“Is your dog friendly?” I yell to my neighbor, whose enormous, unleashed pit bull is bounding toward me and my 12-pound leashed pup.
“She’s super friendly!” my neighbor replies with a chuckle, waving his hand. “She loves making new friends!”
While she is indeed friendly, she is also wildly untrained. The dog is captivated by my pup and me, eager to play. She leaps around, weaving in and out, darting under the leash. My dog doesn’t have his hackles raised, but I can see him getting tense. He enjoys meeting other dogs during walks but becomes anxious when another dog’s energy is too intense and disregards boundaries.
We attempt to keep walking, but her dog keeps circling us, leaping like a playful horse. She nudges my dog, trying to get close for sniffs. Meanwhile, her owner is about ten yards away, unloading groceries from his car as if this is all perfectly fine.
“Uh, could you please get your dog?” I request, trying to maintain my composure.
“Oh, she won’t hurt you! She just wants to play!”
At this point, my dog begins to lift his lip, revealing his teeth. “Well, my dog doesn’t! You need to come get your dog.”
Eventually, we manage to push our way through as my neighbor chases after his untrained dog. His complete lack of control is almost amusing if it weren’t so inconsiderate and potentially dangerous.
Just a block later, I spot another off-leash dog. This time, at least the dog is in its yard with the owner. Still, I’m not reassured. We’ve encountered this situation before; sometimes the dog remains in the yard, other times it approaches us, and occasionally — as has happened to me twice now — it charges at us with aggression, barking and snarling. Once, I had to scoop my dog into my arms to shield him from being bitten, which resulted in one of his teeth being knocked out during the chaos. The other time, I wasn’t quick enough, and my dog got bitten, thankfully not severely enough to draw blood.
So no, I’m not the least bit comforted by the sight of my neighbor with an unleashed dog in his yard, even if the dog displays no aggression. I stand there with my arms crossed, giving the owner a pointed look until he finally calls his dog back inside. I thank him as we walk past.
I’m exhausted by the entitlement of dog owners who let their pets roam the neighborhood without a leash. This isn’t just a local issue; last year, a story went viral about a white woman who called the cops on a Black man merely for asking her to leash her dog. Additionally, a frustrating TikTok video circulated where a woman berated a man for filming her unleashed dog running toward him and his leashed dog, despite him clearly stating that his dog was “not friendly.”
This is what I refer to as ‘dog-owner code,’ and too many people are completely unaware of it. If you see another owner and dog walking and they create distance, that indicates their dog isn’t interested in meeting yours. Respect that! If an owner explicitly states “not friendly,” like the man in the TikTok video, maintain your distance. Approaching other dogs without their owner’s consent can lead to dangerous encounters and keep everyone safe, including you and your dog.
I’m not discussing situations where dogs escape or slip their collars (though proper training is essential). My own dog learned early on to stop at the threshold when the door opens and has followed this rule for years. However, one time he spotted a squirrel and darted outside, landing in a muddy ditch across the street. So, I understand that accidents happen. I’m also not criticizing dog parks, empty hiking trails, or large fields where it’s suitable to let your dog roam off-leash. But in a neighborhood filled with homes, children, and people walking pets, it’s not appropriate.
Dog owners must realize that when an unleashed dog approaches a leashed one, even in play, it creates an uneven power dynamic. One dog is free while the other is tethered, making the leashed dog feel vulnerable and anxious, which can lead to negative reactions.
My dog is on a leash and has nowhere to escape. He’s aware of his small size, and big dogs invading his space make him uneasy; not because he’s unsocialized, but because he’s had bad encounters with other people’s unleashed dogs. What if your unleashed dog gets too close and my scared dog reacts by snarling, prompting your normally well-behaved dog to bite back? Why risk such a situation?
“But my dog is well-trained! I trust him completely!” That’s great, but I don’t know that. The child who was bitten and is now fearful at the sight of your unleashed dog doesn’t know that. The person walking with a dog that doesn’t like other dogs isn’t aware. People like me, who have had multiple bad experiences, certainly don’t know that.
So, for the sake of your neighbors, please make it clear that you have complete control over your dog — put a leash on it. Always.
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Summary:
This article discusses the frustration of encountering unleashed dogs in neighborhoods, emphasizing the importance of responsible pet ownership. It highlights the dangers posed by uncontrolled dogs and advocates for respect and understanding among dog owners. The author shares personal experiences to illustrate the risks involved and calls for all dog owners to ensure their pets are leashed to protect others.