Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

I was just at a park this morning, and this woman set up camp with her two twins, her daughter, and her dog - who was NOT on a leash.

There was a big old sign that says "No Dogs Allowed" and yet this woman still brought her dog in and took him off the leash.

I would not have had a problem had he been kept on the leash, but to let your dog off, while children are near and playing two feet away from him is irresponsible.

I'm not sure what kind of dog it was (I'm so bad at that) but he was much bigger than my little 10lb puppy. Not that it matters - I think any dog in a park SHOULD be on a leash.

She knew that we were obviously annoyed about it and just didn't care.

ETA: I don't care how nice and friendly your dog is, at the end of the day it's still an animal and you have no idea how it will react when children are running around next to it.

Message edited 3/19/2010 12:41:42 PM.

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

I agree with you, the dog should be leased in a part. Just because the dog is friendly won't necessarily relieved a child who may be scared of dogs.

Though I hate situations like this - I would have asked her to leash her dog.

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

I think a dog should always be on a leash - unless of course you are in your backyard and its gated - then its your business.

My children are deathly afraid of dogs at the moment (i hope they eventually change - because I would love to get one one day) but my children will run the other way and into a street if they had too - if the dog is not on a lease and running towards them - its happened before and I tell the owner to make sure they leash their dog - its completely irresponsible and scary especially when i know my kids reaction is of fear.

Besides - I don't like dogs I don't know coming up to me and sniffing me or licking me - I never know if they are being playful or not.

Message edited 3/19/2010 12:57:10 PM.

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

LOL, but these posts always get that way.

As a dog lover & owner & a parent, I personally would not bring my dog ANYWHERE off lead. Except for the dog park which is intended for him. I tell DH, there are parks for Liam and there are parks for Chevy. Keep them separate.

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

Hate it. I am afraid of dogs(really just the ones that are big enough to be able to put there paws up to my chest if it were to jump on me).

It would have been ok with me if it was on a leash though.

ETA: oh and the whole "dog never bit anyone before" thing does not matter to me b/c I was the first to be bitten by one of those dogs...if you are afraid they can totally sense it and react to it.

Message edited 3/19/2010 1:11:33 PM.

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

I think dogs should always be kept on a leash except of course when they arm in their own home or backyard. It get me very upset when I see an unleashed dog. When I was 13 years old I was attacked by an unleashed dog when I was walking down the street. I was bit and my arm left arm was dislocated. My arm still dislocates to this day.

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

Speaking as someone who nearly had her face torn off by an unleashed Doberman when she was 7 (pre-leash laws), I'd say I feel very strongly about reporting it. IF there is a designated area for unleashed animals, use it, if not, do NOT put me or my family at risk.

I AM a dog lover. If my DH did not despise them so much, we would have one when we own a home, but I'll be damned if Ill allow a dog's freedom or right to run to come before the safety of my family. End of story.

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

Should definitely be on a leash, and I'm actually one of those who gets annoyed when there are dogs somewhere where they're NOT supposed to be, even if it was on the leash...sorry, but some people don't clean up after their pets and I don't want my kid walking in their dog poop somewhere where the dog is clearly NOT supposed to be!

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

Not good. Against the law (where I live anyway) and I would not be the only parent reporting it.

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

Message edited 3/19/2010 1:25:52 PM.

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

Totally unacceptable.

I don't care how nice a dog is, I don't know that and you are ruining the park experience for my family when you do this because I either have to report you if there is someone around or I have to pack up my kids and go home because I have heard too many stories of "nice" dogs turning mad.

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

I'd be annoyed if there is a sign saying "no Dogs" and there was a dog there at all.

My annoyance would be multiplied by 10 if the dog wasn't on a leash.

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

Crashing from PG boards.......

I'm just curious, who would you call to report it? I definitely agree with the PP's, I would be extremely annoyed that the dog is off leash, and I'm a dog lover. The only time they should be off-leash is in their fenced-in yard or at the dog park.

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

I have a problem with it because the sign said NO DOGS ALLOWED. Which means on a leash or off the leash...

IMO the only exemption to that would be a guidedog.

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

Message edited 11/28/2011 4:17:03 PM.

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

Unacceptable. I don't even have kids yet but I hate when I am out with my dog and other dogs are unleashed. We have left the park if there is a dog that is not on a leash, too scary!

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

I have 2 dogs and I would never let them off leash in a park with other people. My dogs are little but nervous dogs and I don't trust them around strangers. I would be upset because I would feel nervous for my kids around strange dogs.

Yesterday we were down by the water in our neighborhood with our dogs and this guy and his 2 kids come right up to us to pet the dogs. We had them on leashes- one of our dogs is not very nice so DH walked him away and the other is friendly. The kids were jumping and screaming around our friendly dog and he was getting very excited. Although they were on leashes the kids had their hands on the dogs and I was nervous my dogs would get protective. We left shortly after.

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

I seriouly cannot STAND it. It's SO irresponsible and the sense of "entitlement" of the owner makes me want to
I don't *CARE* that your dog is calm, gentle, loves kids, blahblahblah. The SIGHT of your dog offleash stresses ME out, never mind my kid. He is not thinking "what could happen." I AM. I really would have gone up to her and asked her to please leash the dog. If she refused, I'd point out the sign and say then please LEAVE, as you are breaking the law.

I will admit, I have brought my large dog into the park, ON LEASH, and only when the little park near us is EMPTY. She is on the leash and TIED to a bench, just so she can hang out while I push Shane on the swing or down the slide for 5-10 minutes.

If anyone comes near us that looks uncomfortable we leave ASAP.

If this lady had twins and an older child, there is NO WAY she could monitor the dog -- and the children who come up to greet the dog effectively. No way. She's an idiot.

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

Although I am a dog lover myself, I agree with all the PP that is is completely wrong. As everyone has said, even the friendliest dogs can lash out if something scares them or they feel threatened somehow. It would be one thing if they were at a dog park or someplace like that, but in a park that doesn't allow dogs to begin with? Totally unacceptable.

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

I am over it.

This was going to happen eventually...clothes on dogs, dogs on planes, dogs in stores...now living among us like freaking humans.

I would have been livid. Not a fan of dogs at all.

It is just happening more and more lately. Last summer, it was loose dogs on the beach...seagulls are one thing...but now i have to protect sandy sandwiches from dogs???

In my neighborhood people seem to think leashes aren't necessary anymore. What is really sh!tty is if I hit one of these unleashed dogs with my car, I am going to have the saddest 3 year old on earth and have to live with the fact that I killed someone's dog.

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

That's not right.

I hate when random dogs run up to my dogs. We never know what will happen when the other dog is not leashed.

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

Ok, now I'm so mad I didn't say something

Re: Spinoff - how do you feel about a dog NOT on a leash at a park

I dont think its right.

I take my dog to our local elem school on weekends and such and let her off the leash, when its just me, DS, DH and the dog. Once another family comes she goes back on the leash, or DH takes her to another field at the park to run.

I dont do it because I dont trust her, she doenst even come near the playground part, she likes to run on the baseball field, I do it because not everyone likes dogs (even if they arent afraid) or trusts dogs and I dont want to put them in that position to be uncomfortable, have to say something to me, or leave.