I run with mine, an English Cocker Spaniel. He'll quite easily do 20 miles with me, cross country, off lead. Thing with him is.... I do know my dog. He'll actively avoid anything he doesn't know that's larger than a Jack Russell. He'll run to heel at command.
Off lead he gets more exercise.
The other thing about being of lead is, he can get out of situations. If I get followed by a herd of bulls or there's another dog, an aggressive or overfriendly one, he can get away. I've often seen situations where one dogs been trying to get away from another and the owner has it, trapped, on a lead. Wrapping itself round its owners legs.
There's good owners and bad owners, sometimes a dog being off lead is perfectly fine. Just remember, as with horses, it's nice to have warning someones approaching. A cough or a bell.
BTW - 'Alsations' gone the same way as 'Road Tax', incorrect terminology. They're GSDs, German Shepherds. The name reverted well back before I got my first, over 20 years ago.
Off lead he gets more exercise.
The other thing about being of lead is, he can get out of situations. If I get followed by a herd of bulls or there's another dog, an aggressive or overfriendly one, he can get away. I've often seen situations where one dogs been trying to get away from another and the owner has it, trapped, on a lead. Wrapping itself round its owners legs.
There's good owners and bad owners, sometimes a dog being off lead is perfectly fine. Just remember, as with horses, it's nice to have warning someones approaching. A cough or a bell.
BTW - 'Alsations' gone the same way as 'Road Tax', incorrect terminology. They're GSDs, German Shepherds. The name reverted well back before I got my first, over 20 years ago.