Discussion
Is there any specific rule regarding dogs on leads? Especially in public places? Reason I'm asking is that I'm pretty pissed off with a woman down the road who owns a mahoosive rottie, now I know owners of said breed will state they are miss understood, and are a lovely dog, but they are bloody big and powerful,and pretty intimidating.
Whilst walking home from the park this morning with my Schnauzer, under 6 months old so pretty small in size still, this rottie whilst walking on the other side of the road decides to charge over and go for casper, now I appreciate it wasn't a full on attack, as there is no apparent damage, but having had to swing him out of the way by his harness, whilst trying to grab hold of him to lift him up out of the way, all the time whilst he's yelping, and the other dog owner doing pretty much naff all about control this big dog.
So should all dogs be on leads, no matter how well trained they appear to be?
Whilst walking home from the park this morning with my Schnauzer, under 6 months old so pretty small in size still, this rottie whilst walking on the other side of the road decides to charge over and go for casper, now I appreciate it wasn't a full on attack, as there is no apparent damage, but having had to swing him out of the way by his harness, whilst trying to grab hold of him to lift him up out of the way, all the time whilst he's yelping, and the other dog owner doing pretty much naff all about control this big dog.
So should all dogs be on leads, no matter how well trained they appear to be?
As far as I'm aware, the only legal requirement for having a dog on a lead is when in an area covered by a Public Space Protection Order.
From a common sense point of view, not having your dog on a lead is a bit silly when in busy areas, by roads and more appropriately, if you can't control the damned thing! It is against the law to 'allow' an animal to be out of control whether that be in public or private property.
From a common sense point of view, not having your dog on a lead is a bit silly when in busy areas, by roads and more appropriately, if you can't control the damned thing! It is against the law to 'allow' an animal to be out of control whether that be in public or private property.
There is no specific law about dogs on leads, however I believe there is about your dog being under control.
Have a read here
https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public/overview
I know I wasn't there, but are you sure you didn't overreact to what was simply a large dog saying "hello". For example if it was a smaller breed, would you have felt the need to act in the same way. The only reason I ask, is that, if it wanted to harm you or your dog, then it probably would have.
None of this is to excuse the other owners lack of control.
Have a read here
https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public/overview
I know I wasn't there, but are you sure you didn't overreact to what was simply a large dog saying "hello". For example if it was a smaller breed, would you have felt the need to act in the same way. The only reason I ask, is that, if it wanted to harm you or your dog, then it probably would have.
None of this is to excuse the other owners lack of control.
This has been covered before, but some owners are, frankly, clueless and inconsiderate.
If we see a dog on a lead, it's for a reason, and so ours goes back on if he is off, and if he is already on the lead then we try and keep separation distance until clear it's OK for the dogs to meet. Not difficult a rule to follow imo.
If ours is on his lead, it's for a reason, frankly it really pisses me off when folks just allow their dogs to wander up, if for some reason they don't get on, it happens, then we're faced with controlling and calming 30odd kilos of excited bouncing dog around. Plus if you have a go at the owner then ours picks up that you're angry and if affects his behaviour in other ways, so it's only occasionally that any adverse comment made, even though at times they need a really thorough ballocking.
If we see a dog on a lead, it's for a reason, and so ours goes back on if he is off, and if he is already on the lead then we try and keep separation distance until clear it's OK for the dogs to meet. Not difficult a rule to follow imo.
If ours is on his lead, it's for a reason, frankly it really pisses me off when folks just allow their dogs to wander up, if for some reason they don't get on, it happens, then we're faced with controlling and calming 30odd kilos of excited bouncing dog around. Plus if you have a go at the owner then ours picks up that you're angry and if affects his behaviour in other ways, so it's only occasionally that any adverse comment made, even though at times they need a really thorough ballocking.
KrazyIvan said:
I know I wasn't there, but are you sure you didn't overreact to what was simply a large dog saying "hello". For example if it was a smaller breed, would you have felt the need to act in the same way. The only reason I ask, is that, if it wanted to harm you or your dog, then it probably would have.
None of this is to excuse the other owners lack of control.
As I said it wasnt a full on attack, as neither myself or my dog was injured, and I appreciate what a full size dog like thus can do if it so wishes, but I and my dog felt very intimidated by the actions of this dog, might well have been playing to him, wasn't to me.None of this is to excuse the other owners lack of control.
LordHaveMurci said:
Dogs should NOT be on leads if in a field/park or suchlike, BUT only if they well behaved & don't do what the rottie did to you.
Agree with this 100%! If you can control your dog, you can call it in when appropriate and put it on the lead if appropriate and avoid a lot of incidents like this.
The most important part of training is instilling self control and basic doggie manners. It really annoys me when I'm walking my dogs and somebody 'allows' their dog to run across the field to come and bark at / jump on my dogs.
My male isn't keen on other males. He isn't muzzled as he's not a danger and ALWAYS does as he's told. It's frustrating that when somebody who can't control their dog stands at the other side of the park yelling while their dog has a go at my dog. He has on occasion retaliated, mainly noise, yet people ask why my dog 'attacked' theirs. There is clear blame to be held, and it lays with the owner of the other dog!
rigga said:
As I said it wasnt a full on attack, as neither myself or my dog was injured, and I appreciate what a full size dog like thus can do if it so wishes, but I and my dog felt very intimidated by the actions of this dog, might well have been playing to him, wasn't to me.
When you say it wasn't a 'full on attack' was it actually an attack at all, or just a boisterous dog playing? Teeth out, trying to bite?I know it does not help the situation, and I am in no way defending the other dog/owner, but the language does need to be accurate for people to be able to comment accurately.
Autopilot said:
LordHaveMurci said:
Dogs should NOT be on leads if in a field/park or suchlike, BUT only if they well behaved & don't do what the rottie did to you.
Agree with this 100%! If you can control your dog, you can call it in when appropriate and put it on the lead if appropriate and avoid a lot of incidents like this.
The most important part of training is instilling self control and basic doggie manners. It really annoys me when I'm walking my dogs and somebody 'allows' their dog to run across the field to come and bark at / jump on my dogs.
My male isn't keen on other males. He isn't muzzled as he's not a danger and ALWAYS does as he's told. It's frustrating that when somebody who can't control their dog stands at the other side of the park yelling while their dog has a go at my dog. He has on occasion retaliated, mainly noise, yet people ask why my dog 'attacked' theirs. There is clear blame to be held, and it lays with the owner of the other dog!
Just before Christmas we were on the common, he was on his lead as there were horses and riders heading our way, and he isn't 100% reliable round horses. We were then bothered by a spaniel that ran across, wound him up, then started jumping up at me and biting at the pocket where training treats are kept. Owners at a distance eventually, when asked, started to shout completely ineffectively to recall the spaniel, and then got shirty when asked to fetch him when we walked away and their dog followed whilst continuing the unacceptable behaviour.
Some owners are not fit.
It was growling with teeth bared on approach, I then was more concerned about getting my dog out of its way, rather than what it was doing then, as I've repeatedly said to him it might well have been fun and games, if it was a smaller dog approaching the same way I wouldn't have felt so threatened, but with the size of this particular full grown dog I was. My point being that its a bloody big dog not under control.
rigga said:
It was growling with teeth bared on approach, I then was more concerned about getting my dog out of its way, rather than what it was doing then, as I've repeatedly said to him it might well have been fun and games, if it was a smaller dog approaching the same way I wouldn't have felt so threatened, but with the size of this particular full grown dog I was. My point being that its a bloody big dog not under control.
That sounds nasty. The owner could do with a bit of educating by the sounds of it.As far as I'm concerned, if a dog is on a lead then it is on a lead for a reason; Barry is off his lead when at a park, on a walk away from a road etc, if I see a dog on a lead I will either keep Barry occupied so he doesn't go near it or I will put him on his lead if I think he may go over for a sniff, usually if he looks as though he is going to go over, a quick sharp "Barry come" will be enough for him to change direction.
Daisy is always on a lead, she also has a bright yellow jacket which states "I need my space"; she isn't great with other dogs, still doesn't stop people not bothering about their dogs wandering over, even when I am obviously reeling her in and trying to keep her away from said dog, really pisses me off "oh she only wants to say hello".
Daisy is always on a lead, she also has a bright yellow jacket which states "I need my space"; she isn't great with other dogs, still doesn't stop people not bothering about their dogs wandering over, even when I am obviously reeling her in and trying to keep her away from said dog, really pisses me off "oh she only wants to say hello".
git-r said:
If it makes any difference rotties do make a growling type sound as a sign of affection. I've seen it before and can be quite scary if you're not aware. They are lovely dogs though.
I have two Dobermanns and they are fairly vocal. When the male wants attention, he'll put his face in your face and bark at you. He's just an attention we and he's just literally shouting at you 'play with me, play with me!!'. If you don't know him, you'd st a brick as it would come across as aggression when in reality, it's just excitement and want's some interaction and waiting for you to tell him what to do.While the breed of dog could be seen as intimidating and the biggest part of the issue here, for me I have to ask who the hell walks their dog which isn't under perfect control alongside a road where it could easily walk in to traffic as soon as it see's another dog /squirrel etc etc!
Our dog will walk perfectly to heel under instruction without a lead, but there's no way I'd walk him even along a very quiet back road without one.
Not a main road, but used quite a lot as a cut through to avoid traffic on the surrounding busy streets.
Dog as said not on lead and just raced across the road, didn't even look left and right first, Dave Prowse wouldn't be impressed
Calmed down now, and can see that this time no harm done, but if I do see the woman and dog again, I will request he be put on a lead.
Dog as said not on lead and just raced across the road, didn't even look left and right first, Dave Prowse wouldn't be impressed
Calmed down now, and can see that this time no harm done, but if I do see the woman and dog again, I will request he be put on a lead.
My dog's on a lead all the time now because he's old arthritic and deaf. It also means that when more energetic dogs come to him I can keep an eye on things so he doesn't get knocked over.
I don't expect every other dog walker out there to put their dogs on leads just because mine is. Some do, some don't. When he was younger I wouldn't put him on his lead just because other dogs were. My dogs completely socialised and if a leashed dog looked a bit suspect Jake would just wander away from it. He's only had 2 fights in the 15 years I've owned him and on both occasions he was the one being attacked. A well trained and socialised dog doesn't need to be on a leash. Deal with the problem because it's actually your problem assuming the other dog's sociable.
That said, it was hilarious today watching a bloke chasing his full sized poodle around the park. It was having a wonderful time and completely ignored him.
I don't expect every other dog walker out there to put their dogs on leads just because mine is. Some do, some don't. When he was younger I wouldn't put him on his lead just because other dogs were. My dogs completely socialised and if a leashed dog looked a bit suspect Jake would just wander away from it. He's only had 2 fights in the 15 years I've owned him and on both occasions he was the one being attacked. A well trained and socialised dog doesn't need to be on a leash. Deal with the problem because it's actually your problem assuming the other dog's sociable.
That said, it was hilarious today watching a bloke chasing his full sized poodle around the park. It was having a wonderful time and completely ignored him.
Edited by Boosted LS1 on Thursday 5th January 20:23
This does my head in!
We have 3 big dogs, one is always on a lead because he is so naughty off it. One is on and off the lead as he is that old that he's deaf and just wonders off so it's easier to have him on the lead. The other is never on his lead as he's the youngest and is very well behaved off his lead so he needs a good run round.
He is a big powerful dog but loves attention and people and other dogs. So when he see's another dog/person he goes running over to just say hello and has never shown any aggression, but jesus christ some reactions we get is ridiculous. It's normally people with little dogs who start screaming when he comes over and pick their dog up and run away!!
He then thinks it's a game and chases them until i get to him or shout him and i get the he should be on a lead comment in an aggressive manner! Why i ask and the normal reply i get is that he's big and could do some damage!!!
If he was nasty do you think i would have him off the lead???
Some people are just brain dead
We have 3 big dogs, one is always on a lead because he is so naughty off it. One is on and off the lead as he is that old that he's deaf and just wonders off so it's easier to have him on the lead. The other is never on his lead as he's the youngest and is very well behaved off his lead so he needs a good run round.
He is a big powerful dog but loves attention and people and other dogs. So when he see's another dog/person he goes running over to just say hello and has never shown any aggression, but jesus christ some reactions we get is ridiculous. It's normally people with little dogs who start screaming when he comes over and pick their dog up and run away!!
He then thinks it's a game and chases them until i get to him or shout him and i get the he should be on a lead comment in an aggressive manner! Why i ask and the normal reply i get is that he's big and could do some damage!!!
If he was nasty do you think i would have him off the lead???
Some people are just brain dead
Beni997 said:
This does my head in!
We have 3 big dogs, one is always on a lead because he is so naughty off it. One is on and off the lead as he is that old that he's deaf and just wonders off so it's easier to have him on the lead. The other is never on his lead as he's the youngest and is very well behaved off his lead so he needs a good run round.
He is a big powerful dog but loves attention and people and other dogs. So when he see's another dog/person he goes running over to just say hello and has never shown any aggression, but jesus christ some reactions we get is ridiculous. It's normally people with little dogs who start screaming when he comes over and pick their dog up and run away!!
He then thinks it's a game and chases them until i get to him or shout him and i get the he should be on a lead comment in an aggressive manner! Why i ask and the normal reply i get is that he's big and could do some damage!!!
If he was nasty do you think i would have him off the lead???
Some people are just brain dead
Very much mirrors my experiences with our big fella.............he is the kindest friendliest dog you could ever wish to meet but the extreme reactions of some, usually with little dogs, are beyond belief. We have 3 big dogs, one is always on a lead because he is so naughty off it. One is on and off the lead as he is that old that he's deaf and just wonders off so it's easier to have him on the lead. The other is never on his lead as he's the youngest and is very well behaved off his lead so he needs a good run round.
He is a big powerful dog but loves attention and people and other dogs. So when he see's another dog/person he goes running over to just say hello and has never shown any aggression, but jesus christ some reactions we get is ridiculous. It's normally people with little dogs who start screaming when he comes over and pick their dog up and run away!!
He then thinks it's a game and chases them until i get to him or shout him and i get the he should be on a lead comment in an aggressive manner! Why i ask and the normal reply i get is that he's big and could do some damage!!!
If he was nasty do you think i would have him off the lead???
Some people are just brain dead
Ironically he has been attacked a couple of times yet stands there without a clue as to what to do..........by Rottweilers, Alsatians or other large dogs I hear you ask? Oh no Jack Russells and other assorted nasty terriers....go figure!
Swinging a small dog around your head does seem to get him excited though.
Slightly off topic but another thing that annoys me.......parents not allowing their children, under controlled conditions, to fuss or stroke my dogs despite my confirmation that they are 100% friendly and adore kids..................oh no he / she is frightened of dogs - what a shame.
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