Must my dog be on a leash when outside with us in our yard? Or only when walking?
 

Do I need to have my dog on a leash when we are out working on the yard or just when we leave our property? Someone told me today that he is supposed to be on a leash when i was out watering my plants today. I cannot find the proper ordinance to answer this.

wow, interesting someone would say anything to you when you are on your property. I can't answer you with the ordinance, but, the only thing is I would probably do a leash even on your property due to other animals could attack your fur baby. Coyotes, Hawkes, eagles, gators, more preditors than you think. I remember a post about a woman, didn't leash her fur baby due to early walking of her dog, 5:00 am and no one was up. however, she got the neighbors newspaper and brought it to their front door, and her dog was grabbed by a coyote and gone in a flash. Not the coyote's fault what do they know, its feeding time. Just want to add, most of my neighbors, don't leash their dog, when outside with them as they walk or tinker on their property.

Here is the ordinance...

Municode Library

Well, the people who used to own our home supposedly had two larger dogs that would take off and chase bike riders, and in at least one instance, biting one of the neighbors... So, it's important to be able to control your pet...

there was a sign over the court house in the city that we once lived in "Obedience to Law is Liberty"

Short answer is your dog doesn’t have to be on a leash while in your yard.

We have an invisible fence, which is effective in keeping our dog in our yard. Note that if your dog leaves your yard, you’re in violation. Also, as noted above, you want to be outside with it in case a wild animal tries to take off with it.

The rules listed are for Sumter County and very involved to see/find a leash law. Sounds like as long as your dog will not leave your yard then a leash is not needed but if the dog tends to chase people or roam then a leash is needed.

Your property means your rules.
Off your property better have on leash.
You are always liable for your pets actions

Thank you for posting this. Found “Sec. 4-7. - Public nuisance animals” very enlightening. We have a neighbor that lets their dog just continuously bark on their lanai most morning when we are trying to have a peaceful breakfast on our lanai. They will occasionally scream “hush” but then just let it keep barking. Time to start documenting these occurrences.

Just depends what type of dog you have and if it attacks other dogs or ignores them. I had a shiba inu that is not normally off leash, but I trained him to stay with me and he ignored other dogs and squirrels and birds. He knew the squirrels were too fast for him anyway. Some people are afraid of dogs too.

It’s your yard, you can do what you want as long as your dog is properly trained to stay on the property. And shocking your dog when it gets to your property line is NOT properly training it.

It only happened once. :-|

Most? Breakfast? I doubt that’s going get anything done?

One fleeting moment, passing dog barking, unaware car with animal, wild critter and your fur baby would be gone forever, not worth risk.

Details on invisible fence? From where? What was theost? Thanks!!!!
 

Can I get details on invisible fence? From where? What was the approximate cost? Thanks!!!!

Invisible fence is great keeping your critter IN, but not great for keeping WILD critters OUT.

We have two boxers. They are always on a leash! When I take them for a walk we encounter unleashed dogs that run from their own yard and come after my dog. It’s very scary. I have one dig who doesn’t react at all. My other dog has a lot of fear (rescue) because of this, his walks are minimal. But yea, one walk around my block with my dog, and I can encounter at least 3 off leash dogs that come after us.

Even to take a quick pee, we harness and leash both our dogs and walk them in our yard. It’s just not worth the chance to have anything go wrong.

You may want to call the sales center for documentation rather than depend on info from this site?

They're not always as informed as a lot of the people on this site...
:ohdear::bigbow::bigbow:

I have a thing about unleashed dogs even on their own property. I love dogs, but I have a dog who gets very excited when he sees another dog. He gets hard to control. I do not know if he would bite as he has not yet. I walk him on a leash. A couple of times, unleashed dogs had ran up to him and all hell broke loose. No dog was hurt, but gave me quite a scare. One time three dogs came up to him at once.

Also, I remember walking alone, and this German Shepard starting jumping on me. The owner said he was friendly but that can still give a person a heart attack. Some people are afraid of dogs.

It depends on whether you want to be on Judge Judy’s TV show.

Offer to buy their dog a bark collar, they do work.

Invisible man
 

Sold by invisible man who live in that invisible house down the block….

We have a gentleman in our neighborhood who walks his dog unleashed. The dog is extremely well-behaved and is trained to stick close to her master, and probably tips the scales at maybe four pounds so the "danger" level is pretty low. But were I him I'd be worried about the traffic, especially the golf carts. Texting while piloting your cart is not unknown in this village.

I was told for small dogs an invisible fence is a problem. Big dogs abd animals can get on and they can’t get away from them. Just a thought.

Sumter County Leash Law.

sumtercounty-fl.elaws.us/code/coor_ch4_sec4-4
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;

Typical for most counties nationwide.

Can't wait read about a Coyote, or Bobcat or Owl or Eagle carrying his dog off for breakfast...... a leash is the only thing that can keep that from happening.

Best recognized containment system there is. We've always used one even though with is arthritis he can't chase anything anymore anyways. We are always outside with our dog when he is out as well.:coolsmiley:

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.

If your home is within Lady Lake town limits you can let the dog off leash in your yard but you must have control of the dog. A leash is required outside of your property.

This is an important point and deserves repeating.

YOU know that YOUR dog is friendly. The person your dog is barreling towards does not. I've seen Pit Bulls happily wave their tails as they ran to (and torn into) other dogs.

It is also just good manners to train your dog not to jump on people. I've had friendly dogs put their dirty paws on my uniform pants and squad car door.

glad you brought this up as I am having this issue in my neighborhood. I encounter stories all the time of dogs in yards unleashed and passerby dogs & owners getting attacked. There are leash laws but they do not apply to private property, so can you do this, yes, should you, NO! without a fence or leash, your dog is not under your control 100% thereby placing them and anyone close by at risk, is that being a good respectful neighbor? NO IT ISN'T. Some people are afraid of dogs, imagine if they just want to take a walk? I am shocked to see this happening here in "the Friendliest town" and when one person does it, other dog owners follow suit creating an unsafe and unfortunate situation for anyone walking their dogs thru the neighborhood.

case in point: My two neighbors have off leash dogs running around with them in front of their homes, I come out one morning and begin walking my dog down the street. two of the little ones see us and begin chasing after us as their owner "screams" to retrieve them, is this OK with everyone? my lovely quiet relaxing Sunday morning was shot to hell, I have since purchased Dog defense items to carry. I lived in a big city and never had to carry these items but I do here... something is wrong with this picture.....

Many people think an invisible underground wireless electric fence is the best way to keep their dog in their yard. However, they are simply not as effective as you might think. Statistics suggest that invisible wireless electric fences are only about 70% effective.

Why invisible fences, just don’t work. | Pet Playgrounds DIY Dog Fence Kits

Dog on Leash
 

The paragraph below is directly from the Deed restrictions for the area I live in, I think this language is in all deed restrictions so you are required to keep your dog on a leash in your yard. I have personally had an incident recently when walking down a street where two dogs came out of a yard across the street looking friendly. When they got close, they started growling and circling. I yelled at the owner who was on her phone, she softly called them back, they finally went to her. I like dogs, but you cannot predict how an animal will respond to a stranger. Keep your dog on a leash even in your yard, it is just a courteous thing to do with houses so close together. Even though your neighbors seem to not care when your dog runs to them, not everyone wants to pet your animal every time they walk outside.
From deed restrictions:
Birds, fish, dogs and cats shall be permitted, with a maximum of two (2) pets per Homesite. Each Owner shall be personally responsible for any damage caused to dedicated or reserved areas by any such pet and shall be responsible to immediately remove and dispose of any excrement of such pet and shall be responsible to keep
such pet on a leash. No other animals, livestock, or poultry of any kind shall be raised, bred, or kept on any Hornesite or on dedicated or reserved areas.

Yes, check the laws, also will help you in a lawsuit if your dog snaps at soneone

Go to lazypetownerswhodontwanttoproperlytraintheirdogs.c om.

Agree!
 

Just for the record, the "invisible fence" is not perfect. I was the victim of a lab that, in the excitement of chasing birds, ran right through the shock area then couldn't get back in, so went roaming the neighborhood.
Also, person's afraid of or untrusting of dogs can see no evidence that the dog is under any constraint can feel threatened if the dog comes at them.

99.999% of the time, people don't think their dog will bit.

99.999% of the time, actors don't think the gun is loaded.

Agree!!!
 

Even friendly dogs can cause emotional distress or injury. Owners should never allow pets to approach folks they don't know, even to say"hello".

I notice that many folk think it is OK to allow your dog off leash while you are outside working in yard. If you have your dog out, why not have it on a long line? Gives it freedom of movement but allows you control. Even before moving here a long line was just as important as having a leash. Now, in a CYV, long line is used while I am working in front yard. I try to be a good neighbor.