To think one of the rules should be dogs on leads at this time?

[ShesGotBetteDavisEyes]

Went for a walk as a family today down some country lanes near us. We knew we would pass a few people but the paths are quite wide so it’s easy to keep your distance, as we and most other people did.

Except three separate lots of dog owners who allowed their dogs to run over to all of us, repeatedly jumping up at us and pawing at our clothes.

One of the women was letting her two dogs run around our feet and not calling them away (in fact was laughing indulgently) so I shouted “you know, usually we would pet them but the virus can live on dogs fur so could you call them away?” She and her companion looked a bit surprised and said “oh, we haven’t heard that?” They STILL didn’t call them right away.

It actually really annoyed me. We are taking the care to lecture our kids about not touching anything, keeping their distance moving to the side to let people pass etc. and then dogs are just running and jumping up/brushing against us whilst their owners smile & laugh ffs! What is the actual point of doing all this if it can be passed on by a dog? We have to keep the kids away but dogs are allowed to run rampage?

AIBU to suggest Boris puts a “dogs on leads” rule in his next speech?

Lead walking is also a lot less efficient for exercising a dog if you're trying to minimise time spent outdoors.

To get the same level of exercise on lead our dog gets in a 45 minute walk where some is off lead of she cannot go off lead takes over and hour and a half. I'd rather people let their dogs off lead (in appropriate places) and minimise time outdoors than have to be outside for hours and hours.

ALL DOGS SHOULD BE ON LEAD
Low risk doesn't mean no risk. The British Veterinary Association is recommending keeping your pet 2 meters from others which isn't possible when on off leash unless very rural. Advice is also to wash hands before and after touching your pet. Veterinary professionals are being advised to wear ppe when handling any pets at the moment. Veterinary services are emergency only, some are closed completely. Dogs are much more likely to ingest foreign bodies or have accidents off lead. My friends son had a great big dog jump on him on a walk the other day,.just keep your dogs on lead. No mixing of households should apply to dogs too.

Dogs on leads has become a rule here from today. The Police were asking people on Primrose Hill and in Regent's Park to put their dogs on leads and saying it as a new rule.

Gov guide lines is that you cannot catch the virus from pets

I can’t get too het up about dogs right now when there are people still not observing distancing. On our walk today we went into single file every time we passed someone on a 6ft-wide path with verges, and stepped into the verge if necessary. I’d say perhaps half the people we met bothered to do this - wonder what they thought we were playing at as they marched three abreast down the centre of the path leaving a foot or two of space between us! Not to mention overtaking us on bikes or jogging up behind us and passing right next to us!

People think dogs are more important than people

The reason people have to stay 2m apart is because they transmit it by breathing and especially coughing or sneezing. Dogs don’t. You’d have to touch a dog’s fur to catch it - the same way you’d have to touch a door handle to get it - so I don’t think a dog running past you or even by your ankles would be a risk. I’ve stopped patting dogs that jump up at me but don’t think there’s any need to fuss if a dog is by your feet so long as it isn’t jumping up - and if it does that the owner should have it on a lead anyway. It’s different for vets because they have to touch them.

Given that dogs don't know what 2 metres is, I'd say they are a risk

I can understand where you're coming from, I don't like dog owners who don't control their dogs and let them hassle me or my own dog.
I have 1 or 2 routes round my area and can take my dog off lead as it's deserted and she gets a big run. However, suddenly lots of people have decided to walk on these quiet routes. Why the need to exercise now and not before? Are these people who previously used gyms? But they do tend to be families. There's no rule against it but it's slightly irritating. Anyway, dogs should be on a lead around people right now.

Why is exercising a dog more important than people getting exercise?

YANBU

Dog fur can carry viruses like any other surfaces, but a table doesn't keep jumping on you or humping your leg

OP, I'm keeping mine on the lead. His recall is patchy, and it's not fair to other people if he puts me in close contact with them through running off. obviously it's different for well behaved dogs

YABU. Why should my dogs suffer during this time? They don’t go near other dogs or people, because, you know, they’re trained. As already mentioned, our usual ‘safe place’ (one of mine is scared of other dogs) has seen a huge increase in walkers and dogs, people I’ve never seen in almost 20 years of living here. It’s fine, it’s not my park/field, but no way am I further curtailing my dogs who are as anti-social as me.

Dogs are supposed to be under control at all times even when not in a pandemic so they should be on leads anyway! So many ignorant people say 'oh it's fine dogs dont carry' but are totally oblivious to fact the virus can live on hair.

I think I’m going to have to as my local park is now swamped with joggers, bikes and kids. It’s not just the way round you describe but people stroke dogs without permission too. It’s difficult as many dogs are used to going out more and so if you do a blanket restriction it will impact those of us who keep out dogs away from people. Let’s face it there’s always a problem with some owners thinking it’s ok for their dogs to jump up others. It’s not.

Leashes aside, can dog owners stop walking at 2 miles an hour, and get a bloody move on?!
I'm trying to get a 30 min daily power walk in and keep a sensible distance from other people, but I can't do that if dog walkers are ambling down the pavement as if they own it!
PS this does not apply to the elderly or disabled, it seems to be the otherwise fit and healthy doing this.

Blue so if fur is that dangerous why have I seen a huge increase in people with a new found love for the countryside molesting the horses this weekend? Is it only dog fur that transmits it? Because that would explain why the emergency vet attending as a consequence of some of the entitled fuckers wasn't wearing ppe. Luckily for everyone's safety the horse in question is easy enough the vet and I could keep our distance.

I still don't think that's reasonable grounds to ban all families from the countryside, or indeed from stroking the horses over the fence.

Why do people always bang on as though it's about the rights of dogs versus people, when it's about the rights of dog owners. Idiot dog owners are no more representative than idiot parents.

Some places have implemented this. I live next to one of the Royal Parks and the park management have signs up saying that all dogs should be on leads. The police are wandering around asking people to put their dogs on leads, and asking people who are sunbathing, sitting out reading etc to move on.

I have a dog who never goes up to people (she’s shy) but she’s friendly with dogs and will play, which sometimes means the owners have to come and get their dogs to move them along, which doesn’t help with social distancing. So lead walks make sense at the moment. I’d rather that than they close the parks.

KitKatKit you don't own the pavement either be fair though. I get your point about keeping a distance but if you're able bodies as it sounds and quick and somebody has a dog or whatever and cant walk as quick as you why not cross the road? Me and my toddler arent the quickest either, would you be complaining about us too?

On my way cycling home from work I encountered two dogs, both off the lead. The first stood like a statue as his owner commanded him to stand. The second just trotted past with his ball. Neither dog was remotely interested in me (if the first one was, he was too well trained to do anything). Point being that some dogs are properly trained.

to be^

Also I think kids stroking dogs without permission is annoying at the best of times. It happens pretty much every time we go out for a walk. Having my dog on the lead helps me keep her away from kids and adults that want to pet her.

And able bodied ^*

I never knew until now just how keen other people could be to produce a massive list of rules for everyone to abide by. My eyes have been truly opened this past week.

How the fuck does it affect anyone if I walk my young dog to an out of the way area and work with her off-lead? She has excellent recall, stops on the whistle and will walk to heel off-lead.

But sure, put every dog in the country on a sodding lead. Make an already difficult situation almost bloody impossible to manage for the owners of working-line, physically fit dogs who don't have ten acres of their own land out at the back.

Or, possibly, go away, think things through, and stop suggesting blanket rules that are, effectively, using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman unfortunately good respectful dog owners like you will be penalised due to the few irresponsible ones that let their poorly trained dogs run wild. They spoil things for everyone else and it is because of those people why the rule is needed.