- cossysmom
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Offline - Registered: 8/12/2015
- Posts: 1,318
Re: Dog Walking Etiquette Question
by the way, cat poop definitely causes disease and is much more dangerous than dog poop. People these days usually will bag their dog poop when on a walk, but wandering cats just go whereever they please and that is not healthy in a suburban neighborhood.
and before anyone jumps on me--remember, I do love cats and have had several. all indoor cats
one more note on retractable leashes--not too long ago when I had my dog at the vet someone came in with a large dog on a retractable leash. He had the leash out pretty long, maybe 8 feet or so, so the dog was pretty much free to go where it pleased. I have my dog sit before I open the door to go in the office, then give him the comand so he can go in. I keep him at my side and make him sit while i'm at the counter and have him sit on my lap (he's medium--about 52 pounds but thinks he belongs on my lap) while we're waiting our turn. We then take the route with the least exposure to other pets when we're called to the exam room. I might be overly caustious but even a very calm, gentle dog can be startled when stressed about being at the vet. My dog loves it--it's his favorite place--even the scarey place in the back where they do things that hurt, but you never know how a dog will react. Too many people forget that dogs are animals.
- Ultrablue
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- Registered: 8/09/2015
- Posts: 46
Re: Dog Walking Etiquette Question
Sunny@Midnight2 wrote:
Retractable leashes are wonderful if you are in a large empty area and the dog can run "free" on the extended leash but on a road or path they are dangerous.
A few months ago we witnessed a bad crash caused by this type of leash. We were on a multi-use path and coming towards us was a woman with two small dogs on fully extended leashes putting them at least 12 feet ahead of her. We stepped to the side of the path and sat our dog so that they could pass. They of course were jumping and leaping at our dog and she did nothing to rein them in.
My husband told her to rein in her dogs which she started to do (with attitude of course) but just then a bicyclist started to pass on our left and both dogs ended up tangled in the bicycle - and worse yet the baby carrier being pulled along behind. The dogs were fine, The cyclist banged up his bike and his leg but the toddler got a good bump on the head when it came in contact with the side frame of the carrier when it tilted over. I thought the Daddy was going to kill the woman. We got them untangled and calmed down and to her credit (little bit) the woman was very apologetic and upset.
Thanks for enlightening me on a useful purpose for retractable leashes. Unfortunately, the usage you described is not applicable in a residential neighborhood. I have yet to see a dog on a retractable leash under the control of its owner. Why do so many pet owners, at least in my neighborhood, seem to think it is okay to allow their dog(s) to drag them down the street with the leash extended at least 10 feet in front of them?
BTW, I cringe at the sight of people who attach a baby carrier to a bicycle and ride in traffic with baby in tow. I have seen this more times than I care to remember. The cyclist is putting their child in harms way for no good reason. It is my understanding that those type of carriers are not street legal.
Last edited by Ultrablue (8/21/2015 7:34 pm)
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Thread Starter- SaraG
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- Registered: 8/17/2015
- Posts: 163
Re: Dog Walking Etiquette Question
I just read that all cats in Australia will have to be indoor cats or confined. An effort by the government to try to protect the natural wildlife. Cats have killed off thousands of species of birds and rodents all over the world.
I love cats and we have had them for 40 years but ours have always been indoor cats with an enclosed outdoor area. This was to protect them and local wildlife. We have always lived in areas where there were a lot of predators so letting your cat go outside was tantamount to offering them up as the special of the day. Still not over seeing our neighbour's cat dead and dangling from the mouth of a coyote that was trotting down our road or hearing how our neighbour's Yorkie was lifted right out of their back yard by a Bald Eagle. The dog was saved as the owner was chopping wood and threw a piece of log towards the eagle which startled it enouigh so that it dropped the dog. But the poor thing fell a long way and never walked the same afterwards.
Those are such tragic stories. I wish everyone would keep their cats inside and I think in some cities it is against the law to let them roam. However, it seems so unnatural for them to be kept indoors. I know there are people who take them outside on a leash and that seems dangerous if they happen to lunge. Never liked cats but they love me. I wish someone could explain why I'm a cat magnet. I do whatever I can to shoo them away and they don't pay attention. Many years ago, a cat tried to get on a public bus with me.
