A Rant About Dogs

First off...I love dogs.

I grew up with dogs. Mike grew up with dogs. Someday, when our schedules settle down, I want Little P to grow up with a dog. When we fenced in our backyard Mike and I both commented on how it would be perfect for a dog. I've already started researching breeds (I really like Keeshonden, and need to read up more on Clumber Spaniels) and would love to get one from breed rescue, but I'm also considering just letting the Wisconsin Humane Society find us a good dog.

I adore dogs.

However...I don't always like dog owners. There are a lot of dog owners in our neighborhood and while some owners are caring, responsible people I also see teenagers and college kids who are too cool to carry a poop bag, twenty and thirty year old hipsters who think that their dog doesn't need to be leashed, and older owners who have lived in the neighborhood for twenty years and pretty much can do whatever they want.

My biggest complaint is people who let their dog off-leash. There's a park in our neighborhood that doesn't allow dogs. People bring them anyway - I understand that. It's a beautiful little park and if you're out walking anyway it's easy to just cut through the park without thinking. But several times I've seen people who have their dogs off-leash and let them just run around. This is a problem for a few reasons.

1. It's not a big park. It's less than a city block, has no fences, and is bordered by streets. A dog could easily take off after a squirrel and get hit.

2. Just because you think your dog is okay off-leash doesn't mean that I know he's okay. I've had P in the park a few times now where I've had to get closer to him or even leave because someone was letting their dog barrel around. I have no idea if your dog is good with toddlers, but I'm not going to wait around and find out.

3. Dogs need to run around. I know this. That's why Milwaukee has dog parks. That is an appropriate place to bring your dog to play. A tiny, unfenced park in the middle of the city is not appropriate. And just letting your dog wander down the sidewalk with you is especially inappropriate.

4. No amount of training will make your dog 100% reliable. My mom's dog is beautifully trained and has earned titles in obedience, drafting, and tracking. However, every once in a while the temptation to take off after a deer, a crane, or a rabbit is too much and she runs off. This is not as much of a problem at my parents' house, which has four acres of yard that borders on countless acres of farm fields and hunting preserves. It's more of a problem in the city.

I don't understand why people just let their dogs wander around. Buy a leash and clip it to your dog. Seriously, it's not that big of a deal.