I would love to know why it is that so many people feel they must have their dogs off leash in"uncontrolled/unmanaged" circumstances?

If you ask them, some will say, "Oh he/she always follows me".

The really experienced trainers I know, very seldom have their dogs off leash in public. It seems to be the casual owners.

Wish I knew the answer to that. Ignorance is bliss.

I've long lost count of all the times I've been charged, or at least approached, by off-leash dogs while walking mine. The owners completely miss the mark when called out on that by saying their dog wouldn't hurt anyone or always follows them. What they don't take into consideration is the possible danger their own dog might be in. Not all dogs like to be approached by another dog and they could lash out. Also, I've been charged by other dogs that have run into a street across several lanes of traffic to get to me and my dog, followed by its owners. How ridiculous to put your dog and yourself to that risk and to assume it will, without fail, stay with you.

Well not all of us "casual" dog owners own GSD or Mals that have a high propensity to bitting. Some of us own hunting dogs that we need to be able to function offleash reliably.Admittedly I am new to obedience training and to many of the techniques used on here and my eyes and mind are open to better ways of doing things. The breeds of dogs I own are not known for bitting, although they are dogs and anything can happen under the right circumstances.
I need my dogs to work for me and my family, we depend on that meat and fur to supplement our household income. I have a bird dog that will flush and retrieve on command. when he comes back from the retrieve he hangs out around me waiting for the next flush. He follows me and my kids as we walk looking for more birds, is he at heel? Nope, do I care? Not really, but he is always there ready to go, that is whats important to me. That and he's a big baby sweat heart that loves to snuggle on the couch after the hunt.
I also have 2 greyhounds that hunt coyotes with me. They work off leash too. They are both big baby's but very dangerous as they can lick you to death in just a few minutes! Bottom line is I know and love my dogs. I am sure of what they are capable of and don't put them or other innocent people in danger.
I would also like to add that just because a dog is on a leash doesn't necessarily mean you are in control.

 Quote: Greg Meyer

I've long lost count of all the times I've been charged, or at least approached, by off-leash dogs while walking mine. The owners completely miss the mark when called out on that by saying their dog wouldn't hurt anyone or always follows them. What they don't take into consideration is the possible danger their own dog might be in. Not all dogs like to be approached by another dog and they could lash out. Also, I've been charged by other dogs that have run into a street across several lanes of traffic to get to me and my dog, followed by its owners. How ridiculous to put your dog and yourself to that risk and to assume it will, without fail, stay with you.

Seriously, if your dog can't be trusted around other dogs then why on earth would you take it out in to public where anything is possible?

There's a difference between having a dog off-leash while working or training afield and having one off-leash where it can interact with people and animals. You may think of your dogs as sweethearts, but not every passerby wants to be exposed to an off-leash dog.

When I go out in public with my dog, she is leashed AND under my control. However, I cannot control the dogs of those who think their dogs are harmless. Those are the ones that end up in my dog's reactive zone, making ME look like the guy with the aggressive beast.

FWIW, the majority of dog bites (not just the reported ones) are by breeds that are not considered aggressive.

Leash laws are implemented for a reason. No matter how sweet your angels are, please leash them when/where required.

"A propensity for biting" ? That is the last thing I'm worried about with my own dogs.

But I have zero reason to trust other people's dogs, and I want their dogs leashed around my dogs and around me ... the same as my dogs are.

And Duane is absolutely right about there being a big difference between off-leash working and training for work and being off-leash in public around other people and dogs, in stores and so on.

To me, this probably isn't an area to be defensive about. (JMO)

To me, this is something to think "Am I being responsible both to my dog and to the public and their dogs?" and then when I think "Yes, I am, " maybe ratchet it up another notch anyway.

I'm old and in my life I have seen or heard about far too many dogs killed or terribly injured in what probably seemed to be the most innocent of situations .... including trotting after someone they knew (into the street), jumping out of the truck the minute the door opens (into the street), happily greeting another dog (and ending up in a bad dogfight), going ahead of the owner into a business with a so-called guard dog ((and ending up in a bad dogfight) .... I could go on and on and on.

No one wants to pile on anyone. It's concern that makes everyone speak up on threads like this one.

i'm lucky in that the little world / circle i travel in , my dog can be off leash 98% of the time .

that doesn't mean that he is not under control , that just means he doesn't have a leash from his neck to my hand . often he is dragging a lead . he may be on a " follow " command , which means he can be anywhere he wants , as long as he is behind me , or an off lead heel ( in development ) . as well , i'm developing " right side " and " left side " which are looser commands primarily for bike riding .

to address the OP , one explanation i've heard , and will sometimes accept in certain situations typically only with dogs i'm already familiar with , is that both owners prefer the dogs engage on neutral ground .

on the occasions where i'm the new guy in unfamiliar surroundings , i'll have my dog on leash , on heel , and my body language clearly communicates to that other person dog handler should be doing the same . i don't mind altering my course to avoid a conflict if i see one coming , and i certainly don'y mind doing a little " education " if i think that other person needs it .

Sam~ My dog is under my control. But I cannot control the off leash dog. How is that fair to me?

Plus, no matter how friendly you may think your dog is, I'd bet the farm, that even if he is super friendly with dogs, there can still be ONE, that would cause him a problem. And it only takes ONE!

To Duane, I was not referring to classes, shows, etc.. Only "out and about".

My dog is hardly a dominant or aggressive dog. But he is not fond of other males. He would never make the first move, but neither would he back off. So I try very hard to make sure situations don't happen.


Edited by Carol Blumlein (12/17/2013 06:31 PM)
Edit reason: addition

I wanted to add, I totally agree with Sam, in that, having a dog on leash ,does not necessarily mean it is controlled. But at least there is a fighting chance.... no pun intended!!

AND, incidentally, I consider myself a "casual owner", but I still care greatly for my dog's well-being.

Edited by Carol Blumlein (12/17/2013 08:02 PM)
Edit reason: addition