Trouble Round the Bend: Off-Leash Dogs
Over the Independence Day Weekend, Lilly and I squeezed in some girl time for a hike. No trouble with mountain bikes on the hike-only day, but we did come face-to-face with two off-leash dogs. Not great, but it could have been worse.
High temps meant getting an EARLY start to the hiking day so that sweet, mostly black Lilly (our canine heroine) doesn’t overheat while exerting.
Exciting Bunny
As we trekked along, I spied a tiny rabbit, sitting stock still on the single-track mountain trail. I didn’t have to wonder too long how long it would take Lilly to see it.
One Mississippi. Two Mississippi. Three Mississippi.
Lilly shot to the end of her leash and strained, squeaking and grunting with delight.
Smiling, laughing we moved forward, and just as the rabbit dashed off into the brush, realizing that being a statue wasn’t working …
TWO OFF-LEASH DOGS came barreling around a blind corner of the trail:
- One took up the rabbit chase, down the mountain
- The other bombed straight toward Lilly
The bunny had amped up all three dogs, and then they met. Worst. Possible. Timing.
I don’t pretend to respond to such fear-inducing onslaughts perfectly, but here is what I did:
- I reeled Lilly back toward me and beat a hasty retreat the other way.
- I hollered (perhaps not all that nicely) that Lilly was AFRAID of other dogs, but NOT before the Lab came snout-to-snout with Lilly.
Yes, she snarked at him. Just noise. Bluster. No contact.
Two Things
First, park RULES call for all dogs to be on leash. Goodness knows, I personally am a major rule-follower, but I honestly don’t mind other dogs being off leash … IF they don’t come racing up to us. If they mind their own business and pass with control, I’m perfectly fine with that.
Second, the encounter was likely more difficult for all three dogs because they had a Bunny Rush going. So, I grant that caveat.
Aftermath
Once the other woman leashed up her dogs, she took them well off the trail so that Lilly and I could pass. Normally, Lilly is good about WATCH ME and walking nicely past other dogs, but she was still pretty amped up and again … shot to the end of her leash and grumbled at the other dogs for a few paces.
Later, when we ran into another duo of dogs (leashed this time), Lilly grumbled at them too. Drive by grumbling, I suppose. Displaced grumbling.
We were well off trail as they passed, but Lilly still felt afraid.
Since this was only a few days after her first (this year) summertime fearful dog flip out / meltdown, there is a chance this went badly because she still had what we call “bad body chemistry” going.
And, yet, when two equine-mounted volunteer park patrol guys, clip-clopped their way by. Lilly sat on a nearby rock and was completely fine. They even said something like, “That looks like a very good pup, right there.”
When to Say What
I truly try NOT to assume that an off-leash dog is an issue … until it becomes an issue. In other words, I don’t immediately call out, “Call your dog, please,” or “She’s afraid of dogs.” I only say something if I have to.
When you have run-ins like this, what’s your offensive or defensive protocol with other dogs and other dog owners?
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