I’ve seen Instagram reels recently with this audio that opens by asking if we can normalize seeing adventure dogs on leashes.
As someone who cares very deeply about responsible leash stuff and about biological fulfillment (ie the good intentions behind the “let dogs be dogs” mantra) I had too many thoughts to fit in a reel caption or story share of my own. So to the no-character-limit blog it is!
Can dogs have fun and feel fulfilled on leash?
My first gut reaction to these reels is “heck yes”. Dogs absolutely can have amazing adventures while still on some sort of tether! So many things go into their individual experiences:
- Counterconditioning and desensitization, if needed, to the sensation of being on a leash
- Training to make leash walking less frustrating for both dog and handler
- Different leash types and lengths (like long lines and retractables)
And I think it’s completely remiss when people act like the only way for a dog to have a good time is to be running free.
Is being off leash more fulfilling than being on leash?
Okay, so “leashed” does not automatically equal “having a bad time”. But is it inevitable that an off-leash dog has more fun than their on-leash counterparts? Many people in the comments of these popular reels had capital-S Strong feelings that they do.
Here I give my very favorite (and almost always accurate, even if it’s a cliche) answer: It depends.
I’m a huge advocate of leashing our dogs in environments where it’s required. I’ve seen firsthand how many incredible experiences Scout’s had while attached to me. And I’ve been thrilled to frolic with her off leash. All these things can be true at once!
Again, many things go into our dogs’ experiences:
- Their specific breed & individual traits, instincts and preferences. Some domestic dogs have been selected, especially in recent generations, for companionship more than anything else. (I’m thinking of several toy breeds.) Some retain more of a “natural” desire to roam. While all dogs deserve us to honor their canine nature (more on that next) I truly think certain pets couldn’t care less if they ever spend significant time off leash and others would go pretty crazy if they never had the opportunity.
- How else we fulfill them. Off-leash time, where dogs can freely move their bodies, is incredible. You’ll never hear me deny that! I also don’t think it’s the only great way to satisfy our canines — and that its impact depends, at least in part, on what the rest of their lives look like. Is an adventure dog who trots ahead off leash really living a very truly significantly better life than one who’s wearing a comfortable collar or harness and leash attachment? You’d be hard pressed to convince me, provided their needs are being regularly met in other fulfilling ways.
Scout personally seems equally happy to engage in a game of tug with us while on a standard leash or flexi as she is while completely naked, for example. And tug is one of her favorite things in the world, so it has a huge influence on her joy in a given day!
Of course there are certain situations where her being off leash improves everyone’s experience — but there are other times where it really doesn’t affect much at all. Nuance as always.
Plus… it isn’t only about our own dogs’ fulfillment
I perceive one of this reel audio’s core goals as emphasizing that leash rules exist for good reason in many environments and that it’s simply respectful to follow them. This resonates with me.
Many of my thoughts about off-leash dogs, particularly in on-leash areas, come from scary experiences we’ve had while out in the world with Scout. She’s afraid of unknown animals approaching her (especially at full speed). And although we’ve made incredible progress, a bad encounter can still set us back quite a ways when it comes to her confidence and our trust.
I also have friends and family members who are afraid of dogs (multiple after being bitten). I care about sensitive plants and wildlife. It’s important to me to do my part to keep pet-friendly environments open to our companions instead of being one of the reasons they decide to ban dogs completely (something we learned has happened at many beaches when we lived in Florida).
Are there environments where it’s perfectly appropriate for dogs to be off leash? Absolutely. We love so many of the United States’ public lands for this reason!
But no matter where we are, my own dog’s fulfillment is never the only consideration when I’m thinking about whether or not I should let her off leash. And I never want it to be.
Ultimately: It’s not all or nothing!
At the end of the day I quite would like to see us normalizing seeing adventure dogs on leash. I’d also like to see us prioritizing the training required to be able to responsibly let our dogs run free when the environment is ripe for it. In my perfect world we have both on- and off-leash spaces — and people & pets can safely coexist in all of them.
I think so many of the comments on these reels got under my skin because they assumed a black-and-white, mutually exclusive stance. “Normalizing adventure dogs on leashes” does not mean “never fulfilling our dogs”. Vice versa: “Prioritizing fulfillment and off-leash time” does not have to equate to “being disrespectful in shared environments”.
If you’ve followed along with us for really any amount of time, you know this already. If you’re new here: Welcome! We are not about all-or-nothing attitudes. 😁
