Walking dogs off lead, why?
Discussion
Been in a situation where a dog tried to bite me several times today while the owners was 50 paces behind and on thier phone. When i shouted over for them to put thier mutt on a lead as it was attacking me they simple said i should stop shouting at the mutt to make it back off or I would have to deal with them instead of the dog.
What is the point of walking ANY dog off a lead on a public street?
What is the point of walking ANY dog off a lead on a public street?
A500leroy said:
Been in a situation where a dog tried to bite me several times today while the owners was 50 paces behind and on thier phone. When i shouted over for them to put thier mutt on a lead as it was attacking me they simple said i should stop shouting at the mutt to make it back off or I would have to deal with them instead of the dog.
What is the point of walking ANY dog off a lead on a public street?
I've owned 8 dogs and the only thing they would ever do to a stranger was lick them.What is the point of walking ANY dog off a lead on a public street?
The word 'ANY' is the wrong expression. 'SOME' or 'BADLY TRAINED' would be more appropriate.
GetCarter said:
A500leroy said:
Been in a situation where a dog tried to bite me several times today while the owners was 50 paces behind and on thier phone. When i shouted over for them to put thier mutt on a lead as it was attacking me they simple said i should stop shouting at the mutt to make it back off or I would have to deal with them instead of the dog.
What is the point of walking ANY dog off a lead on a public street?
I've owned 8 dogs and the only thing they would ever do to a stranger was lick them.What is the point of walking ANY dog off a lead on a public street?
The word 'ANY' is the wrong expression. 'SOME' or 'BADLY TRAINED' would be more appropriate.
Silvanus said:
GetCarter said:
A500leroy said:
Been in a situation where a dog tried to bite me several times today while the owners was 50 paces behind and on thier phone. When i shouted over for them to put thier mutt on a lead as it was attacking me they simple said i should stop shouting at the mutt to make it back off or I would have to deal with them instead of the dog.
What is the point of walking ANY dog off a lead on a public street?
I've owned 8 dogs and the only thing they would ever do to a stranger was lick them.What is the point of walking ANY dog off a lead on a public street?
The word 'ANY' is the wrong expression. 'SOME' or 'BADLY TRAINED' would be more appropriate.
hole and I appreciate people don't want a dog jumping up on them for a pat. So she stays on the lead. Drives me nuts when a certain group of large TV owners take their giant poorly trained dogs out and let them off the lead. I don't want a small bear trying to wrestle me to the ground while I'm walking to the shops!!My friend has a new dog, it's about 3 months old now, and has never/will never wear a lead.
His dogs are always trained to walk alongside/in front/wherever he tells it so, will stop and sit at crossings, until commanded otherwise.
He's always been this way with his dogs over the years, and he's never had a single incident relating to the dogs behaviour. Never bitten anyone, never run off without being told they can do so, never attacked or even approached another dog without permission.
The person you met shouldn't be characterised as "someone with their dog off the lead", they should be categorised as "a"
His dogs are always trained to walk alongside/in front/wherever he tells it so, will stop and sit at crossings, until commanded otherwise.
He's always been this way with his dogs over the years, and he's never had a single incident relating to the dogs behaviour. Never bitten anyone, never run off without being told they can do so, never attacked or even approached another dog without permission.
The person you met shouldn't be characterised as "someone with their dog off the lead", they should be categorised as "a
"Agree with the previous caller, my collie is off the lead most the time. Although it is a rural village in Somerset and I don’t know where the OP was located.
It is about the dog, and owner if attached to it or not, both being under control. The only issues I’ve ever had is usually smaller, but not always, dogs on leads trying to bite and attack my off lead dog, who is walking calmly by. However I do agree that a significant minority of people have absolutely no control over theirkids dogs whether on or off a lead, at home or in a public place. Most do but some people do not want dogs approaching them.
A few years ago I was stood chatting outside our news agent with dog sat off lead at my feet. Couple approached with spaniel on lead , proceeded to lunge at my collie. Collie snapped in response, nipping spaniel’s ear, without standing up. Ears bleed a lot.
Man stamps off e’ffing and shouting about paying for it. So gave him my pet insurance details. Spoke to John Lewis Insurance later, who had explained to him that on or off lead is immaterial, it is under control that counts and that they wouldn’t be recompensing his vet’s fees. And dogs nipping dogs is also seen as a natural operating risk even if dog under control. She did say he got a bit shouty with her as well.
It is about the dog, and owner if attached to it or not, both being under control. The only issues I’ve ever had is usually smaller, but not always, dogs on leads trying to bite and attack my off lead dog, who is walking calmly by. However I do agree that a significant minority of people have absolutely no control over their
A few years ago I was stood chatting outside our news agent with dog sat off lead at my feet. Couple approached with spaniel on lead , proceeded to lunge at my collie. Collie snapped in response, nipping spaniel’s ear, without standing up. Ears bleed a lot.
Man stamps off e’ffing and shouting about paying for it. So gave him my pet insurance details. Spoke to John Lewis Insurance later, who had explained to him that on or off lead is immaterial, it is under control that counts and that they wouldn’t be recompensing his vet’s fees. And dogs nipping dogs is also seen as a natural operating risk even if dog under control. She did say he got a bit shouty with her as well.
How can any dog no matter how well trained be considered to be under control if its off the lead, dogs have minds of their own and may have a bad day or a sudden 'cough you owner im having this cat/kid/postie' whereas if it was on a lead and had that thought youd always have physical control over it.
If it did attack anyone off the lead the owner is leaving themselves wide open to having the dog destroyed.
If it did attack anyone off the lead the owner is leaving themselves wide open to having the dog destroyed.
GetCarter said:
I've owned 8 dogs and the only thing they would ever do to a stranger was lick them.
The word 'ANY' is the wrong expression. 'SOME' or 'BADLY TRAINED' would be more appropriate.
Why is it ok for your well trained dogs to lick strangers? I'm not a dog hater but I am starting to hate dog owners, entitled tThe word 'ANY' is the wrong expression. 'SOME' or 'BADLY TRAINED' would be more appropriate.
ts a lot of them, not all of course I appreciate.I don't want some dog licking me or brushing me or sniffing me, it's absolutely disgusting, keep them on a lead and away.
The threatening owner is the bit that triggering me. Unacceptable response is an understatement!
As first time owners we're learning as we go. Off the lead in specific areas only. If another dog comes into play - is it on the lead? Yes, back on the lead for us, have a meet/sniff and take it from there. Other people come into play? Generally back on the lead in case he's too playful.
On rare instances somehow he doesn't take to an individual and that's the learning bit and why we lean towards recall (
) and a short lead on first encounters. But in no way would we blame/threaten the person.
But yeah, the dogs needs a fair bit more exercise. So off lead chasing balls and generally free (In the right space) is the way to go. Much better behaved beast when exercised. Not entirely unlike bairns.
As first time owners we're learning as we go. Off the lead in specific areas only. If another dog comes into play - is it on the lead? Yes, back on the lead for us, have a meet/sniff and take it from there. Other people come into play? Generally back on the lead in case he's too playful.
On rare instances somehow he doesn't take to an individual and that's the learning bit and why we lean towards recall (
) and a short lead on first encounters. But in no way would we blame/threaten the person.But yeah, the dogs needs a fair bit more exercise. So off lead chasing balls and generally free (In the right space) is the way to go. Much better behaved beast when exercised. Not entirely unlike bairns.
Edited by Don Veloci on Friday 10th June 14:50
GetCarter said:
I've owned 8 dogs and the only thing they would ever do to a stranger was lick them.
The word 'ANY' is the wrong expression. 'SOME' or 'BADLY TRAINED' would be more appropriate.
I wouldn't want to be licked by a dog (although, yeah, much better than being jumped on/bitten)The word 'ANY' is the wrong expression. 'SOME' or 'BADLY TRAINED' would be more appropriate.
A500leroy said:
How can any dog no matter how well trained be considered to be under control if its off the lead, dogs have minds of their own and may have a bad day or a sudden 'cough you owner im having this cat/kid/postie' whereas if it was on a lead and had that thought youd always have physical control over it.
I think it depends on the breed and how trainable they are. For instance, my neighbour has a Border Collie, always walks it off a lead, but the control he has over it is almost telepathic. Aside from that it's just an incredibly well disciplined dog. We've got a Dachshund and scent hounds are a bit different. If he gets the scent of a rabbit for instance, you may as well be talking to a brick wall, he is totally consumed by the scent. He's completely harmless though, he'll walk up to someone and look up at them, then move on with smelling the next blade of grass. 
My 2 Terriers are off lead where appropriate, they are fairly antisocial with dogs that they don't know so will do their best to avoid other dogs, only reacting when the other dog is not taking the hint, a few months back an off lead Boxer with no owner in sight, ended up in the river as he just wouldn't leave Barry alone, Barry gave it plenty of "fk off" signs, in the end he went for it, the Boxer jumped to the side to avoid him and ended up very wet, I had to get the bloody thing out!
On a canal path for example if a cyclist appears they will come to my side if told too by myself so as to get them out of the way if they aren't doing so already on their own accord, I keep an eye on them constantly, see a horse ahead I call them back and put their leads on, if a dog is on a lead up ahead I don't worry as both my 2 will take no notice and will just trot by without so much as a glance.
Off lead is great for them, they can roam a bit, sniff a bit, run around, dart about and get far better exercise and stimulation than if they remained on lead.
One morning I took Barry out for his morning walk, Daphne hid under the bed, it is a 20 minute lead walk through an estate and across a couple of main roads, to a common and wooded area, do 20 or so minutes off lead and then the return walk on the lead again, on the way back I decided to see if he would walk back off lead, he stuck rigidly to my inside, stopped when I stopped and moved on when I moved on, he didn't deviate from my side once.
Well trained dogs off lead are fine, it is badly trained dogs off lead that aren't, plus you need an owner who keeps an eye on them too, so many are just engrossed in their phones without noticing what their dogs are doing, or you get the ones who can't read the situation, drives me bloody mad.
k off" signs, in the end he went for it, the Boxer jumped to the side to avoid him and ended up very wet, I had to get the bloody thing out!On a canal path for example if a cyclist appears they will come to my side if told too by myself so as to get them out of the way if they aren't doing so already on their own accord, I keep an eye on them constantly, see a horse ahead I call them back and put their leads on, if a dog is on a lead up ahead I don't worry as both my 2 will take no notice and will just trot by without so much as a glance.
Off lead is great for them, they can roam a bit, sniff a bit, run around, dart about and get far better exercise and stimulation than if they remained on lead.
One morning I took Barry out for his morning walk, Daphne hid under the bed, it is a 20 minute lead walk through an estate and across a couple of main roads, to a common and wooded area, do 20 or so minutes off lead and then the return walk on the lead again, on the way back I decided to see if he would walk back off lead, he stuck rigidly to my inside, stopped when I stopped and moved on when I moved on, he didn't deviate from my side once.
Well trained dogs off lead are fine, it is badly trained dogs off lead that aren't, plus you need an owner who keeps an eye on them too, so many are just engrossed in their phones without noticing what their dogs are doing, or you get the ones who can't read the situation, drives me bloody mad.
Edited by HTP99 on Friday 10th June 19:28
cb31 said:
Why is it ok for your well trained dogs to lick strangers? I'm not a dog hater but I am starting to hate dog owners, entitled tts a lot of them, not all of course I appreciate.
I don't want some dog licking me or brushing me or sniffing me, it's absolutely disgusting, keep them on a lead and away.
And nor should you have to. Hence a well trained dog on or off lead should be under control and approach other people if those persons wish. If people want to stroke or pet my dog, I would expect them to ask first. ts a lot of them, not all of course I appreciate.I don't want some dog licking me or brushing me or sniffing me, it's absolutely disgusting, keep them on a lead and away.
However some of it is cultural. Here in rural Somerset, there are a huge number of dog owners, almost all pubs, most village shops, and even some restaurants welcome dogs, provide water and treats. Very noticeably different in the more urban areas I go to.
cb31 said:
Why is it ok for your well trained dogs to lick strangers? I'm not a dog hater but I am starting to hate dog owners, entitled tts a lot of them, not all of course I appreciate.
I don't want some dog licking me or brushing me or sniffing me, it's absolutely disgusting, keep them on a lead and away.
And nor should you have to. Hence a well trained dog on or off lead should be under control and approach other people if those persons wish. If people want to stroke or pet my dog, I would expect them to ask first. ts a lot of them, not all of course I appreciate.I don't want some dog licking me or brushing me or sniffing me, it's absolutely disgusting, keep them on a lead and away.
However some of it is cultural. Here in rural Somerset, there are a huge number of dog owners, almost all pubs, most village shops, and even some restaurants welcome dogs, provide water and treats. Very noticeably different in the more urban areas I go to.
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