Leash Laws

[crazedACD]

Just curious. opcorn:

Are there leash laws where you live? Do you follow them?

The park where I frequent has a few signs clearly marked that say all dogs must be on leash. I've never really seen anyone with authority there, or enough to fine me-I don't even know who would. I don't follow it there, though I am very conscious of what's going on around me and leash up when others approach. My dogs aren't running willy nilly either..but I definitely let Romeo off leash on the dock and usually when playing. Sometimes I feel bad, as the rule is probably there for a reason, but I almost feel like it doesn't apply to us because Romeo would never be a nuisance or cause a problem. I try to go during off hours and never during baseball games or anything.

 

[JessLough]

Here, unless it specifies dog must be on leash, the dog is allowed to be off leash as long as dogs are allowed to be there.

The only place near here that specifies on leash is the bike paths... and I guess we follow it, she has a leash on, I just don't hold it

 

[CaliTerp07]

Yes, there are leash laws, and yes, I follow them.

I am grateful that the parks and hiking trails allow leashed dogs, period, and don't want to do anything to jeopardize that. One bad apple spoils the barrel.

I live in a very heavily populated area though. Even when we lived in an apartment and I had to walk Lucy at 6 am before work, we'd pass at least a half dozen other people/dogs in the park going for walks. There is no "off time" here.

 

[Lyzelle]

We have leash laws on base, but no one follows them. It's rather annoying, actually, to have a dog run up to you and the owners just shout out, "Oh, he's friendly" instead of actually controlling their dog. I don't care if it's friendly. I don't want mauled, and Zander doesn't want bugged when we are on a "mission". (aka, running).

Zander is on a leash regardless. He'd run without one. No possible recall. Too much ADHD.

 

[sassafras]

Yes, we have leash laws. Yes, I follow them. Yes, it bugs the crap out of me when people don't.

 

[Kaydee]

We have leash laws for everybody's own good. We live in a heavily populated area with nutso traffic. It's dangerous for people walking nevermind unleashed dogs. You don't even pay attention to sirens there's so many...accidents too.
folkThere are nature preserves around and officially dogs are supposed to be leashed at all times. Unofficially there's a whole lot of us who do the deep woods trails offleash. No cars and you can walk miles without seeing anyone. Most people stay out on the main trails, so the backwoods ones are more for more adventurous folks with dog friendly dogs...secluded, it's nice

 

[JacksonsMom]

I've never really noticed to be honest. I've never really seen THAT many signs stating 'dogs must be on leash' or anything. There is one at the park where our dog park is, but they just mean where the baseball and soccer fields are, etc, obviously the fenced dog park is off leash.

Then I take Jackson to this place 5 minutes up the road from my house and there is rarely any one there. It's got a lot of ball game fields and stuff that get utilized on the weekends but during the week, you've got the occasional runner/walker/whatever using the trails all around the fields. I see a few people who walk with their dogs off leash around these trails (a lot of them thru the woods) and all the dogs seem very mindful and stick close to owners so I don't have an issue, and it's so rare to come across another dog anyways. I use Jackson's 50ft leash at this park.

But at certain places, it just seems obvious to me, like anywhere downtown, etc.

 

[TahlzK]

I don't mind if leash laws aren't followed as long as the dog stays close to the owner and doesn't try to misbehave.

I would never walk my dogs off leash in the streets but if there is a open space and not many people, I would. I don't at the moment with my Lab x since he had no recall and my Kelpie x doesn't like people so she isn't allowed off in places were I'll come across people often.

 

[sillysally]

There are leash laws around here and I do follow them. People who don't really tick me off. Not only is it an problem for people whose leashed dogs have dog reactivity/aggression issues, but it makes all dog owners look bad. It is not unheard of for parks to ban all dogs because of people who break the rules. Also, it really sucks for people who are afraid of dogs to go to an on leash public park and encounter off leash dogs. It's not brain surgery, just snap a leash on. In our county there is especially no excuse--we have 3 public off leash parks and one private one.

As you can tell I have no opinion--lol.

 

[mrose_s]

We only have a few offleash areas and they are all crap. 2 small (less than 1 acre) fenced parks with ntohing to offer to your dog. 1 unfenced area with a walking path about 500m long right next to a busy road and a couple of offleash beaches full of people with marauding staffy mixes but its okay because "don't worry! He's friendly!"
All these places are atleast 30 minutes drive away so I don't make a habit of visiting them.
Most of our offleash time is either down in our own paddocks, down the road at the dam or at the end of the road there are the town sports grounds, an AFL field, a rugby fiels and 2 soccer fields all in one spot so i usually go there. The rugby grounds are fenced even if they arn't fully dog proof and I can see anyone coming from a long way off. Plus one of my good friends parents manage the place and don't mind that I use it to run Quinn.

Other than that I usually keep her on a long lead as I don't trust her recall enough yet.

 

[JessLough]

There are leash laws around here and I do follow them. People who don't really tick me off. Not only is it an problem for people whose leashed dogs have dog reactivity/aggression issues, but it makes all dog owners look bad. It is not unheard of for parks to ban all dogs because of people who break the rules. Also, it really sucks for people who are afraid of dogs to go to an on leash public park and encounter off leash dogs. It's not brain surgery, just snap a leash on. In our county there is especially no excuse--we have 3 public off leash parks and one private one.

As you can tell I have no opinion--lol.

People whose dogs are pulling at the end of their leash, barking as people walk by are doing much more damage and look a lot worse than my dog who is walking at my side ignoring dogs and people dragging her leash.

ETA: Not really saying anything other than it really does go both ways. Rosey's not aggressive, but if a dog comes up to her when she's on a leash (most owners here just let their dogs interact with whatever dog comes around the corner), she's going to snark cause she's "trapped" (can't get away herself). She's mostly blind, so she just can't see them coming til it's too late

 

[Kaydee]

People whose dogs are pulling at the end of their leash, barking as people walk by are doing much more damage and look a lot worse than my dog who is walking at my side ignoring dogs and people dragging her leash.

Amen

 

[Barbara!]

Yes, and I am grateful for leash laws. I do get upset when people don't follow them. The laws are there for a reason...to keep us, and our dogs, safe.

 

[sassafras]

And in addition to safety, other people trying to enjoy public space shouldn't have to wonder or worry if an off-leash dog is well behaved or not. It's just rude.

 

[Xandra]

Yes, we have leash laws, I usually follow them nowadays. Well-behaved off leash dogs make me happy. I personally am not bothered when people have somewhat uncontrolled friendly dogs (as long as the people don't act indignant if you have to repel their dog, their dog gets bit, etc.) but I understand why other people are.

 

[crazedACD]

See I feel like just because there isn't a physical leash on my dog, that he is 'leashed' with his training. He is usually so focused on 'BALL' or if we are working on commands me, than anything else. He will drop on command and recall...and this has been tested in real life situations. Usually our off leash adventures are centered in one spot...like I said, on the dock, or I go to a spot in the field to work.

I'm finding this very interesting by the way .

 

[sassafras]

See I feel like just because there isn't a physical leash on my dog, that he is 'leashed' with his training.

YOU know that. Other people don't. People who may not want strange dogs coming up to them for whatever reason - and in a shared public space with leash laws they shouldn't have to worry about it. They don't know which off leash dogs are "leashed with training" and which aren't. And if they're trying to enjoy their picnic or whatever they shouldn't have to pay attention to what other people's dogs are doing.

 

[JessLough]

YOU know that. Other people don't. People who may not want strange dogs coming up to them for whatever reason - and in a shared public space with leash laws they shouldn't have to worry about it. They don't know which off leash dogs are "leashed with training" and which aren't. And if they're trying to enjoy their picnic or whatever they shouldn't have to pay attention to what other people's dogs are doing.

Except that he's leashed with training... that means he will NOT go up to people.

ETA: Oh man, I wish I didn't have to worry about what other people's dogs are doing, leashed AND unleashed.

 

[Barbara!]

Also, what if your dog decided to bolt? You can say "he won't"...but what if he DID?

 

[sillysally]

See I feel like just because there isn't a physical leash on my dog, that he is 'leashed' with his training. He is usually so focused on 'BALL' or if we are working on commands me, than anything else. He will drop on command and recall...and this has been tested in real life situations. Usually our off leash adventures are centered in one spot...like I said, on the dock, or I go to a spot in the field to work.

I'm finding this very interesting by the way .

Except that he's not leashed. He's loose and you are hoping that he is focused enough to obey you. Maybe he is, but how is everyone around you supposed to know that. If you're out in the country somewhere, fine. But if you have the dog somewhere that other people expect due to leash laws that the dog will be on leash, then I feel it is inconsiderate to leave the dog off leash.

My mom is afraid of strange dogs. When she seems one running loose at the beach she doesn't think, "Oh look how focused that dog is on his ball!" She thinks, "Oh sh!t--loose dog!!!"

One of the coolest hiking trails in our area was closed to dogs because people ignored the leash signs and the rangers got tired of dealing with it.

Don't take this the wrong way (not saying that this is the case with you), but I would be willing to bet that the vast majority of people who let their dogs run loose think that they have their dogs under control and in my experience the vast majority are wrong. I don't think that other people using the public space should have to be guessing if the dog they see loose is one of the 1 or 2% of the dogs that can run loose safely.