I was watching an old episode of Judge Judy the other day and it really stuck with me, you know, especially from a dog training and safety perspective. There was this young girl walking her small dog through the neighborhood on a leash. As they were passing a house, they came across a larger dog in the yard. Passing a house, they came across a larger dog in the yard. Now, the larger dog wasn't physically fenced in, but he was contained by an invisible fence. As they got closer, the small dog started barking at the big dog and, whether it was curiosity, excitement or frustration, the small dog ended up crossing into that yard. The big dog reacted, got a hold of the smaller dog and unfortunately the smaller dog got hurt. So the owners of the small dog took the case to court, trying to get the larger dog's owners to cover the vet bill. But Judge Judy said no. Her reasoning was pretty straightforward yes, the larger dog wasn't on a leash, but it was on its property and the small dog left the public sidewalk and entered the big dog's yard and that's where the altercation happened.

It's a tough situation but it's a good reminder for all of us. We need to keep our dogs out of other people's yards. Even if the yard looks empty, even if you think it's harmless, you never know if a dog is being contained by an invisible fence or watching from a window, ready to bolt through an open door. Personally, when I walk my dog through the neighborhood, I try to keep him on that grass strip between the sidewalk and the road. That small section is usually city-owned and neutral territory. It gives us space, keeps us out of other people's yards and avoids any unintentional trespassing. It's not just about being paranoid, it's about being smart. Even a well-trained dog can get triggered and even a calm dog can react when another dog enters into what they see as their space. So the bottom line let's stay alert out there, let's be respectful of property lines and let's give unknown yards a wide berth. It's safer for your dog and a lot less likely to land you in front of Judge Judy.