Has the dog has all the shots and a collar? if so - buy a cheap leash & put it on... Your house - your rules... kids & pets!

I was thinking the same as Cate. Buy one so you'll have it there. Too easy to do, so I don't think I would bother mentioning it to his mom. I'm sure more important things will come up as the boys grow older.

I like cate52's suggestion. I agree with talking to the mother and you might do that, but the boy is going to forget, sometimes, and a collar and leash at your house would solve a lot of problems. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
ivamae

I would talk to the mom, to let her know what I'm going to do, and what my stance is. And then I would talk directly to the boy.

And make him go home to get the leash, if he arrives with it. So that he knows you're not joking--because if you don't send him home, then really what else are you doing, but kiddin around.

You could offer for him to keep a set at your house, but it doesn't solve another problem: he shouldn't be walking outside w/ the dog NOT on a leash.

I also think you would be squandering a real opportunity to teach this kid.

I'm a fan of the idea that we all help raise one another's children, and that you sort of owe it to this kid to teach him how to properly care for his pet, since his mom isn't. Make this be mostly between you and the boy (partly also he needs to learn that grownups don't joke, and you need to establish some authority with him. He may not be your kid, but he should follow your rules)

And maybe educate the boy about how, without the leash, the dog could get out through an opening gate, or wriggle out of his arms while he's walking, and get pasted by a car.

or get lost, or something.

And emphasize how a collar can serve as a "handle" to a dog--he wants to run away, or you need to grab him before he knocks something over, and you can get your fingers around the collar.

also, should he succeed in getting away, the collar will carry his ID info, plus his rabies status.

He needs to start training the dog to accept a collar and leash now, while he's young, so it will be useful later.

I think I might sit him and seriously, grown-up to grown-up, talk with him about the dangers his dog faces, and how it's important to take care of his dog. it's a big responsibility, and he can handle it. Speak to him as though he can handle this responsibility. He'll rise to it, I bet you.

There's also the stakes you can put in the yard, which has a light chain on it. DS has one for his goldie, when they sit in the front yard. Happy dog!
DS puts it up when the dog is in the back yard.

Thanks for the quick replies!

I sent the kid home today. I went outside where the boys were running around w/the dog and just told him I warned him already, this time he cannot stay. Take the dog home, you can bring him back anytime as long as he has his leash on. He and my DS left to take the dog home.

Funny, 10 mins later the boy's older brother showed up (friend w/my DS#1, same hockey team). I asked if he saw his brother and if his brother said anything. He said yes saw him, but he didn't say anything. I told him to tell his mom it's OK for the dog to come over, but only on a leash. The older brother said the younger one is getting in trouble for that a lot, mom didn't know the dog was gone! I think we'll get this resolved. I just don't want the dog hurt. I will talk to the mom, b/c I see her couple times a week anyway and I can't just avoid the subject.

I really should just have a leash. Not just for this dog, but somehow I always find lost dogs, and I *have* to stop and pick them up. They almost always have collars, tags, I call, owner comes, but a leash would be a handy thing to have.

I'm with ya Talley Sue, we have to look out for the kids (and the dogs) even if they aren't our own.

LOL. Phone just rang, guess who it was? MOM!

I have a feeling these two boys will have a long future of antics together!

I would talk to the mom and explain everything to her as well,and tell the kid that the dog can't come without a leash.

Now here in my part of Calif we can't tie dogs out in the yard on runner chains/stakes and the like.That was told to me about 2 months ago when i called the humane society about my neighbors pit bulls running loose.We can confine them in our yards with fences,but they must be left loose.As he said it protects your dog in case another dog gets in your yard.If your dog is not tied he has a better chance of getting away from the other dog,or in some cases here,mountain lions.
Kathi

I'd keep do what your doing. Tell him to take the dog home the instant he arrives (or come back with a leash, but who is going to hold the leash the whole time he's back to play?). It's one thing to be house training your own dog but I wouldn't want to be training someone elses dog too. Once in a great while but not constantly.

I suspect in time the dog will stay at its home once the excitment wears off.

If your town has a leash law tell him he is breaking the law and could be fined if he doesn't comply. I would be terrified to walk a dog without a leash. All it would take is a cat or another dog in someone's yard or some toy he wants that might make him dart across the street.

Linda

I thought that every state had leash laws--or so I was told. This boy needs to be taught that there's good reason for the dog to be on a leash--for the dog's protection, because it's the right thing to do.

There's another thing you need to consider--if you allow that dog on your property, without a leash, and anything happens (a neighbor child gets bit), you might find yourself in a bit of trouble about it.

I would definitely not contribute to this boy breaking the law. I'd send him home each and every time he showed up with the dog. Even with a leash, there's no way I'd allow an untrained puppy in my home to terrify my cats. But that's just me.

Good luck.