Off Leash Walking

[cobird2]

Today we met another dog, a pit bull, on our walk and she was off leash. Her owner kept reminding her to stay with her but she didn't and I really didn't know what to do. I was very uncomfortable, given the pit bull reputation, and stopped walking waiting for her to pass but still don't feel she should have had her dog off leash.
What are some way to handle this type of situation?

[BubblPopElectrc]

Yes and no.

This person should have had their dog under control but if you were at an off leash park, unfortunately, this type of behavior can be expected.

[cobird2]

It was on a blacktopped trail that walkers and bikers use.
If it was a park, I'd expect dogs to be off leash.

[yorkieaddict]

Be very careful. I have a "rule of thumb" any dog that can put it's mouth around my furbaby can also seriously injure or kill it in an instant. I have heard so many horror stories with a yorkie meetup group I belong to, and from going to the dog parks. I use a buddy belt harness and can lift up my furbabies in an instant. You just do not know what is in the mind of another dog.

[mizzwanned]

I would just pick up my babies and walk far away from it. They can snap at anything and hurt them.

[JenniferLeigh]

I think if the owner was walking her, along a street... ofleash chances are the dog is well trained and gentle enough not to attack. My roommate walks his dog offleash all the time, she'll go up to sniff another dog, but she would never snap on the dog. Although, she isn't excatly a pitbull, people tend not to be so nervous around a big white fluffball. If the dog was all over the place and obviously not well behaved, then that is a different story put the dog on a leash buddy.

Originally Posted by BubblPopElectrc

This person should have had their dog under control but if you were at an off leash park, unfortunately, this type of behavior can be expected.

Unfortunatly? How else would you expect a dog to act at a dogpark?

[BubblPopElectrc]

Originally Posted by cobird2

Today we met another dog, a pit bull, on our walk and she was off leash. Her owner kept reminding her to stay with her but she didn't and I really didn't know what to do. I was very uncomfortable, given the pit bull reputation, and stopped walking waiting for her to pass but still don't feel she should have had her dog off leash.
What are some way to handle this type of situation?

Originally Posted by JenniferLeigh

Unfortunatly? How else would you expect a dog to act at a dogpark?

Not like that. I wouldn't be comfortable around an off leash dog who didn't respond to his owner.

ETA: Anyway, what does this have to do with anything? The OP already clarified she wasn't at a dog park.

[Catrina]

every dog should have a leash.. they can unpredictable.. even the supposedly best trained dogs can have their moments and do unpredicatable things! i always feel uneasy around big dogs, ESP pitbulls.. last week this pit bull came running toward me i kinda freaked out and hid behind my friend... the owner said "dont worry hes friendly" and i said um okay.. but the dog was being a bit aggressive and kept like trying to sniff my crotch .. its just a bit much and i think all dogs should be kept on leashes unless its an off leash area..

[alaskayorkie]

My feeling is your reaction should be the same whether it's an off-leash dog park or a city street. You should always be prepared to protect your dog.

With mine on leash, I position myself between the other dog and mine. If the other dog approaches nicely, and mine are behaving, I usually let them say hi. If I sense any aggressiveness -- or rudeness -- on the part of either dog, I step between them and tell the other owner that mine needs some space.

Here's a great article on interactions like that. It's long but worth the read.

http://www.livingwithdogs.us/article...-to-say-hi.pdf

[JenniferLeigh]

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

Here's a great article on interactions like that. It's long but worth the read.

http://www.livingwithdogs.us/article...-to-say-hi.pdf

thanks for sharing!

[Bhikku]

I am very, very against off leash dog walking, due to a couple of personal, very violent experiences with off leash dogs.

If a dog is well-behaved enough to walk alongside you without a leash, then being on leash certainly isn't going to impede its enjoyment of the experience, because it'll be in the same place it would be whether it was leashed or not. If your dog is uncontrollable on leash, it should be better trained.

I don't care what kind of dog you have or how well-trained it is. If I see you walking it without a leash and you're in an area where leash laws apply, I will say something.

Off leash dogs represent a threat to pedestrians, other dogs, small animals, and motorists. If you have your dog in public, it should be under your control at all times.

There is just no way to guarantee that without some kind of physical restraint.

[cobird2]

Thank you for posting this article, AlaskaYorkie.
http://www.livingwithdogs.us/article...-to-say-hi.pdf

There's a lot of good information and it's written with some humor too.

[starbabe0182]

I would choose to be safe rather than sorry, and pick up my dog and walk away.

Just a note: Not all pitbulls are all dangerous/violent. My aunt has a pitbull who is one of the sweetest dog's I've known. I think it all depends on the owner and the training a dog gets.