I agree, I feel like the same thing is happening here in the USA with most pet owners. Most pet owners around me don't walk their dogs at all...and, as a result, they tend to have a lot of issues....we also have a ton of dog aggressive dogs...I think this is why the "dog park" idea is becoming so popular...people can bring their dogs to meet other dogs and learn how to behave around other dogs. I have seen the recovery of a lot of dog aggressive dogs since we have been going. Usually it takes a lot of time and patience (especially of the other dog owners) but I think that a leashed dog will be more aggressive then a non-leashed dog. I think also its our obligation to teach our dogs how to behave good off leash as well as on leash...

IMO.

Hmmm reading this with interest......

Is it satisfying the owner more letting the dog off the lead than the dog itself?

Just one quote but there are many more in this thread

Not letting Roxy off lead is tantamount to torture! She loves being free and I love to watch her being free.

I have 5 Siberian Huskies they are on the lead for ALL of their walks. They are getting mental stimulation and physical. If I want to satisfy my need to see them 'running free' I take them into some tennis courts shut the gate and play ball with them. It doesnt last that long as they get bored and dont actually 'run free'

As for proper exercise they are trained three times a week running four miles a time, in harness doing what they were bred to do. Thats more amazing to watch any day than a dog running free

Those of you that dont lead walk yours, try it and see how annoying other peoples dogs are that are off lead....

Gemma
x

Hi Gemma,
Thanks for your input. I can only speak for my dogs (non working dogs) , I do sometimes onlead walk them, depending on where I walk my dogs here, they sometimes get onlead time, if we see others dogs that we do not know, bike riders etc, quite frankly and I can only speak for my dogs, I am convinced (infact I would put money on it) that they (my dogs) prefer their off lead time.

Look at their faces


Playing 'stalk' Kaliska





Non of the above they could do if they were onlead.

I am so sure mine prefer to be offlead to do what comes natural to them, well that is how I see it.. No detrement to onlead dogs, I am just speaking for my own.


So in answer to your question, IMHO, I beleive it is mutual satisfaction, both owner and dog/s get pleasure from the 'offlead' experience.

Ami hate, HATES, her harness...and HATES to pull...we have tried everything in the book to make my husky pull, and she won't...we even tied her up with some huskies/mals that know what they are doing and Ami just fussed about it the whole time. And, yes, it is satisfying for the dogs...they get to follow smells that they wouldn't get to if they were on a leash, they can dig up worms if they hear them crawling around, they can run and play with other dogs, they, much to some owners slight annoyance, roll around in mud or jump in the pond....they get to be dogs. They follow the pack and listen to the owners, but they get to release those energies and feelings that they are not allowed to do in the house or in the back yard...i think its necessary to let them do that...because if you supress those desires, they find other outlets to fullfil their needs...and they are not always the outlet we would choose. And letting them go in a tennis court will not fullfil all of that...we used tennis courts to help train, but the real release is when they are allowed to do what all dogs want to do...play.

oh yep

......I must remind them what a bad mommy I am LOL!!

These are their faces in a controlled running enviroment. My dogs were not bred to play they were bred to work

Hi Gemma, great pics xxxxxx

This was just over the weekend, meeting one of the two NI in America. We drove 5 1/2 hours each way to give Ami some off leash time.

sorry meant pic x

Fabulous xxxxxx And they look like the best of friends already !!!!

Lovely picture, but if you don't allow your dogs to play, could I ask how they are exercised during the summer?