Becoming Responsible: Unleashing Your Dog

It’s the idyllic fantasy many dog owners are after: taking a leisurely stroll through an open field or through the woods, their loyal canine companion padding along quietly by their side, taking in nature together.  Unfortunately for many dogs and dog owners, this fantasy may never be a reality.  Some dogs are just not meant to be off-leash.  For an unprepared dog and owner, being off-leash can be perilous.  While your dog may not be a danger to anyone or anything else, its freedom may pose a danger to itself.

NOTE: Please understand that by taking your dog off-leash in open areas, you are knowingly putting your dog in hazard’s way by allowing it to roam freely.  Unleashing your dog is an inherently risky affair.  This article was written to minimize those risks, but no excursion is going to be 100% safe.  Unpredictable things can happen in all environments, and you must take responsibility when they do. 

Becoming Responsible- Reliable and Appropriate Training

Irresponsible dog ownership is nothing less than a plague.  That statement may sound a little extreme, but think for a moment.  What is the main reason dogs end up in shelters?  Irresponsible ownership.  Why do you hate your neighbor’s dog? Irresponsible ownership.  Why are dogs not allowed in the park or on the beach? Irresponsible ownership.  Many other limitations, fears, stereotypes, and laws are in place because of irresponsible owners, and every dog owner is affected by them in some way, big or small.  As dog owners, we need to do our part to care for our animals while also being considerate of others.  The following few posts will discuss how we, owners, can make the world a better place for dogs, other owners, and non-owners alike.  Today, we begin with the greatest issue amongst irresponsible owners: failure to provide appropriate and reliable training.