Vent: Heard a guy at the park say dogs don't need leashes if they're 'friendly'

So I was at the dog park last weekend and this dude with a golden retriever is chatting up some new owners. He literally says 'oh my dog is super friendly, I just let him off leash everywhere even on the sidewalk.' I almost choked on my water. Like bro, that's not how this works. My dog Mochi is a rescue and she gets scared if a strange dog runs up fast out of nowhere. We've had two incidents where off leash dogs bolted at her and she nipped back. This golden friendly or not could cause a whole fight just by being too excited. I wanted to tell this guy that the leash law exists for a reason, not just for aggressive dogs. It's about control and respect for other people's pets. Has anyone else run into these 'friendly off leash' people and had to bite your tongue?

3 comments

3 Comments

kellys7813d ago

My neighbor's labrador barreled into my little shih tzu last summer and sent her flying three feet. The owner just laughed and said 'oh he's just playful'. My dog ended up with a bruised rib and I had to take her to the vet... that was a fun $400 bill. Now I just straight up tell people to leash their dogs or I'll call animal control, friendly or not it doesn't matter. Some folks really don't get how dangerous a 'friendly' dog can be to a reactive one.

kaih3613d ago

That $400 vet bill (and the fear in your own dog's eyes, I'd bet) is the kind of reminder no one should need. It's frustrating how some owners see their big lab as a harmless goofball and ignore the real damage it can do to a tiny dog's body and nerves. You're totally right to set a hard boundary now, that's not being mean that's protecting your little one.

the_faith12d ago

And honestly that whole 'friendly' excuse is part of a bigger pattern I see every day now, people just assume everyone else's comfort level matches theirs. @kaih36 hit it perfectly, it's about respecting boundaries not just assuming your dog's vibe is universal. Like, I wouldn't run up and hug a stranger on the street even if I'm feeling friendly, so why is it okay for a dog to do that?