Got told off this morning.
I was polite, but then spent the rest of the walk fuming.
There is a patch of trees, and if you let steppedog off the lead he goes nuts. Runs back and forth like a complete idiot. Totally nuts. He is trying to chase squirrels.
To be fair when he is like this, I can't easily get him back. So, for ages, we haven't let him off the lead there. Dh has come up with a new thing which seems to work, so today I let him off, partly to try the new recall thing. Steppedog was running round in circles going nuts, I was happy for him to have a good run before I tried to get him back. There are some bungalows facing this grass, and one couple came out, specifically to talk to me, and were REALLY grumpy about him being out of control and why didn't we have him on a lead etc etc, and they ALWAYS see me here, and I am miles away and not controlling dog. (hmm, he hasn't been off the lead here for ages, and I am always watching where he is)
I politely said dog is always in sight and I know exactly where he is, and that actually now he is usually on a lead and not let off, because he runs round in circles, but they were just grumpy, and having a go.
It was only after wards that I thought:
- There is NO-ONE else there, he isn't disturbing anyone. I am standing in one place and he is doing huge rings round me to the end of the group of trees and back. But he isn't interfering with anyone
- He is on public land, and he is just running, not in their garden, not even going over the footpath etc, just on grass under trees. Not even particularly near their house.
- He isn't going up to any dogs, or any people (there mostly aren't any dogs or people, but the ones there are he ignores)
- He isn't being aggressive, unpleasant, annoying or anything, he is just a dog running in circles.
The only person who is effected by his mad running in circles is me.
After they went inside, I tried dh's new trick, it stopped him in his tracks, I put his lead on and we left. The grumpy couple didn't see it though!
Dh told me to say next time - he is under control - I have made the choice to let him run in circles, when I want to stop him, I will.