on lead, off lead, what to do

[splashgirl45]

What the heck has age got to do with it? Though I hate to think about it, we are closer to 70 than 65 even. Things were different way back, not so many people, aggressive dogs and busy roads with traffic. Perhaps if something happens to any of your dogs you may change your views on this entirely. You are probably someone who thinks 'that will never happen' !!! Unfortunately these things do happen and when it has its too late !!!

It seems to me that you are just trying to justify your original post which also appears to be trying to raise an argument with my post on the other thread.






.

sorry, dont know what you mean about your post on another thread....i was just interested to know peoples opinions on what happened to me this morning... i am not stupid, i have had dogs all of my life and things have happened so i am very aware....

 

[Clodagh]

I rarely use a lead on a walk. If I see another dog coming I heel mine then sit them up to the side when we actually get to a passing place. I do always have one lead with me to put Pen on as she can be a bit opinionated. The others are fine. So all dogs always on leads, even out in the country, is a weird concept to me. Poor dogs!

 

[BBP]

I tend to behave differently depending on the area. Most of our walks are anything from 6 to 12 miles and we don't meet many dogs, but when we do, those dogs are the same as ours. Well exercised, stimulated and don't suffer from issues, so leads aren't needed.

If I'm walking in a more residential area or a touristy type of place where there are dogs who never get to walk more than 3/4 mile from the car, then, my dogs are kept on a lead, simply to prevent owners of untrained dogs who feel anxious.

This was what was said to me by the lady who’s border collies attacked mine. That she never saw anyone out this way and so she saw no reason to have them on a lead. I had a perfectly happy well exercised, well stimulated, well adjusted dog who like other dogs until that point. All that was necessary to prevent my dog from now being less well adjusted was for her to have been able to call her dogs and put them on a lead or called to heel for all of a few minutes.
I don’t want to ruin other people’s dog walks, and I don’t want to see well trained dogs banned from being off lead, but a few minutes on lead isn’t much to ask.

 

[CorvusCorax]

This was what was said to me by the lady who’s border collies attacked mine. That she never saw anyone out this way and so she saw no reason to have them on a lead. I had a perfectly happy well exercised, well stimulated, well adjusted dog who like other dogs until that point. All that was necessary to prevent my dog from now being less well adjusted was for her to have been able to call her dogs and put them on a lead or called to heel for all of a few minutes.
I don’t want to ruin other people’s dog walks, and I don’t want to see well trained dogs banned from being off lead, but a few minutes on lead isn’t much to ask.

Yep, two performance record books filled and more trig points than I can remember (I couldn't have got my ass up there without him 😂), he just doesn't like getting rudely accosted by other dogs.

 

[DabDab]

No, doesn't seem like an odd thing for her to say OP.
Mine (both terriers, one the sweetest, most easy-going little critter you could meet, the other defensive and vocal but doesn't approach other dogs), spend most of their walks off lead, but always go on lead and get moved out of the way when another dog approaches.

12-odd years ago I was looking after my parents' jrt while they were away, and was walking him in the dark in a local park when he was attacked by two labs. He was badly hurt and ended up having his leg amputated on Christmas day (attack was on Christmas Eve). That wasn't a nice phone call to have to make.

Since then I do not let my dogs meet others out and about. At all. My dogs do not need to socialise with other random dogs out walking and I have absolutely no interest in them doing so. They have plenty of opportunities to socialise with dogs I know.

 

[Andie02]

I rarely use a lead on a walk. If I see another dog coming I heel mine then sit them up to the side when we actually get to a passing place. I do always have one lead with me to put Pen on as she can be a bit opinionated. The others are fine. So all dogs always on leads, even out in the country, is a weird concept to me. Poor dogs!

Nothing poor dogs about it. Our dogs have a large garden to run about in, with secure high fencing. Out in a public place they are safest on a lead for their own good and for the safety of other other dogs, humans and all other animals. Nothing weird either about keeping our own dogs safe.

I'm sure that you wouldn't be having that attitude if you had sheep, cattle or horses that got worried by dogs or even your cats or dogs. Or indeed a member of your family out riding whose horse got startled by dogs and chased and they got hit by a vehicle or slipped on the
road and ended up with catastrophic injuries or worse dead !

 

[Andie02]

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.

This absolutely.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I rarely use a lead on a walk. If I see another dog coming I heel mine then sit them up to the side when we actually get to a passing place. I do always have one lead with me to put Pen on as she can be a bit opinionated. The others are fine. So all dogs always on leads, even out in the country, is a weird concept to me. Poor dogs!

That's fine if you are on your own land *and* you can reliably call your dogs to heel no matter what. The 'poor dogs' that I feel sorry for are those that don't want to be accosted by thuggish ill-mannered dogs whose owners have no control over them and don't really seem to think that they should have. No-one is saying that all dogs should be on the lead all the time but that they should be on a lead if there are other dogs about, unless the owner knows specifically that they don't need to be.

ETA, I do seem to remember you having a problem with a Dobermann, when your dog wasn't as well-behaved as you expected. That is when a lead is a useful piece of equipment.

 

[Andie02]

No, doesn't seem like an odd thing for her to say OP.
Mine (both terriers, one the sweetest, most easy-going little critter you could meet, the other defensive and vocal but doesn't approach other dogs), spend most of their walks off lead, but always go on lead and get moved out of the way when another dog approaches.

12-odd years ago I was looking after my parents' jrt while they were away, and was walking him in the dark in a local park when he was attacked by two labs. He was badly hurt and ended up having his leg amputated on Christmas day (attack was on Christmas Eve). That wasn't a nice phone call to have to make.

Since then I do not let my dogs meet others out and about. At all. My dogs do not need to socialise with other random dogs out walking and I have absolutely no interest in them doing so. They have plenty of opportunities to socialise with dogs I know.

How absolutely horrific for you DabDab, your parents dog and and your parents . Another classic example of a totally unnecessary accident.

 

[blackcob]

My dogs do not need to socialise with other random dogs out walking and I have absolutely no interest in them doing so. They have plenty of opportunities to socialise with dogs I know.

I completely agree but people often react with horror if you say this, as if the dog lives in a bubble and isn't allowed to interact with another dog ever - little do they know that, outside of pandemic conditions, my dogs have a more varied social life than I do. 😅

Same reaction if I say that the sibes don't go off-lead; no need to feel sorry for them, back in the day they would run more miles before 7am in the morning than most pet dogs do in a whole month. Always a good comeback for the bUt He NeEdS tO rUn OfF tHe LeAd brigade.

 

[zandp]

Wow - in 4 years of owning a reactive dog I've had 1 dog walker put theirs on lead without asking, 3 do it after asking and all of the others (at least 1 a week) have normally sworn at me.

 

[Andie02]

Without wanting to derail the thread, I was in our local Sainsbury's (small store) when the local secondary school pupils started to appear. I usually try to avoid the area around that time. There was a group of 3 or 4 teenage boys, maybe aged 13 or 14, cuffing each other and generally being a pain near the self- service tills. Automatically, I said in my best teacher voice 'what on earth do you think you are doing? This is a shop, not a playground'. Cue very chastened boys picking up their shopping and scuttling off. A member of staff told me that they are not allowed to do that! Why not? They would intervene if the boys were shop lifting, so why not get involved when they are annoying other customers?
I am so glad to hear that you would have intervened.

There is nowhere near enough discipline and respect for others, it is frightening to see how bad things have got and every generation appears to get worse. Obviously not all, there lots of genuinely good people, but it seems like so many just can't be told, won't be told what to do and abide by any rules, there is absolutely no wonder that so many people are dying with the current circumstances, unfortunately many deaths due to selfish, ignorant and beyond stupid people. With so little respect for the police even, these days, its time far harsher punishments were put in place for any offenders, otherwise it will only get worse if that's even possible.

 

[Andie02]

Wow - in 4 years of owning a reactive dog I've had 1 dog walker put theirs on lead without asking, 3 do it after asking and all of the others (at least 1 a week) have normally sworn at me.

Ridiculous isn't it that people are so selfish and stupid ........ there is no cure for stupid !!!

 

[zandp]

Ridiculous isn't it that people are so selfish and stupid ........ there is no cure for stupid !!!

Bring back the dog licence !!

I can now pick out who'll swear at me / insult me or start lecturing me about my dog and why I shouldn't be walking him there though - so I guess that's something.

And it's not normally the younger generation.

And oddly my 6ft ish male OH never gets the same abuse from these dog walkers.

 

[JennBags]

I always carry a lead with Juno but rarely use it. If I see another dog, I call her to me and she waits with me until I release her after we've passed the other dogs, she's not interested anyway. I do have to ask other people to call their dogs away sometimes.

At the office, there are a couple of terriers that are never on lead, and their owners have no recall. The first day I took Rocky, the terriers came racing up to him barking, it's a good thing he wasn't aggressive to other dogs as they got straight in his face (he was on lead of course). I can't understand why their owners don't use leads, it's utter madness. They also come up to the office doors (glass top to bottom) barking every lunchtime which really upsets Juno when she's in.

 

[Andie02]

sorry, dont know what you mean about your post on another thread....i was just interested to know peoples opinions on what happened to me this morning... i am not stupid, i have had dogs all of my life and things have happened so i am very aware....

So you have had things 'happen' and you are 'aware' yet you still let your dogs run loose ! Clearly you can't be ' aware ' of all the dog thefts that are occurring on a regular basis, otherwise you would be keeping your little darlings close by your side firmly attached to you with leads, and someone accompanying you and carrying a weapon. I would have thought that a 6 month old puppy would be a prime target for dog thieves. An older lady on your own with your pooches running loose, have you got any idea how vulnerable you are for getting them stolen ? Dog owners have even been punched in the face in the street and their dogs stolen from them, houses and outbuildings are being broken into to steal dogs and litters of puppies, dog thefts are rife, more so since the start of the pandemic, very often offenders working in two's or three's with a vehicle close by. We know of someone who re posts on fb on average 2-3 dog thefts per day. God only knows what happens to the poor dogs, it just doesn't bear thinking about.
As for 'not stupid ' ......... debateable !!! Wise up, if only for your dogs sake.

 

[JennBags]

So you have had things 'happen' and you are 'aware' yet you still let your dogs run loose ! Clearly you can't be ' aware ' of all the dog thefts that are occurring on a regular basis, otherwise you would be keeping your little darlings close by your side firmly attached to you with leads, and someone accompanying you and carrying a weapon. I would have thought that a 6 month old puppy would be a prime target for dog thieves. An older lady on your own with your pooches running loose, have you got any idea how vulnerable you are for getting them stolen ? Dog owners have even been punched in the face in the street and their dogs stolen from them, houses and outbuildings are being broken into to steal dogs and litters of puppies, dog thefts are rife, more so since the start of the pandemic, very often offenders working in two's or three's with a vehicle close by. We know of someone who re posts on fb on average 2-3 dog thefts per day. God only knows what happens to the poor dogs, it just doesn't bear thinking about.
As for 'not stupid ' ......... debateable !!! Wise up, if only for your dogs sake.

You're a delightful person aren't you.

 

[Andie02]

You're a delightful person aren't you.

Only telling it as it is, she clearly is not 'aware' of what really is happening, probably a lot more people need the head's up to be more on their guard too.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I think it's actually the law here to have your dog on a lead as soon as another dog or person is seen. It's common sense to me.

There is one man who will keep his dog off the lead and stand to the side while I pass. Which is fine since the dog obeys...but not "correct"

I always clip my lead on the minute I see someone else. My dog has a good recall and always stops right away and waits for my command on what to do when she sees someone else. If my dog were off the lead and something happened between her and another dog or person I'm pretty sure my insurance wouldn't cover it. So there's that too.

People are pretty good about it here. It's rude and risky not to.

People are also really unaware of dog body language. I've almost been attacked when walking my dog 3 times. I totally saw it coming and the owner was oblivious and couldn't hold the dog back when if lunged (luckily I was prepared).

 

[Clodagh]

[QUOTE="Pearlsasinger, post: 14510299, member: 58878"

ETA, I do seem to remember you having a problem with a Dobermann, when your dog wasn't as well-behaved as you expected. That is when a lead is a useful piece of equipment.[/QUOTE]

I nearly reposted about the Dobermann as I knew you would enjoy pointing it out. However, as I said if you actually read my post was I have a lead for Penny. As yours are walked with two leads, one in a figure of eight, I doubt we will ever agree on this. I take leads for all if walking on other peoples land or the road.

 

[Clodagh]

So you have had things 'happen' and you are 'aware' yet you still let your dogs run loose ! Clearly you can't be ' aware ' of all the dog thefts that are occurring on a regular basis, otherwise you would be keeping your little darlings close by your side firmly attached to you with leads, and someone accompanying you and carrying a weapon. I would have thought that a 6 month old puppy would be a prime target for dog thieves. An older lady on your own with your pooches running loose, have you got any idea how vulnerable you are for getting them stolen ? Dog owners have even been punched in the face in the street and their dogs stolen from them, houses and outbuildings are being broken into to steal dogs and litters of puppies, dog thefts are rife, more so since the start of the pandemic, very often offenders working in two's or three's with a vehicle close by. We know of someone who re posts on fb on average 2-3 dog thefts per day. God only knows what happens to the poor dogs, it just doesn't bear thinking about.
As for 'not stupid ' ......... debateable !!! Wise up, if only for your dogs sake.

Seriously, when you go for a walk you have your dog on a short lead and another person carrying a weapon? That sounds extemely stressful! Several on lead dogs have be stolen round here, its not a fail safe. Maybe they didn't have an armed person with them. How do single people walk their dogs?

 

[Pearlsasinger]

[QUOTE="Pearlsasinger, post: 14510299, member: 58878"

ETA, I do seem to remember you having a problem with a Dobermann, when your dog wasn't as well-behaved as you expected. That is when a lead is a useful piece of equipment.

I nearly reposted about the Dobermann as I knew you would enjoy pointing it out. However, as I said if you actually read my post was I have a lead for Penny. As yours are walked with two leads, one in a figure of eight, I doubt we will ever agree on this. I take leads for all if walking on other peoples land or the road.[/QUOTE]


However I believe that the lead was not attached to Penny at the time and you/ OH(?) didn't get it on her in time to avoid an incident. Not much use really, if that is the case?
The Labs do not have 2 leads or fig-8 leads, they are a completely different kettle of fish from Rottweilers. Our dogs have to be walked on public land in order to leave our property, so *must* be on leads, according to the local bye-laws.

 

[YorksG]

[QUOTE="Pearlsasinger, post: 14510299, member: 58878"

ETA, I do seem to remember you having a problem with a Dobermann, when your dog wasn't as well-behaved as you expected. That is when a lead is a useful piece of equipment.

I nearly reposted about the Dobermann as I knew you would enjoy pointing it out. However, as I said if you actually read my post was I have a lead for Penny. As yours are walked with two leads, one in a figure of eight, I doubt we will ever agree on this. I take leads for all if walking on other peoples land or the road.[/QUOTE]
The labs do not require two leads. The rottweiler has two for her protection as much as anything. People have a very bad habit of allowing their dogs to rush up to her and she does react. As I only weigh slightly more than her, the figure of eight keeps us all safe

 

[Clodagh]

I nearly reposted about the Dobermann as I knew you would enjoy pointing it out. However, as I said if you actually read my post was I have a lead for Penny. As yours are walked with two leads, one in a figure of eight, I doubt we will ever agree on this. I take leads for all if walking on other peoples land or the road.

However I believe that the lead was not attached to Penny at the time and you/ OH(?) didn't get it on her in time to avoid an incident. Not much use really, if that is the case?
The Labs do not have 2 leads or fig-8 leads, they are a completely different kettle of fish from Rottweilers. Our dogs have to be walked on public land in order to leave or property, so *must* be on leads.[/QUOTE]

Nor was the Doberman, he was at least 200m from his owner, anyway, I was in the wrong there and have said so.
I still think you should be able to walk on a rural route with your dogs off lead , unless you have dodgy recall.

 

[Clodagh]

I nearly reposted about the Dobermann as I knew you would enjoy pointing it out. However, as I said if you actually read my post was I have a lead for Penny. As yours are walked with two leads, one in a figure of eight, I doubt we will ever agree on this. I take leads for all if walking on other peoples land or the road.

The labs do not require two leads. The rottweiler has two for her protection as much as anything. People have a very bad habit of allowing their dogs to rush up to her and she does react. As I only weigh slightly more than her, the figure of eight keeps us all safe[/QUOTE]

I’m glad the labs can be walked on just one lead, I still think it’s s bad sad they miss out on all the downtime that to me an enjoyable walk is all about.
I absolutely agree if your dog is liable to pull you over a figure of eight is a plus.

 

[YorksG]

The labs do not require two leads. The rottweiler has two for her protection as much as anything. People have a very bad habit of allowing their dogs to rush up to her and she does react. As I only weigh slightly more than her, the figure of eight keeps us all safe

I’m glad the labs can be walked on just one lead, I still think it’s s bad sad they miss out on all the downtime that to me an enjoyable walk is all about.
I absolutely agree if your dog is liable to pull you over a figure of eight is a plus.[/QUOTE]
You are willfully misunderstanding, but that's your perogative.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

However I believe that the lead was not attached to Penny at the time and you/ OH(?) didn't get it on her in time to avoid an incident. Not much use really, if that is the case?
The Labs do not have 2 leads or fig-8 leads, they are a completely different kettle of fish from Rottweilers. Our dogs have to be walked on public land in order to leave or property, so *must* be on leads.

Nor was the Doberman, he was at least 200m from his owner, anyway, I was in the wrong there and have said so.
I still think you should be able to walk on a rural route with your dogs off lead , unless you have dodgy recall.[/QUOTE]


And yet you continue to just carry the lead with you, rather than having it attached to the dog?


You would fit in well round here, the road we have to walk on to leave the property is rural, it only leads to the village, has a 40 mph speed limit, no pavements, has passing places for cars to pull off as it isn't wide enough for 2 cars and is full of dogwalkers, who leave their poobags in the bushes if they bother to pick up after their dogs at all (not saying that is you) and have their dogs running about all over the road, half of them don't even carry a lead, no matter how many dogs they have with them. There are plenty of sheep and other stock in fields alongside the roads, too. There are signs up reminding people about the bye-law, which are completely ignored. Do you still think dogs on rural roads should be off lead?

 

[Clodagh]

I agree I’m being a bit argumentative.
Anyway, with less passive aggressiveness, when you are walking in the middle of no where do you always keep all your dogs on leads? I’m genuinely interested. Do you let them sniff or is it a training exercise rather than downtime?
I know proper trainers don’t walk for entertainment

 

[Clodagh]

Nor was the Doberman, he was at least 200m from his owner, anyway, I was in the wrong there and have said so.
I still think you should be able to walk on a rural route with your dogs off lead , unless you have dodgy recall.

You would fit in well round here, the road we have to walk on to leave the property is rural, it only leads to the village, has a 40 mph speed limit, no pavements, has passing places for cars to pull off as it isn't wide enough for 2 cars and is full of dogwalkers, who leave their poobags in the bushes if they bother to pick up after their dogs at all (not saying that is you) and have their dogs running about all over the road, half of them don't even carry a lead, no matter how many dogs they have with them. There are plenty of sheep and other stock in fields alongside the roads, too. There are signs up reminding people about the bye-law, which are completely ignored. Do you still think dogs on rural roads should be off lead?[/QUOTE]

I didn’t say they should be off lead on roads? Route meant footpath, no one in their right mind has their dogs off lead on a road.

 

[TheresaW]

Sorry to be “dragging” Bo into a post again, but I have him off lead as much as possible. Never when we do a street walk, but out in the woods, open fields etc. If we see dogs when out, if they are on lead, I pop him on his, if they’re off, I leave him off. On lead, he wants to kill everyone and everything, off lead, he will ignore them. Happy to have a sniff if approached, will sometimes play, but generally only interested in sniffing and Luna.