Yellow dog lead codea?

[NotMeNoNo]

I walk our dog with a flexi lead sometimes as he can run off too far. We needed a new lead recently and DH goes and buys a neon yellow heavy duty flexi lead hoping it will last for ever.

I was out today on a country footpath with the dog and several other dog owners diving into hedges and fields to give us a wide berth. I just wondered and indeed it looks like our yellow lead is unintentionally being taken to mean “don’t approach my nervous dog”. Dog is actually friendly and fine with other dogs.

Is this really a common thing as we should probably get another lead if so, which is a bit of a downer as it was over £50.

[Caaarrrl]

Yes. A yellow lead, harness or bandana can be used to indicate that the dog is nervous and should not be approached!

[ImGoingSlightlyBrad]

Yes, it's fairly coomon and growing, I think.

It's a pretty good idea, I think, and wish it was even more widely known.

[Boohooyouho]

Yes a yellow lead means do not approach. In my experience it’s ignored most of the time though. We have a very nervous reactive dog (despite our best efforts) and he had a yellow lead and harness, bandana and a cover for his lead which says I need space. People still allow their dogs to approach him.

[T0tallyFuckedUpFamily]

Oh I am sorry, OP, but picturing people diving out of your dog’s way, into hedgerows, did make me chuckle. 🤣

[Whynosnowyet]

Would you consider a mahoosive ddog wearing a muzzle a no go?
Yes
Unless you are the man near us who brought his poor spaniel to sit next to us on a deserted pier with lots of other empty benches available..
Poor ddog prob never be the same...

[BarkandCheese]

If I see a dog on a yellow lead or wearing yellow I make sure my dog is close by my side. I’m never sure if everyone using a yellow lead is doing it because their dog is nervous or reactive, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.

[Soubriquet]

They are trying to push the yellow dog campaign, as in a dog that has a yellow vest, lead, bandana etc, they must not be approached.

Not everyone knows about it though

[NotMeNoNo]

I must have looked like a loon letting my do not approach dog roam around on 8 metres of lead. ( I do shorten it up when we are near people obviously).

I am going to see if I can buy some webbing and change the strap. Thank you!

[DogAndCatPerson]

My dog has a hi-vis yellow lead (neon yellow borders with a strip of reflective silver down the middle) to enable us to be more easily seen on dark/low visibility walks.

The yellow coded ‘nervous’ equipment I’ve seen is more of a primary, ‘sunshine’ shade of yellow and often has ‘nervous’ in clear type on it.

I’ve seen a lot of other stuff about other colour coded dog equipment (red for ‘aggressive’/reactive dogs, green for ‘friendly’ dogs etc), but I’d question as to how much they are used really. For instance, apparently orange is code for ‘no dogs’. My dog LOVES other dogs (and people) but has an orange harness because I like the colour orange and the bright colour makes it easier to see quickly on the coat hook (plus, I didn’t know about the code for orange equipment). There is so much colourful equipment around now, that it could be as much a ‘fashion statement’ as a behavioural statement, if the equipment isn’t clearly labelled.

[OopsUpsideYourBed]

Oh no! I hadn't heard of this and recently bought our puppy a bright yellow harness and lead. He's black and I wanted him to be more visible.
Surely the person in the pet store could have let us know it is code for nervous/dont approach...

[mumsiedarlingrevolta]

You can get a collar that says "friendly" if that helps?

Buy yes-yellow means nervous-do not approach.
I think it's a great idea-and yes ddog and i would have been diving in the hedgerow to avoid you!!

There are a couple of dogs round me with big muzzles because they eat things-last operated on for eating an entire bath towel... so muzzle doesn't have to mean dangerous

[woodymiller]

Could you colour over the yellow with a black Sharpie?

[NotMeNoNo]

I actually said to one couple “ it’s ok my dog is fine” and she said “oh no we just don’t want to put you in a difficult situation”. So they had definitely taken it as do not approach. (It’s this lead, it was not quite £50 but still pricey)

[GiveHerHellFromUs]

Well I always find that when you make it obvious your dog is nervous that people are oblivious. Come and walk him by my house OP. People would let their dogs run up to him regardless.

Shouting "he's nervous - can you please keep your dog away?" doesnt work either.

[NotMeNoNo]

It’s a long haired border collie, nobody can see his collar! I think I have a fix anyway.

[MadameLeFunky]

I am fairly sure you could try dying the lead if it bothers you, OP.

Personally I quite like the idea of everyone else keeping their distance while I am walking the dog

[T0tallyFuckedUpFamily]

It’s a long haired border collie

Now you’ve just spoilt it for me! I was picturing a Chiwawa. 😁

[FatherRabulaConundrum]

That's the lead we have for our tiny horse large dog. Our small dog is quite reactive and arsey though, so it's quite handy if people do notice and pull back.

Although in my experience, you could have someone walking behind you holding a giant placard reading THIS DOG IS NERVOUS PLEASE PUT YOURS ON A LEAD and you'd still get other owners shrugging and bellowing, 'It's fine, mine's friendly!' as their dog pinballs around.

[Whynosnowyet]

Gonna have mine a coat made with
Fuck Off on it!!

[SunshineCake]

I have an extendable lead, black, used twice if you want it. I was going to put it on eBay but if you can use it.

[pigsDOfly]

I'm impressed by the dog walkers in your area OP.

I know someone with a dog reactive dog. They have a bright yellow lead with nervous written on it in large black letters.

Does anyone take any notice and keep their dogs away? Like hell they do.

[NotMeNoNo]

Sunshine you are kind but I've ordered a few metres of webbing. Im much better at sewing than dog walking.

[StillMedusa]

I have a red lead for my puppy.. a halti one as I wanted to be able to use the front clip on her harness for training. I didn't realise people would think she was aggressive! She's timid with strangers but never aggressive.
Think I'll get her a new lead!

[NotMeNoNo]

There will be no colour's left, everyone uses those red Halti leads as they are so useful, I wouldnt worry unless people start jumping into hedges. From reading it looks like the yellow is the main one.

[DogAndCatPerson]

Yes, I think yellow for nervous is the most widely used and recognised in the UK.