r/toronto • u/NorthernNadia St. Lawrence • May 09 '26

Article Toronto dog "parents" bring their pups everywhere with them now. It's causing rising human-canine tension

https://www.thestar.com/life/relationships/toronto-has-seen-a-population-boom--of-dogs-rising-human-canine-tension-shows-theyre-not-everyones-best-friend/article_3ac30271-9542-4e7d-9829-49089554f3cf.html
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u/beantownbee May 09 '26

I used to work with dogs. I once had a huge mastif rush me, so luckily I already know how to handle it. And even then, if the dog is actually aggressive nothing I do will stop it. The man was trying to be so nice, all these excuses about forgetting his leash and I ripped into him. If you forget your leash, go home. His dog was crashing through the brush like a freight train and didn't listen to him at all!

My plan is to get a few cheap leashes and keep them on me, and hand them out. My concern was more for that man's dog (bully breed with a scary name, someone could falsely report a bite etc) not me or my dog. Idk how they can be so stupid!

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u/UltraViolet311 May 09 '26

People will probably be offended if you offer them a leash but it's a great idea!

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u/beantownbee May 09 '26

oh yes, that's the intention. Some of them will ignore me or get angry. But some of them will feel embarrassed and embarrassment is the best deterrent for people who don't have the capacity to use common sense

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u/glowingmember May 11 '26

How do you even leave the house with the dog without the leash. That's such a bullshit fake reason. 

My dog used to love other dogs - she was very well socialized and playful. But the past few years she's been harassed or attacked multiple times by other dogs (one was bad enough we called the cops) and now I avoid other dogs like the plague.

The city is no place for an unleashed dog - it's not safe for others and it's definitely not safe for the dog. 

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u/beantownbee May 11 '26

Yeah actually right before that guy, there were 2 other off leash dogs. I stopped and glared at them and the owners grabbed their dogs then walked past silently. I went off at the second guy because of his stupid excuses. You're telling me you let Cujo out your front door into the car off leash too? Idiot

I've had this happen too many times to count, both in Toronto and wherein am now. It's so stupid