We definitely need leashes in certain circumstances. But on trails etc. they always come back to the pack. I think some breeds (particularly scent hounds) can’t be trusted off leash almost ever unless trained very hard. But we’ve been lucky. 1/5
Zoe needed to be on leash a lot for a long time, but she has mellowed wonderfully. Pippa grew up off leash in Alaska and has never learned (despite much effort on our part) to not choke herself pulling too hard.2/5
Part of it is that my wife grew up I. Alaska where leashes were uncommon and reserved for airports and vet visits. 3/5
But part of it is that we were incredibly spoiled by Cosmo the Wonderdog (pictured left). He could walk off leash through busy parts of DC. He knew — on his own — to wait at the curb until there was no traffic and we told him it was okay to cross. 4/5
We’ve been working to recreate Cosmoness in our dogs. It’s been hard. But it’s useful to have an ideal. 5/5
