Do your neighbors’ dogs run loose off their property? Are you concerned for your own dogs because of loose dogs from next door or down the street? Have you gotten to the point that you aren’t comfortable walking your dogs on your own block?
Does that make you a helicopter dog parent?
One dog owner we know has a sticky situation in her neighborhood. Dogs who live nearby are running loose, unsupervised, and not all of them have good dog manners. She wants to know if what she’s doing is okay:
Hi, fellow dog parents. We live in the middle of a cul-de-sac. Our neighbors collectively have seven dogs that they let run loose in their front yard. Some have a good recall, others do not. We have one dog that is very social, but we have to monitor his play because he has a slight slipped disc in his back. The other dog needs her space and takes a lot of time to get used to other dogs. She is nervous and unsure. We went to take them on a walk today and a couple of the [neighbor] dogs were out. We chose to load our dogs in the car and drive two blocks to the park and start the walk there. We are told we are helicopter parents. I would like dog intros on a leash. My neighbors don’t agree. Any thoughts?
I asked dog owners and dog trainers to respond.
Kat Camplin Leash laws are for everyone, not just those who like them. Intros usually go better off-leash, but having a dog with mechanical issues should mean they meet one at a time, [to] not get overwhelmed.
Ruth L. Heller DVM Your job as pet owners is to protect your own pets, not worry about the neighbors’ hurt feelings. The neighbors are almost certainly breaking the law with having their dogs off-lead, also.
Linda Ehrenworth Maybe, depends on where they live. The way some of the laws are written, as long as the dogs remain on their property and do not leave their property, they are within their rights to have their dogs off lead. However, the second the dog steps foot off the property off lead, leash laws should apply. I am not a lawyer; this is just my understanding. I agree with Ruth.
Ruth L. Heller DVM “Under control off lead” must be a bomb-proof recall. That holds no matter where you are, if there is a leash law.
Debby McMullen I would say that you are being very good dog parents. Leashed intros aren’t any more appropriate than off-leash intros that are set up in that manner. Perhaps ask your neighbors how they would feel about unknown-to-them people running up to them and saying, “Hi!” right in their faces. If there are leash restrictions in your neighborhood, I would suggest that you report them. Your dogs have a right to not be assaulted.
Trish McMillan Loehr I would put my nervous dog in the car and avoid the neighbors’ dogs. I would want my dog to start the outing in the best mental state she can. Living on a long, straight lane, I put three of my dogs into the car and drive to the end of the lane to trails [where] we can walk. (I call the lane “Gladiators” and every dog doing that lane walk kicks off and reacts.) One of my neighbors has commented on this drive I do, and I just smile and silently tell her to get lost.
Photo by Sara Maynard
Cherie Marshall I am considered “overly cautious” when it comes to my dogs, but I have recently chosen not to walk my dogs in my neighborhood for the very reason that “others” are not responsible dog owners and routinely have dogs off-leash. Not to mention we have another neighbor whose dog(s) get out fairly regularly and you never know when they will come bounding toward you. (It’s unknown how they would interact with my dogs and I’m unwilling to “test” it.) I feel hopeless that this “problem” will ever be resolved to the point of making it safe to take my dogs for a walk and not have to risk confrontation from other dogs. One of my dogs I could pick up if the situation warranted it. However, my other dog absolutely does not allow you to pick him up; should you choose to make that error, he will bite. This leaves me having to map out any walking areas like an agent for the FBI to be sure no other dogs are going to come toward us. It is definitely a problem that does not get better over time.
Summer Storm Kingery Overly cautious is better than the $500 and $3,000 vet bills we have had in the past five years due to off-leash dogs who were considered “friendly.”
Donna Weidert I had a shy border collie. People would approach us out in public and demand that their child be allowed to pet him. I was called every name you can imagine when I put him behind me and refused. You dog owners are doing everything right and it doesn’t matter what your (idiot) neighbors think or say. I would smile at the neighbors and not even respond to their name-calling or comments.
Kathy Ewing Care is generally the best approach, so nothing unexpected happens. My dog is not very good with social settings, for example.
Janice Langbehn Always intro on a leash. You don’t let your three-year-old [child] meet new friends without you there the first couple of times.
Alison Taub I think taking them to the park for walks makes sense. Fencing your own front yard to keep the other dogs out, if that is at all possible, would also help. I don’t necessarily agree with on-leash introductions because that can actually make dogs more aggressive. I would try for one-on-one intros with a single one of the neighbor dogs at a time, instead of their whole loose pack . . . or else just avoid them as much as possible.
Beverley McKee There is nothing helicopter about this at all. Your dogs should not have to deal with strange dogs with poor impulse control outside of their owners’ property. The question of whether greetings are better on- or off-leash is irrelevant in this scenario. I agree and I would drive my dogs away to avoid unwanted greetings and potential injury as well.
Chelsea Green My dog is a slow burn when it comes to other dogs. He is frequently rushed by dogs when we are out and it is stressful for him. It isn’t polite dog behavior to rush up to another dog. Imagine being rushed by many dogs! How stressful, especially for your nervous dog.
Leash laws are important. They keep dogs and people safe. I understand the mentality of just letting dogs do their thing, but dogs that are injured or nervous around other dogs need human help to function normally. This means protecting them from off-leash dogs. You are not responsible for your neighbors’ feelings; you are, however, responsible for your dogs. It sounds like you’re advocating for and asserting your dogs’ needs, which is admirable.
As for your neighbors and their dogs, maybe look into the neighborhood rules regarding dogs and leashes, as well as your county leash laws. It sure would be a shame if a dog or person got hurt because [your neighbors] were not being conscientious about the rules. In the meantime, keep doing what you’re doing. It sounds real tedious, but it is easier on your dogs than being charged by other dogs.
September B. Morn Dear Dog Parents—Part of the problem is people taking the “parent” part a bit too literally. Sometimes dog parents forget our “children” are actually dogs, and dogs are likely to make impulsive, doglike decisions. These decisions can sometimes harm other dogs or themselves. Good dog “parents” take their dogs’ dogness into account. You are wisely doing that by being ready to take charge of your dog’s interactions with other dogs. Leashes are a safety tool. Introducing dogs on leash can be iffy, though, as some dogs are more reactive on-leash and more relaxed and social when off-leash. However, keeping them on-leash at first, while remaining at a safe distance until they get used to each other and relax, can allow for much safer greetings and play.
Ingrid Bock I would have driven to the park also. Excellent call.
Kim Rinehardt Being called a helicopter parent by such blatantly irresponsible people seems like a badge of honor to me. I would be smiling from ear to ear!
Lynn Brezina I think the decisions are sound and in the best interest of their dogs. They should keep doing what they are doing.
Gail Harland Please don’t second-guess your good judgment.
Are you wondering, like many of those who commented, if the questioner lives in an area that has a leash law on the books? In fact, the person asking about the situation we’re discussing does live in an area with a leash law and, yes, the neighbors’ dogs who are running free off their owners’ property are in violation of the local ordinances.
Here’s what the questioner says about the situation:
There are five house in the circle of the cul-de-sac. We are the only house that doesn’t let their dogs run loose. Some of the neighbors let their dogs [eliminate] in our yard; some do not. One house lets his three dogs run loose unattended while he mows the back yard. I was tagged by UPS once for [the neighbors’] dogs and [UPS] refused to deliver to our house. The newest neighbor let their dog run around our garage one day. I wish our dogs could get to know theirs, but I don’t think it’s okay to just set them free and see what happens.
I’d hate to report them because two of the neighbors are really respectful with their dogs. One is a gorgeous pit bull who has the best manners. I feel fine taking our dogs out when she is out because her owner always makes sure she stays with him. I thought about calling [animal control] on the others, but they are really nice people and I don’t want to be That Neighbor. Tricky predicament. What is fortunate is that the dogs stay in the cul-de-sac, so it’s not likely they will get hit by a car. However, last fall we had a family of six deer roaming the neighborhood. I’ll bet that could be a volatile situation should the dogs meet the deer.
Reporting your near-neighbors’ dogs running loose in violation of leash laws is always an option, but it’s an option many choose not to use, for a variety of reasons. One reason is fear of reprisal, although most animal control agencies do not reveal the identity of those who’ve complained, at least not in their initial contact with the scofflaws.
In some jurisdictions, an animal control officer will make a personal visit to the home of the dogs that have been running loose, in an attempt to determine that the animals are being kept safely and humanely—licensed and vaccinated as local laws require—and also to “educate” the dog owners about the consequences should their dogs continue to be a nuisance. However, many towns and cities simply cannot afford to pay their animal control officers and agencies to “educate” owners, and personal visits from animal control staffers to local dog owners may not be an available option.
How have you dealt with dogs running loose in your neighborhood?
Did you contact animal control?
What was animal control’s response?
Were your neighbors contacted, warned, or charged with violations?
What would you suggest to someone whose dogs’ health and safety might be adversely affected by unwanted interactions with unsupervised dogs who live nearby?
