Dogs on leads

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Discussion

rigga

Original Poster:

8,730 posts

201 months

Thursday 5th January 2017
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Is there any specific rule regarding dogs on leads? Especially in public places? Reason I'm asking is that I'm pretty pissed off with a woman down the road who owns a mahoosive rottie, now I know owners of said breed will state they are miss understood, and are a lovely dog, but they are bloody big and powerful,and pretty intimidating.
Whilst walking home from the park this morning with my Schnauzer, under 6 months old so pretty small in size still, this rottie whilst walking on the other side of the road decides to charge over and go for casper, now I appreciate it wasn't a full on attack, as there is no apparent damage, but having had to swing him out of the way by his harness, whilst trying to grab hold of him to lift him up out of the way, all the time whilst he's yelping, and the other dog owner doing pretty much naff all about control this big dog.
So should all dogs be on leads, no matter how well trained they appear to be?

LordHaveMurci

12,043 posts

169 months

Thursday 5th January 2017
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Dogs should NOT be on leads if in a field/park or suchlike, BUT only if they well behaved & don't do what the rottie did to you.

Autopilot

1,298 posts

184 months

Thursday 5th January 2017
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As far as I'm aware, the only legal requirement for having a dog on a lead is when in an area covered by a Public Space Protection Order.

From a common sense point of view, not having your dog on a lead is a bit silly when in busy areas, by roads and more appropriately, if you can't control the damned thing! It is against the law to 'allow' an animal to be out of control whether that be in public or private property.

KrazyIvan

4,341 posts

175 months

Thursday 5th January 2017
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There is no specific law about dogs on leads, however I believe there is about your dog being under control.

Have a read here

https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public/overview

I know I wasn't there, but are you sure you didn't overreact to what was simply a large dog saying "hello". For example if it was a smaller breed, would you have felt the need to act in the same way. The only reason I ask, is that, if it wanted to harm you or your dog, then it probably would have.

None of this is to excuse the other owners lack of control.

FiF

44,080 posts

251 months

Thursday 5th January 2017
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This has been covered before, but some owners are, frankly, clueless and inconsiderate.

If we see a dog on a lead, it's for a reason, and so ours goes back on if he is off, and if he is already on the lead then we try and keep separation distance until clear it's OK for the dogs to meet. Not difficult a rule to follow imo.

If ours is on his lead, it's for a reason, frankly it really pisses me off when folks just allow their dogs to wander up, if for some reason they don't get on, it happens, then we're faced with controlling and calming 30odd kilos of excited bouncing dog around. Plus if you have a go at the owner then ours picks up that you're angry and if affects his behaviour in other ways, so it's only occasionally that any adverse comment made, even though at times they need a really thorough ballocking.


rigga

Original Poster:

8,730 posts

201 months

Thursday 5th January 2017
quotequote all
KrazyIvan said:
I know I wasn't there, but are you sure you didn't overreact to what was simply a large dog saying "hello". For example if it was a smaller breed, would you have felt the need to act in the same way. The only reason I ask, is that, if it wanted to harm you or your dog, then it probably would have.

None of this is to excuse the other owners lack of control.
As I said it wasnt a full on attack, as neither myself or my dog was injured, and I appreciate what a full size dog like thus can do if it so wishes, but I and my dog felt very intimidated by the actions of this dog, might well have been playing to him, wasn't to me.

Autopilot

1,298 posts

184 months

Thursday 5th January 2017
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LordHaveMurci said:
Dogs should NOT be on leads if in a field/park or suchlike, BUT only if they well behaved & don't do what the rottie did to you.
Agree with this 100%!

If you can control your dog, you can call it in when appropriate and put it on the lead if appropriate and avoid a lot of incidents like this.

The most important part of training is instilling self control and basic doggie manners. It really annoys me when I'm walking my dogs and somebody 'allows' their dog to run across the field to come and bark at / jump on my dogs.

My male isn't keen on other males. He isn't muzzled as he's not a danger and ALWAYS does as he's told. It's frustrating that when somebody who can't control their dog stands at the other side of the park yelling while their dog has a go at my dog. He has on occasion retaliated, mainly noise, yet people ask why my dog 'attacked' theirs. There is clear blame to be held, and it lays with the owner of the other dog!


anonymous-user

54 months

Thursday 5th January 2017
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rigga said:
As I said it wasnt a full on attack, as neither myself or my dog was injured, and I appreciate what a full size dog like thus can do if it so wishes, but I and my dog felt very intimidated by the actions of this dog, might well have been playing to him, wasn't to me.
When you say it wasn't a 'full on attack' was it actually an attack at all, or just a boisterous dog playing? Teeth out, trying to bite?

I know it does not help the situation, and I am in no way defending the other dog/owner, but the language does need to be accurate for people to be able to comment accurately.

Benmac

1,468 posts

216 months

Thursday 5th January 2017
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Obviously a natural reaction but be a little careful scooping your dog up in that situation. It can make them more of a target to the other dog who you can then have leaping up at you to get it.

FiF

44,080 posts

251 months

Thursday 5th January 2017
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Autopilot said:
LordHaveMurci said:
Dogs should NOT be on leads if in a field/park or suchlike, BUT only if they well behaved & don't do what the rottie did to you.
Agree with this 100%!

If you can control your dog, you can call it in when appropriate and put it on the lead if appropriate and avoid a lot of incidents like this.

The most important part of training is instilling self control and basic doggie manners. It really annoys me when I'm walking my dogs and somebody 'allows' their dog to run across the field to come and bark at / jump on my dogs.

My male isn't keen on other males. He isn't muzzled as he's not a danger and ALWAYS does as he's told. It's frustrating that when somebody who can't control their dog stands at the other side of the park yelling while their dog has a go at my dog. He has on occasion retaliated, mainly noise, yet people ask why my dog 'attacked' theirs. There is clear blame to be held, and it lays with the owner of the other dog!
Also agree with this 100%.

Just before Christmas we were on the common, he was on his lead as there were horses and riders heading our way, and he isn't 100% reliable round horses. We were then bothered by a spaniel that ran across, wound him up, then started jumping up at me and biting at the pocket where training treats are kept. Owners at a distance eventually, when asked, started to shout completely ineffectively to recall the spaniel, and then got shirty when asked to fetch him when we walked away and their dog followed whilst continuing the unacceptable behaviour.

Some owners are not fit.

rigga

Original Poster:

8,730 posts

201 months

Thursday 5th January 2017
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It was growling with teeth bared on approach, I then was more concerned about getting my dog out of its way, rather than what it was doing then, as I've repeatedly said to him it might well have been fun and games, if it was a smaller dog approaching the same way I wouldn't have felt so threatened, but with the size of this particular full grown dog I was. My point being that its a bloody big dog not under control.

git-r

969 posts

199 months

Thursday 5th January 2017
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If it makes any difference rotties do make a growling type sound as a sign of affection. I've seen it before and can be quite scary if you're not aware. They are lovely dogs though.

DocJock

8,357 posts

240 months

Thursday 5th January 2017
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There's no excuse for letting your free-running dog approach another dog which is on a lead without clearing it with the other owner.

The dog on the lead is going to feel vulnerable by being restrained, and defensive from the off.

anonymous-user

54 months

Thursday 5th January 2017
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rigga said:
It was growling with teeth bared on approach, I then was more concerned about getting my dog out of its way, rather than what it was doing then, as I've repeatedly said to him it might well have been fun and games, if it was a smaller dog approaching the same way I wouldn't have felt so threatened, but with the size of this particular full grown dog I was. My point being that its a bloody big dog not under control.
That sounds nasty. The owner could do with a bit of educating by the sounds of it.

HTP99

22,551 posts

140 months

Thursday 5th January 2017
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As far as I'm concerned, if a dog is on a lead then it is on a lead for a reason; Barry is off his lead when at a park, on a walk away from a road etc, if I see a dog on a lead I will either keep Barry occupied so he doesn't go near it or I will put him on his lead if I think he may go over for a sniff, usually if he looks as though he is going to go over, a quick sharp "Barry come" will be enough for him to change direction.

Daisy is always on a lead, she also has a bright yellow jacket which states "I need my space"; she isn't great with other dogs, still doesn't stop people not bothering about their dogs wandering over, even when I am obviously reeling her in and trying to keep her away from said dog, really pisses me off "oh she only wants to say hello".

Autopilot

1,298 posts

184 months

Thursday 5th January 2017
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git-r said:
If it makes any difference rotties do make a growling type sound as a sign of affection. I've seen it before and can be quite scary if you're not aware. They are lovely dogs though.
I have two Dobermanns and they are fairly vocal. When the male wants attention, he'll put his face in your face and bark at you. He's just an attention we and he's just literally shouting at you 'play with me, play with me!!'. If you don't know him, you'd st a brick as it would come across as aggression when in reality, it's just excitement and want's some interaction and waiting for you to tell him what to do.

While the breed of dog could be seen as intimidating and the biggest part of the issue here, for me I have to ask who the hell walks their dog which isn't under perfect control alongside a road where it could easily walk in to traffic as soon as it see's another dog /squirrel etc etc!

Our dog will walk perfectly to heel under instruction without a lead, but there's no way I'd walk him even along a very quiet back road without one.


rigga

Original Poster:

8,730 posts

201 months

Thursday 5th January 2017
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Not a main road, but used quite a lot as a cut through to avoid traffic on the surrounding busy streets.
Dog as said not on lead and just raced across the road, didn't even look left and right first, Dave Prowse wouldn't be impressed


Calmed down now, and can see that this time no harm done, but if I do see the woman and dog again, I will request he be put on a lead.

Boosted LS1

21,187 posts

260 months

Thursday 5th January 2017
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My dog's on a lead all the time now because he's old arthritic and deaf. It also means that when more energetic dogs come to him I can keep an eye on things so he doesn't get knocked over.

I don't expect every other dog walker out there to put their dogs on leads just because mine is. Some do, some don't. When he was younger I wouldn't put him on his lead just because other dogs were. My dogs completely socialised and if a leashed dog looked a bit suspect Jake would just wander away from it. He's only had 2 fights in the 15 years I've owned him and on both occasions he was the one being attacked. A well trained and socialised dog doesn't need to be on a leash. Deal with the problem because it's actually your problem assuming the other dog's sociable.

That said, it was hilarious today watching a bloke chasing his full sized poodle around the park. It was having a wonderful time and completely ignored him.

Edited by Boosted LS1 on Thursday 5th January 20:23

Beni997

390 posts

111 months

Friday 6th January 2017
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This does my head in!

We have 3 big dogs, one is always on a lead because he is so naughty off it. One is on and off the lead as he is that old that he's deaf and just wonders off so it's easier to have him on the lead. The other is never on his lead as he's the youngest and is very well behaved off his lead so he needs a good run round.

He is a big powerful dog but loves attention and people and other dogs. So when he see's another dog/person he goes running over to just say hello and has never shown any aggression, but jesus christ some reactions we get is ridiculous. It's normally people with little dogs who start screaming when he comes over and pick their dog up and run away!!

He then thinks it's a game and chases them until i get to him or shout him and i get the he should be on a lead comment in an aggressive manner! Why i ask and the normal reply i get is that he's big and could do some damage!!!

If he was nasty do you think i would have him off the lead???

Some people are just brain dead

alfie2244

11,292 posts

188 months

Friday 6th January 2017
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Beni997 said:
This does my head in!

We have 3 big dogs, one is always on a lead because he is so naughty off it. One is on and off the lead as he is that old that he's deaf and just wonders off so it's easier to have him on the lead. The other is never on his lead as he's the youngest and is very well behaved off his lead so he needs a good run round.

He is a big powerful dog but loves attention and people and other dogs. So when he see's another dog/person he goes running over to just say hello and has never shown any aggression, but jesus christ some reactions we get is ridiculous. It's normally people with little dogs who start screaming when he comes over and pick their dog up and run away!!

He then thinks it's a game and chases them until i get to him or shout him and i get the he should be on a lead comment in an aggressive manner! Why i ask and the normal reply i get is that he's big and could do some damage!!!

If he was nasty do you think i would have him off the lead???

Some people are just brain dead
Very much mirrors my experiences with our big fella.............he is the kindest friendliest dog you could ever wish to meet but the extreme reactions of some, usually with little dogs, are beyond belief.

Ironically he has been attacked a couple of times yet stands there without a clue as to what to do..........by Rottweilers, Alsatians or other large dogs I hear you ask? Oh no Jack Russells and other assorted nasty terriers....go figure!

Swinging a small dog around your head does seem to get him excited though. biggrin

Slightly off topic but another thing that annoys me.......parents not allowing their children, under controlled conditions, to fuss or stroke my dogs despite my confirmation that they are 100% friendly and adore kids..................oh no he / she is frightened of dogs - what a shame.