On leash or off leash?

[zoofreak1]

I'd see a halter as even worse, in that case, as it will turn the head around.

I know people having both collar or halter AND harness when walking the dog, so they could use one or the other at a given moment.

Never used a halter. And very rarely too see someone using that tool in my country. From images it looks like it can be quite dangerous if a dog suddenly pulls out.
I mostly use a harness. With a harness my dog is allowed to pull as much as she wants. The few times I have her in a collar she's not allowed to pull (still training on that)

By the way, I have sometimes been taking care of this adorable doodle boy. He's so good and calm, I always have him off leash ? he never runs towards other dogs or people, never shows any prey drive and just walks nicely around me. Totally fantastic!

 

[HugDoggy]

Never used a halter. And very rarely too see someone using that tool in my country. From images it looks like it can be quite dangerous if a dog suddenly pulls out.
I mostly use a harness. With a harness my dog is allowed to pull as much as she wants. The few times I have her in a collar she's not allowed to pull (still training on that)

By the way, I have sometimes been taking care of this adorable doodle boy. He's so good and calm, I always have him off leash ? he never runs towards other dogs or people, never shows any prey drive and just walks nicely around me. Totally fantastic!

If the very first time the dog has it on they took off fast, a problem could well occur, but the whole point to a halter is it starts to turn the head as the dog tries to pull so generally that puts them off pulling any harder or to the degree that they might hurt themselves, they quickly learn that walking faster than you cause them to turn, where as walking nicely beside you lets them have full head movement and doesn't pull at all. I've never used one on my own dog, but I have seen how they are an effective tool to modify behaviour for dogs that are really bad pullers, but like any tool it needs to be used correctly and I would strongly recommend having the dog double leaded/leased for the first few times it used to avoid any risk of hurting the dog if they go from 0 to 100km/hr in the blink of an eye. If the dog pulls it corrects them by turning their head, as soon as they stop pulling it stops the correction. With most dogs they work out that link of cause and effect within 2-3 minutes.

That said I did once see an Amstaff who was built like a tank running with their head sideways, but that is because a young girl was on the other end of the lead. Those parents need their heads read putting the lead in the hands of a child who wouldn't have weighed much more than the dog. No correction device would be adequate in such a situation, if the dog decides to just go somewhere. I also shudder to think what psychological harm might be done to the child, if they felt like they were out of control and unable to stop short of letting go of the lead which might mean the dog ran off. Neither option would be a good outcome.

 

[Zalanthe]

My doggo could seriously hurt someone if things went wrong, so I only let him without when it's safe enough to do so.

 

[Twelvepaws]

I used to always let my first two dogs free, but after a few almost problem, I finalized the leash. Everyone has been on a leash since then. I bought high quality leashs and harnesses.
I have a house with a garden/yard, so they can run and I have fenced private areas nearby where they can also run.
Anyway, they're not used to it. After 50 meters, they start digging for field mice and tire themselves out with it.

 

[amorousdog5]

Same here. I have a fenced in backyard that my girl is free to run around in (although she doesn't often take that chance because she is a lazy thing) but anywhere else she is always on a leash. I feel like being without a leash in places that other people/dogs/cars can roam is dangerous. You can trust your dog(s), but can you trust everyone else in the area?
Also, my Dad never kept his dogs on a leash and had three suffer near-death experiences because of this. One fell in a river, one rushed a stallion, and one got stuck deep down in a woodchuck hole. A fourth dog just ran off and never came home, maybe got killed for all we know. This is probably why I feel stronger about yes keeping dogs on leash.

 

[EmVel]

Always. One time on covered yard my bitch digged herself an exit. I was so scared, she flew by 3 big roads with cars driving by. And male is to agressive. I sure he woukd start a banter if he will be without leash and with another male on sight.