Your Off Leash Dog
On this beautiful day I took my dog and baby for a walk on an on leash trail. I walk here a lot and it’s usually pretty quiet. It seems most people who know of it also don’t want to meet other dogs and are great at leashing up when they see me with my leashed dog.
Two moms out for a walk with their babies and dogs on this beautiful day, but one has unknowingly turned some precious “me time” into an hour of worry for the other.
After not even 3 minutes Marlowe whipped around and I saw you, also pushing a stroller but your dog is off leash running full speed, darting into the trees. My anxiety turns on. I get Marlowe’s attention and walk faster, trying to put distance between us. I hear your dog barking in the trees and keep looking back to see if you’ve noticed me and have got your leash out but you just keep strolling, oblivious to my brewing panic attack. Two moms out for a walk with their babies and dogs on this beautiful day, but one has unknowingly turned some precious “me time” into an hour of worry for the other.
Your dog bursts out of the trees just a few meters behind us, making my heart stop, but thankfully he runs back towards you. Maybe now you’re getting your leash out, I think. At least the dog doesn’t seem interested in mine.
As I continue to walk, not allowing Marlowe the slow sniffy walk she’s wanting, I’m wondering what I’ll do if your dog comes closer to us. I’m playing it out in my mind. I have lots of treats, so I’ll do a treat scatter and hope that distracts your dog long enough that I can get distance while yelling for you to get your dog. I remind myself that Marlowe isn’t dog aggressive, she’d just rather another dog not be in her space, so maybe I’m best to drop my leash and hope for a friendly greeting.
Unknown to you and the many others who don’t follow leash laws, I probably have something like PTSD from Marlowe being attacked a few years ago. Thankfully not much physical harm was done but the trauma of seeing my dog being attacked has stuck with me. I see an off leash dog and envision another attack. As a trainer I’m now the one who is called when dogs attack. I hear from people over and over whose dog has bitten a child, a person, another dog, and they continue to let them off leash. I now console those with reactive dogs who are doing all they can to keep others safe yet have traumatic experiences with illegal off leash dogs. The frequency of dog attacks in my line of work has heightened my own anxiety.
We continue walking and ahead I notice someone else with 2 off leash dogs, one small and one large. I stop to see if she leashes them when she sees me, but I’m hyperaware that the off leash dog behind will be catching up to me now. I’m trapped. I call “do you have leashes?” “Yes!” “Can you leash your dogs?” Silence. I say, “This dog is not friendly.” “Well this dog is aggressive when on a leash.” Great. This does not make me feel better (as an aside: if you have this problem, which is not uncommon, get in touch with a force free trainer). I say “ok well they cannot approach me.” “They won’t, I’ll go this way.” I thank her and shovel treats into Marlowe. The large dog is focused on the ball that has been thrown but the small dog ignores the owner’s calls and keeps walking towards us.
Marlowe won’t start anything, but again I’m envisioning what could happen if this small dog nips at Marlowe. What’s my game plan? I can put my stroller between us to block and back up with Marlowe, but not back up too much as my baby is in the stroller and the first loose dog is closing in on me. I can try a treat scatter. Hopefully this lady grabs the dog. At least it’s small and won’t harm Marlowe.
So I speak up and exaggerate my dogs’ behaviour so hopefully next time these people will leash their dog and save someone else the stress.
I had an incident this summer with a Yorkshire Terrier running loose onto the road as I was walking Marlowe on leash. This little dog went straight for Marlowe, barking and nipping at her legs. Marlowe tried to defend herself, and there I was yelling for an owner, hanging onto Marlowe’s harness, her on her hind legs barking away and this little dog coming at her over and over again. And in my head I’m playing out what will happen if Marlowe bites (which at this point is in her right). But one bite could kill this dog, and I don’t want a dog to die. I don’t want a dog injured. And I certainly don’t want to be the one with a bully breed who has “attacked.” I’ve worked hard since Marlowe was 8 weeks old to ensure she is a wonderful ambassador for her breed. And she is that, and I’m so proud of her. And this little dog nipping at her legs could be detrimental. As I’m spinning circles my anxiety is in high gear and and I’m wondering if animal control would take Marlowe away. How terrified she’d be in that environment away from me. I’m sweating, my heart pounding, until someone runs out and collects their dog. He says nothing. I tell Marlowe how amazing she is, give her so many treats, and take some deep breaths.
Part of my telling people not to approach us is to hopefully save someone else the trouble. Like I said earlier, my dog isn’t actually aggressive. A lot of people are too afraid to speak up, so I do it on their behalf. I often have this conversation with my clients you have to speak up. You have to advocate for yourself and your dog. We talk about what to say and what to do if an off leash dog does approach. So I speak up and exaggerate my dogs’ behaviour so hopefully next time these people will leash their dog and save someone else the stress. Someone’s dog may be fearful of others, actually aggressive, recovering from an injury, or plain just does not want to meet your dog! Or like me, the owner has had bad experiences and does all they can to avoid potential conflict. Always assume that if a dog is leashed, do no approach.
Back to my current walk, this lady gathers her small dog before she reaches us and apologizes, saying her dog usually listens. I say “it’s ok” and move on, the off leash dog behind me now in sight. I continue, always checking back. I notice that it looks like the owner behind me has headphones on. Great.
I’m getting to the end of this path where you can get down to the river or continue on down a narrower trail. The narrow trail isn’t great for strollers and my plan was to let Marlowe swim in the river then turn back. But I’m now trying to come up with another game plan. This lady behind me has a stroller too so she’s probably going to let her dog have a swim then head back, so I’m going to walk a little ways down the narrow trail and wait for her to turn around, then I’ll continue a ways behind her.
Well nope, she’s coming down the narrow trail and now I’m trapped, unable to get space between us. Time to speak up. I call out to her “can you grab your dog?!” She doesn’t hear me, she has headphones on. I wave and yell again “you need to grab your dog!” She takes her headphones off and I repeat myself a third time “grab your dog, he cannot approach mine and I need to turn back.” Thankfully her dog listens and she holds onto him while I pass.
And finally, no other dogs or people are in sight. I switch out my leash for a long line and go down to the river so Marlowe can have a splash. She’s thrilled and her happiness suppresses my anxiety and anger and I can finally enjoy this gorgeous fall day with my two favourite beings.
On our walk back I’m always glancing behind me and scanning ahead, checking for off leash dogs. But this is normal for me. It’s normal for a LOT of dog owners.
Please follow the leash laws. Use a long line so your dog can have some more freedom while staying safe. Get in touch with a force free trainer if you need help with leash skills. Don’t be someone who ruins someone else’s walk. Let’s all enjoy our dog walks more. And I’ll try to shake these experiences off a bit better, just like my dogs do.
