.

Kaluian_CT · Post by **Kaluian_CT** » June 23, 2003, 7:40 pm

The biggest thing is make yourself educated before you buy a dog. I made the mistake of an impulse buy.

Great Dane = $900
Crate = $275
Clipping balls = $175
4 pairs of shoes = $300
Carpet repairs = $250
Recliner = $700

Obedience School = $1200

If I had it to do over again, I wouldnt have got him, but Max = Priceless now

Fizzlewhip · Post by **Fizzlewhip** » June 23, 2003, 7:42 pm

kyoukan wrote: German Shepherds aren't really known for their aggresive behaviour though, especially towards other dogs. Are you sure he attacked your dog and wasn't just playing or establishing dominance? I mean if a German Shepherd really wanted to kill a labrador I don't think it would really take him more than a second to do it.

I think you mean a trained shephard. I have seen labs take down dogs much bigger, more aggressive dogs. (Note, not my lab. I train my dogs religously to be obedient. A dog that asserts its dominance in a public setting is not properly trained for public outings. Dominance in the public can be controlled.)

I have even seen a shephard turn tail and run from a boxer.

Stalker Vacio · Post by **Stalker Vacio** » June 23, 2003, 7:51 pm

Fizzlewhip wrote:
kyoukan wrote: German Shepherds aren't really known for their aggresive behaviour though, especially towards other dogs. Are you sure he attacked your dog and wasn't just playing or establishing dominance? I mean if a German Shepherd really wanted to kill a labrador I don't think it would really take him more than a second to do it.
I think you mean a trained shephard. I have seen labs take down dogs much bigger, more aggressive dogs. (Note, not my lab. I train my dogs religously to be obedient. A dog that asserts its dominance in a public setting is not properly trained for public outings. Dominance in the public can be controlled.)

I have even seen a shephard turn tail and run from a boxer.

It's all about the owner.

Lynxe · Post by **Lynxe** » June 24, 2003, 9:35 am

Stalker: I see what your saying now. I don't agree though

I think it would be cruel and unhealthy to "...leave the doggies at home in a controlled environment." Labs need a lot of exercise, they are not house dogs and I don't live or walk them in areas where this should be a concern. I've been going there with my male for almost 2 years and thats the first aggressive dog I've seen. There is lots of forest and wilderness where I live, it isn't a congested city (if it was I would never have gotten a large breed dog).

I also don't agree with the logic that my dogs should be confined to our home because there are dangers outside the door. My pathetic asshole uncle is a drunk driver - that doesn't mean I should confine myself to my home, or stop me from waking down the street. If the GS had hurt my Lab, it would be unfortunate that I had not skipped our walk that day, but it certainly wouldn't have been my fault (and I'd probably get hurt when I attacked the GS!). It WOULD have been the fault of the lady who was stupid enough to take an aggressive dog out in public untrained and unleashed.

Zamtuk · Post by **Zamtuk** » June 24, 2003, 9:40 am

Kaluian_CT wrote:The biggest thing is make yourself educated before you buy a dog. I made the mistake of an impulse buy.

Great Dane = $900
Crate = $275
Clipping balls = $175
4 pairs of shoes = $300
Carpet repairs = $250
Recliner = $700

Obedience School = $1200

If I had it to do over again, I wouldnt have got him, but Max = Priceless now

Sad thing is Great Danes' life expectancy is ~6 years.

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » June 24, 2003, 9:55 am

Stalker Vacio wrote:It's all about the owner.

Breed plays a role as well, no matter what you say. Some breeds are more aggressive than others because they were bred that way, there's no getting around it.

The wife and I own a long hair dachshund. They were bred to hunt rodents and small animals. He is very obedient because we worked with him for a long time (heard a lot of stories about problems with them) with but there's not a damn thing we can do to get his attention from a squirrel or rabbit if he sees one. He HAS to be leashed because of that. He's terrified of the road outside our complex but he will completely forget he's scared if he sees said animals.

The owner plays a huge role, but it's not all about the owner by any stretch

Sylvos · Post by **Sylvos** » June 24, 2003, 1:40 pm

I have a ferocious cat that has to be leashed when out and about, otherwise she will kill, destory and maim anything that she comes across.
Her fearsome paws have knives for claws and her fangs are that of a saber-tooth tiger. When she attacks - a cloud of crimson mist is the only trace of her former foe. Leashes are a must for some pets.
Moral of the story: Luna owns you all.

VeeshanVault

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