Let's See Your Dogs!!

Went for a muddy walk, Dusty was legit belly deep in a nasty boggy mess today. Happy dog though…

 

I see a lot of dog pics and almost all of them have their dogs tied up. We have a GSP and I thought we would be doing the same forever with him. We took him to a really good trainer and now no leash and he walks great. It sure is nice to not worry about putting a rope on him all the time.

 

I never tie mine up. But I do have them on a 15 foot lead during exercise. I also never hooked to the collar that's only for a name tag and phone number. Both my dogs are in tracking harnesses. I always thought I wouldn't like something around my neck pulling on me all the time either. And 100% accurate good training makes a good dog.

 

When I walk mine I have to leash her. She jumps out into my narrow country road, where people speed, to literally attack the vehicle. If I don't leash her, she won't survive the walk. In my yard, I try to let her walk leashless, but she chases every animal that she sees: the neighbor's chickens or cats, wild rabbits, even birds. So, it's a mixed bag. I keep trying, but have to have my running shoes on, just in case and - truth be told- I am too old and fat to catch her. She will usually stop once I yell at her to stop, usually. Here's a picture of the trouble maker, LOL.

 

I live in a city and HOA where the "leash law" is in effect. That said, I run my girl Remi (Vizsla) pretty early in the morning when most people are still sleeping. I have her under VERY good voice control, so I have her off leash, however, whenever I see another person/dog, I stop and leash her up out of respect to them. Some people are just afraid of dogs and I get it.
Now, when we are up in the mountains and it's just me and her for miles...then it is game on.

Edit: photo of Remi hunting a rabbit LOL

 

sweet, another Vizsla! I have two myself!

 

Here is my boy! 3 years young. Boxer/blue heeler mix.

 

I love these pictures. When a dog gets old always taken care of. Thank you for your post.

 

Two of the best friends you could have! Sadly they both passed. Just haven’t been able to get another. They both were 13+ and died of cancer. Two years apart.

 

He's +9 years old, and with 2 back surgeries, and we just want him to live his best life.

 

I appreciate that, I lost my dog (profile pic) last year and in the same week we inherited another yellow lab that has leash aggression. Having an unknown dog come up uninvited whilst he’s leashed is a very difficult situation.

My buddy was the best in every way and as such I never understood dogs with leash aggression, I do now. It’s soo difficult. Off leash he’s fine, I think my father in law was very nervous out walking and projected that into his dog. It’s crazy, a 80lb dog will get all defensive even with a 4lb Yorkie.

So thanks for having your dog under control…

 

Here's a photo of my family's collection of Vizslas.

The two in front are mine, Ullr on the front left, is 10 months old, and Nova on the front right is 8 years. The other two belong to my sister and my Aunt.

 

Yep our malinois we did the same thing she is great off leash.

 

My niece has a Malinois as well and she pointed us toward her trainer now they are both awesome dogs. When we walk our GSP he is on leash, we have a treed 1 1 1/2 acre and he is off leash on the property. He and our Rotti pup have a ball chasing each other.

 

Respectfully, good trainer or not, when in a city environment and higher traffic rural areas a leash is a necessity. Dogs are still animals with a high pray instinct, meaning even the most well trained dogs will pursue certain types of movement instinctively. If you can start conditioning the dog as a puppy you can alter their pray instinct, but not every pet begins their training as a puppy. Also, it is not about how well your dog is trained but other people around you. In my day to day (I have almost a decade in the pet industry) I see people with their dogs leashed lose control for a multitude of reasons. It is always better to remain in physical control in these scenarios. Even the most well trained dogs spook, and have ingrained instincts honed over more years than I can count. There is a place for loose leash/off leash walking, but most of us live in areas where it is also a law, although not enforced.

Stepping off my soapbox.

 

For example, I saw 2 raccoons out in the day time last week. They were in the high grass, just inches off the road, the same road I walk with my dog. She likes to go to the edge of the high grass to sniff, mark her territory and do her business. And 2 weeks ago a coyote ran across the road while I was in my truck about 8 a.m., which is often the time we walk. I am always alert, with my head on a swivel, but I would never let her walk my country road without being leashed.

 

I put are dog Ted on a leash if I’m busy in the yard. He’s still a pup and at the dog trainer now. There is a pond across the street from me and there is always ducks in it or flying in. He sees them but hasn’t yet chased them but you can see the curiosity on his face when the do.

 

If you read my post 29647 you will see that we walk our dog on leash. On our property he is off leash.

 

Swagger would get so car sick as a puppy. He'll be 2 in November and is becoming a really good travel buddy (minus the hair). Lint roller has been the best option to get whatever the vacuum leaves behind in the truck.