To expect dog walkers to keep their giant dogs on leash around other peiple

[Thewithesarehere]

I am still quite sick after seeing a dog, nearly my DC’s size, running after my DC knocking them to the ground and running over them.
DC is covered in mud. I was taking a picture of them running to me and it happened in a flash. I shouted at the dog owner who something like put your own children on leash.
Why the hell people don’t keep such huge dogs and then let them off leash in a public park around children? DV is covered in mud, shivering and complaining that their leg hurts where it hit a rock and that they are scared of dogs. I wish I had done more but don’t know what else I could have done.
AIBU in feeling bloody furious?

@Swaddlemeinplants

I get the frustration but dog parks are not the answer.

Dog parks put lots of highly excited dogs, often of varied ages and sizes, together in a relatively small space.
That is a recipe for disaster!

Shy dogs or dogs who don’t particularly want to socialise with other dogs are run at and jumped all over and lots of fights can break out as a result.

I can guarantee 100% if I took my dog to a dog park she’d be completely overwhelmed and traumatised.

Not all dogs should be on lead 24/7 either, some very active dogs really do need to run about to be exercised adequately.

I’m so sorry that your DC have been victims of poor dog owners, we aren’t all like that and I absolutely understand the anger but enforcing 100% leash only except for the dog park is not the solution.

I think dog parks sound perfect. All the responsible dog owners could support the ones that are struggling. And you’d know that everyone there was a dog lover.

How are dog parks working elsewhere and how is Canadian law and people are fine with keeping dogs on leads when in public spaces? If others can do it, we can do it too.
Like someone said upthread, I will always want to ensure my children are safe if I am given a choice. Right now, that choice is not in my hands and the accidents people have mentioned here show I am not alone at all.

@WitchFindersAreEverywhere I don't drive so it would need to be right on my doorstep for me to use one. Plus my dog doesn't like other dogs hounding him. I think id just stick to the fields 2 minutes from my home.

I am training my dog in recall, she is not totally reliable so training is still a work in progress. I usually use a specific dog training park but I went to a forestry area today, the park was heaving. I kept my eyes peeled and put her back on if I saw anyone in close enough proximity to be a distraction.So today she was off lead, and some people with a dog came out of trees about 100m away, she looked as if she was about to run but I called her and she came back to me so I put her back on lead. I was so pleased with her.
No dog has '100% recall' that you see people on here demand, dogs are intelligent creatures with minds of there own and a 'whats in it for me' outlook. You only have to see the clips on You Tube to see even highly trained dogs at crufts will go 'off piste' and to develop the recall they have to be able to practise, they cant do that unless they get the chance to be offlead. That said I would never do the 'shes friendy' while breezily ignoring her jumping over people. Unfortunately for a while it will be more noticable due to the number of covid lockdown dogs with owners who think dogs naturally are like Lassie!
I use dog trainers, dog parks and keep her on lead unless I feel secure of my surroundings, hopefully as she matures she will calm down and be less nutty and I can trust her.

I think dog parks sound perfect. All the responsible dog owners could support the ones that are struggling.
And you’d know that everyone there was a dog lover.

Indeed.

Not sure why the welfare of dogs who're traumatised and overwhelmed by other dogs is considered by some dog owners (it should be) but they don't consider the welfare of others who are traumatised and overwhelmed by being around dogs off lead in public paths (not designated dog walking areas).

@op how do you know people are 'fine with it'? If it was a law that was just spung upon dog owners out of nowhere then I doubt people would be fine with it. I would fight tooth and nail for my dogs right for a bit of freedom.

Do all Canadian provinces have that law for all areas? I definitely saw dogs off the lead in urban areas in British Columbia a couple of years ago. I wonder whether in rural areas this is more to do with protecting wildlife than anything else?

Yanbu. We need more dog wardens and enforcement of existing laws in this country to stop this shit happening to children.

It was irresponsible of the owners to have that dog off the lead.

Dogs should only be off the lead in public spaces if they can be trusted not to approach other people/ dogs/ children and cause a nuisance.

Unfortunately it sounds like they didn't really care. Some people treat their dogs like children and won't hear any complaints about them, even if they are obviously behaving inappropriately.

It's such a shame when this results in kids developing lifelong fear of dogs, as dogs can be so wonderful when properly trained and socialised!

Yanbu, it drives mad. DD loved dogs when she was very little but she's terrified of them now after too many have bounded up to her, knocked her over, barked in her face. Every park trip is punctuated with her clinging to my legs in fear because she's seen an off lead dog approaching.

I hate dogs running riot, and I have a dog. I am sick of 'Fido, come here, why aren't you listening to me? Oh, he's not normally like this ~tinkly little laugh~ ' when Fido's jumping all over my geriatric dog and refusing to listen to being called back. If it doesn't come back INSTANTLY when it's called (despite whatever distraction/enticement is going on) then it's not under control and needs to be on a lead.

To clarify the position in British Columbia, dogs need to be kept on the lead except in designated areas. Looking at the city of Vancouver, there are at least 10 parks (not specifically dog parks) where dogs ARE allowed off the lead under the bylaws.

There are areas within those parks that they are not, such as children's playgrounds.

So it's not true to say that in Canada dogs have to be on lead at all time except in dog parks.

@DarkDisquiet

This isn't really a dog or dog owners issue. It's an arsehole people issue.

I have three large, boisterous, people loving dogs, who would mug people very enthusiastically if they were allowed. Hence they are kept on leads around people. They have all attended dog training classes, and done really well, but love people so much that they totally lose their minds around them.

But I was brought up to consider other people, hence they stay on leads, and are not off lead around others.

The issue here isn't dogs as such, or dog owners, it's arsehole people who think their own wants / desires top everyone elses. They turn up in all walks of life. I've had issues with people like this in all ways - car drivers, cyclists, pedestrians. It's entitlement that's the issue.

My giant ball of fluff is like that too, so she's always on a lead.

It is incredibly inconsiderate of owners not to make sure their dogs are completely under control when out on walks.

That's awful op. I have three little dogs who we police very carefully around children - I would be mortified if one of them jumped up at a child so i just don't let it happen.

That dog owner was an arsehole.

Hope dd recovers.

@cantdothisnow1

I do think that the covid restrictions have exacerbated this issue. There are more first time dog owners about with Lockdown dogs. Also because we are more restricted areas that are pretty much deserted dog walking areas in normal times are obviously being used by families for exercising themselves and their children.

Everyone needs to adapt.

I walk my 1 year old Golden Retriever off the lead over the fields but on the lead in the park. Today when there were loads of children around I slipped the lead back on when there were young ones about, she normally ignores children but I can't take the risk of her accidentally knocking one over.

Dog owners just need to exercise some common sense. Sadly not all do.

Completely agree. The invasion of dog walking spaces was particularly bad in the summer. It’s pretty bad at the moment because so many dog walking places are impassable because they’re either underwater or knee deep in mud.

Similar thing happened when DS3 was about 5 on a beach. Dog was jumping up at him trying to get the ball he had been playing with his brothers with. He was hysterical because it wouldn’t leave him alone. He also fell on a stone and cut his knee. Twat owners were far away and thought it was hilarious that dog wanted to play.

That thing was a Staffy type. DH would have kicked it to hell if I’d let him.

DS is still wary of dogs to this day and no he doesn’t need to to get over his fear as he’s been told numerous times by dog owners. There is no need for an animal that can kill or cause serious injury to be in a public place at all!

If I had my way, only landowners would be allowed to have dogs, proving they had their own property to exercise them on. They wouldn’t be in public places at all, let alone off lead.

Streets were even more full of dog shit than usual yesterday. Obviously the filthy bastards walking their dogs on Christmas Day decided to have a day off picking it up.

@BaublesTolt haha 😄

@Whammyyammy

Love it when dog owners shout "its ok, he's friendly" as their dog comes bounding over out of control. I always reply "mine aren't when challenged like this, good luck", soon get their arse into gear.....

Works well doesn’t it!

Mine hates being approached like this by off lead dogs and reacts with fury. He sounds really threatening but it’s luckily all show. I’ve had the errant owners break the 4 minute mile when he really kicks off.

People though he loves but I’m always amazed at the number of parents who allow their children to approach and touch him. He’s absolutely fine as it happens but they aren’t to know that.

Totally agree OP. We were harassed by a dog recently - it continually approached my 3yo, who didn't like it at all. The first time we didn't see it coming and within seconds it had basically pinned the 3yo up against a tree and was barking in his face. Luckily dh grew up round dogs and didn't panic but moved it away and we carried on. Twice more the bloody dog came running up to us, despite us trying to put distance between it and us, and right up to my dc every time. Eventually dh picked up 3yo and the dog jumped up on him to continue trying to get to the 3yo! Dh got cross then and yelled at the dog owner that he needed to put a lead on his dog since it was totally ignoring him calling it back. The owner wasn't too pleased but we were totally out of patience. There's a reason we don't have a dog: we don't like them and we certainly don't want them jumping up at our dc. It wasn't a small dog either: it was an alsation. I totally understand it was probably being friendly and had every right to be there, but we had every right to be there too and we ended up going home early because my 3yo was upset and we didn't trust the dog owner not to unleash the dog again.

Ive found some dog owners seem to find “off lead” as some sort of status. Many owners at our local park still snort at us because we refuse to let our dog offlead (because he is an utter shithead mentalist and won’t come back and would also probably clothesline a child in the name of play), so he’s never off lead. But these peoples dogs are off lead and have gone for my dog and other dogs, they don’t come back, one just runs over the bloody main road when it fancies. Yet they act so superior with their leads around their necks while their untrained dogs are causing loads of chaos

Oh god this...I had this with my dog round on the local playing fields...'oh don't you let her off lead?' Umm, no not until I know she will come when called, but these same owners would be on speed dial to the dogwarden if mine pinned their pooches..she is a big strong dog..whilst friendly, doesn't 'get' it, rough play and prey drive are strong drivers. Until I am confident, her off lead is strictly limited.

Some people treat their dogs like children and won't hear any complaints about them, even if they are obviously behaving inappropriately.
I definitely do not let my children run riot where they shouldn’t.

If you know where the dog owners live, perhaps contact the RSPCA. Suggest the dog being out of control may result from neglect and the people need support and guidance.

I'm so sorry for your child. I'm so fed up with inconsiderate dog owners, loads of good ones out there too but the bad ones ruin things for everyone.

My DS was knocked down by a dog when he was one (in a play-park at that) the owner wouldnt come over or look in my direction, never mind say anything. It was one of the scariest moments of my life as I though the dog was attacking.

On another occasion a dog (off the lead) attacked my cat, the owner came to my house a few days later, I thought to apologise. No, she was informing me that my cat had inflicted deep scratches into the dogs stomach and that vet treatment was very expensive. She was annoyed and actually wanted me to pay for it! CF

I think dog parks sound perfect. All the responsible dog owners could support the ones that are struggling.
And you’d know that everyone there was a dog lover

Oh dear me.
What kind of support are ‘responsible dog owners’; (am I not responsible just because my dog doesn’t like other dogs..?) supposed to give people like me..?

My dog is nervous around other dogs, she doesn’t approach them and she doesnt want to interact with them.
There is literally nothing anyone can do except not allow their dogs to approach her.
Which is pretty much impossible in a dog park!

I am sympathetic to the OP, I like everyone else think dogs should be under control but these threads always bring out rabid ‘never let them off leash’ and ‘dog park only!’ reactions and it isn’t the way.
It’s very wearing.

Just because some people have trained their dogs poorly and/or are rude and selfish when their dogs cause trouble for others doesn’t mean we all deserve to be punished.

There is no need for an animal that can kill or cause serious injury to be in a public place at all!
agree
they act so superior with their leads around their necks
agree
Ime this category of dog owners regard themselves as above the 'hoi polloi' of average dog owners, they see themselves as having a superior level of mastery over their pets and an enhanced level of insight into the needs of the dog