"In Defense of Letting Your Dog Off Lead."

[MuddyMonster]

Scary. (Although I’m struggling with how leads are getting twisted together).

Because the dogs move - if their dog has dragged their owner up to mine and bounced, mine most definitely goes backwards at this point and if their dog is still practically on top of my dog, it tends to move further too, often to one side. You only need the owner or dog to move at the wrong moment and leads are intertwined fairly easily at this point.

 

[AmyMay]

Because the dogs move - if their dog has dragged their owner up to mine and bounced, mine most definitely goes backwards at this point and if their dog is still practically on top of my dog, it tends to move further too, often to one side. You only need the owner or dog to move at the wrong moment and leads are intertwined fairly easily at this point.

Can you just not turn in the opposite direction before they get to you, and walk away?

 

[rextherobber]

I've just had a weekend of meeting dogs with no manners at all, and owners who are apparently utterly clueless. My dog has just had a very expensive operation and is 4 weeks in to the lengthily rehab - he's now hobbling and back on Loxicom after an out of control fat Labrador tried mounting him (, with the owner ineffectually squeaking, " No Bertie...") My dog was on a lead, hers was not, my lead is hi viz, so no excuse for not noticing he was on it. And she got offended when I yelled at Bertie in my best "Do-as-you're-told-right-now" voice (which he did listen to, so all she had to do was exert some authority - or use a lead). Out hacking, I met loads of people with dogs off lead and frequently out of sight, one in particular, who when they eventually caught up, as I'm circling to try to stop the dog biting my horse's belly, said, "Oh, he doesn't like horses much" - so why are you on a Bridleway?? And making no attempt to have your dog under control! Surely you have a legal and moral obligation to ensure your dog is under control, and not everyone likes dogs, so why let them run up and jump all over other walkers? I love dogs, I've always had them, but I can see why there's some anti dog feelings brewing up, and this is before you consider the poo issue...

 

[Clodagh]

I mean, your dog getting eaten by a mountain lion isn't ideal either......

But it would solve any recall issues ?

 

[SAujla]

What about the wildlifes desire to not be chased and traumatised, or a horses right to not have something nipping and running around their legs.

Don't understand why the author of that article thinks any of what they've said. There is a joy (for me anyway) in calling your dog away from something and them listening to you, clearly the author can't be bothered to put the work in. We've domesticated dogs, they have to handled differently to other animals who aren't

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

What a ridiculous article. Wonder what they would say if a farmer shot his dog for being 1/4 of a mile away chasing his livestock.

My dogs recall was solid. If it weren’t none of them would have been off lead. My setter came to call without a backwards look. We only ever had one incident when he was a pup when he slipped his collar after a rabbit after that he was kept on a slip lead until he learned to restrain that urge, he was under 1yr old. I could walk him alongside the horses with or without a lead and out walks if there was another loose dog he came back if his own accord. He was entire and never behaved inappropriately. He was mostly off Leash but if we ever came across horses or other dogs he came straight back and was leashed or held.

I’d you cannot control your dog then it shouldn’t be off leash anywhere public.

 

[Annette4]

I have 3 dogs with varying prey drives but prey drives none the less. I am always mortified when I am caught off guard and they chase wildlife (it has happened maybe 3 times in nearly 9 years) and there is no way I would encourage it.

Thanks to other people's out of control dogs I have one who is reactive to the point he now has to be muzzled almost all the time (the exception being when he is in a flyball ring or doing disc dog) as he will bite first rather than giving them the chance to attack him. I don't have a problem with dogs off lead in principle and I understand accidents happen but if you know your dog will approach dogs/chase wildlife etc then it shouldn't be off lead in public end of!

 

[Caol Ila]

What about the wildlifes desire to not be chased and traumatised, or a horses right to not have something nipping and running around their legs.

Don't understand why the author of that article thinks any of what they've said. There is a joy (for me anyway) in calling your dog away from something and them listening to you, clearly the author can't be bothered to put the work in. We've domesticated dogs, they have to handled differently to other animals who aren't

His complete disregard for wildlife p1ssed me off the most. Why did Outside publish this?

 

[twiggy2]

Just to clarify again - I'd never let my dog off lead if I can see a dog on lead coming towards us, even if they are struggling - if it's on lead, we stay on lead with fingers firmly crossed the other owner can control their dog enough to not get it tangled with mine.

Maybe we've just been unlucky we've had more than one dog effectively lunging and then get it's long lead caught with my lead, which has dented my dogs confidence.

The owner can/has apologised but then it's up to me to take charge, tell the owner to hand the dog over and I'll de-tangle them and then get my dog's co fidence back. It's also why my dog now wears a muzzle as we had this happen on an almost weekly basis at one point and I can't risk anything.

In an ideal world, absolutely we just give our dog lots of praise and get away as soon as possible

I just meant generally if my dog has found it less stressful all round if a questionable dog with questionable recall has been off lead and he's off lead. Beginning to regret my choice of words now ?

If both dogs are on lead you just walk away so the other dog is never close enough for leads to get tangled surely?
I think the article was just published to get a reaction which it has successfully done.

 

[MuddyMonster]

Can you just not turn in the opposite direction before they get to you, and walk away?

If both dogs are on lead you just walk away so the other dog is never close enough for leads to get tangled surely?
I think the article was just published to get a reaction which it has successfully done.

Yes, of course if we can we do. It's common sense and I'm always been happy to get out the way however I can. We haven't always been able to in every situation though every time over time.

We've walked on some narrow-ish/not super wide paths with either a high wall or high wire/stock fencing either side (depending upon on where we are up the path). We don't walk in a couple of places any more as it was always so quiet you were 'unlucky' to see anyone on the whole walk usually but not so much in Lockdown - when there seemed to be a surge of dubiously controlled dogs - and haven't really gone back. We've walked quite happily past plenty of dogs on the same path for balance.

Having also experienced considerable rudeness on occassion for turning around as it has exasperated the other dog's behaviour, if I'm alone walking I will now think twice before turning around if the walkers with the other dog out number me or they are male.

I'd hope being able to walk a dog on a lead is a fairly basic requirement even on a narrow-ish/not super wide path but apparently not for everyone

Hence my (general, some what throw away that seems to have grown legs) comment that I've had less hassle meeting off lead dogs, even if the other dog has a questionable training. To try to avoid any further doubt, not that I'd have mine off lead in the scenario described above either, hence why we haven't hurried to go back as it seems like setting up for a lose-lose if luck isn't on your side with the dog and the owner you meet coming t'other way.

 

[AmyMay]

Having also experienced considerable rudeness on occassion for turning around as it has exasperated the other dog's behaviour, if I'm alone walking I will now think twice before turning around if the walkers with the other dog out number me or they are male.

Sod that. I’d far rather a few rude words to a mauled dog.

 

[MuddyMonster]

Sod that. I’d far rather a few rude words to a mauled dog.

I certainly wasn't talking about dogs mauling another. All of my person encounters (which is all I can speak of) have been with overly frendly but poorly trained dogs that are lunging forwards at the end of their lead because they are so keen to say hello or play. Which my dog would be fine with if it wasn't for the human at the end of their lead.

I don't want to completely derail a thread over a throwaway comment that I think has been misunderstood or misinterpreted nor explain my reasons (rightly or wrongly) why as as a lone women in the countryside I'm not always prepared to think 'sod the confrontation' when I meet either a larger group of people or a lone male dog walker.

 

[blackcob]

I get it, MM. You'd think just turning around and heading back the way you came would be a fairly neutral act but it got me followed, shouted at and sworn at by a male dog walker once.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

I find it tricky, because I only walk where the unwritten rule is dogs can be off lead. Bear sprung a fox at the weekend, didn’t catch it (has never really caught anything bar a tiny baby bunny years ago). Should I keep him on the lead just in case he chases another fox/a muntjac-I see them sometimes in the same woods? I don’t go in the woods on the other side of the car park, the periphery is permitted for horses and I don’t fancy the pups running round spooking my mates’ ponies.

 

[CorvusCorax]

No recall, no off leash in a public/shared/wildlife heavy area, I don't think it's difficult?

 

[Tiddlypom]

Should I keep him on the lead just in case he chases another fox/a muntjac-I see them sometimes in the same woods?

Yes.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I'd also check local by laws, you say it's an 'unwritten rule' when there's actually very few of those.
All council owned/run/leased areas in my town have either a 1m leash or close control order (parks, greenways) or a no dog order (sports pitches, cemeteries)
There are dog parks for free running.

Often flouted but legally, those people wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

 

[Clodagh]

Mine would all stop or recall off a chase. I’m not 100% that Red would but I did my best bellow when she went to go after a rabbit the other day and she came straight back so I think we are getting there. I remember the lurcher days with horror ?.
If I knew I couldn’t stop my dog if it chased, it was ok on the farm but I would be scuppered now, there’s sheep in every other field, so they’d have to stay on lead I guess. But Labradors do make it easier.

 

[CorvusCorax]

One of mine (the one soneone else trained ?) has great recall but generally stays on a line as he's easy to walk, generally wants to be where you are anyway and the general public don't really be amenable to large German Shepherds running around off leash.

 

[Clodagh]

I find it tricky, because I only walk where the unwritten rule is dogs can be off lead. Bear sprung a fox at the weekend, didn’t catch it (has never really caught anything bar a tiny baby bunny years ago). Should I keep him on the lead just in case he chases another fox/a muntjac-I see them sometimes in the same woods? I don’t go in the woods on the other side of the car park, the periphery is permitted for horses and I don’t fancy the pups running round spooking my mates’ ponies.

If he’s after a fox or deer would he just keep going, deaf and blind to anything? Or just sort of put it up, see it off, come back to you?

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Yes.

He should stay on the lead 100% of the time? I think that’s totally unreasonable. He‘s sprung a fox one time in 12 years (never known him do this before) so should now always be on the lead? That’s ridiculous.

If he’s after a fox or deer would he just keep going, deaf and blind to anything? Or just sort of put it up, see it off, come back to you?

He put it up then recalled. There was one refuse to recall years ago, took a few hours to find him, he hasn’t been back often and never with Zak.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I too have had the experience of being shouted at by a man for the apparently antagonistic act of...swerving his off lead XL bully. I was in a busy park and with OH so felt able to stand up for myself and say there was absolutely no need to be like that about it. Still shook me up although would have been much worse if I was alone.

I almost feel like there needs to be an 'in defence of keeping your dog on lead'. People assume that on lead = boring, crap walk. I realise I chose 'my' breed for lower exercise/mental stimulation needs, so I might not have such an easy time if I had a different breed but still our walks are quality time for both of us (recent setbacks aside).

 

[Clodagh]

He put it up then recalled. There was one refuse to recall years ago, took a few hours to find him, he hasn’t been back often and never with Zak.

I wouldn’t worry too much about it then!

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

I wouldn’t worry too much about it then!

I certainly won't. Keeping a dog on a lead for springing a fox once in 12 years does not strike me as sensible!

 

[CorvusCorax]

If you have recall and the dog didn't run off, why did you ask?

 

[CorvusCorax]

I almost feel like there needs to be an 'in defence of keeping your dog on lead'. People assume that on lead = boring, crap walk. I realise I chose 'my' breed for lower exercise/mental stimulation needs, so I might not have such an easy time if I had a different breed but still our walks are quality time for both of us (recent setbacks aside).

I'd find it a bit boring and crap walking along on my own with my dog off somewhere else/out of sight doing goodness knows what ?

 

[Annette4]

He put it up then recalled. There was one refuse to recall years ago, took a few hours to find him, he hasn’t been back often and never with Zak.

I wouldn't worry in your case then. I know I can recall Fizz if she doesn't give chase so she is trusted much more but I know from experience that Dobby and Ginny will give chase and only give up when they loose their quarry or catch it (it happened once, they ended up on a road 2 fields away with me giving chase) so they will always stay on a line outside of training/competition venues. If you know they will recall that's the difference to me.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

I wouldn't worry in your case then. I know I can recall Fizz if she doesn't give chase so she is trusted much more but I know from experience that Dobby and Ginny will give chase and only give up when they loose their quarry or catch it (it happened once, they ended up on a road 2 fields away with me giving chase) so they will always stay on a line outside of training/competition venues. If you know they will recall that's the difference to me.

That's very scary. I'm glad the pups stay close!

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

If you have recall and the dog didn't run off, why did you ask?

Ever heard of a rhetorical question?

 

[CorvusCorax]

Oooh we're going meta now!