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I want to bring up something that I see happen more often than you’d think at campgrounds: dogs not on a leash. I’m not trying to cause a debate, but I’ve had a few close calls!
My dog is always on a leash. Not because I don’t trust him, but because I know that other dogs and situations are unpredictable. He’s calm and well trained, but I still keep him close because I don’t know what’s going to happen around us.
Just last weekend, we were sitting outside when an off-leash dog walked onto our site. It didn’t growl or bark, but came up real quick to my dog. Mine stood up and stiffened and I had to pull him back before things escalated. The other dog’s owner yelled for it, but it didn’t come right away. Nobody got hurt, this time, but it could have gone very differently (I’ve seen it happen).
I’m not posting this to criticize anyone. I’m just asking people to think about the risk. Even friendly dogs can have bad moments, and not every dog wants to be approached. Using a leash avoids situations like this and helps keep everyone safe and relaxed.