Why not use a leash
 

I have seen a few dog owners in my neighborhood and also have read about dogs not being leashed and their dog walks controlled and does not run away or stray. However, I still do not understand why take that chance. In my opinion, you just never know what encounters may occur, so why risk it? I hesitate to go for walks, because I dont know what/who may approach my pups. Venting... that is all. Thanks for reading.

I totally agree! No matter how well your dog listens, why take that chance?

100 percent agree.

I also agree 100%! I was walking Phoebe & a huge dog charged us. Because of her harness & leash I was safely able to yank her up into my arms. I did it without even thinking! Fortunately, the dog just wanted to come check us out. It took about 20 years off my life though!

:thumbup::thumbup: I so agree

I also agree.

I have had dogs that I had trained so well that they did not require a lead...many large dogs and a Yorkie-Poo mix....meaning that I could, with a single command, stop them dead in their tracks into a "stop sit w/stay" posture when they were doing something super exciting to them like starting to chase a cat or squirrel...that well trained. I also had trained them to hand signals, so I didn't even need to speak to them if they could see me...I could silently control them and no one (most people) never even knew I was doing it.

I, however, do/did require a lead on them when they are/were in any unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people because I have had my super sweet, super well trained dogs 'see' a stranger 'cross a line' my dogs have personally 'drawn in the sand' and while my dogs did nothing but 'tree' the 'offender'...and for simple things like rolling a single sheet of paper into a 'harmless' cylinder shape and drawing back their hand toward their shoulder in a gesture that 'looked...to the dog...like they were about to strike another stranger with the newly created 'club' and I believe (know?) there is no way to tell just how many 'lines' ('rules') any dog has personally 'drawn' or will 'draw' under any particular set of circumstances.

But, then again, I am super neurotic like that because I DO NOT want any of my sweet, well trained dogs 'put down' because they were smart, independent thinkers. :rolleyes::D

I totally agree 100%. I know my girl wont leave my side because of her huge separation anxiety but you never know what other animals are around! You hear way to many bad stories about that :(

Anything can happen. A well trained dog, IMO
can easily run off if they see something that really
intrigues him or her and they run off out of excitement.

My other issue is that if a dog is off a leash and possibly
gets attacked, the owner of their unleashed dog would
expect to be compensated for any vet bills. I have heard of
happening. Who do you all think should be responsible for
vet fees?