Quote:
Originally Posted by photon
Quoting the most reasonable and correct response in case everyone gets distracted by the awesome dog picture.
I think this is it perfectly.
Desensitization (what you describe as introducing in a calm safe environment) is indeed a good way to go about it, however a random encounter on the street with off-leash strange dogs in an area where a leash is expected is NOT that environment, and desensitization isn't just that easy. For some kids with some things it takes a long time, or maybe some kid they haven't started it yet, hence the law that covers for all circumstances.. dogs in an area where everyone expects the dogs to be on a leash should be on a leash.
Then a parent could begin the process by going out with a kid walking around the neighbourhood with the dogs safely leashed to start to get used to the dogs.
Johnny jumped off a bridge so I did too is never a reasonable position.
Since you don't know who could be on the street at any given time you have no way of knowing if it would bother someone, I think Cowperson's position is the correct one and the considerate one, especially to kids.
Don't be an ass.
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My point with introducing the child in a calm safe enviroment was seperate advice from the incident. I was suggesting that had this occured, maybe this this is very much a non-incident.
I have a very irrational fear of flying. I have learned to deal with it by learning as much as I can, and making myself fly often. My fear is still there, but I have learned to deal with it.
As for the law breaking, I was merely pointing out that everyone will pick and chose what they want to follow. To say I am proclaiming myself as Ghandi was extreme...hate to quote an obvious one but "let he who is without sin cast the first stone"
Noted about you may not know who is on the street. I have not looked at it that way. Maybe due to the small size of my dog, I have not really given it much thought. I have never once in 16 years and two dogs ever had an incident where someone appeared scared. I also think I am a very responsible dog owner and would never allow my dog to run up to someone. My dog is good nature and mellow. I live in mission and my parents live in Varsity. I would never allow my dog off lease in Mission, but in Varsity it is a VERY friendly dog community along the gully.