Dogs off the lead

[LudaMusser]

I was walking with my thirteen month old in the pushchair this morning through a nature reserve type place. I've only recently found it and it's great for the two metre rule as the track is maybe six meters wide

It's quite popular with walkers, joggers and dog walkers. For the second time now an old woman (maybe sixty) has came towards me with five dogs all off the lead and none of them that close to her, she's definitely not in control of them

It really annoys me because on both occasions one of the dogs has ran straight up to the pushchair. I've then angled the pushchair to try and move it away from the dog. Two dogs are big, one a boxer type dog and the other an Alsatian. The other three are small terrier types. AIBU to want the dogs to be on a lead?

As a child I was scared of dogs as I was chased by some alsatians once and nearly bitten another time. I don't feel easy around some dogs, particularly bigger ones. I'm always concerned for my little girl, if a dog jumped up to the pram it doesn't bare thinking about

No yanbu

I let my dogs off lead, but if I see anyone coming towards me, they are always put back on.

Even if the other person tries to say “their dogs are ok, their kids are ok etc” I still put my two on their lead.

I can’t control what the other person/dog/kid does, but I can control what my dogs do whilst on a lead

These dogs should not be off the lead. There are too many of them to be controllable as they will act like a pack. She is probably a paid dog walker and this makes it even more dangerous. I wouls ask her to put them on a lead on a track where other people walk

YANBU. If they’re large dogs that she can’t control well it’s probably just easier for her to let them off the lead rather than try and hold on to them all - that shouldn’t be anyone else’s problem though. It’s not fair on others, particularly walkers with children and other dog walkers with nervous dogs on a lead.

YANBU - but what are you going to do? She is very unlikely to change and you are unlikely to be able to change her.

Yanbu. Dogs shouldn't be off the lead in public areas unless their recall is on point and they can be trusted to come back. Even then I wouldn't have five off at the same time. Ours only go off the lead when we can be certain there's nobody around because if they saw them they would bound over and want to say hello. I know my dogs are friendly but a stranger wouldn't.

I would politely remind the lady that her dogs should be on a lead. Maybe explain your wary of them approaching the buggy. If she gets funny then remind her she can be reported for this.

I commute on cycle track every day there are loads of dogs not a lead in site wandering all over the place.
There have been loads of accident and results in cyclist getting blamed for hitting someones out of control dog with the usual it'll walks to heel .

over the years we've had picnics ruined by someone dog running all over it.
kids knocked over and wet dogs out of the sea shaking all over us.

Woman I worked with got physically attacked when she sadly run over and killed a dog in her car. It shot out from between 2 parked cars . The guy who lunged at her had the dog lead round his shoulders .

I walk the dog off lead. But he is small and doesn’t run up to push chairs.

Old at 60? 😢😢

60 isn't old. She should have her dogs on a lead. You're being a bit precious about your kid.

Not unreasonable at all. Ours goes back on the lead when we see walkers without dogs or with dogs on leads coming.

FFS. I hate threads like this. The dog approaches your pushchair? And? How does this make it ‘not under control’? If the dog is jumping, overly friendly, aggressive, etc then it should be on a lead. If it’s minding its own business but just happens to be close to you, I don’t see an issue. Dogs need exercise, and that requires them being able to run off lead sometimes.

Most dogs I encounter off lead are well trained but there’s always one that will scare the shit out of my kids. Five off lead seems like you’re asking for trouble. I have twins (human variety) and whenever they decided to run in different directions as toddlers I was f**ked

Also - aren’t all dogs advised to be leashed during lockdown? I heard that if they run off you can’t go out and look for them? Also because shelters are so busy with kennelled dogs they can’t rehome they don’t want to deal with more?

A couple of weeks ago a family having a picnic lost their dog in the scrub at our local park and came up to us asking if we’d seen it. We had to politely ask them to step back and appeased them with promises to look on our walk back home.

so you’re scared of dogs, walking in a place where dogs are allowed off leash, nothing has happened and the dog has merely appts he’s the pushchair but not jumped up?

It’s going to be a long road for you with your child and dogs - you may want to look into a dogs trust course as anxiety about animals is transmitted often from a parent.

Yes ideally dogs should have excellent recall and someone should not walk 5 of them but nothing happened.

@Runbitchrun seriously? The OP has a right to walk with her buggy in a public place without being approached by dogs. I say that as a dog owner. It's not rocket science. She doesn't know if the dogs are friendly or not. Even if they were any animal can turn at any point and what chance does the owner have or controlling it/them when she's got five off the lead. What an irresponsible and entitled attitude. A dogs exercise doesn't trump the rights of everyone else I'm afraid. If you want your dog off the lead either go somewhere where you can be sure nobody else is about or train it sufficiently so it knows not to approach people and/or comes back when called. Jesus.

The dog approaches your pushchair? And? How does this make it ‘not under control

Under control means walking at heel. Not approaching other people or dogs.

Yanbu however these types of places are regular dog walks so if you are scared perhaps find somewhere else to walk?

It doesn't actually say anything in the OP about the woman failing to control her dogs or calling them back and being ignored so it's a bit early to be claiming they're out of control

Under control means walking at heel. Not approaching other people or dogs

In which case no dog is ever under control.

Runbitchrun You expect the OP to trust that the dog, having run straight up to the pushchair, will stop short without making contact and amble away? She is expected to be comfortable with a random dog touching her pushchair and even her child because you think it’s okay? And if the dog does get aggressive and bite, well, what a pity. It happens sometimes. You and lefkosia have helped me make my mind up on another issue. Everyone just looks out for themselves. I won’t struggle home with shopping for my household anymore. I’m going for those supermarketonline delivery slots. My elderly mother deserves as much protection as I can give her, and I owe it to myself too.

I love dogs, mine goes off lead in appropriate places, all fine but yadnbu. I don't agree with dog walkers taking out big groups and I don't let my dog approach others when we're out unless another owner and I let the dogs play together. I think, unfortunately, you need to walk somewhere else.

Nope, you should only allow dogs off lead on private land. If it’s a public space, they must be on a lead.

I don’t give a fuck about the ‘dogs need exercise’ nonsense. That’s your problem to resolve and shouldn’t impact on other people’s enjoyment of open spaces.

I have a large Mixed breed dog. The Only time I allow him off lead to exercise, is at home in the garden or in private woods nearby that are owned by a friend. If we’re walking anywhere, he’s on the lead.

@Runbitchrun. Your dog isn’t entitled to go sniffing around other people, so put them on a lead.

I commute on cycle track every day there are loads of dogs not a lead in site wandering all over the place

Is the track solely for cyclists, or is it "shared space", @rwalker? If the latter, I think the onus is on the cyclist to look out for dogs or kids running into their path.

I think this "shared space" business is a bit iffy in safety terms. We have it in part of the centre of our small town, and it's really stress inducing, with cyclists weaving silently around pedestrians.

I don't like walking on bridleways, either, because cyclists hurtle round blind corners and frighten the bloody life out of me. At least you can hear the horses coming. And the horseriders are mostly pretty considerate (now that the mad old cow who used to lead rides from the local riding school has retired).

YANBU, we’ve had several incidents recently, including one dog who pushed DS (3) over. Today, one ran right up to me, followed by casually strolling owner- who also came right up to me to retrieve the dog- shouting the standard “it’s ok, she’s friendly!” 🙄. So much for social distancing!

Dogs should be trained not to approach people. My dog is off lead mostly but he doesn't approach anyone, responds to commands immediately and avoids other dogs.

Does she make any attempt to call the dogs back, have you actually asked her not to let them approach?

She may feel that as they just approach for a nosey, and you say nothing, that this is fine.

If she tries to call them back and they don't respond, then yes they are out of control/not under her control, but as it stands, she's just rude and ignorant I think.

Personally I wouldn't walk 5 off lead like that, i don't think its fair on other path users and so we pair ours up instead of all going in a big gang. The ones that go off lead are the ones who have decent recalls and no interest in approaching strangers.