Anyone who walks their dog, or goes for walks, runs, or hikes, is familiar with this scenario: You’re minding your business, enjoying the day, and suddenly an adorable dog is making a beeline straight for you or your pup. And 10 to 20 feet back, a person is shouting, “Don’t worry, he’s friendly!”
If you’re the person with that bounding off-leash dog, it’s important to be aware this is a very bad idea that can turn tragic very quickly.
Why do people walk their dogs off-leash?
People often relate to their own life experiences—that’s just how most of us are wired—and if they personally don’t have a fear of dogs and their own dog is friendly, they may not recognize that other people don’t always have the same experience as them.
The owners calling out that their dog is friendly are not considering
the reasons other dogs may be on leash, and their overly excited dog hasn’t had proper training. But, the owner knows if they take their dog off leash, it will most likely run up toward dogs and people. So, they try to mitigate the situation by telling people their dog is friendly.
“We’ve all seen or heard about these situations with pets who may have had negative past experiences with other dogs, but I’ve seen it with people as well,” said Kara Starzyk, Executive Director at Abandoned Pet Rescue (APR), a no-kill shelter in Fort Lauderdale. “Someone may have been bitten as a child, or just has a general fear of dogs for a number of other reasons.”
Everyone has a right to walk their dog safely. In fact, in many places it’s actually the law to keep your pet on a leash to protect your own pet and others.
The dangers of taking a dog out off-leash
The danger isn’t just scaring people who might have a fear of dogs; having your dog off-leash can lead to even more dangerous consequences.
Walking off-leash is unsafe for the pet, leashed-pets nearby and other people. Due to negative past experiences, some people may be afraid of dogs, and this fear can cause a strong reaction to a dog they do not know approaching them off-leash.
“There have been many unfortunate incidents where off-leash pets have been injured, or even shot, when approaching strangers who feel they are protecting themselves,” said Starzyk.
Approaching a leashed dog can also be dangerous
It’s important to remember that dogs who are on a leash can feel attacked and cornered when an off-leash dog approaches them.
“They are not able to express their full range of body language and are not able to get further away than the length of their leash. When dogs feel cornered, they can react defensively toward the other dog,” Mikayla Morris, CPDT-KA, from Dogtopia’s Canine Behavior Expert Council, explained.
With the leashed dog feeling vulnerable, this could lead to dogs fighting and getting injured, or worse.
Other safety factors for off-leash dogs
Dogs getting injured while being off-leash is unfortunately a pretty common occurrence. And, the risks here are not limited to other dogs, Morris said.
“Coyotes can easily come by and grab a small off-leash dog before you get to them. A rattlesnake can bite your dog on a hike if they wander too far away from you, or a gopher could bite your dog's nose at a park. The risks of having your dog off leash significantly out weigh the pros," she said.
There are legal issues that could get expensive as well, according to Starzyk.
“In addition to safety factors, pet owners need to be aware that they are responsible and liable if their off-leash dog causes an injury to another pet or human," Starzyk said.
Additionally, even the most well-behaved and trained dogs are capable of being spooked or seeing something that piques their interest, causing them to suddenly run away from you. In a busy area with a lot of traffic, this could turn tragic very quickly.
Is it ever safe to take your dog off-leash?
The safest place is always a fenced yard with a secure enough fence so that your dog cannot jump over or dig underneath to escape. Of course, not everyone has the luxury of having access to a fenced yard, but enclosed dog parks are becoming much more common in many places and are a great, safe outlet for your dog to run off-leash.
Of course, you'll still want to keep an eye on your dog in any environment, since wildlife or litter can still be present. And, Morris said, if you’re in a dog park or beach, “It is important to have a baseline of training to make sure you can get your pup back when it is time to leave."
If your dog enjoys play time, places like doggy daycare provide supervised playtime where dogs are evaluated prior to play.
Safe and smart practices for walking your dog
Walking your dog is an amazing way to bond with your dog while sharing experiences, and there’s not much more charming than the sight of a dog sniffing fresh air; however, safety is critical.
"We require our volunteer dog walkers and adopters to use a standard leash, not a retractable one, to have more control over handling their dog and to minimize the risk of the dog pulling the leash from their hands," Starzyk said, explaining the standards at the rescue.
It’s also recommended to carry a whistle or air horn in case an off-leash dog approaches, to warn them off and alert the owner.
“Even if you are always vigilant with having your pet on leash, there is always a chance that you come across someone not doing the same, so this is a good safety net to have on hand,” Starzyk said.
Spaying and neutering is also important when it comes to safe walks, as it improves your dogs behavior and if you encounter other dogs, it will temper their reaction.
Starzyk added that microchipping is a must.
“Even the most responsible dog owners can have accidents where the dog might get loose,” she said.
If that does happen, having them microchipped means you have a much better chance of finding them.
And remember: be a good dog parent and clean up after your pet when you’re out for a walk!
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why 'Don’t worry, my dog is friendly' can be dangerous with off-leash dogs
