To think, if you can't recall your dog, it shouldn't be off lead?

Our local woods/ nature reserve should have dogs on leads to protect the ground nesting birds.

One twat let his off lead puppy bound up to DS, jump up, wind him, make him cry then blamed us for taking child to "the dog walking woods"
Absolute twat.

A couple of years earlier, I had to tell the owner of a labrador to put the dog on the lead because it had jumped up at me for a 3rd time getting mud all over my coat. She told me off for scaring her dog
FFS I was on a slow walk and merely used a stern talking voice because she was letting the dog drift out of sight and not paying attention.

Or, in the case of my parents' spaniel, the dead people... yup... it really always is the dog walker that find the dead people...

In defence of said spaniel, he knew the dead person was there and was actively trying to block the path so my DPs wouldn't go that way, but they moved him out the way and carried on and found him. Very sad.

Anyway, onto spaniels in general, they're very sensory dogs, so a sniff walk can be just as good as a long walk (https://www.animalcareclinicslo.com/the-benefits-of-sniff-walks-vs-exercise-walks-for-your-dog/)

When I take DP's dog out, I let him lead (on the lead!). He chooses which way to go and how long to sniff. I don't encourage him to move on if he's sniffing something. He then decides when he's ready to go home. Some days we're out longer than others and some days he just can't make his mind up about which way to go, but mostly he has the walk that he enjoys!

I recently challenged a dog "owner" who was tardy at recalling his dog that had bounded off barking, terrifying a woman into standing on a bench screaming while the dog was jumping and barking.

He did not put his dog back on the lead that was draped around his neck.

I pointed out that legally, his dog was out of control and insisted that he put the dog on the lead. He tried arguing back but decided that it was easier to temporarily humour this little interfering woman.
He was not remotely embarrased by his or the dog's actions and the distress he caused that woman.

Naturally the dog was off lead when I saw them again about 5 minutes later.
I warned another dog walker who had a reactive vest and she thanked me and went off path to avoid.

The only surprising thing about that encounter was that he didn't use the word "friendly" or blame the woman for using a park, both of which have been common responses when my children were scared.

I don't hate dogs, just twats who ignore their responsibilities to the cost of everyone else, human, dog or wildlife who have the misfortune to be in the same area.

It may be normal for dogs, but it's awful for the birds. Birds are wild animals, dogs are not. Dogs shouldn't be chasing birds.

Agree except for the long lead bit. They shouldn't be on long leads either if the owner doesn't have proper control. Long leads are just as much a menace as being loose, especially when the owner is obliviously chatting to someone or looking at their phone.

Chasing birds is normal behaviour for dogs...spaniels normally find the dead animals though.

I've witnessed them running behind cars in car parks....and begging in restaurants whilst parents chat. But it was said as a tongue in cheek.

If you can't provide your spaniel with an appropriate environment, why did you get a spaniel? Chasing birds and scaring toddlers shouldn't be happening, you know that, but you don't care enough to prevent it.

No, that's why we actively discourage it, but nobody is perfect. I am not keeping a spaniel on lead at all times, it would be borderline cruel. There is no need. I assume the children you childmind are impeccably behaved at all times ✌no tantrums, no toilet accidents, perfect manners, they don't cry... I'm not going to engage with you any more, because you clearly have no idea and no intention of learning anything.

Mine had no recall, not for lack of training either. I never let him off leash when we were out. It is irresponsible and dangerous for both the dog and other dogs / people to unleash a dog with no recall. Shouting "It's OK they're friendly" is not an acceptable substitute for recall.

I got charged at by two snarling and barking labs while walking up from the beach in my dryrobe after a swim. I thought I was going to be bitten. Owner ineffectually calling their names from a distance. When he finally wheezed past me he remarked that they “didn’t like what I was wearing”. Not sure what excuse he made to the young family further up the beach to whom they had turned their unwelcome attention.
Just put them on leads!

Has a small child bit you, knocked you to the ground? Are they frequently in the news for attacking/ killing people? Poorly behaved young kids are no comparison to sometimes dangerous dogs. Yes, you get neglectful parents, but neglectful dog owners are no comparison imho. I had a dog jump up at my friends small child, and knock her to the groun, another dog bound up to my ND child, careless owner strolling past unbothered while I was trying to find whose dog it was, and comfort my child at the same time. The amount of times people try to get you to stroke their dogs, funnily enough I don’t encourage people to engage with my children.

It’s almost always dogs with human names with a useless owner either standing there like a lemon calling ‘Jasper, Jasper, stop jumping up on that lady, Jasper’ or just hooting with laughter because it’s so funny that their dog has trampled your picnic or knocked over your toddler.

They should, but they don’t, and some breeds can be unpredictable, get spooked for what ever reason, The amount of times we have heard “oh the dog doesn’t normally do that etc.” I admire good owners with well trained lovely dogs, which are usually clearly no risk at all. I do however worry about certain breeds, and as a stranger you sometimes don’t know which dogs are okay or not to be off leads.

I have had a child go up to me in a cafe, and put their hands in my drink. Also, another child try to hit my sleeping dog in the head with a toy. Thankfully their mum finally twigged they had wondered off.

Ok, so my mum's rescue and ex-racing greyhound has no life, as he is not allowed off of his lead?
I can assure you that he very much l loves his life. And anyone with a greyhound will tell you that spending out for a private field is a waste of time as they will zoom for about a minute then just lie on the floor and want to go home.

Dogs need to learn recall, so do need open spaces, however this should be those areas where it's suitable to be off lead - we wouldn't let our dog off lead in the park for example because she'd want to play and can be a bit deaf when she chooses - but we do have her off lead in the woods or open non-children play areas - she is usually very good - but can be side tracked by the odd squirrel 🐿️

I have never witnessed any small child running up to anybody, slobbering all over them, or even worse hurting them while on a beach. Stupid comment.

People who dont train excellent recall into dogs shouldn't get a dog. A life on a lead is no life. Mine is going to classes and has been since 16 weeks. We are getting there slowly

I expect the owners of the dogs that were killed blame the horse/owner.

We have 2 dogs. They are rarely on a lead as we go to the woods, beach etc. They are of course on a lead until from the car to wherever we are going. Luckily my oldest dog just wants to play catch so will lie in front of the ball/stick waiting for it to be thrown, the youngest is a bit more sociable and will sometimes start to walk towards someone she sees but will turn and come back as soon as I call her. When we are in the woods we often come across cyclists or horses. As soon as I see them I tell the youngest to sit and she does. I will stay right by her just in case but she never moves until I tell her. Horse riders often comment on it and on how well behaved they are. I think it helps because the oldest is so play obsessed and the youngest always wants to be near him.

Yes, quite.

My DM made someone pay for the dry cleaning of her coat that a "friendly" dog decided to leave muddy pawprints on when he was off lead and jumped up at her.

My FIL's dog has reasonable recall, but if he sees a dog he knows or gets the whiff of something fun (including other people's picnics) there's no calling him back. It drives me mad and has honestly stopped me going out on walks with him as I don't want to be seen to be condoning his dog's lack of training. FIL always says the "oh, he's friendly, he's just excitable", etc.

My DH and DSIL have both tried to tell him he needs to train the dog better or keep him on a lead, but FIL knows best, obviously...

I am yet to encounter a perfectly behaved dog
You need to come to MN land! Just on this thread, half of the posters have perfectly behaved dogs!

Agreed. One of mine has resisted all recall training so is on a long retractable lead at all times.
The other is fine at recall, unless she sees a rabbit or rabbit hole and after the second time we had to spend 4 hours digging her out of a hole, she is also on long line at all times, except when on a dog friendly (and with no dunes where things make holes) beach. She is quite reactive when on lead unfortunately which makes it dinky annoying when dogs with no recall charge up to her on the lead, and she then tries to nip them (she only does this when on lead for some reason).

Do you think chasing birds is harmless? (It isn't btw). She should be on a lead if you can't recall her immediately every time.
It isn't essential for urination to happen wherever your zig zagging dog fancies.

Why are some equating dogs with children? Stupid, stupid, stupid.