Why Do Dog Leash Laws Matter?

Watching your dog run free and just “be a dog” is one of the best sights in the whole world. Sometimes it feels like leash laws just plain suck. I get it!

It’s tempting to take a look around, see that it’s not too crowded, and unclip your dog anyway. I mean, what’s the worst that can happen?

Well, unfortunately… a lot.

I’m here to tell you, one dog person to another, that the legislative intent of leash laws really does matter. Here are some reasons why — and a few alternatives to explore instead of completely violating the rules.

Leash laws protect wildlife

One of the most common reasons leashes are often required on hiking trails, beaches, or in other natural areas is to protect wildlife.

Even a well-behaved dog staying within visual range of his or her owner can disrupt sensitive animals or endangered plant species as they venture off of the beaten path.

As Scout and I now live in Florida, we find this particularly relevant. Sea turtles rely on humans being responsible stewards of the land simply to survive — and even if your dog has perfect recall, they can still cause a disturbance before you’re able to realize and step in.

The following Instagram post shows some powerful data about how dogs can impact wildlife. (The account itself, @publiclandshateyou, can be a bit brash for my own tastes. But I think we can all get behind the message of protecting our nation’s natural wonders.)

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A post shared by OUR PUBLIC LANDS HATE YOU (@publiclandshateyou) on May 19, 2019 at 3:33pm PDT

And this next post shows a specific wildlife encounter we had on Cocoa Beach — we saw baby sea turtles! Not only are the videos incredibly adorable, but I also share some thoughts on why I was particularly thankful we didn’t violate leash laws this morning.

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A post shared by Scout and Haley (@paws.andreflect)

Leash laws help those who are afraid of dogs

Another reason leashes are often required in public places is to ensure that everyone can enjoy a comfortable experience while out and about.

As hard as it is for a dog-obsessed person like myself to swallow, the truth is that not everybody likes dogs — and that’s okay. Negative past experiences can give canines a bad reputation for extremely valid reason. Some people have been bitten or watched their loved ones get bitten — and many have sadly never experienced a truly respectful, well-behaved dog to round out their opinion.

As much as I believe in facing and conquering our fears, I would never force someone to deal with my dog without their consent.

“But my dog is well behaved and stays by my side!”

I hear this a lot — and I get it!

The argument that it’s okay if your dog is off leash in a leashed area because his recall is flawless and you never let him approach strangers makes sense on the surface. But it doesn’t always work in practice.

I personally know people who are so afraid of canines that if they see a dog off leash up ahead in the distance, they will simply turn and leave whatever park or trail they’re visiting. The saddest thing is that they specifically go out of their way to select leashed recreational areas just to avoid this very possibility.

From far away, it’s impossible for other trail users to tell if your dog is under control or if it will bolt and charge when they get closer. Many people (myself included) aren’t willing to take that risk in the first place… and even the most well-behaved dog can ruin a recreational experience when they’re off leash where they shouldn’t be.

Leash laws protect other dogs

Here’s a sometimes-tough reality: Just because your dog loves saying hi to every person and animal under the sun doesn’t mean everyone else’s pets feel the same way — or that they should!

Even the friendliest dog in the world can start a dog fight or set an owner months back in their training by approaching uninvited. For dogs who are afraid of other dogs (perhaps after being undersocialized or suffering a previous attack) an unwelcome interaction can have drastic consequences.

Whenever I take Scout somewhere new, I diligently check the leash laws before we go. I call ahead to businesses and confirm that they enforce their policies. I read reviews from other owners to gauge whether or not folks regularly follow the rules.

I do everything in my power to set us up for success. But I can’t control everything.

When we are rushed by off-leash dogs, I’m put in an awful position of needing to defend Scout and protect her faith in me while also navigating the extremely awkward human-to-human interaction that’s sure to follow. I’ve been forced to kick dogs before. It never feels good. What dog lover wants to have to physically force away a member of their favorite species?

Scout and I primarily go to areas with leash laws precisely because we don’t want to be greeted by strange dogs. She is always under control in public. We train daily to be respectful members of society. We deserve to enjoy our parks, trails, and beaches just as much as everyone with an over-the-top social dog does!

Leash laws keep your dog safe

Beyond protecting other dogs and owners (especially those that are in training for insecurity or reactivity), leashes also keep your dog safe.

Flukes happen. Even the most reliable dog can blow off their recall or bolt into the surrounding wilderness when things hit the fan.

Often, leash laws are in place because natural dangers (like rip currents, unseen cliffs, poisonous plants, and more) exist in the nearby area.

What’s more? In areas with leash laws, it is often legal for other land users to defend themselves from off-leash dogs in some seemingly drastic ways.

I know of one case in particular where an off-leash dog charged a man who then stabbed it with his pocket knife — and it was decided that he acted completely within his legal rights. The owners (very fairly!) wanted to be angry, but the sad truth is that they only had themselves to blame.

You can completely avoid this possibility by keeping your dog leashed and under control when it’s required.

Leash laws enable public areas to stay dog friendly

All of this adds up to one of my most passionate conclusions: If we want our favorite dog-friendly locations to stay dog friendly, the best thing we can do is follow the rules.

I know it’s tedious sometimes. But the reality is that dog owners who blatantly violate leash laws or other posted notices can quickly ruin it for the rest of us.

Entire beaches have gone from allowing leashed dogs to banning all canines entirely because folks couldn’t follow the rules. Hiking trails have set up cameras to count the number of off-leash offenders, and they’ve shut down when the violations become too many.

Every day, countless community members in towns across the country petition to close off their public areas from dogs — and when we go out there and don’t follow the guidelines, we only add fuel to their flame.

I certainly don’t want to be one of the folks responsible for taking away the amazing privilege of sharing natural wonders with our dogs!

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A post shared by Scout and Haley (@paws.andreflect)

Some alternatives to fully violating leash laws

Thankfully, there are several alternatives to completely violating leash laws. It might feel a bit more complicated at times, but I firmly believe the respect you’re showing to the public — especially to other dog owners who love their pets just as much as you do — is well worth it.

Instead of letting your dog off leash in on-leash areas, try:

Using a long line

Some areas have leash length requirements in their rules. Others don’t. In any case, some sort of tether is better than nothing. (I’m a proponent of honoring the legislative intent of leash laws rather than fixating on exact verbiage.)

You can get lightweight long lines that are as long as 50 or 100 feet pretty cheaply off of Amazon, from your favorite pet store, or a range of cute custom collar shops. With a bit of practice learning how to handle the length, you and your dog can enjoy open spaces legally and safely.

Using a retractable or flexi lead

Retractable leads get a bad rap in the dog world because owners often misuse them (have you ever been charged by a little dog running what seems like miles ahead of their owner?) — but in the right hands, they are amazing tools. Jay Jack has some great information on how you can actually teach loose-leash walking manners and boost engagement around distractions with a flexi!

This is one of my go-tos if I want to give Scout more freedom but also make it clear to everyone around us that we’re in control and respecting the rules. You can read more about how we use ours here!

Renting a private dog park or field

As more and more conscientious dog owners realize the dangers of the traditional dog park, private off-leash options rise in popularity. You can look for a space to rent on sites like Sniffspot or even reach out to local community members to see if private landowners might let you use some of their property at designated times!

Heading to a designated off-leash area

Off-leash areas exist precisely so that dogs can have a space to run freely without disrupting the general public. Some of them are classic dog parks, which I personally avoid — but others are hiking trails, massive fields, or even entire park systems.

Check rules online and read reviews from past owners to get a sense of what you’re getting into, then have some fun together!

Together, we can keep dog-friendly areas open

As tempting as it is to let your dog gallop across the public beach or around your local park, I can say firsthand how much other users of those public spaces appreciate you being a responsible owner and positive ambassador for the species.

Happy owning, happy playing, happy leashing!