Quote: randy allen

Spray,
Boston proper or Mass. for that matter may very well have ordinances etc, etc ,etc.
If mace or a like premade is out of the question, I'd make my own.

You can get pepper spray for the purse or key chain. Easy to carry while on a walk for the just in case. Now, here we carry it for bears and mountain lions.

 Quote: lauren jeffery

I just feel bad about being that way, because here are definitely times that I am breaking the leash laws myself. Pretty much every city dog owner is forced to, unless you only bring your dog to he boxing ring they call the "dog park".

But there is a big difference between playing fetch with your dog at the park or taking a hike through the woods and letting your dog out unsupervised.

I still use a long line for those activities, but lets face it, I probably won't someday. However, I would never dream of letting my dog out alone, or walk her off leash on city streets.

Well this is the big difference. A well trained dog, supervised and off leash who has proven recall is probably not a menace. Voice command means that the one giving commands is not drinking a beer on the sofa inside the house.

Welcome to the forum Lauren.

If you don't think any amount of civil, diplomatic conversation on your part will appeal to this individual, I definitely support calling animal control (as was suggested) every time you see the dog loose and unattended... this results in fines but unfortunately may or may not have any lasting effect on the dog's lack of containment.

In regards to being concerned about running into this dog while you're out walking yours, there are a variety of threads here about strategy and self defense options in the event of an encounter with a loose, potentially aggressive dog - they range from bear mace to walking sticks to firearms... at minimum, I'd make sure you can control your own dog, and try to walk in directions this loose dog is unlikely to go/be in, or at times that he isn't usually out (all of which I know can be difficult if you and your neighbor keep to similar schedules...). I just did a search on "loose dog" and came up with the following list:

Search on "loose dog"

Best of luck, I've been in similar situations and I know exactly how stressful it is...
~Natalya

 Quote: randy allen

Spray,
Boston proper or Mass. for that matter may very well have ordinances etc, etc ,etc.
If mace or a like premade is out of the question, I'd make my own.
No way would I put up with that kind of situation. If the dog and owner are a menace to neighborhood as a whole and the neighborhood is willing to live with it.....well okay, but the dog wouldn't bother me and mine.

Maybe I should consider it. It might a least make me feel better. We also have a female pit bull mix down the end of he street who has charged the gate at us a few times. Id hate o carry any sort of weapon, but it might increase my confidence even if I never used it.

My dad is Sheriffs Department, I'll ask him what I can carry and what I need to do to have it legally. I'm pretty sure you need a permit.

 Quote: Marcia Blum

Voice command means that the one giving commands is not drinking a beer on the sofa inside the house.

LOL! Can I make that my sig file?

Apply for a CCW and go to a firearms training school and learn to defend yourself under legal circumstances.

If you live a State or area that denies you the basic right to defend yourself or your property, move to an area that does.
There's no reason that you should have to be concerned for your safety due to someone else's criminal negligence.

Firearms training sites:
http://www.frontsight.com/index.asp?
http://www.gunsite.com/
http://www.thunderranchinc.com/

The discussion goes some thing like this:

"Daddy, could one of your Sheriff friends stop by this guy's house and give him a set of brains, because I am really afraid some thing bad could happen to me and my little dog."

"And Daddy, can I carry some kind of spray for protection?"

I know what my response would be.

 Quote: lauren jeffery

 Quote: marcia blum

Voice command means that the one giving commands is not drinking a beer on the sofa inside the house.

LOL! Can I make that my sig file?

Sure! except maybe I meant "voice control"

Move to Virginia, we can be neighbors, a 1800 sq ft home on an acre goes for 240k. you can live next door to me and we can start a German Shepherd club

 Quote: Dennis Jones

Move to Virginia, we can be neighbors, a 1800 sq ft home on an acre goes for 240k. you can live next door to me and we can start a German Shepherd club

I have thought about moving out of sate before, it SO freakin' expensive around here!. 240k would buy you at two bedroom condo conversion in an old three family house. Thats in my neighborhood, and I live near the ghetto!

I dream of a single family house with a yard.

And I would absolutely start a club with you!