“Is your dog friendly?” I yell to my neighbor as his enormous, unleashed pit bull races towards me and my small, leashed dog.
“She’s super friendly!” my neighbor responds with a wave and a laugh. “She loves making new friends!”
While she is indeed friendly, she is also incredibly untrained. She’s captivated by my dog and me, eager to engage in play. She bounds closer, lunging and circling us, even trying to slip under the leash. My dog’s fur isn’t standing on end, but his little body is tense; he enjoys interacting with other dogs during walks, but he gets overwhelmed if the other dog’s energy is too high and disregards personal space.
We attempt to move forward, but her dog keeps circling us, playfully rearing up like a horse. She keeps pushing her head under my dog for sniffs. Meanwhile, her owner is about ten yards away, unloading groceries as if this entire situation is perfectly acceptable.
“Uh, could you please get your dog?” I call out.
“Oh, she won’t hurt you! She just wants to play!”
At this point, my dog is starting to lift his lip and show his teeth. “Well, my dog doesn’t appreciate that. You need to come get her.”
After some effort, we finally push through while my neighbor chases his unruly dog around the street. His utter lack of control is almost comical if it weren’t so rude and potentially dangerous.
Just a block later, I spot another off-leash dog. At least this one is in its yard with its owner, but I’m still on edge. We’ve encountered this situation multiple times; sometimes the dog stays put, sometimes it’s well-trained and we make a new friend, and other times—like twice before—the dog bolts toward us in aggressive mode, barking and snarling. In one instance, I had to lift my dog up by his leash to prevent a bite; he lost one of his teeth in the fray. In another instance, I wasn’t quick enough, and my dog got bitten, thankfully without drawing blood.
So no, I’m not reassured by the sight of another neighbor with an unleashed dog. I stand there with my arms crossed, glaring at the owner until he finally gets the hint and calls his dog inside. I thank him as we pass by.
I’m growing increasingly frustrated with entitled individuals who let their dogs roam the neighborhood off-leash. This isn’t just an issue in my area, although I have some inconsiderate neighbors. Last year, a viral incident involved a white woman calling the police on a Black man who asked her to leash her dog. An infuriating TikTok video also gained traction, showcasing a woman berating a man filming her unleashed dog approaching him and his leashed dog, despite him clearly stating his dog was “not friendly.”
This is a classic misunderstanding among dog owners. When you see another owner create distance or cross the street, it often indicates their dog isn’t interested in meeting. Respect that. If an owner explicitly states their dog is “not friendly,” keep your distance. Approaching another dog without permission can lead to dangerous situations for everyone involved.
To clarify, I’m not referring to instances where dogs slip out unexpectedly. I get it; accidents happen. I’ve trained my dog to stop at the threshold whenever the door opens, yet he once bolted after a squirrel and ended up muddy in a neighbor’s ditch. I’m also not talking about dog parks, remote hiking trails, or vast fields where it’s acceptable to let your dog run free. But a neighborhood filled with houses and people, including those walking pets or children, is not the place.
Dog owners must recognize that when their unleashed dog approaches a leashed dog—regardless of intent—it creates an unbalanced dynamic. One dog is free while the other is tethered, leaving the leashed dog feeling vulnerable and anxious, which can provoke a negative reaction.
My dog is on a leash and has nowhere to escape. He’s aware of his size; large dogs intruding into his space frighten him, not because he’s poorly socialized, but because he has been bitten before. What if your unleashed dog gets too close, causing my fearful dog to react and trigger an aggressive response from your otherwise well-behaved pet? Why invite that risk?
“But my dog is well-trained! I trust him completely!” That’s great, but I don’t know that. The child who has been bitten and is now afraid doesn’t know that. The person with a dog that doesn’t like other dogs doesn’t know that. And I, having faced numerous challenging encounters, certainly don’t know that.
To respect your neighbors, it’s crucial to demonstrate control over your pet—always keep it leashed.
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In summary, it’s essential for dog owners to understand the importance of keeping their pets leashed in neighborhoods to ensure the safety of all dogs and their owners. Respecting boundaries can prevent unnecessary stress and potential harm, fostering a more harmonious environment for everyone.