This question came about over a discussion my brother and I had about whether dogs should be on leashes when outside. We both agreed that yes, they should, for several reasons, but that’s not the point.
Let’s use a hypothetical to better illustrate the question. Imagine that there’s a perfume - vanilla, for example - that doesn’t bother you at all (you don’t like nor dislike it), but that is very upsetting to some people, and can even cause some adverse reactions (allergies or something). In this hypothetical, based on the negative effects, you agree that vanilla perfumes should be banned. Currently, however, they are allowed.
You’re walking down the street, and randomly smell someone passing you by and they’re wearing a vanilla perfume.
Would that upset you? Why, or why not?
My answer is yes, without a doubt. Even though the smell itself doesn’t bother me, the fact someone would wear that perfume and not only potentially upset others, but put them in danger, is upsetting.
My brother, however, would say no! He couldn’t explain his reasoning to me.
I know this is a little convoluted, but I hope I got my question across.
If it’s an off leash park it’s fine. If it’s on lead have them on lead. It isn’t about your dog it’s about everyone else’s dogs. Dogs on leash are significantly more reactive when another dog runs up to them, so it’s important to have control of the dog, lest one of the dogs gets badly hurt.
Our park is mostly a water park for kids at the front, with a couple pavilions, and a boat ramp and senior citizen center in the back. So yes, it’s not an official dog park, but unofficial its accepted as one by pretty much everyone.
We keep him on the leash when there’s lots of people or other dogs around, but on days when the park is practically empty, we let him roam free and burn his calories.
He was abandoned for like 5 months out at the park before we decided to adopt him, so most regular park visitors already know him. Police officers approve, they even helped us adopt him.
He’s a medium size dog, and mostly chill, just sometimes playful. He’s never hurt anyone.
Of course that’s not true for all dogs though, hence why we’re very careful regarding what sort of days we might let him roam around off the leash.