I stand corrected, here's the law:

Sumter County Code 4-10 - All dogs must be confined on the owner's property at all times or under direct control or on a leash when off the owner's property.


It's still scary seeing a 200 pound dog who's head is as high as my shoulders standing 20' away from the roadway I'm walking and no one is around.

True :)

According to the law, there is no law which states an owner's dog cannot be unleashed on his own property.

Never met a Great Dane with an ounce of menace in him. I think the size puts people off. But they don't even look scary.

Everyone has a different history with animals, and what works for you might not work for someone else. When I was 6 years old I was at my neighbors playing with their children. We were on top of a dump truck that belonged to their father.

A large German Shepherd just like the one in the photo below showed up out of nowhere. The dog started circling the dump truck and everytime someone tried to get down, the dog would run and jump up on the side of the truck. We were all yelling for someone to come help, but no one came.

Finally after about half an hour or so the dog went away. I needed to go home, so I jumped down and headed for my yard. Out of the side of my eye I could see the dog running at me, I started running and just when I got to the chain link fence between our yards and I had to jump over, the dog bit me on the back of my leg and tore my pants.

My dad came out and the dog was gone. He started asking the neighbors if they knew who owned the dog. No one knew or had seen the dog before. I had to go to the doctors office and get rabies shots. It was 21 shots with a long needle in stomach. This went on for weeks. So now, for some odd reason, when I see a large dog not on a leash, even ones that appear friendly, I head a different way as quick as I can.

https://www.outlookindia.com/public/...gu_630_630.jpg

I get what you're saying. I had a similar experience with a Boxer when I was in elementary school. Fortunately, we were able to contact the owner and ascertain that it didn't have rabies.

When I was in kindergarten, a boxer lived across the street. I had nightmares about that dog getting out and coming over to our house.

Certain breeds are protective. Even small dogs of the protective variety, you should never approach when they're on their property.

My friend's son's Rottie, even though I could enter his house, walk and feed him, and he considered me to be "in his pack," became mildly distressed if I were positioned between him and his owner. Needless to say, I respected that.

We installed an electric fence for a dog in January it’s been the best thing we ever did. He enjoys running around the yard and I feel safe that he cannot leave the yard

7 year resident
 

The Villages is currently building designer homes in Fenney with privacy fences around the back yard. This seems to be a good solution for dog owners. They are called Verandas.

THE electric fences sometimes work although rambunctious dogs hig spirited ones typically will break through. I personnally feel the fences are evil. A dog gets zapped ad they get too close to the border. I have not and never would use one. Having had dogs our entire live. I feel they are cruel and not 100% painfree

Electric fences absolutely work. Your dog will, most likely, avoid getting shocked and stay within the boundary of your yard. BUT,....the negative affect on your dog is not worth it, in my opinion. How can your dog remain calm and relaxed knowing that he/she is trapped within this space? Your dog will know that it is confined. Yet, anyone, dog, or predator is able to cross the boundary. This makes it unsafe for your dog. What if a loose dog or predator enters your yard? How can your dog escape from being attacked? It can't. So, many times dogs will become reactive and increase barking and lunging behavior to prevent scary things from coming into it's space, and who can blame them for this. What happens if your dog happens to get through the fence and a good meaning neighbor brings your dog back. The dog keeps getting shocked. Do some research before considering this option. If you want your dog to be in a calm frame of mind then, please, consider your options carefully. I don't know if TV allows underground fences as we are new homeowners and are relocating in October. Can't help you there.

Not Wise
 

Not very realistic. Sooner or later your 'trained' dog will be tempted by some event that will overcome the training and have him/her running loose.

If you properly train your dog they work great.

There's always the exception - I met two great danes that had to be put down because of their vicious attack on a person. And no the person was not trespassing or threating the owner etc etc. Never say never. It seems that every time there is an incident the owner always declares "Gee I can't believe it, he/she has never done this before".