Very proud of my boys... but am I doing the right thing...

[Nicky08]

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am VERY over protective of my boys... Some will say I need to chill out because they are only dogs, To that I say kiss my you know what... That just bugs me to no end, yea maybe I do value my dogs more then the next person because I can't have children so I put that value onto my dogs then..

Well last night my brother in-law suggested that I just let my dogs go outside to do their business without a lead, I ALWAYS had them on their leads because I am paranoid of them running off or something bad happening to them. Well I did that and so far the couple times they actually go out and do their business I think they are liking that better they seem to do it faster then being on the lead. I feel bad, like I should keep to what I am doing but so far they are doing great with the no lead, I am out there with them watching their every move to call them back to me if they wander too far and they are being good boys... Am I being to paranoid? UGH I wonder about myself!!! lol

[TxVicki]

My opinion if you don't have fenced in yard, you most certainly should be out with him on a lead. You just never knowwhat will happen in an instant and that is all it takes.

Heck I have a 6 foot fence all the way around and I still don't let mine out unless I am with them. If they are outside I am right there with them.

I have had some people tell me the same thing.

[nanahas3]

I put mine in their xpen when outside because I had a terrible scare with a hawk when we first brought Laddy home. It is not worth the stress for them or me to be fearful the whole time they are out.

[taxlady]

ONLY a dog??????? Excuse me, you are talking to the wrong lady here and no you are not over the top on the protective issue. Hey just be one of those "crazy dog ladies" LOL. Your family will get the message. Mine know I am the crazy dog lady and I don't care what they think. My dog is special and maybe spoiled.

[SophieKatesMom]

I would never let Sophie Kate outside without her leash. We do not have a fenced in yard and that is not a comfort level I will ever reach.

I guess Sophie Kate won't either, when we go to friends who have fenced in back yards she will go outside if I am out with her and she never goes farther than maybe 10 yards from me.

You should do what you are comfortable with, regardless of what others think.

[Nicky08]

I am still confused about the issue, because Nicky who is my yorkie... is an AWESOME listener and comes back the second I call him, Rocky my Shih-tzu not so good in the listening department.

What I am torn about is... they did great the few times I let them out without there leads, I was with them, I would NEVER let them out and not be with them, for the fear of a bigger dog or other animal trying to take them away or worse killing them. I would be devastated if anything happened to either of my boys, more devastated with Nicky, because ALL my life I wanted a Yorkie, and now I have one... I wanna keep him as long as I can, or as long as mom nature would let me keep him in my life!! There is also no way I will let them roam around outside my parents house without a lead or me being with them, they live REAL close to the highway, and one of our neighbors outback has a Shepard and some huge dog, and both of them have always been barking nasty at me weather I was alone or with my dogs!! I still think I should put their collars on them, ARG... don't know...

Yea I am a very crazy dog lady!!

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by Nicky08

I am still confused about the issue, because Nicky who is my yorkie... is an AWESOME listener and comes back the second I call him, Rocky my Shih-tzu not so good in the listening department.

What I am torn about is... they did great the few times I let them out without there leads, I was with them, I would NEVER let them out and not be with them, for the fear of a bigger dog or other animal trying to take them away or worse killing them. I would be devastated if anything happened to either of my boys, more devastated with Nicky, because ALL my life I wanted a Yorkie, and now I have one... I wanna keep him as long as I can, or as long as mom nature would let me keep him in my life!! There is also no way I will let them roam around outside my parents house without a lead or me being with them, they live REAL close to the highway, and one of our neighbors outback has a Shepard and some huge dog, and both of them have always been barking nasty at me weather I was alone or with my dogs!! I still think I should put their collars on them, ARG... don't know...

Yea I am a very crazy dog lady!!

I don't understand why you are confused. This is the other thread:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...ght-thing.html

You have been given very good advice from people who have a lifetime of experience. They are terriers and no amount of call back will stop them once something gets their attention or some other animal has them in their sight as prey.

If you do not have a safe fence that they cannot get out of and other animals cannot get over, then you need to keep them on leashes.

I noticed you have them in collars as well. Please use harnesses that do not put pressure on their delicate tracheas, when they are on leashes.

[My lil friend]

Originally Posted by taxlady

ONLY a dog??????? Excuse me, you are talking to the wrong lady here and no you are not over the top on the protective issue. Hey just be one of those "crazy dog ladies" LOL. Your family will get the message. Mine know I am the crazy dog lady and I don't care what they think. My dog is special and maybe spoiled.

What she said!!!

My dogs go out off lead in my backyard with me or another responsible person, it is fenced in. If they go out the frontdoor,where there is no fence, they are on a lead or in my hand. Their feet do NOT touch the ground unless there is a leash on them.
You will find that everyone in the family has an opinion,however if something happens to your babys you will be the one that has to take them to the vet or find them. You do what makes your life and heart at ease. My family does not make suggestions about any of my babys. They dont care for or feed them.

[citygirl123]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

You have been given very good advice from people who have a lifetime of experience. They are terriers and no amount of call back will stop them once something gets their attention or some other animal has them in their sight as prey.

If you do not have a safe fence that they cannot get out of and other animals cannot get over, then you need to keep them on leashes.

I noticed you have them in collars as well. Please use harnesses that do not put pressure on their delicate tracheas, when they are on leashes.

Great advice! Loved the part about the terriers and how they act when something gets their attention! Too true. Copper usually comes, but if something (usually a cat) has been in the yard when he goes out, he goes into "hunt it down" mode. I have to physically pick him up to get him to stop.

I go out with Copper when he is outside, especially at night...you are not crazy on that one. My yard is fenced, but on a corner so the lot is bigger than some. Copper is tiny and we worry about him being out alone.

I also agree with the poster above about the harness. I like harness vests because they are easy. They velcro on and off very quickly.

[R_Z]

I have to agree with those who say keep him on a leash when not in a fenced yard. Once Bailey and I were walking with leash. I must not have had it on properly. All was well until he saw a bird and took off. He came unclipped and it freaked me out. they do have a mind of their own when they want to so I'd be very careful about free roam.

[gracielove]

Personally, I consider it irresponsible to allow a dog out without a lead if there is no secure fence. Even if there is a fence, if there is the chance of hawks or owls being around or even large dogs that can jump a fence, I would not let my pet out without a lead.

Many dogs are good at coming when called but add a squirrel into the mix or some other distraction then your situation has just gotten out of control. Why take a chance?

My dog is well trained, we live quite a distance from the road with no near by dogs but I would never let Gracie out without a lead.

[Lovetodream88]

I would never ever let Callie off leash unless she was in a safe fenced in yard. Its not safe. Even the best trained dog can follow there instincts and forget all there training and take off. Also there are so many other animals and bigger dogs who can come into your yard and attack them before you can even get to them.

[Coton Momma]

You may be able to control what your dog does, you can not control the rest of the Universe. I have had idiot neighbors or their guests let unleashed dogs out of their cars, out of their doors, or even "walking" their dogs down the sidewalk unleashed. I have even had idiot neighbors dogs up on my BACK deck. When your dog is on a leash the odds are in your favor if something happens. I believe in stacking the deck when it comes to the health and safety of critters that depend on me

[Yorkiedaze]

Originally Posted by TxVicki

My opinion if you don't have fenced in yard, you most certainly should be out with him on a lead. You just never knowwhat will happen in an instant and that is all it takes.

Heck I have a 6 foot fence all the way around and I still don't let mine out unless I am with them. If they are outside I am right there with them.

I have had some people tell me the same thing.

I'm in your corner. I have a 6 foot fence but there is no way I'll let mine outside without me. Who knows what could come over the fence or out of the sky to get them. I'd be like a mother bear if someone or something even tried.
Never let your babies in an unfenced yard without being on a leash. A big bad dog could come out of nowhere and scare them to bits and they could take off running which would only bring out the prey drive in a larger dog and they could run into the street and get run over, or the big dog could kill them in an instant. Please, it doesn't matter what anyone says or thinks, they are your babies, not theirs. Don't be led or intimidated!

[Nicky08]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

I don't understand why you are confused. This is the other thread:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...ght-thing.html

You have been given very good advice from people who have a lifetime of experience. They are terriers and no amount of call back will stop them once something gets their attention or some other animal has them in their sight as prey.

If you do not have a safe fence that they cannot get out of and other animals cannot get over, then you need to keep them on leashes.

I noticed you have them in collars as well. Please use harnesses that do not put pressure on their delicate tracheas, when they are on leashes.

Yea maybe I should have said I am torn on what to do... Oh I never ever take Nicky out on a lead without his harness... for that reason, the only purpose their color serves is to hold their license and id and that's it.