Why don't people keep dogs on leads?

[Greedybilly]

Why? Just why? Sick of being jumped up at - sick of seeing them wandering round the park/our allotment/every decent walk. Is it seen as cruel to not let them off? Is it a bit like putting reins on a toddler? Genuinely I don't know because I don't have a dog. Please educate me - I just know there's been a massive cultural shift and leads seem a bit out of fashion.

@enchantedsquirrelwood I agree but around here dog owners have started bringing them even into fenced playgrounds, it's frustrating feeling like even there I need to keep an eye to make sure my kids aren't being bothered by dogs

You're the one making your kids nervous!

The elderly father of someone I know was jumped up at by one of those off the lead "he's only being friendly" dogs who knocked him off his feet. He fractured his skull in the fall and died 24 hours later.

These out of control "friendly" dogs are a menace, I've been jumped up on too. If you cannot control your animal, if it does not immediately come to you when you call it, it should not be off the lead except in a fenced-off dog walking field.

I don't want to teach my child to not be nervous of dogs. Dogs are a proven increasing hazard in the UK.

In the past few years there has been substantial increase in the number of dog related injuries and fatalities in the UK. In the past 15 years, there has been an 88 percent increase in hospital attendances due to dog injuries. The number of dog related hospital attendances was 8819 in 2021-22 with an estimated cost to NHS of £70 million.

Dogs are now such a public health hazard that they even feature in the British Medical Journal: www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj.p879

That link I've posted is to a BMJ article from this April titled: Rising fatalities, injuries, and NHS costs: dog bites as a public health problem.

I think we are at the point in the UK where dog ownership needs to be licensed. The licence fee will pay for the cost to the NHS and for dog wardens to enforce owner behaviour in public parks.

because they are ‘fur babies’ and owners like to see them run free, ‘meeting’ other dogs & people, and just been a pest. 95% of them are ok around here but the dogs manners usually reflects the owners so little point expecting any action from them.

I can tell pretty much from looking at a dog whether it will be a problem. If it has something in its mouth it will be fine, if there are children in the group probably ok.

if a dog is about to jump up at me I yell no at it and it does put them off. it is not what they expect.

It is really outrageous behaviour - why on earth does a dog need to be in the fenced playground. If you want to take your kids to the park, either supervise from outside the fence, or leave the dog at home and take it out at a different time.

It isn't great if your dog is not properly trained, you're correct. But mine is.

It isn't great if your dog is not properly trained, you're correct. But mine is.

DH's dog was properly trained - until he smelled a bitch on heat on the other side of the road, ran across the road and was knocked down and killed by a car.

So, I maintain, that I feel nervous driving past dogs on the street when they are not on a lead. The owner might know they are well trained but I don't.

Because my dogs are under control and love to run and play .

I get that but that's a you problem, isn't it?

I get that but that's a you problem, isn't it?

Yes it is. The point I was unsuccessfully trying to make, and this applies to all cases is that you know your dog better than I do, and at the end of the day they are animals which everyone knows can be unpredictable.

For dogs that are ball-chasers, they're going to pay people far less attention if they're off the lead and have a ball to focus on.

My dog absolutely wants to greet everyone he meets if he's on the lead, because he's an extremely friendly Labrador and will want to canter up to people to be stroked.

Off the lead? Completely different dog, isn't fussed who is around but just wants to focus on his ball and have a run around.

Owners who let their dog do whatever without any respect for the people around them are the ones to blame.

Mostly it's because it is less effort to let dogs off the lead than to have them tug you around when your walking.

@Mojoj legally dogs must be on lead along “designated roads”.
Mine are on lead around traffic and where signs say they have to. Otherwise they are off.
My dogs are trained to walk out of the way or stand by me if people want to go past. They are trained not to approach people who don’t want to interact with them. They certainly don’t jump up.
The issue is a lack of training and responsibility from owners.

During many years of walking in popular dog-walking areas (inc with a dog when we had one) I have hardly ever been jumped up at. I don’t understand why it seems to happen so often to the dog haters - do you all smell of sausages or something?

😂😂

Taken from the Highway Code:

Rule 56 Dogs
Do not let a dog out on the road on its own. Keep it on a short lead when walking on the pavement, road or path shared with cyclists or horse riders.

Is this legally enforcable?

Went to my local park earlier in the year. First thing I saw was a bloke with two huge Alsatian's both off the lead walking through the area where it clearly states dogs need to be kept on a lead

Haven't read the whole thread 'cos it will be full of the usual bullshit . Took my puppy to the local country park with husband to do some training and lo and behold after I sat down at a picnic bench the effin place was covered in cocktail sticks . Humans are total mingers . Roll on autumn .

Perhaps because its ruining lives and people like us are trapped in the house as authorities seem to think pitbulls xl bullies mastiffs staffies akitas and huskies etc should have a right to roam free . People are clueless about these dogs. We cant go to any parks or beaches or woods . Our spring/summer this year has been spent in the house as the whole place is over run with these dogs. Cant even get on the bus safely anymore as our local bus lets multiple dogs on and people don't even hold their leads on bus. Surprise surprise the pitbull cross off the lead attacked someone and took multiple police to restrain and we are not allowed to protect ourselves. When your kids cant walk to school or even get the bus or play at the park , even the local high street is no longer safe to go shopping. Even inside shops . Not to mention flea bites from public transport and from new clothing in shops! If we are in fear of our lives not knowing if we are going to live because we stepped foot out our front door , something seriously needs to be done. I had dogs all my life till ten years ago when dogs off leads attacked mine on lead multiple times . I had no fear of any dogs. Now I hate dogs almost completely like a lot of people now and its getting to the point there needs to be a complete ban on certain types of dogs and the type of people who can keep them. A council estate in Ireland in 2009 banned a lot of dogs , not all , but what a difference to those people knowing there's not a high chance of getting mauled everytime they step outside.

Now I’m not a massive dog fan @Anna8089 and wish there were more controls, but that is one of the most ridiculously over the top hyperbolic posts that I have ever read on mn (that’s saying something!) and i Seriously think you need some help with getting some perspective on this issue