Proper Control?

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Spook

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Could you give your interpretation of "proper control" please, it seems a pity that land managers are having to resort to this on one of the most famous and well loved walks in Scotland,. Why will people not keep their dogs on a lead or under close control in the countryside? According to SNH "close control" is on a short lead or at heel ie within 4' of the handler.

 
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Spook said:
Could you give your interpretation of "proper control" please, .......
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If a dog is walking to heal, off a lead, and it can be relied upon to remain in that position, regardless of any temptation, then that is 'proper control'. If it can't, then and if it's put on a lead, then that's 'proper control'. That would be my take on the intention.

On the very rare occasion when I'm on a busy public road, then my dogs would probably be on leads. Otherwise, they walk to heal and without a lead, until they are released; the only exception, for me, would be a lurcher, as expecting them to ignore a hare which got up under our feet, would be asking a bit much! That's what they're kept for.

Alec.
 
Agree with Alec, esp the lurcher bit. We have 2 non working lurchers and they are never allowed off the lead away from home unless we are 110% certain there are no distractions and even then only 1 at a time because they distract one another lol
 
I do a lot of walking and my dog comes with me everywhere and is very rarely on a lead and when he is it is often for the sake of not getting into an argument with people over "that dog should be on a lead" despite him being inches away from my side.
Some people I have seen have their dogs on stupid flexi leads and said beloved mutt is running riot and to me that is not under close control. All the signs I have seen say "please keep your dog on a lead or under close control"
I agree it is sad that places are having problems with dogs as people should be more sensible and know what they need to control their dog be it a word, a lead, a halti, whatever.
I however will not put my dog on a lead walking through field with cattle or horses, he walks at my side 99% of the time but if they are too interested in us he will be to to "move out" which he knows is to get out of thefield in whichever direction I send him.
 
It is quite possible for a dog to be hundreds of yards away from the owner but still under "perfect control". I am not suggesting this is the norm, but it is possible. Keep a dog on a four foot lead on a deserted beach and deprive it of the joy of chasing the sea gulls? Cruelty, in my opinion!:D

Sometimes legislation is vague for a very good reason. What the words actually mean in a specific situation is (and rightly so in my opinion) best left to the courts. That doesn't mean there shouldn't be guidelines.

I have long argued that dog owners should be required to pass a test to demonstrate that their dogs ARE under reasonable control. Or to turn that on it's head, to demonstrate that they are capable of handling their pets. I need a licence to own a gun and another to drive a car. Why not to own a dog?
 
I agree with the above comments on what constitutes control, but cannot for the life of me understand anyone walking a dog off lead when walking along a road. What are you trying to prove at the risk of losing your dog???! Please don't tell me your dog is so under control that nothing would make it run or step into the road because you cannot guarantee that 100%. Not sure if the law says a dog should be on a lead when being walked along a road?
 
Saneta said:
I agree with the above comments on what constitutes control, but cannot for the life of me understand anyone walking a dog off lead when walking along a road. What are you trying to prove at the risk of losing your dog???! Please don't tell me your dog is so under control that nothing would make it run or step into the road because you cannot guarantee that 100%. Not sure if the law says a dog should be on a lead when being walked along a road?
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The only comment I can see re walking near roads is Alec and he said he would walk his dogs on lead near a road.
I personally prefer not to walk along the side of roads and my comments were regarding walking in the country side. I try to avoid walking by the road and would put the dog on a lead near busy roads but to get to the fields where I walk the dog is about 200m along my street which is a culdesac with minimal traffic and a wide footpath with a grass verge between us and the road and often just walk him to heel and feel quite comfortable he is under control.
 
As well trained as many many dogs are you cannot predict your environment 100%, and can never IMO have complete control without a lead - they are not robots and can act out of character given the right stimulus- rare (with those very very well trained doggies) granted- but possible.
 
lexiedhb said:
As well trained as many many dogs are you cannot predict your environment 100%, and can never IMO have complete control without a lead - they are not robots and can act out of character given the right stimulus- rare (with those very very well trained doggies) granted- but possible.
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An interesting and correct stance. For me (and I underline that!), with a dog off the lead, contact isn't so certain, from the dog's perspective, and a dog which isn't reliant upon being attached to me by a line, is more likely to be aware of where I am, and to understand that it needs to consider its position, rather than, as I say, being reliant upon the lead. In short, I want the dog to take responsibility for itself and to think for itself, in as much as it can.

Having a dog off a lead isn't about being clever, or negligent, it's about the dog.

Alec.
 
Entirely true Alec- and I think you see many many dogs taking more stock of where their owner is off lead than on. Does not stop a bunny appearing at 10 paces tho...........
 
Alec Swan said:
Having a dog off a lead isn't about being clever, or negligent, it's about the dog.

Alec.
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What???? I'm not getting at you personally here Alec, I was referring to the many macho people I see walking their dogs on the pavement on a busy road without the control of a lead. As a driver, I slow down, I couldn't bear to run over a dog even if it wouldn't be my fault. I do have to take issue with you over your final comment though Alec. You are responsible for the dog in your care. You cannot assume your dog will not ever be tempted to leave your side, for whatever reason, it's the human in control, the human who is responsible. If your dog ran into the road and got hit by a car, would you honestly tell the dog it was his own fault???
 
Saneta,

I'm not lecturing others, and again, I don't expect others to follow my example, but the simple fact is that I expect my dogs to focus on me, at all times, and I suspect that I've found the best way to achieve that, for me.

I suppose that my argument would be like the trapeze artist's might be, the one without a safety net, "So far, so good"!

Alec.
 
I think we have got a lead somewhere, for going to the vets but ours never wear one. The lab will go for a days shooting and sit on the peg and not move a muscle unless asked. We walk down the road with her and the lurcher (only a back lane) and they heel all the way and sit if we hear a car.
Yes the lurcher would go if she saw a hare or a deer but haven't seen one on the road yet - luckily!
Working dogs should be capable of the type of advanced training that means they can go out off a lead. I don't count terriers, 'fighting' breeds or anything not bred to work with people.

ETA off the lead the lab always has her nose by your leg, if you put the lead on she walks slightly in front!
 
Many years ago (60+) my mother was walking her Labrador along the pavement, pushing me in her pram. The Lab was very well trained and off lead. Suddenly, a dog came rushing out of its garden to attack the Lab. The instinct of the Lab was to run, straight out into the road and was sadly killed by passing car. The driver didn't stand a chance, and there wasn't the amount of traffic on the road then, as there is today. There was no point in my mum saying the Lab was so well trained, so focussed on her, in a split second, the situation changed and a beautiful dog was killed and my mum was left distraught. Guess that's why I feel so strongly about keeping dogs on leads where there is traffic. My dogs don't know how lucky they care, enjoying miles of forest tracks without the danger of cars...
 
Clodagh said:
I think we have got a lead somewhere, for going to the vets but ours never wear one. The lab will go for a days shooting and sit on the peg and not move a muscle unless asked. We walk down the road with her and the lurcher (only a back lane) and they heel all the way and sit if we hear a car.
Yes the lurcher would go if she saw a hare or a deer but haven't seen one on the road yet - luckily!
Working dogs should be capable of the type of advanced training that means they can go out off a lead. I don't count terriers, 'fighting' breeds or anything not bred to work with people.

ETA off the lead the lab always has her nose by your leg, if you put the lead on she walks slightly in front!
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errrr whats a "fighting" breed?
 
We're working on distance control, so far I have established that that terrier isn't quite as au fait with the commands as I thought, if he is next to me and I say stop he stops. If he's not next to me, he runs back to me and stops, can't fault his logic...
 
lexiedhb said:
errrr whats a "fighting" breed?
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Well that wasn't well put, but I mean bull terriers etc that were not historically bred to be with humans and work with humans but to do their own thing.
I'm sure you knew what i meant really but you do love to have an issue with every post I make.
 
Clodagh said:
Well that wasn't well put, but I mean bull terriers etc that were not historically bred to be with humans and work with humans but to do their own thing.
I'm sure you knew what i meant really but you do love to have an issue with every post I make.
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Hilarious- I wasnt even aware i had ever replied to a post of yours (must go look back..... and did and er got bored of me having not replied to you by page 3....????)- but if it is due to ignorant comments like "fighting dogs" when you mean bull terriers then its really NOT a surprise - sheesh
 
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