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?

I’ll keep my dog on lead if you control your children.

Glowcat I havent seen any children out of control in my area or dogs come to think of it. Everyone here has been very respectful and stayed home with a very rare walk occasionally. Why does it become a children versus dogs argument on threads like this? Most dogs and children dont cause a problem.

I walk my dogs twice sometimes three times a day every day on lesser used footpaths and rarely see a soul. Until this outbreak.

Now every fucker in the village has taken up walking the footpaths too. I'm constantly having to put my dogs on and off their leads.

Personally I would ban all "family walks", not dogs.

I think this should really apply all the time not just with virus threat. I dont ever want a random dog jumping up at me whilst its owner says 'don't worry, they wont hurt you'

Anybody out of control during this pandemic should feel the full impact of the law whether that be irresponsible dog owners or ignorant parents or childless adults who arent social distancing. This affects all groups.

To be fair, I find the posts that express outrage at the increase in others being on the paths interesting.

So, many people are now working from home, no access to gyms, yoga classes, group sports, with children away from school and you are querying why there is such an increase.....

Glowcat - my kids have never shat in the street

Jane Eyre - the foot paths are for people, get over it

I know it is quite obvious why there may be alot of people suddenly going for walks considering the circumstances; not sure why it comes as a surprise for some.

Janet usually walks her dog at 10am prompt every day and doesnt see anybody so how dare anybody else be out; such outrage! How are your rights to fresh air and a walk anymore prominent than anybody else....

I was at a feed shop today. It’s in the middle of a yard full of horses. The customers behind me decided to stand virtually at my shoulder-I told them to move-then 2 out of the 4 of them (why do 4 people need to buy pigeon feed??) wandered the yard trying to stroke the horses. The owners were very firm about not touching the horses. I was just imagining the transfer from their grubby hands to the rugs/headcollar. They then wandered over to the owner’s yard where the very loud, very fierce guard dogs went ballistic at them leaning over the fence. Jesus.

Unruly dogs are a PITA (blame the owners). Not all dogs need to be leashed. Most dogs I come into contact with - I walk my dog 3 times a day every day - are perfectly well behaved, but I agree there are a few who have not been taught manners.

Pretty much the same as children really.... We meet very polite children, who ask if they can stroke the dog. We also meet very unruly children who make a beeline, shrieking, “Doggy!” Their parents are oblivious that their little darlings are causing distress to the dog.
it works both ways 🤷🏻‍♀️

During this extraordinary time we would all be better off rubbing along together.

The weather changed today. It was very cold - in contrast to yesterday. Yesterday the route I usually take to walk the dog was crowded with people. Today it was back to the usual dog walkers. I’m hoping the weather will remain cold for a while tbh

What so 'the usual dog walkers' can have it to themselves again?

And while I do believe there are plenty of responsible dog owners who do the right thing for their dogs, there are many (from my regular outings over past years in my area I would estimate about 25%) who don’t have adequate control over their dogs or who think it is perfectly fine to let their dogs come up to people ‘because they are friendly’ or who think their dogs rights do take precedence over other human users.

If your dog is not used to a) the number of people around b) the reduced walks c) reduced social contact, wouldn’t it make sense that even the best behaved dogs might need a lead?

I have a rescue dog who exhibits anxiety agression, ie loud barking,
especially when surrounded by lots of people.
I have enjoyed walking him offlead in secluded places and have enjoyed the progress he has made.
These places are no longer secluded, which has added to his anxiety, so I have kept the lead on, but resent having to do so whilst also understanding the need for it.
I feel resentful of people clogging up my once secluded space, but also recognise people’s fear of loony dogs running around barking etc, especially if they are worried about getting knocked over.

I'm sorry but these people you resent may have anxiety issues too. Your dog is not a priority

YANBU. Why do idiot dog owners think that they have a God given right to let their dogs off the lead. You can still walk them for two hours on the lead.

Well - and I'm likely to be roasted for this one - DS and Ddog and I had a great walk through the golf course today as our usual route was heaving with people and cyclists. Thankfully they don't seem to have discovered the unused golf courses as yet and Ddog was able to have a great lead free run around.

I also hate dogs that jump on me and make my clothes muddy - as a dog owner I feel I can't even express too much annoyance about it . Ddog has very little interest in people, but I do put the lead on if I see a cyclist as I don't want him getting in the way. Nothing is like normal at the minute and if your dog can be let off the lead without impacting others, it seems odd that others would require it.

Please don’t be sorry
I was trying to say that we all are treading on each other’s toes at the moment, we are all feeling upset about things we wouldn’t normally worry about.
No offence intended @Macncheeseballs.

YABU re virus transmission; it's highly unlikely, and anyway you don't have to stroke them.

YANBU if the dogs are behaving anti-socially (for humans), e.g. jumping up etc.

Our dog sometimes goes up to people, but he doesn't harass them. He had good recall before he went deaf, but now he can't hear us calling him.

But he is perfectly well behaved off-lead, so I don't see why he should be unable to enjoy the walk properly (which is not the same if he can't go off and sniff things, attempt to pick up giant sticks etc).

I have never seen so many dog walkers ourlt at once as this past week or so. Fortunately, they all seem to congregate in one particular place.

I've had two zero contact walks in the past 10 days marred by a wet nose on the back of my hand.

@Pickachew
Don’t go “ ourlt” then.
🤣

The people that are annoyed at the parks/open spaces being overrun by families, children, people who don't usually walk there - get a grip! People need to exercise to stay healthy. Now that gyms, workout classes, swimming pools, school PE lessons, sports matches, organised runs etc are all unavailable, what do you expect people to do?

Unbelievable honestly.

But he is perfectly well behaved off-lead,

But if he sometimes goes up to people, is that because they have called him over or because he has initiated the contact.

If the dog is going up to people who have not indicated that they want contact with a dog, is that considered acceptable?

YABU. Energetic dog breeds like collies and spaniels can't really get adequate exercise if they are always on leads. Obviously, it isn't nice if off-lead dogs trouble people on walks, but I think we all need to try to show a bit of tolerance to each other in the current climate.

He's not touching them.

Sometimes he follows someone briefly, thinking it's us (as he can't see very well at a distance now either).

Sometimes he's just curious. E.g. someone was doing planks on a bench at the park yesterday, and he stood a metre away for a few seconds seeing what she was doing, and then trotted off again.

Also yesterday, another dog wouldn't leave him alone after they'd met and exchanged pleasantries, and wasn't responding to recall, so they had to come and put him back on the lead so we could walk away. He doesn't do things like that.

Today I had to ask the mother whose child (about 7 so old enough to know better) was making a beeline for my on lead dog to stop her DS approaching me (rather than standing there watching gormlessly.) I walked past her while she was telling her DS, “I told you you can’t pet dogs,” (stepping off the path to keep 2m away) and found her DP up ahead walking smack bang in the middle of a 3m wide path with 3 DC of various ages meandering around him (one lagging behind him) so that no one could safely pass them. This is on a path that is busy with cyclists, runners, walkers ... The one open place I would have been able to let my dog off lead safely wasn’t an option today because a couple were sitting on the bench chatting while their DC played 30 yards away digging up the turf.