Leash all the time?

[DianeW]

I Do Let Harvey Off When It Is Safe And There Are No Distractions. It Is Lovely For Him To Run - But He Actually Keeps Close By Us. I Am Worried At Times And Always Put Him Back On Leash If I See Other Dogs/people Nearby.

We Go To The Beach And Sometimes There Is Only Us On - So It Is Safe For Him.

[mollymae]

We learned our lesson just this past weekend. I have a place at the river with a big screened in porch. Mollie, Abbi and Cody frolic and play. My husband came later that day and accidentally let the babies out while he was unpacking his things. Abbi was missing for 28 hours. I cried and didn't get any sleep. I searched along with oodles of people on golf carts until I was totally exhausted. We found Cody Saturday night, but didn't find Abbi until Sunday evening at dark. I thought I had lost her for good. Please, please heed my advice. Keep them on a leash. It was an accident because he loves them as much as I do, but they usually stay right beside me when I take them out. My friend brought her new baby chiwhauwa and my babies were acting very strange. I feel like they ran away from home.

Molliemae, Abbi and Cody's Mom,
Jan

[Fash]

Teagan is NEVER off-leash unless she's in a securely fenced in yard. The ONE time she was outside without a leash was in the winter, with at least a foot of snow on the ground...I thought it would slow her down enough to catch if I had to. Anyway, she heard another dog being walked about a block away - and she leapt over the snow and landed on the sidewalk in a full speed run towards the sound. It was not cool - thankfully, I knew the other dog's owner and it turned out okay, but STILL.

Never again!

[psugorilladdr]

We walk at night. We have a street here that is not developed that is across from our apt place. We're on the edge of town so it's nice! The place winds around about a mile and a half and within that there is 3 HUGE soccer fields behind the college baseball and softball field. We go to the soccer fields and run and play with them there. They chase each other and chase us. At my parents, in the country on a farm, they go outside all the time without a lease.

They are NEVER off lease when traffic is an issue, people drive crazy and don't pay attention! But we're in a smaller town, I don't think I would EVER let them off lease in a city, or in a dog park, they'd run away!

[alriver]

Bogey has no collar on & no leash when he is home. He goes out to pee, but he always comes when called. We have empty lots on both sides of us. He minds really well & knows he's in trouble if he hears "bad dog". All we have to say to him is " Bogey Here " & he comes immediately! He's a very smart Yorkie. If we go anywhere besides home, he has his collar & leash on. Taking no chances on unfamilar territory.

[Sweetums]

I wouldn't let my babygirl off her leash. She's waaaay too unreliable. I'm even paranoid about letting her out in our fenced yard because years ago we had a dog that dug its way under our fence no matter what we did to keep it from getting out.

It would kill me if we lost her. Our neighbors used to be real casual about their little dog. They let it run alongside off-leash when they biked around the neighborhood. Then one day, they were biking down the main street with the dog next to them (she was very obedient also) and she veered too close to the street, and a car somehow veered over and hit her. She was killed right then and there.

So I wouldn't ever let my girl off her leash, only in our backyard, and even then, it would be under supervision.

[gr8yorkiecraze]

I'm so glad to read all your responses. I thought I was the only one that was afraid to "unleash" my baby. Riley does not respond to commands. I'm even thinking of taking her for classes at PetCo for a little help in that department.

[ldenise]

I never let mine off leash. never. I wish I could but I just can not trust them. I even put up a gate when I open the door to answer the door bell. (they want to answer it too). I am longing for an area where I can just let them run and play aside from inside the house or the patio.

[Sweetums]

This is from a website on training terriers (all breeds) and it definitely speaks to the issue of using a leash all the time. I have underlined the specific paragraph that refers to this question (I will post a link on a board addressed to the whole website on training):

"Jack Russell owner Dean Williamson shares a few tips from his experience living with this breed as well as other terriers: Dean says that JRT?s are very pack-oriented and need a clear understanding of where they fit in their human family?s pecking order. Without firm rules to follow, they will put themselves in charge of your household. Crate training is essential to successfully living with a terrier, Dean says. Your JRT should sleep in his crate at night, not in your bed. At dinner time, it?s important that your family, and especially your children, finish their meal before the dog is fed.

"If your dog begs or gets into mischief while the family eats, put him in his crate.

"Both Dean and Pam remind owners that no matter how much training they do, their terriers will never be dependable off leash because of their deeply rooted hunting instincts and natural impulsiveness. Their instantaneous reaction to anything that looks like it should be chased or investigated causes them to completely forget their training. Instinct will always override their owners? commands. Therefore, Pam says, a terrier owner should never depend on obedience training when the dog is in a potentially dangerous situation.

"Dean stresses that active terriers need an exercise, play and obedience session every day to keep them manageable. He agrees with Pam that hitting or spanking a terrier just doesn?t work, it only makes them stubborn and aggressive. Instead, use psychology and remember their strongest motivation in life is to have fun ? you must make it fun for them to do whatever it is you want!"

[kelkiss5]

I let mine of the leash all the time, they always stay beside me and when they are called come straight to me if i think they are in front of me to much. When im in the park they love to run an run, this is fine as i no they are safe. they also love to play with the other dogs. But if im in a build up area they stay on the leash.

[Potter]

I never off leash mine when I am walking him. The only time I off leash him is in the tennis court, well-fenced, no other big dogs around. I am not risking it even if I am at a dog park. Mine may mean no harm but what about other dogs? Off leashed big dogs who likes to chase small dogs and think they are toys? I have encounter that more than a few times and I am always glad Siu Pao is on the leash because I can grab him and walk away fast. He is just too innocent. He thinks all dogs are friendly and all dogs wants to play with him eventhough the other dog's body language isn't so! Even when he is on leash, I have to make sure I am holding the leash tight! I live in the city and wherever he may run, it is never too far from busy streets. Once, I accidentally drop his leash because I was clumsy with my thick gloves on and even with that, I freaked out! Don't take any chances! Anything and I mean anything can happen! Better to be safe than sorry.

[Meg]

Like most everyone else, Keeley is always on his leash unless we are in a fenced area or an empty soccer field not anywhere close to traffic.


**Sad Story** In my complex last year, there was a lady who had a VERY VERY good and obedient dog. It would walk by her side all the time. One day a big dog (who was also unleashed) came out of no where and charged the little dog, so of course the little dog ran to get away, and before long they were out of the sweet ladys sight. Long story short-- the big dog got a hold of the little dog.


If that little dog was on a leash the lady could have picked her dog up. And told the big dog to go away-- the big dog wasn't a mean dog and wouldn't have attacked her.

[shawnna_marie12]

i dont think i would.i had a big dog and even then it was hard i can just imagine with a little dog. mine always have leashes on just in case ! so i suggest not :

[RMKC]

My two are never off leash, allways on a retractable. We live in the country, too much wildlife, and they would love chasing after them, specialy Rabbits... feel realy bad, but take them to my friend or my daughters as they have a big fenced yard so they can run a bit !