Dogs off leads and walking
by Rescued Dog Walker, Lancashire
Hello, re the previous e-mails & various opinions about dogs being off the lead in open countryside - those who have never owned a problem dog are unlikely to understand fully when they think they have a right to let their dogs run about uncontrolled up to other people.
I have a rescued border collie who does not like other dogs. I keep him on a lead I can reel in at all times.
It is very stressful out walking when countless owners of mostly large dogs let their dogs run up to mine - even after I shout a warning to keep their dog away, they seem unable to command control of their dog.
Which means when my dog snarls and snaps towards the other dog, quite often the other dog then leaps in to attack back- this is very dangerous for me holding the lead.
I have in the past muzzled my dog, but all that happened then when other dogs come running up, and he leaps towards them, he gets bitten and cant defend himself.
I have been quite nervous when very large dogs that the owners say 'dont worry he's friendly' come over.
Any dog may not be friendly to another aggressive dog. I now carry a walking pole I am so sick of this, any dog that causes problems will get a taste of the pole (or maybe that should be the owner?).
Dog owners need to be aware of the law if a dog is 'at large' off the lead anywhere and causes injury to one on the lead or a person, the owner of the roaming dog is breaking the law.
Unfortunately it would not be easy to find out who they were or to prove it and some of these owners can be quite aggressive themselves after some of these incidents.
If you let your dog off the lead, it should be trained very highly to obey the owner, if not then should be on a lead.
“There's no such thing as a bad dog, just a bad owner!!!!”
Rob Howden, Leicester.
“I agree with the author of this post, if you are walking your dog/s and you see other people, children or dogs coming your way keep your animal under control. This means put their lead on, when you have past, them let them off.
Life is always a compromise. If it is too much hassle to put the dogs lead on then you shouldn't be walking the dog. All dogs are related to the grey wolf and are unpredictable, and have the potential to attack, especially anything running, it is their nature.
In our area their are lots of owners with two or more large dogs. The dogs run ahead the owner walks behind, they have no control. When you meet them they always say how friendly their dogs are [but] many times our little dog has been surrounded by these friendly dogs. She gets stressed. I get stressed. The other dog walker carries on without a care in the world. Eventually the large dogs move on to their next victim.
Our dog is part of our family, loved by our children more than anyone can imagine, if she is ever attacked emotions will be running very high. Lets just hope it never happens.”
Name Not Supplied
“"I have found that the only stressful part of walking with dogs is having them on a lead in the first place. If you have two dogs, as we have, the constant process of lead-untangling is almost as tiring as the walk." - David Clark, Dundee
May I, in that case, respectfully suggest that you either take shorter leads or teach your dogs to walk on-lead nicely? I've got 2 collie crosses, who are off-lead when the circumstances allow, but will be put on their leads, without any trouble, when meeting other people, dogs or livestock.
To me that is just a matter of common sense and respect; my boy hasn't got very good social skills and is very insecure, and if he doesn't like a dog he will have a go. My girl will ignore most dogs, but if she notices that my boy doesn't like them, she'll be happy to egg him on to have a go at the other dog!
This is all perfectly manageable, as long as people are considerate enough to keep their dogs away from mine. I'm sick and tired of hearing: "oh he's friendly" and "she only wants to play" - the latter being said to me while their dog had my girl pinned to the ground!
Even if your dog is sociable around other dogs, please be considerate of other dogs that aren't, and of people who don't like dogs. It's inconsiderate dog owners who give us all a bad name.”
Billy De Goede
“I own a re-homed, not rescue, Springer Spaniel, who is tolerant of other dogs for so long, but if he is continually harassed, will tell the other dog in no uncertain terms to go away.
I do find it frustrating when he is on the lead, and other dogs, regardless of their size, come and harass and pester whilst the owner makes no effort to call them off - stating their dog is harmless and only wants to play!
Each dog owner has a responsibility to manage their dog properly and safely, and not assume that every other dog will react in a friendly manner to their dog. If I am in a place where I know there is a possibility of my dog being a pest to someone else or another dog because they have something he wants, he is recalled and put on the lead.
People are often too naive about dog behaviour, even the so called experts who quite frankly sometimes give dog owners a bad name, whilst others do know what they are doing. A problem dog can be rehabilitated but only in controlled environments by people who know what to do, and whilst an owner can make every effort to be responsible to keep a dog with social issues or boisterous behaviour under control by keeping them on a short lead, other owners have a legal duty to keep their own dogs under control by preventing possible provocations and altercations, it does not take much to work out when somebody is giving you all the right signs to say my dog may have a problem so please keep your dog away!
The words common sense mean anything?”
Anne Hunter, Scarborough
“I agree with the author of the article, that people shouldn't let dogs off the lead if they have no control over them.
I've had to abandon looking at a view which had taken a half hour slog to reach because some silly woman had two enormous hounds running amok and didn't even have a lead to put them on if she'd been able to get anywhere near them which she couldn't.
My own small dog was terrified.”
Deborah Haigh, London
“I can see 'Rescued Dog Walker's point of view but I have found with my two dogs that they are happy and friendly with any other dog they encounter if they are off lead. If they are on leads they tend to be aggressive to other dogs as they must feel they are protecting me or they feel at a disadvantage.
I have talked to other dog owners who say the same thing.
My dogs are always on leads in the appropriate places. I discovered quite early on though that it is best to let them off when crossing a field of cows. If the cows are interested in the dogs they can both run faster than I can. The dogs aren't interested in the cows at all.”
Lea Roman, Bradford
“My concern is with so called professional dog walkers.
I have 2 boxers dogs aged 10 and 5 and was surrounded by 8 dogs let loose by a person who called herself a dog psychologist. She herself took 5 mins to approach me and at no time did she recall her dogs.
My 5 year old was on the lead as always as has been previously set upon my an uncontrolled dog. My dog was totally unnerved by these dogs and barked to defend himself whilst still on the lead. The so called psychologist then turned and whilst slowly walking past told me to muzzle my dog otherwise she would report me.
I made no response but have spoken to the local Environmental dept who say they will call back at some stage. Tell me has she the right and do these walkers who are getting more and more prolific carry a licence. I noted that this person did not look as if she even had a dog lead.
I am aware of responsible dog handling having exercised my dog in forest areas for 10 years, but why is it these walkers think they are above everyone else. I am sure they make a lot of money doing this type of practice, but who is monitoring them?
I would be interested in hearing from others who have had similar bad experiences. Thanks for reading this by the way - it does help my frustration!!”
Vanessa Turnbull, Camberley
“I would like to say that I too have a nervous greyhound cross rescue dog who on the lead will be aggressive towards other dogs, and totally agree that it is worrying when other peoples large dogs come bounding over to say hello.
However, he is fine off the lead with other dogs, and maybe your collie would be the same, although unfortunately it is not always appropriate for him to be off the lead due to his speed and single track mind when it comes to chasing anything that moves!!”
Kathleen Peter
“I have found that the only stressful part of walking with dogs is having them on a lead in the first place. If you have two dogs, as we have, the constant process of lead-untangling is almost as tiring as the walk.
There are certainly some areas where dogs should be on leads, and some where they should not be taken at all; notably in areas where lambing is taking place. Nevertheless I see no reason why our two well-behaved dogs should not be let off the lead on an open hill path for example, where they will happily trot along the path, not rampaging among the heather disturbing nesting game birds, offending other walkers or their dogs.
This runs contrary to the myriad signs which seem to be springing up all over the countryside warning dog owners to keep their animals on a lead at all times. With these I tend to do as I do with all examples of the nanny state/ over-prescriptive landowners and apply a hefty dose of common sense.
I have had run-ins with landowners in the past, notably one who insisted the dogs should be put on a lead as they would worry his sheep. He was less than pleased when I pointed out that there was not a sheep in sight and we had not seen hide nor hair of a sheep in eight miles.”
David Clark, Dundee
NB. You may find the pdf booklet: You and your dog in the countryside produced by Natural England useful.
Mike (Editor)
The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those held by go4awalk.com.
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