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soupkitchen89 t1_j0yi56m wrote

hello! before responding to your post, i wanted to just get an idea of what I was getting into and I saw this: https://www.reddit.com/r/vermont/comments/zpy75b/dog_areas_in_vermont/j0x28r8/

I live in an area where lots of people walk their dogs without a leash. I have also heard many dog fights and arguments because the unleashed dog approached a leashed dog who has anxiety about being approached, or otherwise has problems with meeting dogs. In 100% of these scenarios, it is the fault of the unleashed dog owner not having 100% control of their dog. People rehabilitate rescues, they are training their puppies- there's many reasons someone may be walking their dog and should not be approached.

I would love for my dog to be off leash all the time. I really would, I think he deserves to run free and chase squirrels and sniff anything he wants. However I keep him on the leash because it's the right thing to do for him and especially for other dog and dog owners.

My only request is that you are certain that your dog will ALWAYS return when you call them, 100% of the time with zero exceptions. Because if they approach the wrong dog, you will absolutely be the "asshole dog owner" you speak of.

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Internal-Fudge8578 OP t1_j0yy019 wrote

It’s worth noting that this is a neighborhood trail on my friends land, not a public trail

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ais72 t1_j0ysac7 wrote

100%!!! I love dogs and frankly am envious of people who can trust their dogs off leash. (I have a small huntress who has fabulous recall UNLESS there are rodents involved so she lost her off leash privileges.) She has had a few scary interactions with other dogs so doesn’t like when strange off leash dogs approach her… and yet when owners can’t keep their dog away from mine and she reacts they act like WE are in the wrong rather than THEM for allowing their dog to approach us unwelcome in the first place. (Cross country skier with your black lab, I’m looking at you 👀)

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