Lead etiquette

[happygardening]

Probably done to death but just thought I'd ask others opinions.
If I see a dog coming near my dogs (who are well socialised) on a lead I always put mine on their leads. But what do I do if I meet someone with two dogs 1 on a lead 1 off?
This morning I put mine back on their lead for the other owner to give me a 5 minute speech about how it was unnecessary and how friendly her off lead dog was and how he liked to play with other dogs.

[TattyCat]

I would make the assumption that one on lead was an escape artist! Someone I know has 3 dogs and only one is ever on the lead for this reason - he's otherwise a big soft gorgeous dalmation.

I tend to read the body language of the person & dog on lead as to whether I need to put mine (I sometimes ask) on although mine will generally stay with me when told to anyway.

[Wolfiefan]

I would rather put mine on the lead and then let her off if it's appropriate once I had spoken to the owner. Just in case.

[TondelayaDellaVentamiglia]

I snick my boys back on the lead if we see strangers.....but people are generally wary of them as they are both very very big GSDs.

Once we meet them, make introductions and I utter the magic words "they should have been guide dogs" the strangers usually fall over themselves to smoosh the dogfaces within an inch of their lives and they both get embarrassed.

I take the view that it's going to be the biggest or off lead dog that gets blamed, so am not prepared to let my lovely dogboys be scapegoated.

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

I think she was in the minority, complaining that you thought her dog was unfriendly! You're more likely to get told off if you leave your dog off lead to approach an on lead dog.

[BlueKarou]

I would put mine on lead if I saw someone with one on and one off, at least until close enough to enquire about whether her leaded dog would mind mine being off.

My dad has two dogs, one non-reactive and one reactive; so he's usually walking one on and one off lead. He makes sure to call out that the on lead dog is not very dog friendly, but still people let their dogs run up at him.

Very strange of that lady to have lectured you when you weren't to know her on lead dog wasn't going to kick off if yours went near.

[SparklingRaspberry]

I would assume the dog on the lead either had a poor recall or wasn't too friendly!

I would also put mine on a lead if I was in this situation. Mainly for my own dogs safety until the owner said "they're both fine, this one just doesn't come back when called.."

[StandardPoodle]

I always recall mine and put them on a lead if we see someone with a dog on a lead, and would also do this if the other person had one dog off-lead and one on-lead until I'd established they were happy for my dogs to be off-lead.

[Sweetninja30]

I tend to call out 'is yours okay?'and if they say yes I let mine back off. But I do think it's common courtesy to put your pooch on a lead if someone else's is on. My breed looks a bit scary to some people and I always have to tell DP that even though we know he's a friendly, sloppy, softie other people see a huge, slobbering monster.
Ignore the rude dog walker who felt the need to tell you off for being sensible.

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

I always put my young lab on a lead and get him to sit and watch me. The temptation to bound off and say hello is so strong though and I struggle to keep his eyes on me. They're usually out on stalks desperate to see what the other dog is doing so there's no way I'd leave him off lead. He'd be gone, charging over and bouncing around and trying to play so he stays on the lead until they've gone.