To just let my dog off anyway

[LittleYellowIceCream]

Live on a small rural street where we are all quite close with neighbours.

At the end of the street is a farm, they don't use one of the fields closest to the road so a long long time ago they turned it into a 'dog walking' field for the people on the street (and whoever really).

There is a public footpath through the field which is clearly marked and runs up the side near the wall and then through the other fields. You have to enter this field from the road and there is a big sign which says 'X STREET DOG WALKING FIELD' and a message about picking up after them etc...

It's nice, the dogs often play on there together and we all have a chat if we happen to be on at the same time etc...

However since this warm weather I've seen about 3/4 families all sat down on the field on blankets having picnics. Not with their own dogs, just them.

It means none of us feel we can let our dogs off to run around and play.

One neighbour did point out the sign and said it may not be the best place for a picnic but was ignored.

WIBU to just let my dog off his lead anyway? He does have good recall but I obviously can't guarantee his frisbee isn't going to land in someone's 'picnic area' whilst we play fetch!

There's not many places dogs can just have a run off lead round here that are closed off and safe. There is a park where people can have picnics literally 5 minutes away!

Its really annoying me. I don't take him to the park because I don't want to get in people's way when they are trying to sit/eat/kids playing etc.. this is the one area that is supposed to be for dogs to run about off lead and I feel like I can't even let him off here now either.

[DrinkVeneer]

That it's informally used for dog walkers is irrelevant right now to be honest because under covid regulations your dog is to be on a lead when around members of the public.

[Yokohamajojo]

Pika of course you can exercise your dog fine on the lead but you must admit that for the dog it's more fun to be off lead now and again surely? It's not just about physical exercise, it's about running about sniffing etc

[Alittleshortforaspacepooper]

If your dog wants to run, you match the pace of your dog, not drag them along behind you

I can't tell if you're joking but this mental image gave me a good laugh, so thank you for that.

[WhenItIsOver]

Tell the owner.
Go to the field and tell the trespassers that you have told the owner they are there and that it is a dog walking field, therefore you are going to let your dog off the lead in 5 minutes. Point out the sign in case they do not read English.
Let your dog off the lead, ensuring that the trespassers do not leave the gate open before you do so.

[DrinkVeneer]

And that includes other dog walkers. Nobody's dog should be off a lead anywhere apart from on land owned by the dog owner themselves.

[LST]

@Pika you are so wrong with that statement. Dogs cannot be exercised just as well on a lead. Not when you have a collie. My dog does have perfect recall. More down to his breed than to me to give him credit. So I will continue to walk him off lead. We throw a ball and keep away from people. If he was a twat off a lead I wouldn't. But I am not being called selfish and irresponsible by a faceless know it all on the internet

[Yokohamajojo]

Ok Drink just won't happen and it shouldn't

[2007Millie]

My dog isn't aggressive

Hhahahahah heard that one before.

[Windyatthebeach]

Regarding ddogs being exercised fine on lead - -. My dpuppy has the potential to run at 45 mph. Shall I hold her lead out of my car window somewhere while I drive?

Guidelines suggests she needs( as an adult) at least 3 off lead runs each week.
Some people are just blinkered to rules..

[Yokohamajojo]

and here come the dog haters! probably better threads to hate dogs on to be honest

[ChandlerIsTheBestFriend]

Don't be silly. You're exercising your dog, not yourself. If your dog wants to run, you match the pace of your dog, not drag them along behind you.

It's not difficult.

Oh dear. Not good with analogies are you? The dog is the one trying to go for the jog, the owner holding the lead is the toddler holding your hand. The dog cannot run properly with you holding his lead because his top speed far exceeds yours. He would drag you behind him. (Like a toddler would be dragged if you tried to run holding their hand) His movements can be sudden and take off in different directions that you won’t be able to predict or keep up with. It would not be a pleasurable experience for either dog or owner. Which is the purpose of the off lead exercise.

[DrinkVeneer]

Ok @Yokohamajojo but it's the law. Breach of covid regulations is a criminal offence btw unlike trespassing which is a civil matter. Up to you.

[NekoShiro]

It's a private field that has been clearly labeled as a dog walking field, let the dog off the lead regardless, don't worry about the people who hare invaded the clearly labeled dog space, if I went into a dog walking field and had a picnic I would expect to be surrounded by dogs due to all the food.

Personally I think you should need to have a permit/license to own a dog that proves youve gone through a set test and can prove you have control of your dog every couple of years (like a drivers license but tested more often) I think that would help with people being attacked by dogs or the general fear of untrained dogs with lazy owners. Then this wouldn't be such a big thing.

[ravenmum]

If you let the dog off the lead, won't he just eat their food? They might have chocolates or something. Unless he's really well trained, I'd speak to them and explain your predicament. Most likely they simply don't have dogs and have no idea.

[eggandonion]

Our local dog trainer has an agility field which would be attractive to children, and an exercise field for dogs in her boarding kennel. It would be nice for a picnic. Should people go there? It is her business premises.
We have a town park with a playground, dogs not allowed in the playground although mine would love it. (I think foxes go in at night). There is a riverside bit with fairly rough grass, a lot of dogs are off lead there, some aren't. I'd picnic in the park, not the wild part.
My dd (in her twenties) would be liable to picnic in a dog park to meet the dogs!

[Lollypop4]

Let your dog off, I dont own dogs anymore but we too had a designated dog field for our st too and if I had seen random people having a picnic, my dog wouldve been let of regardless!

[therobin]

Does the sign say it is a field for letting dogs off their lead or a field for dog walking? Taking your dog for a walk means having it on a lead, especially around other people at the moment so YABU.

[LST]

@pika and you're abelist too! Wow.

[mencken]

I generally give zero fucks about dogs which are lower life forms. In this case a piece of private land has been designated as an off-lead area and so that seems fair enough. Sign needs to be changed:

• WARNING this is private land which has been designated as a dog off lead area. Expect to be approached by dogs. Expect dog crap everywhere. This will NOT be a good place for a picnic, try a public park where dogs should legally be on a lead at all times. By entering this area you accept these conditions. The Dangerous Dog regulations still apply if you are threatened or attacked.
  

sorted.

[Pika09]

But I am not being called selfish and irresponsible by a faceless know it all on the internet

Well, you are really.

[ravenmum]

Why would anyone in their right mind want to have a picnic in a field full of dog shit?
I wouldn't want to walk my dog in a field full of dog shit. That's why I pick up my dog's shit.

[nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut]

I'd let him off. It's a dog walking field, not your fault they didn't read the whacking great sign.

Mines not been on lead in years unless we walk along a main road. She doesn't run up to strangers and can be trusted to remain near unless told to go play. I sympathise with people whose kids are scared of dogs but phobias are the problem of the people who have them. My dog wont go near them and isnt the slightest bit interested. She's more bothered about her stick than random children but will of course stop and stare at them if they scream and freak out.

[ChandlerIsTheBestFriend]

I would announce. “I’m letting rover off his lead now. Also, he likes ham sandwiches”

[Veterinari]

Wow! This thread is basically a bingo card of 'my irrelevant awful dog experience happened, so I'm going to ignore all the info in your OP and tell you you're wrong regardless of how unrelated the situations are'.

Don't be silly. You're exercising your dog, not yourself. If your dog wants to run, you match the pace of your dog, not drag them along behind you.

@Pika09 You seem to have misunderstood the analogy! Have you ever tried keeping up with a border collie or greyhound? Thought not.

Off lead exercise is associated with better physical and behavioural outcomes for dogs

[PrincessConsueIaBananaHammock]

Look if you really really dislike dogs you avoid places where there is a 99.99 chance that there will be dogs . It's not rocket science.