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 take my dog off to Hyde Park early
morning before going to work and slightly later at weekends ( @8am) - only a few cyclists , runners generally and DDog can ‘whizz’ around chasing 🐿 ( who thankfully always make it up the tree or do a 360 )

The trouble is that all the responsible dog owners with well trained dogs would obey the rule and all the dickheads who let their dog jump at you and can’t (or don’t even try to) control their dog wouldn’t bother - or (more likely) there would be some special reason why the rule didn’t apply to their dog.

People think dogs are more important than people

They’re certainly nicer.

Of course lots of people are out walking. There's literally nothing else to do! Usually they would be in gyms, playing in a band, going to the shops, out for a meal, visiting museums, at parties... the list is endless. I've been daily walking with and without a dog for years in my local area. I might prefer there to be less people but I don't feel outraged that they are taking over my patch.

Maybe in parks dogs could be on leads but to apply a blanket rule everywhere is ridiculous.

Can I just point out to all the irritated dog owners that a lot of these invading families were actively avoiding your areas before. Because of you, your dogs and mainly the dog shit everywhere. It worked out ok because they had other places to go. Now they don’t so can’t give you that option anymore.

Tolerance is a two way street and this ain’t something you are going to win if you don’t show a little curtesy back.

"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"

lol, entitled, much?

"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."

Absolutely GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman - its making me dislike and distrust people more and more

bengalcat I'm not sure you'll find that you can still let your dog off the lead in Hyde Park following events on Primrose Hill and in Regent's Park today

Very true Alsohuman

I am sure your dog is ok rosiejaune but as a jogger I find dogs who follow me or are headed up to me for attention are trip hazards. And I have had them veer in my path as I am trying to dodge them too.

Unfortunately, I do get a lot of dog owners who believe that this is acceptable, and cannot understand that I, and many others, don’t want your dog’s attention. particularly if the dog cannot see well or hear well. Or the owner is not paying attention to their dog which is also common around my around.

Dogs can’t be infected with the virus but the virus can live on the dog’s coat and get passed on.
Keep your dogs on leads.

@changeforazog
But what do you expect them to do?
Nobody noticed dogs before this.
Dog walkers didn’t notice excercisers
Excercisers didn’t need to use formerly untrodden paths
What are we expected to do?
Have a bit of tolerance and patience
And realise there is enough room for everybody in this gargantuan world

"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' confused"

What kind of uncivilised backwater do some of you live in? I have walked my dogs daily, twice a day for years (not in the past week however, obviously) in various locations in the New Forest and can count on one hand the occasions when a dog has run and jumped up at me. It just doesn't happen (other than very rarely)

Whilst we are on domestic animals - perhaps we should legislate that all cats should be kept indoors as house cats during lockdown?

@Alsohuman
Second that.

Limit

Sadly, I live in London. Very uncivilized. Really.

I do get dogs jumping up at me but that’s because they can smell the dog treats in my pockets.

And Limit you are going to get flamed for the cat comment.

It's not just the virus but parks, the ones still open, all now full of dogs off leads. This is dangerous because the no dogs allowed play areas within parks are now closed.

Ah, I quite like London. However, I can imagine it gets all a bit fractious and difficult in urban areas at the moment with the population density and people competing for space. On a two hour walk today (which apparently is outside government guidelines and should be limited to one hour I learnt earlier) I passed eight people.

Winesalot - I thought the cat comment was fair game since its open season on dogs

Limit Great thinking 😊 I’m with you there👌 Prepare for ambush!

Mine already is a house cat :)

I was considering asking my neighbours if they'd be ok with her going in the shared garden this summer, but one of them has just got two large dogs. They are left off lead in the shared hallways and our garden (and getting into next door's) while the owner goes upstairs and checks them out the window now and then.

They're barking at neighbours going in and out their gardens, and jumping up at people coming into ours.

If you've got your own private garden that you don't share with anyone, letting your dog loose in it is fair enough. But if it impacts on other people using a shared space, it's pretty rude to just assume they're going to be fine with it.

YANBU however this isn’t just a recent thing due to the virus. I think people should keep their dogs on leads until they are in a safe open space away from vulnerable people, Period.

I got my dog as a walking companion, after my husband died, I had a knee replacement and wasn't getting enough exercise, he has made a wonderful improvement in my physical and mental health, I have to get up and out in the morning, to walk him every day, which is good for me. I feel very guilty now as I find it impossible to give him enough exercise, as although I am fitter than I was, I cannot walk far enough to give him the exercise he needs, on a lead. I used to drive 2 or 3 miles to the pine woods nearby, and give him a good run off lead for a couple of hours. Now I am no longer allowed to drive anywhere, I can only walk him on pavements dodging other people, which is very stressful and not much fun.
So when you are all carping about people with dogs, and how you hate them, just remember, some people no longer have families, or cannot see them in this time of crisis, and are trying their best to stay healthy in later life, as well as being frightened of catching the virus.
We are playing games in the garden, but he doesn't understand why he can't have his lovely long walks along the coast, and is quite despondent