To Leash or Not to Leash

Writing by Dr. Sarah J. Cutler

Beautiful Northern Westchester is full of parks and nature trails, and one of the great pleasures of taking care of a pet dog is to go for a walk together. Our canine companions benefit from strolling and sniffing, collecting information as they go through their amazing noses. It’s great enrichment for them, great bonding with their people on the other end of the leash, and healthy exercise for all.

Some dogs have fun walking with other canine companions.  They can share the sniffing experiences, greet people or other dogs and help build confidence for a shyer dog. Learn about “reading dog” before automatically letting your dog meet and greet other dogs or making dog walking dates.  Remember that as dogs reach social maturity around two years old, it is normal for them to become more selective about their dog-mates.

Leash walking basics

There are a lot of things that can make leash walking pleasurable and relaxing for everyone, such as keeping the agenda light and letting your pet dog choose the pace and direction of the walk. When you think of it as decompression time, it helps nurture relaxation and resilience with your furry family member.

“Loose leash walking” means no tension on the leash, and if taught properly, it can enhance the walking experience for your dog mentally and physically.  Practice making eye contact with your dog, using voice cues, hand signals, treats or even your own movement– are all preferable versus physical manipulations with the leash itself.    

A safe and secure harness will prevent neck trauma, a common side effect of prong collars and leash popping techniques.  Those methods are linked to long-term physical damage to the trachea, important nerves and vertebrae in the neck.   And, using the leash as a positive connection between you and your dog instead of yanking and choking will build trust and bolster the human-canine relationship.

R+ (positive reinforcement) trainers who keep up with their continuing education. They can help with puppy and adult leash skills in a way that is fun and safe.  

According to the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), the most effective and humane training techniques are reward based.   “The application of aversive methods – which, by definition, rely on application of force, pain, or emotional or physical discomfort – should not be used in canine training or for the treatment of behavioral disorders.”

Dogs need to explore.     

It’s important to provide your dog with opportunities for natural, species-specific behaviors as it greatly impacts their health and well-being. For example, moving, sniffing, snuffling, foraging, digging and chasing are natural behaviors. Being asked to sit or lie down when something highly exciting is not natural. The folks on the other end of the leash can enhance a dog’s daily life by allowing them opportunities for some of these natural behaviors and avoiding situations where their dog may be frustrated or reactive.

Understanding non-preferred behaviors

Many dogs struggle with sensory overload and can respond by lunging, barking or scrambling away while on leash. Humans often perceive this as “unruly” behavior, when in fact, the poor pup is struggling due to loud noises, trucks passing by or the sight of something that is scary (such as another dog, a scooter, a bicycle, etc.). It’s important to set realistic expectations, meet your dog’s needs and seek professional guidance for support if things feel out of control.

The pros and cons of leash walking

Walking on-leash versus off-leash is a subject of interest for many dog owners and in some communities, it can even cause tension between the humans. There are pros and cons of both. 

On-Leash:

1.It’s the law in almost all public settings, except designated “off-leash dog parks.”

2. It’s respectful to people and dogs in your community who don’t enjoy dogs rushing up to them, friendly or not.
3. It’s safe for your dog, other dogs and wildlife. Leashes greatly reduce your dog’s risk of being hit by a car, having an interaction with a wild animal or eating garbage.
4. It can be a beautiful connection between your pet dog and yourself. Your friend can connect with you because of the fun things you do when they are on leash.
5. Enrichment for dogs does not always have to be highly aerobic or exciting. In fact, calmer enrichment activities can be very relaxing and help your dog settle at certain times of the day.
6. It’s cleaner. It’s hard to pick up your dog’s feces when they are off leash. Dog feces can negatively affect nearby water sources, be harmful to fish and increase algae growth.  Ticks will use dog feces to lay eggs, and rats are very attracted to dog feces–it’s considered their primary food source in developed areas.
7. Pitfalls:  Leash walking with poor skills or aversive techniques can result in unpleasant experiences for dogs and their humans. Please seek professional guidance from an educated and certified R+ behaviorist or trainer if you are struggling.

Off-Leash:

1. This is an opportunity for dogs to communicate naturally amongst themselves.
2. When running free, the feeling of having agency and autonomy over their own bodies is enhanced, and this can help build your dog’s resilience.
3. They are free from the possibility of being tugged, yanked, and micro-managed by the individuals on the other end of the leash.
4. Play between dogs and off-leash hikes are excellent aerobic activities that help build strong muscles; they can also tire a dog out, helping them rest back at home.
5. Pitfalls: Play between dogs can escalate to tension and aggression. Many interactions at a typical dog park can result in dogs simply coping or surviving, and not actually being relaxed and happy. It can be hard to tell the difference sometimes. Relationships between dogs are fluid and can change in the span of minutes, days or years depending on their social development and environment.

How to have the best of both worlds

1. Have leashes of varying lengths for different contexts. 
2. Find safe locations where your dog can run, roam and make some choices, but they ultimately remain connected to you. This will keep your dog safe in the event of a car, dog or wild animal. (Also, it’s the law!)  *Caution with retractable leashes-they can cause physical and behavioral concerns!
3. Fence in your yard, or a portion of your yard, with a physical fence so your dog can roam, explore and feel safe and secure in their own home.
4. A “sniff spot” is like an Airbnb for dogs.  You can rent yard space and take your dog for private off leash playing or explorations.
5. If you are visiting off-leash parks and locations, make sure they are wide open and supervise carefully. Give your pet opportunities to “opt out” of interactions and advocate for your dog if they aren’t looking comfortable. If you are an inexperienced dog owner, seek out help to learn “how to read dog” so you can keep your own dog safe. 

Whether you walk your dog on or off leash, a fundamental important safety tip is to have a dependable “recall.” Your dog should always want to come to you when called. You should be the most interesting thing on the planet. High value treats or toys can help with this.

To learn more, search “AVSAB” + “Position Statement on Humane Dog Training” online for their guide. 

To read other Pet Connections articles, click here.

This article was published in the September/October 2024 edition of Connect to Northern Westchester.