Leash Me UP and Lets GO!

Mr. Steve from Puget Sound Puppers walks me

So I was wondering and asking you all.  Why is your beloved four legged friend off his/her leash while you are out and about?  You can be the best, most respected trainer or owner that thinks you have mastered 'all' commands over your dog and that no squirrel, stray noise, bus brake, car honk or cat will distract your best friend?  Wrong jackass...you are putting your animal in dangers way.  I walk a lot of breeds from this little Coton in the heart of downtown Seattle to border Collie's to Samoyed's to a Pit bull and I see you all with dogs off leash thinking you have it mastered.  Wrong again Jackass.

We are off leash 'cause we are home.

The other week I took my family of two of three dogs to a Port of Seattle park for a walk and as soon as my lab saw the water he went berserk, but it was an on leash park so I was hesitant to let him and my golden go, go, go - yes with nobody around  I made it to the water and let 'em go but was still was nervous about a stray noise or such to change there focus. I was at the same park and an owner was running his dog in the water and as I saw them I leashed up mine to avoid any potential...READ IT 'POTENTIAL' conflict and off we went without 'POTENTIAL' conflict.  Recently a dog was hit by a bus in Wallingford which was tragic and it received a lot of conversation on the wally blog, yet, the end result was that the dog was off leash.  When I walk I don't turn blind corners without looking, I am the first to cross over the street to avoid 'POTENTIAL' conflict so my pups and my client's pups can enjoy the time we have together.  At home of course off leash, fenced yard, of course off leash, dog park of course off leash...at the River of course off leash after you hit the trail.  On 81st and Fremont Avenue NO!.  Owner...you don't know how your buddy is going to react as much as you would like to think you do...so leash up.  There is great leash training on the web and of course you can always employ the advise of Trainer Wesley Hawkins at www.pugetsoundpuppers.com so you and your four legged buddy can have years of great walks, smells, pees and poos.  Change your thinking that a leash is a burden, it can be a dogs best friend because it means its time to play!  Check out the article on www.dogstardaily.com and you will be more of a master on leash than off.  Oh, by the way I didn't really mean to call you a 'Jackass.'

This Park is Awesome.  No Leash.

Happy Walking from the Paw Walker!