Little Dog in a Big World

Posts Tagged ‘dog obedience’

This is going to be a bit of a rant.  I apologize in advance.

I want to start off by saying that I realize there are many appropriate places to allow your dog to run off leash.  Your backyard is a good place, dog parks are another.  Those are great places for a dog to experience some freedom in a controlled environment.

Your front yard is not a good place to let your dog roam freely off leash especially if you life in the city or suburbs.  You might say “But, my dog is well behaved!  She answers all my commands!”  But she do so when another dog is walking down the street?  Can you trust your dog implicitly when something might distract them so much they might wander off?

I walk Misha every day.  She is a small dog–8 pounds.  Far too many times, I have had to pick her up and scare off dogs that have been allowed to run off leash in the owner’s yard.  In most cases, these are small dogs and the people are on their porches or in their garages.  Sometimes they think it’s “cute” that “Buddy” has run up to “make friends” with the cute little Jack Russell.  Other times, they don’t care at all.  What harm can a little dog do, right?

I assure you that it is neither cute nor harmless.  Because of dog owners who think that it’s no big deal, my dog has become afraid of strange dogs because of the numerous times an unknown dog has run out of nowhere and approached her.  When she is sprung on like this, she attacks.  I certainly don’t want to see my dog get attacked or see her harm another dog.  Those teeth are just as vicious in an 8 pound dog when that dog is threatened.  And, what if one of those dogs bites someone?  Do they really want their dog to be taken and put into quarantine?

It’s very frustrating for me.  Almost every Saturday, I have to walk on guard because people are out in their garages working. Their dogs are part way down the street and they don’t even know about it!  Most of the time I end up chasing the dog back home carrying Misha in my arms.  When I find the owners, I don’t even get an apology that their dog was following me home!  They seem incredibly clueless to the fact that our dogs might have gotten in a fight or as their dog crossed streets with me it could have been hit by a car.

I don’t think it’s fair that every Saturday I have to change my route because there are loose dogs in front of houses.  We have leash laws in my city.  By rights, none of these dogs should be roaming freely with the owners present or not.

I wish more people would be concerned about the welfare of their pets and be considerate for the other dog owner’s trying to take a walk.  I don’t think it’s right that I should keep my dog indoors just because someone else thinks it’s okay for their dog to roam everywhere.  We should all be able to enjoy the neighborhood.  My dog on leash at my side obeying me.  Your dog on leash at your side sitting on your porch or in your garage.  Is that too much to ask?