Come on, it wasn’t that bad.
[quote]
Ideally, all dogs would be well trained and well behaved. But, on this planet, the ideal has yet to be reached.
Gustav is an exceptionally well trained and behaved dog. I don’t know Brian, but I’ll take Loretta’s word that he is harmless and well behaved.
My dog, Dofu, is harmless, but not really well behaved. Thus, I keep him on a lead/leash at all times. Also, he isn’t “good” with other dogs, so I hate it when other people’s dogs, not on leads, run over to see Dofu.[/quote]
This is a good point. Not all dogs get along well with each other and the danger to human beings around several dogs going at it is not to be dismissed.
After I had my three run-ins (on one day) with badly behaved dogs in the bog I called the human society who handle the enforcement of animal by-laws here. I talked to the manager there for a long time. She lives near the bog and encounters problems with people thinking that they can let their dog run up to hers (hers is always on a leash). When she warns the people to call their dog back, they usually reply, “But he’s friendly.” To which she replies, “But my dog’s not.”
The point of course is that dogs can be a danger to each other and not just humans.
The area I jog in is part a decent suburb. The dogs are well groomed and often expensive breeds. The owners are presentable middle class people. Yes, even here I only find half the people give a fuck if their dog runs up to me, or jumps on me.
Now when I am jogging I am aware that I may startle a dog so I always stop when I see an unleashed dog. I expect the owner to notice and leash therir dog. Or at least to call out, “he’s friendly,” or something to show a bit of courtesy. But less than half do. And when I ask them to call their dog back they look at me like I have a problem. Some refuse outright.
So, here, in the heart of north america, in a well-off area with educated people, we still can’t get more than half to care about others around them in relation to their dog. And that is the real issue. It’s not about how well-behaved your dog is. It’s how well-behaved YOU are. How civic minded are you.
Unless you can convince that the majority of people will ever grow to be concerned enough about their fellow man to not put him in an uncomfortable position, especially when it means they must give up something they want and enjoy, then I say leash laws are what we need.
I want to ask Maoman and Loretta what they would do if someone asked them to leash their dog. How would they respond. Especially if the person insisted even after you assured him the dog is friendly and well-behaved.
And I’d like you to think about how you would have answered a week ago before we started discussing this topic.