About dogs on country lanes?

[letsgoandtango]

I have recently moved to a narrow country lane(mostly single track, no pavement or verge) - not many cars use it as it's a dead end, but lots of walkers and dog walkers use it as a cut through to a nearby green space.

My AIBU is about dogs off the leash - I'd say probably one in 3 of the dogs I encounter going past. Sometimes one person will have 3 or 4 dogs running around . It makes me nervous because there is very little room, I have to squeeze past them when driving and once they are next to the car I can't see the dog, so I'm worried about hurting them. It's also frustrating having to go at snail's pace if I am in a hurry to do school run or whatever. Sometimes the dogs even run into our garden (and once into the house but I guess that's our fault for leaving the door open!)

I think dogs off lead on a road is illegal, but it is just the normal "done thing" on country lanes and cars just have to suck it up? If not, what can I realistically do? Put up a polite sign or threaten to run them over?

I would never walk my dog of the lead in that scenario no matter how good her recall is.

I live in a very rural area, no pavements or verges round here and whilst not predominantly single track there are some. Lots of dog walkers and I have never seen a dog off leash on the lanes. Well I have found two loose escapee dogs in the last five years, but certainly nobody deliberately allowing their dog on the roads without a lead. Very dangerous, dogs are clueless when it comes to cars.

As it's a dead end paved track/road leading to an open space I'd just get used to it as being a locally-accepted thing and not get annoyed by it. I haven't voted because YANBU because you're newly moved in but also YABU to be too annoyed by it.

I am not aware of any laws around it. Few of us locally have dogs on leads and live in an area of single track roads and verges. Most are gundog trained and very well behaved. Nobody has more than two .

In truth, if there is a dog there is also a person and possibly children, so you should be going very slowly past them. narrow roads in rural areas are not designed for their 60mph limit. Cyclists are far, far more of a risk. I think a sign would risk alienating you. Leave earlier for the school run; wind down the window and have a chat.

We must just be very unlucky! I think it's because it's a short road with only a few houses (and hence cars), so people treat it like a footpath

I always have my dog off the lead on a single track. If a car or horse comes along I recall them, and put the lead on
They shouldn't leave them loose. Not much you can do though I think

I’ve lived on one of these lanes for over a decade. You need to get used to it.

Is this not just one of the joys of moving to a new house?
Our querk was finding traffic is heavier on the road than we were expecting and dodgy heating though it looks perfectly fine.

We have narrow lanes, no pavements and everyone has their dogs on leads (apart from when the dogs are riding on the back of quads which never fails to make the children laugh).

You know you’ll be called a ‘townie’ if you make a fuss?

My parents moved to a similar property in 1980 (but there is a farm further up the track). It's a track which links to common land and is very popular with dog walkers. When cars appear people stick a lead on or get hold of their dog.

I'd never leave any of our dogs loose around a moving car, unfair on dog and driver.

YANBU

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is a criminal offence for a dog to be on a designated road (ie. a public road) without being held on a lead.

Highway Code: Rule 56
Dogs. Do not let a dog out on the road on its own. Keep it on a short lead when walking on the pavement, road or path shared with cyclists or horse riders.

I think dogs off lead on a road is illegal

Is it specifically illegal? I thought you had to keep the dog "under control"? Not saying it's OK, just wondering.

@amicissimma

YANBU

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is a criminal offence for a dog to be on a designated road (ie. a public road) without being held on a lead.

Highway Code: Rule 56
Dogs. Do not let a dog out on the road on its own. Keep it on a short lead when walking on the pavement, road or path shared with cyclists or horse riders.

Doesn't "designated" mean the LA has to make a specific order - like speed limits and parking though?

My dog is often off lead but I call him back if there's a car of course. Is it even a public road? Neither of you are completely unreasonable, dog owners just need to ensure they are under control

YANBU about the dogs, they should 100% be on a lead on the road.

One thing that stood out in your OP though was this
It's also frustrating having to go at snail's pace if I am in a hurry to do school run or whatever.

Make sure you always leave yourself plenty of time, you should never drive down a single track country road in a hurry. There are a multitude of thing that can pop up without warning, cars, people wild animals, horses etc.

Lol at townie
I've always lived somewhere out the way and grew up in the countryside, just never had this issue before
Also to clarify I am not the type to hare down country lanes! I of course go slowly all the time, you have to, what I object to is having to constantly stop or creep along (literally under 5mph) for off leash dogs.
Thanks for the quote re the law - I thought I hadn't imagined it. And yes the road is a public road

Oh yay another dog whingey thread 😉😀

The law in relation to your road is not clear at all. The poster quoted the RTA but that doesn't automatically apply to any public road. You should check with your local authority with reference to the road in question.

V rural here.. My lanes have virtually nothing but horses and of course the dogs running by them. It's not a problem. Has always been thus. Never had one that didn't get in the side and stay there on command or I guess they would never be allowed out.

This where you live. You now know what it's like. Just be prepared to drive very slowly . It's actually rather lovely.

Grew up in an area with only single track roads, and dogs were rarely on a leash. Mind you, there were very few drivers and apart from the occasional delivery driver everyone was a neighbour. Horses being ridden, cows or sheep being moved between fields, children riding bicycles were as common as dogs off the leash. All the adults took their time when driving - next time they would be the dog owner or it would be their DC on the bike.

When you move to a new community it is generally best to wait a couple of generations before trying to change things...

It occurs to me it would be a serious issue for the local shepherd if he had to keep his dogs on leads on the road. Sheep would run off up the hill.

I would say it's about 20% of dog walkers on true 'country lanes'.
The sort of lanes that are more mud than tarmac this time of year.

YANBU they should definitely be on the lead! Even if they're usually obedient and walk to heal, they could run off and some dicks race through quiet country lanes.

I walk my dog on country lanes, very little traffic but he is always on the lead, no excuses.
I always walk on the side of incoming traffic and move onto the verge with me in between the car and my dog. He's far too precious to even take any chances. Most drivers are extremely considerate and slow down, I also make a point of thanking them. Safety first, my little prince is my pride and joy

At least a good side of this is that, given there are few vehicles that use the road, those that do are used to driving at 5mph.

DC can occasionally run into the road too, no matter how well behaved, so you at least have that reassurance OP; slow for dogs today and another day, another driver will be going slow too, thankfully.

looks like your cup is half-full rather than half-empty.