Do you think it is cruel not to let the dog of the lead?

[luckylady]

I have an American Akita and as a rule all breeders etc say not to let them of the lead when out. I don't but my Aunty thinks I am being cruel to the dog by not letting her of the lead.

I personally think that as long as she gets plenty of excersise then what is the problem. Due tot he heat out here she is only walked once a day at night for 40mins, just before bed. Once the sun has gone down and it cools we play with her in the garden playfighting and throwing her toys around.

Am I being cruel?

I think that it would be very sad never to be able to let a dog off the lead, as it will never be free. For a big dog, playing at home or in the garden is not going to provide sufficient exercise, and one walk a day is not enough (I am guessing from your post that you usually do walk her more often).

I would agree with other posters that I would never wish to own a dog from a breed that is known to be agressive, especially if they are large and hard to control. I would be very sad to have to worry - one of the greatest pleasures of our family dogs was to watch them persuade children / old ladies on benches to throw sticks and balls. My dd adores dogs, and it is a struggle to stop her from petting any dog she meets. I really wish that I didn't have to say that she must always ask the owner, and never pat dogs that a tied up outside shops etc.

I know that the potential is there for many dogs to behave unpredictably, but a big dog will do a lot more damage than a small one, and dogs that are bred to kill are much more likely to do so (I'm including Jack Russels here!). For the record not all dogs are even particularly interested in cats, as they don't all have that hunter instinct. My mothers current dog (bit of a mut really) tries to play with our cats, much to their irritation!

On the other hand my son was bitten by a collie cross the other day (enough to bruise). I think that he wasn't trained well enough, and that all dog owners should have to do at least basic level dog training.

No - by all means you take your dog off the lead if you feel that you know better than the breeders, BUT make sure it doesn't come with 10 feet of me or my kids, and do not expect me to pat it, play with it, admire it or whatever, OK?

I had a lurcher who was a devil for cats. He killed three and injured another. These were cats that got into the garden when he was outside. Lurchers are bred to chase and kill running things which in our dogs case included cars and bicycles. He was never allowed off the lead in public. However I did feel that I could not muzzle him when he was in the garden just because irresposible cat owners let their cats use our garden as a toilet.

We sent him to live with my MIL when ds started toddling because he was just too unpredictable. He now lives with a huge garden and regularly brings down rabbits, moles, pheasants etc and lives the life of riley.

I don't see how an average sized person would be able to handle a huge dog like an akita if it decided to go mental. One of the mums at playgroup has one and insists on bringing it inside the church hall full of screaming toddlers at pick up time. I think she is nuts and completely irresponsible.

, triceratops!

I think I'd complain to that playgroup organiser. I'm forever shocked at peoples' lack of concern for others and irresponsibility.

Ds's head had to officially ban parents bringing their dogs in to the playground at pickup time as a few dogs were let off to go mad running round.

FFS and here I was thinking personal responsibility is one of the greatest things you can teach your children, right next to concern for others, as we live, after all, in a society.

tbh - where cat's are concerned I think a proportion if it has to be downb to the cat owener - exmple I was at work last wek the back door was open (DH was home) bear in mind I ahve two dogs so it's their house, and a cat blatently walked into our house into the front room and then wondered why the dog chased him out - yes my dogs shouldn't necessariltty have chased it but the cat was in their house, when we get them in the garden they do the same thing, (luckily our two have never caught one) althou they have tried once or twice, only when cat's have been in the garden I must say thou. perhaps cat owners should as well think about where their cat's go (althou I understand a cat can't harm a child)

and as for the lead thingy - well for me it's simple if we're up at tthe park (as we term it really it's just a huge field) and there's other dogs within in our two's running off capabilitys they're on leads if children are about we don't walk them / do on their leads, if the men are playing footie/cricket on any part we don't walk them, mainly as I don't want to have on my concious one of my dogs harming a child (and with the footie thing if the dog got the ball they wouldn't get it back) but as we have a GSD and a staffy - neither I might point out has ever made any inclint to harm a child I personally think it's safer all around if I know i'm in control of my dogs when they'res children around.

and don't even go there with ppl who leave doggie poop all over parks where children/men play foot ball.

Lucklady - iI though I'd add my support to you. You seem to be responsible owner, who understands the obligations of being an Akita owner - and a parent.

And I speak as a "cat" person, who has spent most of her life being scared of dogs, but who has learnt - through her dog loving best friend - to at least tolerate dogs and not freeze (as long as they don't jump up at me!).

And BTW - some people don't seem to have undertood that one cat was woned by the friends who said that they could cope, and who refused your offer to pay the full vet fees, and the other cat was a feral cat (ie wild)(of which there are many in Greece), so has no owner. The incidents were sad, but these things happen. In the same way, my cats catch birds and mice - it's their instinct.

And you always make sure that the Akita knows its place, and isn't allowed near kids supervised - you're doing all the rgiht things.

Enjoy your pet! She sounds lovely (as much as any dog can! )

Thank you Pretty bird- you have understood my aim of my post and appreciated what I have said. Your post was much appreciated.

Paolosgirl- you did not read my post properly by your comments. I DO NOT want to take my dog out on the lead. I was asking if people think I am being cruel by only walking her. I do not want people to admire my dog etc as we walk down the street. I certainly do not know more than the breeders. Whom I am in contact with all the time. What was the OK about!!! No need for it realy..

Nooka- At the moment she is only walked once a day due to the heat out here and to prevent her burning her paws on the pavements. If I were to walk her twice i would have to walk her at about 5am every morning. And genereally even though they are a big dog they do not need a lot of excercise, again I have double checked with my breeders and others if the amount she is getting is ok and all is fine with them, again considering the heat factor. In the winter she will be walked more as she will have more energy etc to work off as the heat will not be tiring her out.

Thank you for those of you who have understood my post and answered constructivkle either way... It is appreciated.

LL - we're in the UK and ours only go out once which is about 7.30-8pm ish when it's v mild never take em out druing the day - it's not worht them getting so dehydrated.

Lucky - your post asks if we think you're being cruel by not letting her off the lead - and the answer is pretty obvious. No - it's not cruel, it's necessary, according to the breeders.
What exactly is your Aunt querying. and why does she think it's appropriate to have an Akita off the lead?

BAck to the original question... I have found this that may help your Aunty see you are not cruel:

"While the Akita's mental environment is important for its own safety and that of other animals, it also needs physical boundaries. The breed never should be allowed off-lead no matter how well-trained. Its innate curiosity motivates it to see what's on the other side of the hill. When it's gone, it's likely to get into trouble hunting other domestic animals, or it may be hit by a car. To prevent escape, a 6-foot-high fence is recommended. "

There is also a lot of info about what to expect Akitas to do different from other dogs, very interesting reading IMO, you can find it in:

www.nylana.org/RRACI/dwindex.htm

akita_link

Chandra and Serah- Thanks for that.

I have told her all that was said in there re walking dog of the lead etc. But she still thinks I am wrong and cruel!! .. It annoys me but i think ( as we are more like sisters only 7yr age gap) that sometimes she just disagrees with me for the sake of it, so that I will argue.

Thanks again everyone.

I think it is best for your dog to be able to run around leedless in a safe place, not around other people, dogs, animals etc. A friend of mine had a fighting dog, not sure of the type but I didnt like the look of it (I'm not a dog person), she lived in the middle of nowhere and used to walk it across the fields where she could guarantee that she would not meet another person or domestic animal. But if your not able to take if for walks in that situation then without a doubt you must keep it on a lead. I'm really not sure what type of dog it is, but if it made a run for it are you able to stop it. I personally cant see the point in having big aggresive fighting dogs but as long as you are sure you can control it in all situations then enjoy your dog.

Lucky Lady - I was just linking Chandras website up - I don't want to steal her praise!!

Jenkel, you've said something there which I think can be the reason why ownership of certain breeds is misunderstood. Your comment that you cant see the point in having big aggresive fighting dogs... most people do not choose a breed of dog because it is a big and aggressive fighter. They choose dogs that have personality traits that suit them and their lifestyles. (I know nothing about Akita traits so I can't comment).

The breeding of any pedigree dog means that the dog has traits which aren't necessarily brought out. Staffordshire Bull Terriers have breeding characteristics which mean they are equipped with the temperament and tools to kill other dogs. That self same breeding means that they must be easily handled by people, making them fantastic dogs around people and children.

I think the worst mistake people make when choosing a dog is to base their decision on its looks without going into breed characteristics and end up with something they can't handle but I don't know anyone that chooses a dog for its aggressive fighting tendencies.

It always makes me smile when I'm out walking my dog and you actually see mothers dragging their children to the other side of the road to avoid my dog, and then start cooing over a westie or a collie! Just shows that alot of people do base their attitudes to dogs on how they look.

Irresponsible owners of any dog ruin it for everyone else I suppose, on so many levels.

Serah, Yes I do agree with what you say. I'm not a dog person and am quite nervous of all dogs, but more of agressive dogs because I believe that they can do more damage. Saying that I have been bitten badly by a Yorkshire terrier and made wonderful friends with a Great Dane. So, its probably more to do with a dogs temperment than the way it looks. But saying that, I will continue to be nervous of all dogs and I think thats the best way to be. I do think that some dogs are bred for their aggessive hunting nature, its in their character and nobody can change that, so those dogs need a little more freedom and allowed to roam in a safe place away from people/children/domestic animals. But the owners are the best people to judge the dogs character.

well our staffy, no word of a lie here was attacked by my MIL's yorkshire terrier when she was 5 months old, my poor dog had a busted nose and looked at me with such sad eyes as if to say I only wanted to say hello and play. the yorkshire terrier took a real big chunk out of her - vicious git. anyhow we've not let them meet again since. by 'right' on dog types thou it should have been the otehr way around. I agree with what ppl say about the breed, I must admit until I had a staff I thought they were all vicious and shouldn't be allowed - but our girl gets on her back every time some one walks in for a tummy rub.

agree thou it's the owner who needs to be resonsible and decided how best to look after their dog, - LL - I don't see anything wrong with how u exercise ur dog.

Absolutely Jenkel - certain breed characteristics are just in certain dogs and you can't take it away - it can however be discouraged/not encouraged. Its honestly not a bad thing to keep a dog on a lead... you can't get a hunting trait out of a dog, so put it in a position where it can't hunt - on a lead! My dog was well socialised as a pup, went to dog training classes and had a great selection of doggy-pals where we used to walk. However, he hit adulthood, and whilst he doesn't start fights, he's a grumpy old bugger, and has the capability to finish anything that starts. I just don't give him the opportunity to become involved!

I used to be absolutely terrified of all dogs too btw.

Munz... my dog has so far been ripped half apart by a german Shepherd when he was a puppy, bitten on the leg by a mongrel, also badly bitten on the nose by a yorkshire terrier (evil b*stards!) roughed up by an Akita (sorry LL - at least she didn't bite him!) attempted murder by a staffy that had clearly been taught to fight, and lost a toenail running from a poodle. You've probably already guessed he's a Staffoo

I knew a chap who's staffy was never ever on a lead - he didn't need to be as he walked or ran to heel. Would walk straight past other dogs without batting an eyelid. Can't do that with mine as he's too bloody nosy so he's leashed.

Oh c'mon guys! yorkies are not that bad! . And if you do your homework and find about the breed you will see that more sites say that as a responsible owner you have to provide training (yes, for Yorkies!). IMO most Yorkies (as Chihuahuas and other small yappy dogs) suffer from a condescending owner who behaves towards them as if they were children (highly amussing for the Yorkie but definitively a recipe for disaster)

Nah, yorkies aren't bad . . . when used as shark bait.

How do you know? Have you eaten one????

No, but I know folks who have . . .

nothing to do with chip shops in Scotland was it Expat???