Last week, we wrote about a common situation involving dog owners who allow their dog(s) to walk off leash and the proper etiquette to deal with those canines (and owners) who are a bit unruly. Only one day after, we received a thoughtful email commenting on the post. Here at snifbostondogs.com we love it when our readers voice their opinions! Please read the letter below from an insightful reader!

Hey there!
I just read the blog on snifbostondogs.com I absolutely agree that if your dog does not obey you when he/she is off leash you absolutely should not have them off leash unless you are on your own property. Also, I would never allow my dog to be off leash while walking down the sidewalk or around a crowd of people. However, I live in an area where there are many wooded areas and trails that I often let my dog off leash on. I believe that if your dog is well behaved and well trained there is such a thing as a “verbal leash” If I see another dog, or person up a head I command my dog to heal and I put his leash on him. I do not see this as being a problem. The main reason this story caught my attention was just the other day, I was walking with my dog down a trail I have walked down too many times to count. We saw two labs approaching and I stopped my dog and put his leash on. As we continued down the trail we passed by the two dogs and walker. The dog walker then blurted out to me “ever heard of a leash law”! I said yes, and my dog is on a “verbal leash”. I have been walking this wooded trail with my dog for years and have never had a problem. She said that she was the dog walker and her dogs would attack. I said nothing else to her and continued on my way. I was so mad! I felt like telling her that her employers should pay to TRAIN their dogs before they pay to have them walked. It is unfortunate that the dogs with bad behavior, due to the owner not training them properly, ruin it for all the GOOD DOGS out there!

If you’d like to share your thoughts on the issue, leave a comment below or write us at blog@sniflabs.com. Who knows, you may even be selected to be published on our blog!

First Installation of:

Ask Miss Pawlite

Just last week, I was lucky enough to spend some quality time with one of my favorite furry friends, Emperor Chops. On our way home we encountered three new dogs, two off-leash and one on a leash. All three of the dogs were excited and none of them obeyed the commands of their walker. In addition to being on leash, Chopper is very well trained, has a kind demeanor and gentle temperament. I knew that Chopper would behave himself, like the gentleman he is, with the other dogs, yet, I was extremely nervous about the other dogs’ behavior; They surrounded Chopper and were acting aggressively. When the walker called for them they did not respond. It was not until Chopper and I removed ourselves from the situation did the dogs leave. After this incident, I was upset that the walker was not more aware that her dogs’ behavior could lead to a potentially dangerous situation. However, I declined to say anything as I did not want to be an instigator. Later that evening, I got to thinking. Would it have been appropriate for me to say something to this woman or should I have done what I did and kept walking? After searching the internet, I was unable to find a direct answer to my question. So, I enlisted the help of my friend who not only trains dogs, but also emphasizes the importance of proper “dog manners.” And thus, “Miss Pawlite” is born.

For this particular situation, the first thing you should do is be aware of your city and state’s leash laws. For example, in Boston, it is unlawful for a dog to be off-leash when not on the owner’s property (leash laws). If, in fact, the city has a leash law, the best and most appropriate way to deal with the situation is to kindly inform the other dog owner about said law, especially if you anticipate running into him/her again. In the case that your city does not have an enforceable rule, it is still a good idea to express your concerns to the dog owner. Explain to the dog owner in a non-confrontational way that you are apprehensive about his/her dog’s behavior when off-leash and share that you feel safer when your own dog is on a leash because you know that you are in control of the situation.

I hope this clears up some questions out there! If you have any dog manner related questions please write to Miss Pawlite at blog@sniflabs.com. Happy SNIFFING!