Dogs left out unleashed

[Boe39]

Is it ok for a dog owner to let there dog out to go to the bathroom unleashed.

[karostay]

Really Dude ?

[FenneyFanatic]

I feel another dog poop thread coming on....

[raynan]

No it's not alright. There was a video of a guy up near Palmer CC that did that and a gator went after the dog. There are hawks and owls that swoop down on small dogs. Don't take the chance.

[Fredman]

As long as they stay in their yard and have an invisible fence i do not see a problem

[Velvet]

Well, perhaps if you have a totally enclosed backyard, and your dogs are 85 pound Rhodesian ridgebacks... maybe.

[Debfrommaine]

Quite often when I walk my dog around, there are loose dogs off leash nearby. The loose dogs then luv to come see my dog who doesn't really want to see them because he's on a leash and they are not. The drama starts but doesn't need if the other dog were leashed or under owner command which is never the case!

[graciegirl]

It is a law or a restriction or a commandment that all dogs here must be on a leash and cats too and horses and pigs and all.

I can't remember if it is a county thing or a state thing but animals must be leashed. Not so with husbands.

[Polar Bear]

Leash laws are by county. There is no State of Florida leash law.

Where I live, if a dog is on owner’s property and under direct control, a leash is not required.

[tophcfa]

As long as they stay in their yard and have an invisible fence i do not see a problem

I see a big problem with that. Invisible fences are not right, shocking a dog is not the right way to train the poor animal. We are positive reinforcement only with our dog. I want to take the owners of the dogs that use invisible fences and put the shock collar on them and drag them to the edge of their property. I am guessing they would not be too happy about that.

[Topspinmo]

I see a big problem with that. Invisible fences are not right, shocking a dog is not the right way to train the poor animal. We are positive reinforcement only with our dog. I want to take the owners of the dogs that use invisible fences and put the shock collar on them and drag them to the edge of their property. I am guessing they would not be too happy about that.

Well, there’s few that would enjoy long lost tingling down the leg :ohdear:

[Debfrommaine]

It is a law or a restriction or a commandment that all dogs here must be on a leash and cats too and horses and pigs and all.

I can't remember if it is a county thing or a state thing but animals must be leashed. Not so with husbands.

I do not want to get too far off topic but Gracie let me tell you I got a dog for my husband, it was a fair trade!

[kcrazorbackfan]

Is it ok for a dog owner to let there dog out to go to the bathroom unleashed.

Yeah, as long as the owner isn't worried about raptors, gators, coyotes or anything else that can kill their pets.

[CFrance]

I see a big problem with that. Invisible fences are not right, shocking a dog is not the right way to train the poor animal. We are positive reinforcement only with our dog. I want to take the owners of the dogs that use invisible fences and put the shock collar on them and drag them to the edge of their property. I am guessing they would not be too happy about that.
Our (first) golden never got shocked with his invisible fence. If the positive training procedure is done correctly, the dog will never get shocked. He will hear a beeping sign that warns him he is close to the fence line, which during training is marked off by a line of flags six feet from the actual fence. So you take the dog, on the leash, up to the flags, hear the beep, turn him around and back off, and reward. It works a treat with retrievers. I don't know about other dogs.


That having been said, I would not use an invisible fence in TV. Too many coyotes and alligators who haven't been "positively" trained.

[suzdief]

I wouldn’t. It’s coyote mating season and they’re definitely here in TV.

[golfing eagles]

Our (first) golden never got shocked with his invisible fence. If the positive training procedure is done correctly, the dog will never get shocked. He will hear a beeping sign that warns him he is close to the fence line, which during training is marked off by a line of flags six feet from the actual fence. So you take the dog, on the leash, up to the flags, hear the beep, turn him around and back off, and reward. It works a treat with retrievers. I don't know about other dogs.


That having been said, I would not use an invisible fence in TV. Too many coyotes and alligators who haven't been "positively" trained.

Absolutely. I've had an invisible fence for 6 years with 2 dogs and neither of them were ever shocked. Also, the system generates a low level shock, I've tested it on my arm. We're not talking electrocution here, and the strength of the shock is adjustable.

[greenflash245]

check the local county ordinance.

[OhioBuckeye]

Is it ok for a dog owner to let there dog out to go to the bathroom unleashed.

Don’t want anybody to get upset with my comment but our comments here aren’t the rules. Call TV front office & get the ruling. I see a gentleman that walks (looks like a standard poodle) his dog around the TV of Charlotte with no leash on, but I’m telling you this dog walks into the grass & sits down when anybody walks by them, walking by themselves or with another dog. This dog never moves no matter if another dog is trying to approach it. It’s an amazing dog! But my point is I don’t know if he’s suppose to really do this. Check with the front office!

[blueash]

Google is your friend. Sumter county's ordinances are all online.

You can read the animal control rules here (https://library.municode.com/FL/sumter_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COCO_CH4ANCO)

They include:

Direct control shall mean immediate and continuous physical control of an animal at all times such as by means of a fence, leash, cord, or chain of sufficient strength to restrain the animal; or in the case of specifically trained working, agricultural or hunting animals which immediately respond to such commands, while working; direct control shall also include aural or oral control, if the controlling person is at all times clearly and fully within the unobstructed sight and hearing of the animal.

and

No person shall cause, permit, or allow a dog or cat to stray or in any manner to run at large [not under direct control as defined above] in or upon any public street, sidewalk, or other public property or the property of another.

So to answer the OP's question.. No dog or cat can be at large. A dog does not have to be on a leash but does have to be under the direct control of a nearby person.

Other rules include:
All cats must have a license and a rabies vaccine tag, not just dogs and ferrets.
No animal in heat may be outdoors.
Any cat which is not sterilized cannot be outdoors unattended. No exceptions.

[jryley2@yahoo.com]

I just got an invisible fence and I trained my dogs to stop before the flags. I am outside with them when they go out because I want to make sure their aren’t predators around. the worst predator is my neighbor. They hate dogs

[brianherlihy]

I use mouth balls all over my land and the dogs just stay a way and don't poop:bigbow:

[Velvet]

Moth balls may hurt them. Because dogs have a great sense of smell I use a small amount of coarse black pepper. A little sniff and they pass by.

[JimJohnson]

My dog goes outside on our yard several times a day. No color no leash but trained not to cross off our property. My wife allows me out as well without ID as long as I don’t leave our private property. On private property, the florida law requires the dog to be under the owners control.

[jedalton]

I see a big problem with that. Invisible fences are not right, shocking a dog is not the right way to train the poor animal. We are positive reinforcement only with our dog. I want to take the owners of the dogs that use invisible fences and put the shock collar on them and drag them to the edge of their property. I am guessing they would not be too happy about that.
Pavlov's law

[Nancy@Pinellas]

Dogs must be leashed at all times.

[Two Bills]

Pavlov's law


Murphy's Law.

[Polar Bear]

Dogs must be leashed at all times.
Might be your desire, but simply not true.

[dewilson58]

Might be your desire, but simply not true.




It's in our Restrictive Covenants.


Not yours???

[Barefoot]

Is it ok for a dog owner to let there dog out to go to the bathroom unleashed.Of course not, unless the owners have invisible fencing.
Even then, the dog should be supervised.
Invisible fencing does not prevent predators from attacking the dog.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

If the owner has a courtyard village, I'm not seeing a problem. Let the dog out to do its business in your back yard. Anything else, either have an invisible fence, or take the pooch out for a walk. If you're disabled, most dogs will walk just fine alongside a wheelchair. If you're so disabled that you need help with a wheelchair, then most aides will allow your dog to walk alongside the wheelchair while they're rolling it on your behalf.

Walking your dog is one of the responsibilities of having one. The dog SHOULD be leashed whenever they are off your property, according to county law and according to all of the deed restrictions I've read (I haven't read them all). So basically - if you are able to contain your animal to your own property and are confident that it won't stray away from the property line even a foot, then you're fine. Otherwise - go out with the pooch and a leash.

[Polar Bear]

It's in our Restrictive Covenants.


Not yours???
Just going by Sumter County Code. Only reference in my district code is vague as to where a leash is required and I don’t think could be construed to override County Code.

Just for the record, our dog is always on a leash when off our property. She is also very well trained to stay on our property and never unsupervised. :)

[dewilson58]

Just going by Sumter County Code. Only reference in my district code is vague as to where a leash is required and I don’t think could be construed to override County Code.

Just for the record, our dog is always on a leash when off our property. She is also very well trained to stay on our property and never unsupervised. :)


Restr Cov's can "over-ride" (not the word I would use) County Code and be more restrictive.......................that's why they are there and we all agree to them.


Ours is fairly specific.............."responsible to keep such pets on a leash".


Enforceability might be of question.

[Polar Bear]

Restr Cov's can "over-ride" (not the word I would use) County Code and be more restrictive.......................that's why they are there and we all agree to them.

Ours is fairly specific.............."responsible to keep such pets on a leash".

Enforceability might be of question.
Agree with most of your post, except possibly a little bit with the "fairly specific" part. If our code is the same as yours, it's surrounded by references to natural areas and public facilities. And that sort of vagueness makes me very much agree with your enforceability comment when a dog is on its owner's lot and is supervised by the owner.

[Ramone]

A little poop don't hurt anything. Especially in your own yard.

[Northwoods]

When I take our dog out to do his business in our yard I am always with him. He is not on a leash but he is well trained so he doesn't wander. If we are going off our property he is always on a leash.

[Debfrommaine]

A little poop don't hurt anything. Especially in your own yard.

The issue for me is not the poop. It is that when the dog off leash in their "yard" sees my dog coming by on his leash, the dog off leash is curious as to who is walking by so he/see wanders out of the yard to say hello. My dog gets upset because he's on leash and then the other dog starts to follow us and the drama starts! I have had several incidents in my area with off leash dogs coming out of the garage, out of the yard, out of the car, to my on leash dog and not under voice control.

[mulligan]

I thought the combination dog park/archery range was going to solve that problem.

[CFrance]

The issue for me is not the poop. It is that when the dog off leash in their "yard" sees my dog coming by on his leash, the dog off leash is curious as to who is walking by so he/see wanders out of the yard to say hello. My dog gets upset because he's on leash and then the other dog starts to follow us and the drama starts! I have had several incidents in my area with off leash dogs coming out of the garage, out of the yard, out of the car, to my on leash dog and not under voice control.
While I have never had that happen with off-leash dogs running after my dog, I can understand your concern. A leashed dog feels vulnerable around unleashed dogs. I also don't believe very many dogs in TV are totally under voice control, on leash or off. That training involves weeks of practice. Most of our TV dogs are just pets and not strictly trained.

[OhioBuckeye]

[QUOTE=Polar Bear;1718278]Might be your desire, but simply not true. When walking off of your property they’re supposed to be on a leash, OHIO NORTHERN UNIVERSITY! I know some people don’t but you better have good control of your pet or they don’t bite anybody!

[Polar Bear]

Might be your desire, but simply not true. When walking off of your property they’re supposed to be on a leash, OHIO NORTHERN UNIVERSITY! I know some people don’t but you better have good control of your pet or they don’t bite anybody!
Agree totally. Post I replied to said dogs must be on leash “at all times”. :)

Go Bears and Bucks!! :)

[Debfrommaine]

[QUOTE=Polar Bear;1718278]Might be your desire, but simply not true. When walking off of your property they’re supposed to be on a leash, OHIO NORTHERN UNIVERSITY! I know some people don’t but you better have good control of your pet or they don’t bite anybody!
Or start a dog fight with a startled leashed dog and owner.

[Polar Bear]

Just for the record, quotes have somehow got mixed up. I did not post all of what was shown as a quote by me in the previous post.

[JimJohnson]

It's in our Restrictive Covenants.


Not yours???

Covenants cannot overrule state law and the state does not require leash on private property.

[dewilson58]

Covenants cannot overrule state law and the state does not require leash on private property.




Correct, they don't over-rule.................but they can and do enhance.

[dillywho]

I would say it depends on the dog. We had two ShiZu's when we moved here in 2004. They had no interest in leaving our yard, except via the golf cart. We would let them out or walk out with them, they did their "thing" immediately, made a beeline for the door, we cleaned up after them, and we all went in the house. My neighbor across the yard in the back kept them a couple of times while we were gone. She would let Alex out, he would do his thing and head straight over to our back door wanting to be home. Tasha would go straight back to her.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Covenants cannot overrule state law and the state does not require leash on private property.

The state does not require a leash on your OWN private property. The county specifies that the dog is not legally allowed to be on anyone ELSE's private property without a leash.

[Two Bills]

Funny how things change.
When I was a kid we used to put the cat out at night, and bring the dog in.
Reverse happened in the morning. Cat came in, and dog went out.
Dog used to bang the door knocker to come in for food, cat used to leave anything she caught overnight on the doorstep.
Life was so simple (as long as you watched where you stepped) in those pre pooper scooper days!