Similar situations, Luke has seen before, for example, a thin old man with white hair, trembling as he walks, holding a golden retriever. He indeed has it on a leash, but if the dog wants to bite someone, the old man can't even keep it under control and might be pulled down by it.
The leash is just for show, he simply doesn't have the ability to control the dog.
If it were someone like Luke, a strong man, he could easily pull the disobedient dog back home, give it a beating, and make it behave.
Dogs have a strong sense of hierarchy. You have to make them realize your status is higher and you are stronger; only then will they obey you.
If they see you as weak, your status in their eyes will be below them. They won't serve you; you'll be serving them.
Luke knew Anika Carmen was deeply poisoned, her thoughts hard to correct, so he changed the subject, "After Haida Cartman was bitten by your dog, how did you handle it? Did you call 911?"
