on lead, off lead, what to do

[splashgirl45]

my collie cross is always off lead and is very obedient so i dont worry if i see another dog whether off or on lead as she will walk next to me. my 2 terriers are a little different and if i see someone with a dog on lead i put mine on as i dont want to be a member of the "its ok my dogs are friendly" club as i know its really annoying for them to jump all over someone else's dog ....so, saw a spaniel off lead coming towards me , left all mine off lead so they could say hello, as i got closer saw dog was on lead so i said, sorry i thought yours was off lead, she said he was but i put him on, so i said is he not ok with other dogs and she said he is absolutely fine, i put him on out of politeness and stalked off.

i was a bit confused anyone else think it was a bit odd or is it me?

 

[Lipglosspukka]

Odd in what way? Sounds perfectly reasonable to me. She doesn't know your dogs so makes sense to pop hers back on.

 

[splashgirl45]

i could understand it if mine were huge rotties, but 2 tiny terriers, one of them not quite 6 months old...still seems odd to me

 

[CorvusCorax]

Not odd, polite, she doesn't know your dogs. It doesn't matter what size they are. I say this having once had to detatch someone else's Westie from the frilly bits on my on-leash dog's thigh. He was so shocked, he didn't get the chance to swallow it whole, which of course would have been his fault and not that of the Westie owner for allowing the interaction to occur.
Better to err on the side of caution.

 

[AmyMay]

I’m often walking multiple dogs off lead. If we’re not on the beach I do pop them all back on the lead out of politeness to others (and the fact that four loose dogs off lead but under control) could be seen as intimidating.

 

[fankino04]

I get where you're coming from and I tend to use the same rules as you with mine but then again I have met several off lead dogs who certainly wouldn't be off lead in public if they were mine so maybe she's had some bad experiences and was just being extra careful.

 

[Sandstone1]

Completely right thing to do, not strange at all

 

[CorvusCorax]

I would just refer people to PonyParty's post where her dog was literally running the roads petrified after being chased by unknown 'friendly' dogs.
Even what starts out as an innocent interaction can go wrong. I've had too many bad experiences to ever let my dogs have uncontrolled interactions with dogs they don't know, it's not worth the risk. On a walk, a leash is the best control there is, as long as you can hold onto it.

 

[Roxylola]

Where I walk mostly dogs are off lead and owners are pretty relaxed. One of mine won't go up to other dogs at all, the other won't go up to dogs on leads. I know of some people who say they just always put their dogs on leads out of "politeness" which is all well and good but how do they learn to properly socialise.
I'd have done the same as you, particularly in my normal spot where off lead is standard. However I do get snotty with the occasional people who have dogs out of control, who don't make an effort to get hold of them - my little hound is a monkey for mugging people but she gets told off and put on lead for it - whether its being over friendly, snappy or anything else.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I guess 'socialisation' means different things to different people.

 

[AmyMay]

Where I walk mostly dogs are off lead and owners are pretty relaxed. One of mine won't go up to other dogs at all, the other won't go up to dogs on leads. I know of some people who say they just always put their dogs on leads out of "politeness" which is all well and good but how do they learn to properly socialise.

They learn to socialise by being ‘allowed to’. If mine are put back on the lead and the other dogs are friendly, then, by mutual agreement they’re let off again. It should never be a free for all or fingers crossed scenario.

Example, re socialisation. On the beach the other day I had three dogs. Women also comes on to the beach with three dogs who proceeded to run up to mine barking and being a pain in the arse. That’s not an interaction I want or invite. And is not socialisation it’s bullying.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

OP, I always pop mine on lead if I can see others coming, it's for her safety and I've done it with all mine in the past too. Yes, its polite to do so.

I get very cross if loose dogs are allowed to approach.

Current dog is complete opposite of all my previous ones in size, but this isn't why she's popped back on, its something I've always done as part of training.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Also it's staggering how many people can't read canine body language.
A dog coming over to mine with tail flagging, eyes on stalks and ears forward ain't being friendly.

 

[Goldenstar]

I think she sounds very sensible and responsible .
I would do the same .
I have given up on expecting people to stop their off lead dogs running up my dog while he’s at heel .
They just want to play they shout I have taken to shouting back he’s a gun dog he’s not allowed to play that sometimes helps .
BTW he’s not really a gun dog and he allowed to play but only when I chose .

 

[AmyMay]

deleted

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Also it's staggering how many people can't read canine body language.
A dog coming over to mine with tail flagging, eyes on stalks and ears forward ain't being friendly.

Absolutely! I'd be then ready, sideways on, with my big boot to step forwards should I need to intervene before they reached my current dog.

 

[Goldenstar]

i could understand it if mine were huge rotties, but 2 tiny terriers, one of them not quite 6 months old...still seems odd to me

I don’t like stranger’s terriers anywhere near my dog they are IME very likely to behave badly

 

[The Xmas Furry]

i could understand it if mine were huge rotties, but 2 tiny terriers, one of them not quite 6 months old...still seems odd to me

Having had a young terrier embedded on my Ariat Grassmere boot only this xmas, as my boot got in it's way when it 'missed' my dog by a whisker, I'm not impressed by ANY sized loose dog approaching closely. Its so unnecessary and rude.

 

[paddy555]

left all mine off lead so they could say hello, as i got closer saw dog was on lead so i said, sorry i thought yours was off lead, she said he was but i put him on, so i said is he not ok with other dogs and she said he is absolutely fine, i put him on out of politeness and stalked off.

i was a bit confused anyone else think it was a bit odd or is it me?

after endless posts of people having dogs off lead coming at theirs out walking someone is polite and puts their dog on a lead and you think it odd? I think it is good manners. Dogs should be on leads where they belong near other people or other dogs.
I find it odd yours were left off the lead and you assumed the other person would want your dogs to say "hello" I would be far from happy if someone's dogs came over to say "hello" to mine and would ask them to get them leaded. I hate other people's dogs coming over to me whether I have my dog with me or not.

I am seriously fed up with other people's off lead dogs running up to mine and so is my dog..

 

[Andie02]

One day, hopefully, sooner rather than later, a law will be introduced banning dogs from being let loose in public places, with hefty fines incurred, it is an accident waiting to happen ! Maybe it will take something like a child or person getting savaged, let alone someone's dog. Already many dogs have been badly injured and I think some have had to be PTS because of loose dogs. And then there has been sheep, cattle and even horses attacked and killed and so seriously injured they have had to be PTS. There has been many serious accidents through horses with riders getting chased and causing catastrophic accidents. Not only that they could cause a serious RTA or get killed on a road themselves, or even get stolen by someone, no matter how obedient they are ! Get real people, it's just not worth the risk !

 

[Cortez]

I have two extremely friendly, well socialised dogs. There are signs requiring dogs to be on a leash at most of the places where I go walking. My dogs are never off lead in a public place and it drives me absolutely mad that people let their dogs run loose all over the place, generally have no control whatsoever and get shirty when I stop and ask them to leash their dogs.

 

[paddy555]

i could understand it if mine were huge rotties, but 2 tiny terriers, one of them not quite 6 months old...still seems odd to me

why do you assume just because someone is walking their dog that they like dogs and want others near them. I don't. Apart from my own who I keep as a guard I don't like dogs very much.

I agree with Andie there should be a law banning dogs being let loose in public places.

 

[paddy555]

moreton-forest-dog-attack-horse-police-appeal-information-734818

not only on a lead but on a lead that cannot be slipped. double leaded if necessary. Time people took a lot more responsibility for their dogs.

 

[Roxylola]

They learn to socialise by being ‘allowed to’. If mine are put back on the lead and the other dogs are friendly, then, by mutual agreement they’re let off again. It should never be a free for all or fingers crossed scenario.

Example, re socialisation. On the beach the other day I had three dogs. Women also comes on to the beach with three dogs who proceeded to run up to mine barking and being a pain in the arse. That’s not an interaction I want or invite. And is not socialisation it’s bullying.

All fair points, and I don't disagree but as you replied to me, mine at best have a quick sniff to say hello and carry on about their business - on or off lead. If I stop to talk they will hang out, but pretty much ignore another dog. Even off lead for mine it is neither a free for all nor fingers crossed.
Its specific to the location though, we see the same people at the same times etc. I don't just go anywhere and whip leads off no matter what

 

[Cortez]

i could understand it if mine were huge rotties, but 2 tiny terriers, one of them not quite 6 months old...still seems odd to me

Terriers are the most aggressive little buggers out there, I'd be more worried about them than a rottie.*

*I have a terrier.

 

[fankino04]

I don’t like stranger’s terriers anywhere near my dog they are IME very likely to behave badly

Sorry but this has been my experience too, would definitely be more likely to trust a rottie or German shepherd. I do however feel that this thread seems to be having a go at the op a bit, she only said her terriers were different to the collie that could mean they have a quiet sniff of the dog to say hello, not necessarily that the bounce all over off lead dogs trying to get them to play...

 

[Goldenstar]

One day, hopefully, sooner rather than later, a law will be introduced banning dogs from being let loose in public places, with hefty fines incurred, it is an accident waiting to happen ! Maybe it will take something like a child or person getting savaged, let alone someone's dog. Already many dogs have been badly injured and I think some have had to be PTS because of loose dogs. And then there has been sheep, cattle and even horses attacked and killed and so seriously injured they have had to be PTS. There has been many serious accidents through horses with riders getting chased and causing catastrophic accidents. Not only that they could cause a serious RTA or get killed on a road themselves, or even get stolen by someone, no matter how obedient they are ! Get real people, it's just not worth the risk !

I would not support this people need to train their dogs and keep on leads if they are difficult .
The issue is not dogs it’s people .

 

[AmyMay]

All fair points, and I don't disagree but as you replied to me, mine at best have a quick sniff to say hello and carry on about their business - on or off lead. If I stop to talk they will hang out, but pretty much ignore another dog. Even off lead for mine it is neither a free for all nor fingers crossed.
Its specific to the location though, we see the same people at the same times etc. I don't just go anywhere and whip leads off no matter what

Pretty much the same for me 99% of the time. I do think, though, that many people don’t understand what safe socialisation is (as in my example up thread). The collie I walk does not like to be hassled, and will pin (or worse bite) a dog that steps over the mark, so I’m very vigilant with him particularly. I had a women the other day telling me not to worry when I told her to call her dog back, and the reason why. ‘Oh it’s ok, he needs to learn’ was her response. ‘Well my dog isn’t teaching him’ was mine.....

 

[Andie02]

i could understand it if mine were huge rotties, but 2 tiny terriers, one of them not quite 6 months old...still seems odd to me

You are the ' odd one' risking getting your dogs ' swallowed whole' as CC quite clearly put it emphasising an encounter with another dog.

 

[BBP]

Few things make me happier right now than seeing an approaching dog being put back on its lead by a nice responsible aware owner. In an ideal world it would all be lovely and joyful and all dogs would bound around happily, be nice to each other and recall perfectly when called. But in the real world it’s much nicer to have all dogs put on leads and any possible dog-dog interaction agreed by both owners.