Sunday
May092010
Free range dogs? How doggy parenting is different in Germany
Sunday, May 9, 2010 
I'm sure most of my readers have heard of Free Range Parenting as an alternative to overbearing, helicopter parenting so often seen in North America. I've been observing German parents and am collecting my thoughts on the differences in parenting styles for another time, but what struck me immediately and still amazes me several weeks into our trip is the major differences in the dog culture.
Back home in Canada, when they are not on private property or in a designated dog park, dogs have to be on leash. When they are allowed to run off leash, they tend to jump on people, chase cars, chase kids, chase bicycles, and are generally excitable. There are exceptions. But for the most part, dogs in Canada are pretty hyper. Our kids cling to us out of fear when they see a dog in Canada because of their experiences being jumped on and knocked over by dogs that came to greet them. Personally, I am not a fan of dogs and would prefer that they do not get their dirty paws, their hair, and their "I just ate my own poop" tongues all over my clothing and my face.
In Berlin, there are dogs everywhere. Some, but not many, are on leash. Most of them are walking off leash somewhere in the general vicinity of their owners. Others seem to have been let out, in the middle of the city, to wander around on their own, do their business, and come back home. When people stop at a store or the bank, they sometimes bring their dog in with them and they sometimes leave their dog sitting outside the door, unleashed, waiting for them. People bring their dogs on the subway and the dogs (generally leashed) sit between their legs quietly for the ride. People bring their dogs into restaurants and the dogs lie quietly on the floor under the table (this makes me a bit uneasy for hygienic reasons).
At first, seeing dogs walking around on their own, off leash, was unsettling for us. My son would ask "where is that dog's people?". I would instinctively tell my kids to hold my hand, slow down, and be calm when a dog was around, thinking it was likely to chase them and jump on them like most dogs would in Canada. But after a few weeks of being here, I've realized the dogs here are different. They are calm. They don't jump on people. They don't chase people. They don't run away. People will leave their dogs sitting in an area and go around the block doing their shopping, talking to friends, and then just whistle or call the dog when they are done. The dog will find them, and they'll make their way home. Many, but certainly not all, of the dogs seem to do their business on/around the little trees that are planted strategically every few metres in the sidewalks here.
I have had to teach my children not to play under those trees and to watch where they are stepping, but other than the poop issue, I have to say that for the most part, off-leash dogs in Berlin are much more civilized than on-leash dogs back home. It is as if, by being off their leash, they have learned to be part of society and act accordingly, whereas dogs that are on leash all the time are just rearing for the opportunity to run and jump and chase things.
This post is mostly about dogs, and my observations as a non-dog person. But I do think about how we can project those observations into our parenting style. If our kids are always on a short leash, aren't they more likely to be inappropriately excitable, to run off and to make bad decisions when they are let go? If we give them some space to move, give them the tools that they need to survive, and trust them to act appropriately, are they more likely to be calm and to make good decisions?
Image: epha on flickr
Reader Comments (18)
Very interesting! I know that my dog is far better behaved when she gets an hour or two a day to run loose and do dog things, like jump on other dogs, roll around, etc. It makes sense. When she doesn't get her dog park run, she gets jumpy and ill-behaved.
And you're right, my daughter is just the same way. Keep her to close to the house, don't let her run and play, and she becomes badly behaved. Interesting!
I'm curious how Germans behave if a dog is injured while being off the leash, though. :)
Cecily: What type of injuries are you thinking of? Do you mean like being run over by a car or something? Most dogs seem to be smart enough not to run into traffic.
But German dog owners often take their dogs to obedience classes, or practice it on their own, something a lot of North Americans don't do. Also, I found the common obedience techniques here to be very harsh (like throwing a chain at your dog's feet when they don't listen, or throwing your dog to the ground and holding them by the throat until they submit).
I rescued a little terrier mutt from the side of the road when I lived in Mexico, and she became my faithful companion. She would walk next to me, off lead, and would never leave my side. She'd get to the end of the block and wait for me so we could cross the street together, etc. In the mornings, I would open the door and she would run out into the hills to do her business and come back. Then, I moved to the U.S. and I had to have her on leash at all times because of stupid laws. She now goes bonkers when she sees another dog and tries to nip at runners' ankles, but only when she's on the leash. Take it off, like at off-leash parks, and she doesn't care about anyone around her. I think that while they're on the leash they feel defenseless, like they're not in control of the situation, so they need to act out to defend and assert themselves. You pose a fascinating analogy, one that rings very true...
Non-dog person from Cape Town - have to chime in: My kids are terrified of dogs because they always seem to be bouncing on the end of their leashes or just released to run free: bound, bound, bound, pounce... Let's define overwhelming here. What really gets me and why I am not a dog person is that dog scooping is so not the norm here... to take your kids to the park you can be sure you will have dog poop everywhere; there is a designated no-dog area on our local beach but the rest of the beach is not worth stepping on; a walk in the local mountains and you literally have to wade through dog-doo for the first 500m - that seems to be as far as the dog-walkers go before returning to their cars. But what is this about - it is my genuine gripe... seriously revolting: scoop it or stay home.
When my husband and I moved off my family's farm, we left our golden retriever there for just that reason. He is used to being loose and going where he pleases. He's trained to use the woods as a bathroom, and plays joyfully chasing bunnies, squirrels, etc. Since he was raised as a farm dog, he doesn't understand the concept of "neighborhood" or "yard" and would constantly go to our neighbor's houses or run up the road. We left him on the farm where he's free and happy. I think it's probably all in how the dog is raised, and in my opinion, the locked up and leashed dogs are always so full of energy because they do nothing but wait around to play with people all day long, so when they finally see a person, they can't contain themselves!
Very, very true. I felt some shame reading this, as our own pup is wildly excitable, but it all definitely makes sense.
I can't imagine a dog under my table in a restaurant but I don't find it to be a hygiene issue. I have never seen my dog eat his own poop and in fact I believe I have a stronger immune system for growing up in a home with dogs. Definitely cleaner than cats.
I'm sure the dog whisperer would have some interesting thoughts here, but my immediate reaction is that kids are better behaved in Germany too. Whenever I visit my cousins, I am amazed that their kids who are the same ages as mine can sit still through a whole dinner and dessert, don't interrupt, are much calmer and generally have better manners than mine. In my case I attribute my kids lack of self-control and exciteability to my not being present and consistent enough as a parent. Germans are super structured and the whole culture is training-oriented (which is a negative too) so it doesn't surprise me that kids and dogs are well-behaved. Final note: My kids may not be as well-behaved, but they are far more charismatic, entertaining and out-right funnier than their cousins! Does that sound defensive? :-)
Bettina:
I know where I previously lived in Germany (in the Black Forest), I found that children behaved much worse than in North America and their parents didn't seem to care at all. For example, I constantly had kids kicking my seat on the train/streetcar and their parents wouldn't say a thing about it. I haven't noticed them being that "frech" here in Berlin, but maybe it is because I don't see a lot of kids (all in KiTa/school).
interesting post - dog lover/owner here, not dog whisperer style tho! haha!
being offleash lends itself better to some dogs than others - just like people, dogs have their own personalities and what works for 1 does not work for all. what about dogs who dont like other animals? some just dont. certain breeds are more independant and more prone to wander than others. i would also be interested in spaying/neutering/unwanted litters with all of these dogs running free and unsupervised as overpopulation is a HUGE problem in the states. also health issues such as heartworm disease.
a tired dog is a good dog, but a well behaved dog usually has owners who have invested time it meeting its needs for mental and physical stimulation beyond just turning it loose.
i do wish the states was more 'pet friendly' in facilities and such.
very interesting post!
Dog person here. I think the commenter who said Germans have a more ordered cultured than in the US (where I live) translates down to the dogs there too. I rescued and rehabilitated an abused dog. I learned that dog world loves order - when a group of them get together they quickly establish a hieracrhy. The top dog tells the other dogs what to do and not only do they like it they expect it. In the US, very few people do that with thier dogs, because they don't want to break their spirit or think that giving a dog rules is being mean. It's the opposite. I tell my dog to sit before he gets a meal, a treat, his leash on to go on a walk, etc. and because he now has rules and knows what's expected of him and that very good things happen when he does what I say like going on extra car rides, walks, dog events, etc. He's as well behaved and non hyper as the dogs you describe in Germany.
Well that's a relief! And maybe that explains why my kids are not so well-behaved, it's in my genes . . . I'm from the Black Forest!
I would be far more likely to put this down, as other people have suggested, to different social and cultural norms in Germany which tend to more structure, discipline etc. They also have a far more regulated society so there are probably a lot more consequences if your dog goes rogue, so to speak, so more incentives to train your dog.
Reading this took me back to when I was a kid. I've never really thought about it before since I haven't had dogs as an adult, but when I was a kid 25-30 years ago they were never on a leash. When we took our dog for a walk she ran ahead or behind us sniffing and exploring and doing her own thing and was happy to come when we called. This does make me think of parenting and how we expect our kids to play safely and don't want to let them out of our sight, etc. Yet, like dogs, kids are innocent creatures of Mother Earth and need to explore and learn from the world. We need to give our kids more credit that they will return if hungry, hurt or in need of something else. Not that I think we should set our pre-schoolers out of the house and say "be back by dinner," but taking them off the proverbial leash would be a good place to start. Neat cultural observation! Thanks for sharing!
Ewwww, cats. Our cats are so much more gross than our dog.
Animals actually have lots of chemicals in their saliva that are antimicrobial. Not that I'd still recommend letting them lick your face (or your children's), but remembering this sometimes makes me feel better!
And this has nothing to do with the blog post...:)
[...] building, we have to be on high alert. There is dog shit everywhere. As I wrote previously, the dogs here are pretty free range and a lot of them just do their business whenever and wherever they want and there is no one there [...]
I just came upon your story from 2010. Great Story!
I live in Orange County, CA, with many, many people and vehicles. My dog is rarely on a leash, walks within 10-feet of me, and she does not let me out of her sight. It's not about the dogs in Canada being different as why they jump on people and cause problems. It's about the owners of the dogs not raising their dog properly, and giving their dog freedom starting at a very young age. Along keeping an eye on their dog when they suspect the dog need to do their business, and have a poop bag ready to pick up after them.
My doggy is fully prepared! I found an awesome tool to train very well and fast my dog while i'm in home. I learned a very good way to educate my doggy with a lot of tricks and how to modify the bad behavioral problems, for example,jumping, barking, beating and anxiety. "Doggy Dan site" has a complete training system videos that permit you to watch and listen a master trainer how to solve all kind of dogs problems. with another dog and its owner. You can see the exact body language and voice tone to use, and how the doggy react, changing their conduct very quickly. It's good to see how fast my doggy got on these training. My dog behaves excellent now! From what I comprehend, the information on this site:(theonlinedogtrainers.org) works for any age or type of dog. I feel very good to know my puppy is prepared to do my command..