You have every right to walk within your neighborhood and feel secure.
I have a large GSD and I keep him secure on a leash and was recently charged by two dogs -neither on leash. I was able to restrain my dog and the owners were able to secure their dogs.
You should be able to walk on a public street and feel safe. I do not want my dog to fight, I don’t want him hurt nor do I want another dog hurt.

To your points:

1. Someone who does let a dog off leash in public areas even for a minute, may have a lot of knowledge about their dog’s aggression. It’s sad that many neighbors ruin this though and I believe some folks in your neighborhood have not trained their dogs. How aggressive a dog is also depends on the perspective of the person the dog is running towards. Many folks thinks a fast moving, larger dog is dangerous when that’s not true.

2. I agree that off leash dogs could be a danger to others or other dogs but why use the argument for “dangers to himself?” Owners who do this should accept responsibility and that’s no one else’s business. If say my dog was hit by a car, I would be traumatized and pissed at giving my dog so much liberty and trust and I would grieve personally for months if not years. Horrible tragedy. But I would explain to the driver that it is not their fault and I would grieve the same way I would grieve if my dog fell off a cliff ledge off-leash. If a person cannot have integrity to do what’s right, that’s what the law is for. Either way, intentional hit by the vehicle or not, the driver would always win the case because of the leash law. Most hikes also require dogs to be on leash anyways. I’ve lived in 5 states all around the country and more and more hikes are mandating it.

3. If your dog is aggressive after a butt sniff that can either be completely acceptable or not acceptable. It depends on how aggressive we’re talking about. This is why we (humans) can speak to each other and talk it out to one another. Dog’s loyalty and territory will drive them to snap at other dogs who come up fast on them and their owner. But a quick neck tuff or hump to gain control is natural between dogs. Dogs crying is like a baby crying or a child screaming. It’s excruciating to hear and we think they are being killed. But they’re usually okay and they can walk away from a bloodied fight. I don’t think I’ve ever seen blood after two dogs get into a tussle at the dog park. Ever. If you have seen your dog draw blood on other dogs before then you should kneel down and clamp her/his mouth shut. It only takes 2 seconds.

4. I already said what I wanted to say up top.

Thanks. I don’t know. I’ve ran into folks who are very fearful of dogs and then other folks who see dogs as just another animal which could cause them no more risk than a drunk and disorderly human walking out of a bar. I never view a dog as a threat. Only the owner. Therefore, if I was bit, my blame goes to the owner. But I would never suit an owner for a bite because bites heal. Dogs don’t kill except in extremely rare cases and those cases are not worth painting such hyperbolic opposition to dog aggression, which then begins to warrant reckless, unjustified laws. We should all be a more courageous and shake off these fears of a dog bite. We have hands and arms for a reason to hold dogs away. Bitten hands can heal. I know from experience after purposefully putting myself in harms way trying to save a dog in pain. 22 stitches later. Still painting to this day.

If we fear dogs, we will start to show prejudice against them, and if we do that, we will begin to openly discriminate towards loving members of someone’s family. How is this okay when racism is not?

Thank you!

I have this same problem in my neighborhood, but where I live as long as it says on the owners property it totally ok… ya right, even if the dog stays on the property barking and being agressive 9 time out of ten there is always that tenth time… its an animal and cannot be trusted 100%. This past time it stayed just barely on the propert but if i had been walking on the same size of the street i dont even want to thi k about it. Last time it did leave the property, so why the heck would i trust it… franking why should i have to…

This time it didn’t. I started hollering at the dog (shouting NO repeadly) when it charged baking loudly and kept walking basically praying that this wouldnt be that one time it made it all the way over (for reference sake the dog was a very large bread prolly 80+ pounds and the owners were no where in sight) then when the owner finally came out (we were thankfully almost past i was still hollering at the dog who was not backing off. She started yelling that it was still on her peoperty.,. Ya cause that makes it totally fine, and Im just going to trust you that this large animal is going to understand human property boudaries… I’ll be honest it wasnt my proudest moment, i actually started hollering back at here with way too mush swearing on my part…

Ahh sorry im not 100% sure this was clear, but I just got back in from the walk so Im still a bit freaked out…

I am dealing with this now with my neighbors, who think (for the last 10 yrs) they ever have to leash any dogs they own. Unfortunately they just ran out and attacked a sheep dog puppy just walking down the street – on leash, with its owner. Suffer puncture marks. I have been knocked down by their past dog (large choc lab) and now their 2 overly excitable hunting type dogs come charging at me and my small dog from their back yard. I’m done! My husband says we should say nothing and try and keep the peace but I am at wits end. I’m actually looking up dog deterrents for my yard today to come up with a more subtle idea until we can move away! So frustrated – I feel your pain, all of you! No reason for it, we DO have a leash law in MA. ugh 🙁

I know this post is years and years old but I wanted to comment because I am having an issue with off leash dogs at my apartment building. There is only one sidewalk in and out of my apartment and their is a guy with a growly, barky dog that thinks its okay to have his dog on the porch and is only holding his collar with a few fingers. Now my neighbor that is right next door is doing the same thing. I walked by and the dog growled and started coming towards me and she doesn’t have it on leash and is only holding it’s collar saying, ” relax, relax”. I reported it to the office, animal control, and non- emergency police number and they basically told me that until it attacks me there is nothing that can do.

pepperspray works well but make sure the dog makes it to the street before spraying. call the cops from right outside the house and have them file a complaint against the unleashed dog’s owner.

I have nothing against dogs in general – I know they make great pets for many people and many of them are completely harmless but I am SO SICK of people saying, “my dog’s very friendly”, “she won’t hurt you” and other BS. None of that matters when one of them is running towards me (and my child) at 40+ mph, jaw wide open and saliva dripping. Sorry, I’m finicky like that.

Dogs of course don’t like being on leashes, I get that. Sometimes dogs gotta go out and run free, I get that. Well, you as the dog owner made the choice to own a dog, so it’s YOUR responsibility to find some large empty field with nobody around so the dog can do what it wants and not pose a threat to anybody. There are also dog parks in many cities with fenced in areas for your dog to run around to its heart’s content (just watch out for other dogs). Too far to drive to? Not convenient? Well then I guess you are keeping the leash on – obey the law!

Don’t even get me started on all the times I’ve seen dog poop laying on the sidewalk by some entitled A–HOLE who felt it was alright to leave it there.

I see this blog post is around five years old – sorry I had to vent.

Sounds like every day in Alaska. Ugh