Dog Constantly Being Walked Unleashed in my Neighborhood

I have two large dogs- a collie mix and a pit mix. I walk them separately since they behave better on the leash that way- I like my arm right where it is in it's socket, thank you very much. Plus, I feel more in control of them when I walk them separately. While walking my pit the other day, a man was walking a teacup yorkie off leash. This adorable little thing came trotting right across the street and up to my pit bull. My pit likes other dogs, very much so. Perhaps, too much so. She doesn't know how to play gently with small dogs. She plays rough with our other big dog and he takes it like a champ and plays back in kind. I was terrified of what was going to happen to this little dog. So I'm trying to hustle my pit bull away while SCREAMING at the dog's owner at the top of my lungs to get his dog, that my dog is not friendly, and his dog WILL get hurt if he comes any closer. I would just like to reiterate, this is a TEACUP YORKIE. It wasn't moving very fast, but neither was his owner. He jogged lightly across the street and barely managed to scoop up the dog before he was in range of my pit. My pit did nothing wrong, she was whimpering and straining at the leash, but was completely under my control. I wouldn't walk her if I felt otherwise. Generally if we pass another leashed dog, I cross the street and we keep it moving. Once the guy had his dog in hand, I went off on him- telling him if it wasn't MY dog that hurt his dog, it would be a car or something else. We're only a block away from a VERY busy street. He nodded, said sorry, rolled his eyes and kept walking. I've seen him TWICE since then, each time with his dog unleashed. I told him this is ILLEGAL and he's risking his dog's LIFE every time he walks it unleashed. I've threatened to call the cops on him, he just smiles and waves. The dog clearly doesn't listen when he calls him and he doesn't seem to care.

Sooooo my question is this... is there anything I can do about this? I'm not normally one to call 311 or anything, but this is ridiculous. I'm afraid of the dog getting hurt more than anything. He deserves, at the very least, to be ticketed. Maybe that would give him pause the next time he walks the dog off leash. I don't know anything about this man- I don't know his name, where he lives (he's not from my block), but I'm prepared to do whatever- I'll take damn photos on him if they need proof! TIA!

Dog Constantly Being Walked Unleashed in my Neighborhood

I wouldn't hesitate to report him to 311 every time you see the dog off leash. I recently ordered both dog repellant citronella spray and pepper spray to carry on walks in case of a loose dog who approaches. Sorry, I don't care if your dog is friendly. It approaches mine, it gets sprayed away. I don't think NYers can buy pepper spray like we can in CT though.

I have ZERO tolerance for people who think they're above leash laws just because they have a small dog or because their dog listens "most of the time".

Re: Dog Constantly Being Walked Unleashed in my Neighborhood

Message edited 4/8/2013 2:06:00 PM.

Dog Constantly Being Walked Unleashed in my Neighborhood

I believe you can get the citronella sprays though, Halt is one brand, another is SprayShield. And I wouldn't hesitate to kick a dog away if that was the only other option. If your pit or collie even gets ahold of a TEACUP yorkie, the dog is going to get hurt. Period. A plain water bottle with a far shooting spray may work too.

Maybe a couple of citations or instances of his dog being sprayed for it's own protection are what he needs.

Re: Dog Constantly Being Walked Unleashed in my Neighborhood

Dog Constantly Being Walked Unleashed in my Neighborhood

You can just use a spray bottle with 30% isopropyl alcohol and water mixture (its essentially bitter apple minus the bitters) with a hard stream or you can also try a little fog horn. What I would do is take video or photos of the guy and the loose dog with my phone then call the cops every time you see him. I would try to avoid letting the guy see you (so you don't scare him off) but at least you have photos of him each time so you can prove that it was different days of the week (since he is in different clothes).

The dog is friendly, I wouldn't cause it harm. I would also use the opportunity to teach your dog "mind your business" or "leave it alone" and teach long down stays... because you are right, as pittie owners we have to be 100X in more control of our dogs. They have to be 100X better behaved than the average dog. I would try teaching my own dog that good things happen when other dogs come to visit, meaning you work on your commands and ignore those animals and you get super yummy treats (like hot dogs or pupperoni)

Also, you can try clipping your two dogs together using a coupler, then you can use the weight of one dog to balance off the weight of the other. I used to couple dogs together all the time when I was a dog walker. It's also very helpful if you are walking your dogs with training collars vs using flat buckle collars or harnesses (except for no pull harnesses) Then you can use the extra time for longer walks or save yourself some time in the day :O)

Message edited 4/8/2013 3:54:58 PM.

Re: Dog Constantly Being Walked Unleashed in my Neighborhood

OK we HAVE to live on the same block. We have the same type of doggie being walked with no leash most days and our street intersects with a busy service road. I dont know what you can do about it but some people really piss me off.

Re: Dog Constantly Being Walked Unleashed in my Neighborhood

Dog Constantly Being Walked Unleashed in my Neighborhood

As far as your dog goes, it is a very athletic breed and they do require a ton of exercise. You might find if you burn off a lot of that energy with training and running it will help focus her attention. It really does come down to investing the time into burning off the energy both with physical activity and mental stimulation. Walks might not be enough for her at her current age.

I have heard from a few sources that fitting them with a back pack and water bottles can give them a job plus it burns more energy because they are carrying the extra weight around. I have never tried it myself. Cesar milan sells a backpack which puts the weight up closer to their chests and not on their backs. Also consider getting a long leash (around 25' long) and working on some long distance comes and down stays in the yard and in front of your house if you can.

We have our first agility class coming up in Bayshore at Doggie U. We are taking private lessons but they have group classes as well. How about trying agility classes? The running, jumping, training, and just being out being stimulated would help.

Everyone can benefit from seeing a trainer. Sometimes they have ideas you haven't thought of. I have been raising dogs professionally for 18 years as a dog handler. I still have trainers come work with me. I know a trainer in the business for over 35 years and she still takes classes and goes to seminars. Part of it is just having someone push you to do it and remind you of what the goals are. Everyone can go to the gym but if you have a personal trainer you know you are going to work harder and be more motivated. I really like my current trainer, her name is Allison. I can give you her number if you like. She is not heavy handed at all.

The beauty of pitties are they want to please and they give 100% to everything they do. That super focus is what makes them so easy to train and so dangerous in the wrong hands. I think having someone who is qualified evaluate and set up a plan for your specific dogs temperament is always the best way to go. In the long run it makes for a better relationship with your dog and especially important if you are thinking of TTC.

Dog Constantly Being Walked Unleashed in my Neighborhood

One tip I learned from my trainer is that when my dog lunges forward on a walk pull her sideways. It takes them off balance and you can get control easier. It works pretty well with my 70lb lab.

Re: Dog Constantly Being Walked Unleashed in my Neighborhood

Thank you!!! Those are all really helpful tips!

We had words again last night. I got home earlier than DH so I walked the dogs and as I was coming out of my gate, I heard a collar jingling so I waited in my yard for them to pass. Lo and behold, it's the same guy, with his dog off leash again. I told him again, this is illegal, you will be fined for this, your dog is going to be injured, I will call 311, this is stupid, there's no reason to walk your dog without a leash. Clearly, he speaks minimal English, so once he heard me say the word "stupid" he flipped like a light switch. He started screaming "No! YOU STUPID! YOU! I FIGHT YOU!" Never one to back down, I screamed back and started walking my dog in the other direction. He started walking after me so I turned around to face him head on and he backed off. We did this little dance for awhile, both screaming at each other. By this time, DH got home, so he came out. Now, my DH is VERY big. He's 6'8". lol. As soon as my DH showed up and I told him this guy threatened me, the guy backed off. He started screaming " I SAY SORRY!" though obviously, he never did. DH just said "Put your damn dog on a leash!", asked me if I wanted him to finish the walk, I said no, I was fine and I finished the dog's walk.

No sign of him this morning. He's not even from my block or any of the blocks nearby. He walks his dog over by me because on top of not wanting to leash his dog, he also refuses to clean up after his dog! The LIRR is at the end of my block so a lot of people walk their dogs along it and don't clean up. ANOTHER reason the dog should be leashed- there's several gaps in the fence! The dog could run into there. Not to mention that I've seen raccoons, possums, and skunks in there, too!

I doubt he'll walk his dog by my house anymore, but if he does, I'll be ready with my phone and a spray bottle. I don't generally do the evening walks since my DH gets home before me most days so I didn't know he walks his dog over there in the evenings as well and I wasn't prepared.

Re: Dog Constantly Being Walked Unleashed in my Neighborhood

Dog Constantly Being Walked Unleashed in my Neighborhood

i have the same problems but the opposite...I have a chihuahua and i live across from a park and numerous times there are people who have big dogs off leashes. Once a guys dog ran out of the field and came toward me and my dog. The park is baseball fields so there isnt gates to close. It is so scary to walk especially at night because they do it in the dark also

Re: Dog Constantly Being Walked Unleashed in my Neighborhood

Dog Constantly Being Walked Unleashed in my Neighborhood

Well now that it's all come to a head and hopefully your DH scared him off for a while... now take a step back and try not to engage him anymore. Be calm, use your phone and let the cops deal with it. Try not to let things get out of hand especially when your dogs are with you because your dog is going to respond to your mood. You could amp your dog up and cause the dog to go into the "protect mommy mode" you are trying to avoid.