Do you let your dogs or dog run loose?

[wildmaninal]

Well

We just had 2 sheriff's deputies and the animal control come up to the house today. I happened to be outside looking at something on one of my boats when they pulled up. We live out in the country on 7 acres of land not fenced in. Apparently one of our dogs had gotten into a fight with someone else's smaller dog, and supposedly was threatening the dog's owner on their property also. We have 3 dogs, one German shepard (supposedly mixed), one black lab (mixed), and then we have a female mutt. The oldest dog is 14 (the black lab), and he has been with us ever sense he was a puppy. These dogs are inside and outside dogs. I must say these dogs do obey and are pretty smart.

The black lab is the only dog that has ever bitten anybody and that was years ago when we had somebody staying with us and the somebody was the only person at our home at the time. He decided to take one of my ATV's out for a ride which at the time required rolling it off to start the machine. Anyhow our black lab bit him in the behind while he was pushing the machine off.

After all these years without any problems with the dogs running loose now we have this mess to deal with. It was explained to me that there is no "leash law" in our county, but the owners should keep the animals on there property in the best way they can. Why couldn't the people or relatives that had the incident happen to them come up to us and let us no about the situation with out going to extremes? This has got me gotten me upset. I told the lady from the animal control "that I do recall hearing a fight amongst some dogs on our property but I could not tell if it was one of our dogs involved or not". By the way this lady talked it occurred on someone else's property and it happened last night. I know our dogs were in at one point last night but I was going to argue the point because there is a possibility that somebody let the dogs out.

The sheriff's deputy said "at worst that the people could shoot the dog or press charges" charges of some type but I can't quite remember exactly what he said he didn't get into great detail. Although my father was told years back that there was a leash law , don't know who to believe now. There is a relative that owns about 5 or 6 dogs that run loose and they do come over on our land and have the nerve to bark at us on our own property. This relative's dogs are small, he owns one that is nearly the size of our dogs. Our dogs have been known to chase them off of our land. Nearly all our neighbors are relatives. Nearly all our relatives own a dog and not all of them are chained or pinned up. I told the animal control lady that I do recall hearing a fight the other night between 2 dogs on our land and that I didn't know who's dog or what dog was involved. These people stayed in our front yard and talk amongst each other for a while after I walked off. I walked back up to them and I had it clarified that there is no leash law in the county and I also asked the animal control lady about the boundary line shock collars and how well they work, the lady replied "it depends on how dumb the dog is". I believe we have a relative that is trying to be a pain and I believe the story got twisted. I didn't explain this to the law because I didn't want to start no argument. Again I wished the relative would of confronted us before going through such extremes. The sheriffs deputies and the lady from animal control were very nice about the situation. 2 of my dogs were out there checking them out, sniffing them. I told all of them that "you should not half to worry about the dogs they are OK". After talking with these people I called the dogs, which they came and I put them in the house.

Do you all let you dogs run loose?

Have you ever had a similar situation?

Do you have a leash law in your area?

What precautions should I take, if any?

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Do you let your dogs or dog run loose?

We have 2 dogs and live in a neighborhood on one acre.I bet there is 20 or more dogs that run loose.
We have the invisible fence and it does fine keeping the dogs in the yard but any other dogs come in the yard when they please.
My 90 pound boxer has learned if he gets a good run he can blast thru the shock field.Our chow got shocked a few times and now never tries to leave.
They do not have a leash law here either.
My boxer visits a little female dog a few doors down and gets his arse whipped when i catch him.
The people across the road have a big dog that tries to fight mine and even tried to bite me on my own porch.
I talked to a Sheriff that lives down the road and he said if it attacks me i can shoot it.Otherwise with the animal cruelty laws they have now if i do anything to it i can end up in jail.
Best bet is to keep an eye on yours so nobody will poison them or do something stupid.

 

[Lone Duck]

Re: Do you let your dogs or dog run loose?

The precaution all dog owners should take is to train their pups not to leave the property. It takes 1/2 hrs. a day for 6 months. what no means, come , sit, stay,and heel. problem over.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Do you let your dogs or dog run loose?

The worst thing is its about to hit the fan around here if ya know what I mean. If the relative that I have in mind did turn us in (the one with 6 dogs), sounds like he is trying to stir something up. We have went for years without any problems between the family and now sense this joker moved back up to the area, which he has been here for a year if not more now. He thinks he is king of the hill. If he is the one that turned us in, I have heard him say that he doesn't give a darn about his own dogs, he was ready to shoot them or get rid of them one.

I don't believe our dogs are a threat to anybody, and come to think about it, if 2 dogs are fighting and you try to break them up with out some kind of stick or some kind of other weapon then there is something wrong with that picture. I don't believe the owner was threatened if it was our dogs that did the deed. I didn't tell the sheriff's deputies that there is a stray bull dog or boxer running around and that it might of been that dog that done it.

These dogs know there property and property lines. These dogs are very intelligent also. During the day they are either by my side or my father side, they hardly ever stray off. The past couple of nights they have been driving me nuts when I go to lay down because at least one would bark to come in then the other one is barking at something in the woods.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Do you let your dogs or dog run loose?

Wildmaninal, I have been in a similar situation, but I was in the other end. I don't think that anyone should let their dogs get out of their property. If the owner don't want to leash the dog then it should fence the property in order to contain the animal.
Dogs have teeth, they use it to bite and sometimes they bite what they should not and the owner ends up in a mess way bigger than what you seem to be now.
I have been bitten and harassed by loose dogs before. Neither is a beautiful experience. I wish owners that cannot control their pets would get fined or have their pet removed. This is not a personal attack to you or anyone else. It is just the way I feel about unrestrained dogs and their owners. Remember, the dog owner seldom get bitten from his dog, is always someone else.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Do you let your dogs or dog run loose?

we have leash laws here, dogs raise together will pack up, when out hunting. you never know what your dog is doing, out of site. just like a kid. they are a responsibilty. my dad keep deer hounds, he had a very large kennel for them that he cleaned every evening. and let them run in a 1 acre enclosure.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Do you let your dogs or dog run loose?

Best bet is to keep an eye on yours so nobody will poison them or do something stupid.

There would be retaliation from me if my dogs were ever poisoned. The worst thing is there are allot of ways to poison an animal, cotton loaded with black grease, antifreeze and a whole lot of other ways. This relative in question, his dogs have actually came over and attacked my german shepard, the shepard actually ran. I guess I would to if I had a bunch of ankle biters coming after me.

Wildmaninal, I have been in a similar situation, but I was in the other end. I don't think that anyone should let their dogs get out of their property. If the owner don't want to leash the dog then it should fence the property in order to contain the animal.
Dogs have teeth, they use it to bite and sometimes they bite what they should not and the owner ends up in a mess way bigger than what you seem to be now.
I have been bitten and harassed by loose dogs before. Neither is a beautiful experience. I wish owners that cannot control their pets would get fined or have their pet removed. This is not a personal attack to you or anyone else. It is just the way I feel about unrestrained dogs and their owners. Remember, the dog owner seldom get bitten from his dog, is always someone else.

I hear ya Nandy. My brother moved up in the middle of no where 10 years ago or so and his dog had the run of the whole area, until he had a bunch of people move in around him. When that happened his dog came up shot at one time, beaten another time, and poisoned another time. Now he keeps him on a runner. I don't want to do that to my dogs, although my mother suggested that I put the runner up on the side of the land right next to the relative in question and dare his mutts to come across our property.

Tashasdaddy

I agree that there is no telling what they are up to at night, but most of the time they are inside at night or outside barking at and chasing deer or something. The worst thing is my dogs wouldn't know how to act on a runner or chain. I'm sort of in the same situation my brother is in now with his dog. I just wished the person in question would have confronted us about the ordeal instead of going to the law about it. I just hope my father keeps his cool and doesn't get put in jail tomorrow when he goes to confront this relative.

 

[mudmagnet63]

Re: Do you let your dogs or dog run loose?

Mine runs free out on the farm but the neighbors know a pepperin on the butt with a shotgun will send them runnin home. If their caught doin somethin they shouldnt such as chasing cattle. standing rule put the dog down. Dog fight's are going to happen, sounds like the relatives are spolin for a fight.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Do you let your dogs or dog run loose?

Leash law here, my dog knows his property lines if he gets loose. $125 dollars for doggie jail and $100 for breaking the leash law. Plus it is a liability on my part if the dog bites, scratches, chews, slobbers, or destroys anyones property. I wish cats would be treated the same way

My yard isn't fenced in, but Keeper has a 350' dog run with a 30' lead chain. He has plenty of room to run. It gives him freedom to mingle and chase other animals.

 

[Caveman Charlie]

Re: Do you let your dogs or dog run loose?

only let my present dog run free when I'm outside so I know and can check once and awhile that he is nearby. He knows his area and I do not have any problems with him running off but, I want to be sure. My last dog was a lot smarter then this one. I never worried about him at all. If I came home and he was missing it meant one of the neighbor kids stopped over on the way to the pond and took him swimming. I really miss that old dog beyond belief.

My neighbors dogs used to come over once and awhile. I'd just yell at them and they would go back home. I'm with you. You neighbors should have contacted you first. Cops are for murder and stuff like that. The rest of the time we should be willing to talk to out neighbors and work things out with them. It's too bad we have become a society where we dial 911 for every thing. It was suppose to have been for emergency only. But, it has become so misused and the cops seem to like it that way. Gives them something to do I guess. Your neighbors are just doing what everyone does these days. Calling the police else to solve every problem for them. Get used to it. That's how it is now. Nobody works anything out for themselves anymore. We expect the government to do every thing and wipe out a** for us too.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Do you let your dogs or dog run loose?

This same relative also had the cops come out to fill out a complaint or report when my 63 year old father was bush hogging and the bush hog just so happen to throw a rock through the back window of one of the relatives' friend's vehicle that was parked on his land. And this was after my father done said that he would take care of the damage . This relative also started a verbal fight with my father after the accident happened.

I know one thing I would love for him to come up and say something to me about this dog fight ordeal now if he is the one that called the cops. I'm pretty sure it is this relative. Everybody else keeps there dog inside at night or pinned up.

OK had to do it here are the culprits

 

[JCF350]

Re: Do you let your dogs or dog run loose?

On my place I keep them fenced, not to keep them in but to keep the Gators out. Orange Lake has more of them than you can shake a stick at and four of the top ten in size (FWC records) came from this lake.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Do you let your dogs or dog run loose?

On my place I keep them fenced, not to keep them in but to keep the Gators out. Orange Lake has more of them than you can shake a stick at and four of the top ten in size (FWC records) came from this lake.

I'm glad I don't have neighbors like that with them sharp teeth , they might as well have sharp teeth though to go along with the evil attitude.

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Do you let your dogs or dog run loose?

My akita stays in a fenced yard and she sleeps inside at night. The solution to the problem your neighbors have would be a capture cage. That way there will be NO question about which dog did this or that at a certain time at a certain place.......Once captured the local pound will handle the issue. I say never hurt an animal unless you plan to eat it. and this isnt KOREA

 

[woodrat]

Re: Do you let your dogs or dog run loose?

interesting topic. I have shot three dogs for killing sheep in two different episodes. The law in this state is pretty much totally on the side of the livestock owner in this instance. One of the dogs was a repeat offender and i wasn't going to give the other two a chance at an encore performance.

The damage even just two dogs can do in a short amount of time is tremendous.

My dog is tied up whenever I am away from the house, and he does a good job of staying right here by the house and shop when he is untied and I am home. If he was caught klling stock I would shoot him myself, because a stock killing dog never drops that habit.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Do you let your dogs or dog run loose?

I have a kennel for the Rotts and the JRs are in the house.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Do you let your dogs or dog run loose?

The solution to the problem your neighbors have would be a capture cage. That way there will be NO question about which dog did this or that at a certain time at a certain place.......Once captured the local pound will handle the issue. I say never hurt an animal unless you plan to eat it. and this isnt KOREA

I wish that was a possibility but our neighbor is gun happy and if it isn't the relative I have in mind, still all our neighbors are gun happy .

interesting topic. I have shot three dogs for killing sheep in two different episodes. The law in this state is pretty much totally on the side of the livestock owner in this instance. One of the dogs was a repeat offender and i wasn't going to give the other two a chance at an encore performance.
The damage even just two dogs can do in a short amount of time is tremendous.
My dog is tied up whenever I am away from the house, and he does a good job of staying right here by the house and shop when he is untied and I am home. If he was caught klling stock I would shoot him myself, because a stock killing dog never drops that habit.

I don't know if I totally agree with you on this woodrat because you have other animals like fox, coyote, and more that can get through the fence as well. Do you have an electric fence? This is something my brother did when he fenced in his pasture to keep out the wild animals. Of course I know if you have a bunch of land fenced in that would mean allot of wire. Obviously you must have problems with other wild animals contributing to your lose of sheep. I'm not rooting for the dogs by any means but there should be a way to keep the dogs and wild animals out of that area that contains the sheep. You can't be around to protect them 24/7.

SBN

I know them Rotts are only mean if you raise them to be mean. My brother's neighbor has 2 rotts he keeps in the pasture with his horses at times but mostly he keeps them pinned up in an old chicken house. I believe they got loose one time but didn't threaten anything or anybody. This really ruins my plans on getting a Jack Russel that I would like to get.

 

[dave11]

Re: Do you let your dogs or dog run loose?

We moved into town a few years ago, and I now go out with the dogs. They are never on a leash unless we are at a motel. When we lived in the country, our property backed up to an indian reservation. We had literally millions of acres out our back door. I would let the dogs run loose during the day. At night I would go out with them to keep them from being a coyote snack.

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Do you let your dogs or dog run loose?

My akita stays in a fenced yard and she sleeps inside at night. The solution to the problem your neighbors have would be a capture cage. That way there will be NO question about which dog did this or that at a certain time at a certain place.......Once captured the local pound will handle the issue. I say never hurt an animal unless you plan to eat it. and this isnt KOREA

Broaden your horizon's, try new cuisines.

I hear it tastes like chicken.

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Do you let your dogs or dog run loose?

a stock killing dog never drops that habit.

Very true. I had my last dog put down because it killed my chickens on two separate occasions (plus my wife was pregnant and after that I felt I could never trust him around my newborn son). Of course I tried to find someone to take him first, and then tried to get the adoption center we got him from to re-adopt him out, but they wouldn't because of his killing history (they were the ones that ultimately put him down).