In the Forest, the Dog Stays on a Leash

There's no compromise on this one for me. Not because I want to be strict, but because things can genuinely go very wrong here.

A leash is mandatory in public places, no matter the size of the dog. In the forest, mine are always on a lead too, even though I spend a lot of time walking in the forest. For two reasons.

One is wildlife. A dog with strong instincts, if it spots fleeing game, will take off after it. If I miss the moment when I could still stop it — meaning it's already started the chase — that dog will go. Not because it's poorly trained, but because in that moment, instinct is stronger than anything else. And in the forest, the chances of wildlife showing up are much higher.

The other is people. There are hiking trails in the forest, and anyone could come the other way. Everyone has the right to be afraid of a dog. I have no right to expect anyone not to be afraid of my dog.

Many people don't know that a hunter can legally shoot a dog on the spot if it's chasing game, to protect the wildlife population. They have that right. But even if it isn't shot, things can still go wrong: a deer can easily suffer a heart attack from the chase, or the dog can chase the animal out onto a road, and from there it ends in an accident.

Few people are also aware that wildlife has an annual rhythm. In spring the females are pregnant, and in May there are piglets and fawns everywhere. This is exactly the time they shouldn't be chased.

That's why, in the forest, the dog stays on a leash. Not because I don't trust her, but because past a certain point, instinct is stronger than both of us.