Are you a betting person?

So you like to let your dog run off-leash.  You like to take her to the park and let her go.  You figure the animal control officer will just give you a wink and a nod if she sees you do it.  You're not worried.  Your dog gets a little excited when she sees small kids running, and she likes to chase the geese by the pond, and she weighs enough to knock over Grandma when she jumps on her.  And she doesn't come when you call her the first, second or third time, but she'll eventually come back. She's a nice dog, most of the time.

Lawsuits happen.  Recently I heard some of the best advice I've ever heard when it comes to responsible dog ownership.  My friend Laurie (K-9 Country Club in Yakima) heard it from a presenter at an aggressive dog seminar in Seattle.  The presenter said this:

"Don't let your dog off the leash unless you're willing to bet your dog's life, or your home, that the dog will come back when you call him."

Read it again, and think about it.

"Don't let your dog off the leash unless you're willing to bet your dog's life, or your home, that the dog will come back when you call him."