DropBarFan

I've walked on the local river path (not far from C & O) with a med-size dog--as a puppy she used to chase deer or or run to other dogs but later learned to properly stay behind unless given permission to venture ahead. But C & O trail is fairly narrow so even a well-behaved dog risks upsetting hikers/bikers. BTW 2 days ago I saw a biker pulling a kiddy trailer with a Rottweiler inside. The dog was very calm though a bit confused looking. Many dogs might have the legs to run 10+ miles but not have feet conditioned for it.

sail

I'm about to take my dog out off leash, in the woods. Then I'm going to ride on the trail.
I don't want to be that guy with the dog who everyone warns each other about on the trail. There's always one, you could be it.

spinnaker

If your dog cannot behave appropriately when it is on a leash then you have not trained your dog sufficiently to be around others when a leash is required. No matter how well trained you think your dog is off leash, no matter how well behaved or smart he is, he is still a dog and therefore can be unpredictable. If you are on the trail then either keep your dog on a leash or keep him at home. It is that simple. The law should have nothing to really to do with it. What really should matter is respecting the safety and enjoyment of the trail for others. Unfortunately we need laws to force some to do what is simple common courtesy for others.

spinnaker

That said. I would rather see a well behaved dog on the trail off leash than one of the idiot owners that uses a retractable leash with the whole thing deployed, standing on one side of the trail while the dog is on the other, perhaps with the leash wrapped around a tree.

Squeezebox

Fair enough! I've also heard that anything over 6 ft or so does not count as a leashed dog. The issue is control over the dog.

Squeezebox

That's really one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. What drugs are you on? Can I have some? I was visiting my son and the dog was on the front porch with me. She saw a dog across the street and ran for it. She almost got hit by not 1 but 2 cars. now she is never off leash other than my fenced yard or the dog park. Some cyclist have pepper spray and will use it to protect themselves.
Why on earth would you intentionally put your dog in a dangerous situation. Answer please!!
Protect your dog use a leash.
I can tell she is happier on leash.

rhm

Really, one of the dumbest things you've ever read? You should read more of my posts.

But no, seriously, the worst dog-related incidents I've read of, on bike forums, involved dogs escaping confinement, breaking the leash, getting out of the yard, and so on. All anecdotes, to be sure, but these are the anecdotes that stick with me. I realize you have a different view of it. Regardless, I do not consider an escaped dog to be an off-leash dog. Escaped dogs are often threatening and dangerous, which (in my opinion) is a function of their confinement.

Another anecdote.... We used to have a mini schnauzer with some problems. She was a rescue, previously abused. On a leash, she was an absolute terror to other dogs, and very protective of the person walking her. When taken off the leash, she instantly became a different dog, one that responded to commands and even ignored other dogs. She was never a very good dog except on those walks. Sadly, there were few places where she could be walked off-leash.

The best dogs I know are farm dogs, the ones who help control sheep etc. I used to watch an old farmer drive his tractor up a dirt road leading to a gate in the fence near my house, dog sitting beside him. The dog would jump off, run ahead, open the gate (the latch was a wire hoop, he lifted it with his head), and hold the gate open while the farmer drove the tractor through. The dog would then close and secure the gate and run to jump back on the tractor, which hadn't slowed down during the whole maneuver. I don't believe that dog was ever on a leash in its life.

But whatever. Carry on! I don't think I'm going to convince you, so I'm not going to belabor the point.

mantelclock

+1 ^^^

Squeezebox

Nice story! My son's dog immediately calms down when she is put on leash. Yea she is 1 dog, and your terrier is 1 dog. And then there's all the folks who don't bother with training their dogs. I lived across from a farmer went to talk to him every so often, His dog would chase my truck when I left. After several flat tires I realized his dog was biting my tires and flatting them. Okay another weird story.

Wilfred Laurier

That's one unbelievable dog.

DropBarFan

We've probably all seen that video of the German guy biking on the path w/huge pack of dogs. All the dogs stayed out of other biker/peds' way, obeyed his signals re when to stay behind, when OK to romp around.

OTOH I think 95% of dogs (in US at least) shouldn't go off-leash in public 'cause the clueless owners cause them to be hyper & controlling. I've seen folks with long leash & the dog walks around another pedestrian tying them up.

mstateglfr 

A dog was puncturing your truck tire? Repeatedly?
Your confusing online persona is nothing if not entertaining.

Squeezebox

Honest true story.

rhm

Nah, no way!

But this guy has it on video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr_2bLo7stc

DropBarFan

Cue the cartoon sound of dog's jaws ratcheting down on human's limb. I wouldn't be surprised if a dog could bite thru a softer pickup tire, their jaws are very strong. Tire looks like a bigger version of ring-shaped chew toy!

thumpism 

I had no idea this thread would have such legs, but the trip has not yet happened. The poster who suggested that the mere mention would now bring cold weather was not wrong, and we also had a day of rain, of course, and now there are weird electrical problems in the house so we're coordinating the electrician and power company visits. Camper don't care, camper be loaded for a trip, so if all this stuff gets worked out I will still go. Dog will stay at home.

MassiveD

The most common issue I see with dogs is that the dog and owner both think they are in control, taking charge. The human thinks he is in control because he has the leash, and can at times make the dog do something with a tug. The dog thinks he is Alpha, because from a dog perspective the Human is completely clueless. They then take this act on the road, where the dog is tense, and barks at people, and all that stuff, then the human says stuff like "he never did that before" & "don't worry he never hurts anyone". Then some kid comes along, tries to submit the dog with a pat, and the kid looses a face. Now play that game at speed, without a leash, who knows what comes next.

Wilfred Laurier

You see this pretty often do you?

Squeezebox

Only has to happen 1 time!
It happened in St. Louis a couple of years ago. A Pit Bull chewed up a 3 yr old kid. Then the owner asked for the dog back. Her response was, "all dogs bite"

DropBarFan

I don't see kids getting attacked but it does happen. Sometimes it's powerful breeds like Pit Bulls but I think most attacks by 'regular' breeds. Even a fairly minor bite can cause a trip to the emergency room. People nowadays want to view their dogs as baby humans instead of realizing that dogs have a completely different social order. Dogs are much happier & calmer when their human follows Pack Leader rules, even though the rules can seem unduly strict at first.

I can spot trouble dogs far ahead on the bike path--they're walking on extender leashes, owner pulls them over & starts babbling etc.

sail

VW Camper.

761

Hey mdilthey
What about MY dog, that IS on a leash, because he is aggressive... Wouldn't you want to keep your dog away from mine? I am doing my part in keeping my dog under control and your dog comes up and I can't get away.
And why do you have such a problem reapecting people? You ARE in public?? And yes, in some places, the towpath is just as busy as Central Park. Try not to be the most ignorant person in the room. And give up your sense of entitlement.

DropBarFan

I see your points in re leash laws but unleashed well-behaved dogs will usually steer around pushy dogs. I could walk my dog 100% of the time off leash & she'd never bother bikers/peds/dog walkers (not even cats or deer). Bikers prepare to pass & she instinctively veers to right to give max passing space. The leashed dogs are always the most tense since owners transmit their fears by pulling Fido over to stop, babbling etc.

spinnaker

Well first you need to make us believe that an animal will behave in a predictable manner "100%" of the time, when there is no way to predict the same behavior in a human that has full comprehension of the spoken word. But let's depart from that reality for a second.

1. No one else knows you have such unbelievable control over your animal.

2. The trail rules say that you must keep your dog on a leash.

Please keep your dog on a leash.

Real simple.

Walter S

+1. I think the people that say "my dog would never"... are delusional. But whatever. It doesn't matter. If you're one of those people, you would probably at least accept that your dog is rare in the would of pets. And that strangers have no way of knowing how predictable and safe your dog is. So get used to it and keep your dog under obvious control.