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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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

999 replies

Thewithesarehere · 27/12/2020 12:52

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
WitchFindersAreEverywhere · 27/12/2020 19:54

Times change. I remember it being unthinkable to force drivers and passengers to wear seatbelts.
And a time when dogs weren’t expected to be on leads, or banned from beaches, and allowed to crap wherever they wanted to.

VinylDetective · 27/12/2020 20:00

Times aren’t going to change so all dogs are required to be on lead everywhere. And as a pp said, it would be unenforceable and flouted all the time.

cantdothisnow1 · 27/12/2020 20:25

laughing out loud at the prospect of it being illegal to walk a dog off the lead in a rural dog walking area. Good luck with that.

Parks are the subject of by laws so they may be able to bring something in that is semi enforceable in parks.

Unlikely though as not exercising animals is a welfare issue.

cantdothisnow1 · 27/12/2020 20:26

There are already rules to deal with out of.control animals. Those are rarely enforced as it it!

mbosnz · 27/12/2020 20:27

Once upon a time, people were quite clear that it would infringe their rights to require them to wear a seat belt, and unenforceable.

Now it is illegal, enforceable, and also, socially frowned upon not to wear a seatbelt.

Times really do change to points that we never saw coming.

LST · 27/12/2020 20:29

There is no way, law or not, that I would begin to walk my well behaved dog on a lead. Hth

cantdothisnow1 · 27/12/2020 20:30

@mbosnz

Once upon a time, people were quite clear that it would infringe their rights to require them to wear a seat belt, and unenforceable.

Now it is illegal, enforceable, and also, socially frowned upon not to wear a seatbelt.

Times really do change to points that we never saw coming.

Not to ban dog walkers from walking dogs off lead for exercise.

How on earth is that enforceable? We've barely any police as it is. And then you'll have more problems with dog aggression because you'll have pent up energy to deal with.

Only a person who knows nothing at all about dogs could think this is a possibility.

There is a clear safety issue with seat belts that couldn't be dealt with with any other law. Not so for dogs as out of control and/ or dangerous dogs are ALREADY legislated for.

mbosnz · 27/12/2020 20:34

I totally agree with you about the diminished capacity of the police force, they can barely cope with actual crimes, poor buggers!

I guess, what I'm saying, is that if this continues to be an increasing problem, or perceived to be an increasing problem, there is likely to be increased agitation for further measures that might be perceived to mitigate the problem. And a populist Government is likely to take the easy way out to be seen to be listening and acting. . . regardless of whether it would be enforced or not.

And if that law were created, then chances are, sometimes it could be enforced, and of course, people have recourse to that law, to say that it was unlawful that your dog was off the leash.

This would be very sad for responsible owners and their well trained dogs.

cantdothisnow1 · 27/12/2020 20:37

@mbosnz

I totally agree with you about the diminished capacity of the police force, they can barely cope with actual crimes, poor buggers!

I guess, what I'm saying, is that if this continues to be an increasing problem, or perceived to be an increasing problem, there is likely to be increased agitation for further measures that might be perceived to mitigate the problem. And a populist Government is likely to take the easy way out to be seen to be listening and acting. . . regardless of whether it would be enforced or not.

And if that law were created, then chances are, sometimes it could be enforced, and of course, people have recourse to that law, to say that it was unlawful that your dog was off the leash.

This would be very sad for responsible owners and their well trained dogs.

It's not the right approach from a welfare point of view. They should be enforcing the existing laws not penalising animals who are under control.

This populist government knows that we are largely a nation of dog lovers. There won't be an appetite for these restrictions.

The most you can expect is stricter control/ punishment when a dog is out of control.

cantdothisnow1 · 27/12/2020 20:38

And no one could reasonably object to that from any point of view, especially animal welfare.

cantdothisnow1 · 27/12/2020 20:40

in public parks where there are children playing there are already (or could be) bylaws to state that dogs should be on leads in certain areas, otherwise the owner could be subject to a fine.

That would be a more moderate approach and I believe it is the case in most childrens playgrounds.

FoxinaScarf · 27/12/2020 20:40

@SlothMama

YANBU I don't let my dogs run up to strangers but equally I don't appreciate out of control children that approach my dogs who are on leads.
The OP's child did not approach the dog.
FoxinaScarf · 27/12/2020 20:45

@VinylDetective

Oh God, not again. Couldn’t you have just added to one of the scores f existing threads? These anti canine threads are so tedious.
No they are not tedious. They are repeated as it continues to be a big issue. Are you perhaps one of those dog owners who thinks it is ok for their dog to jump up at people and get mud or dog slobber on them?
meow1989 · 27/12/2020 20:47

I've never come across so many dogs off leads as I have of late.

For the record, I like dogs, I grew up with a wolfhound, my parents have a dog, but it really irks me.

In the last fortnight my ds (2.5) has had a terrier jump up at him, a boxer run up to him and try to take a stick he was holding off him, a mid sized dog come bounding up for strokes and a small is dog who was actually in a lead (one of those extending ines) jump up at him.

All of these dogs were friendly and ds generally likes dogs (though seems more rarely lately, understandable) but what if he didn't? What if he had had an adverse experience and was terrified?

FoxinaScarf · 27/12/2020 20:47

@CharlotteRose90

This thread is completely laughable. Because of one stupid owner the witches want all dogs on leads. No my dog is well behaved and will not be going on leads. Don’t look at him and train your children not to go near dogs if you don’t want to be friendly. You can tell non dog lovers a mile off
What witches? Are you a teenager from Hogwarts? The OP's child did not approach the dog.
Original poster
Thewithesarehere · 27/12/2020 20:49

@Swaddlemeinplants

Taking it back though, So a law that actually puts a blanket ban on off-lead dog walking is probably the best way to go how would you even police this..?

Councils and police are understaffed as it is.
The council/dog warden/police can’t even manage dog fouling properly.

Loads of dog owners myself included would ignore and carry on walking off lead.

This is the kind of entitlement that leads to criminal behaviour.
OP posts:
FoxinaScarf · 27/12/2020 20:50

[quote LST]@OP I disagree. My dog would have to be kept on a lead unnecessarily if the law was lime Canada. Yes there should be dog parks. But dogs should not be made to be on lead everywhere else[/quote]
Why not? It would greatly reduce distressing incidents like the one the OP has experienced. I have had many similar incidents myself as have lots of others.

Original poster
Thewithesarehere · 27/12/2020 20:53

@VinylDetective

Times aren’t going to change so all dogs are required to be on lead everywhere. And as a pp said, it would be unenforceable and flouted all the time.
I don’t think it will be as easy then. For example, if there was a law that you says you have to keep your dog on leash at all times unless in s as designated area, I will simply use any means available to me to make sure no random dogs come near my children again unless I allow them. I hope you can let your imagination tell you what I will do in that scenario.
OP posts:
FoxinaScarf · 27/12/2020 20:54

[quote LST]@op my dog is 9. Never once in his entire life has he jumped up or gone towards a child that isn't my own or another dog. Why should I have to keep my highly active border collie on a lead on a field we have been going to since he was a pup to play ball? Because some idiots cannot control their dogs? Really? That is fair? [/quote]
How is it fair that so many people are injured or children knocked over and frightened by dogs running up to them, barking at them, getting mud or slobber over them or knocking them over leading to long term fear of dogs?
Keeping dogs on a lead seems very sensible considering the large number of incidents.

cantdothisnow1 · 27/12/2020 20:55

@WitchFindersAreEverywhere

Dog parks. That’s how. And a blanket rule might stop the annual sheep-savaging issues round here, with the subsequent bloody deaths, crippling and distraught shepherds and farmers.
Dog owners who let their dogs off the lead in a field that contain sheep are totally irresponsible.

The farmer has the legal right to shoot a dog that is sheep bothering, there was recently a report of a pet cockapoo being shot dead by a farmer who was perfectly within their rights to do so.

Juanbablo · 27/12/2020 20:56

I have a very small, very friendly dog. He is 99% trustworthy when it comes to being called away from people. He generally doesn't even give people a second look. If they have a dog with them it's another story, he loves dogs even more than people. But I'm still careful, just in case it's that one time he decides to not listen to me and go and say hello to a person/child. If there's lots of kids around I keep him on the lead because he loves children and would try and lick them which they might not like. If they approach us then that's fair enough.

FoxinaScarf · 27/12/2020 20:59

[quote LST]@OP yes but as I have said I dont drive so a dog park miles away would be no use to me. Why should I have to put up with my dog being harrased by badly behaved dogs or kids? Same both ways. I hate idiot dogs owners as much as you as it means everyone tars all dog owners with the same brush. [/quote]
People's opinions are formed based on their own experiences. If those experiences of dogs/owners have been negative or frightening they will form negative opinions about dogs/owners.
Negative experiences feature more prominently in the mind so a few bad experiences with dogs/owners people tend to view all dogs/owners with anxiety etc

Swaddlemeinplants · 27/12/2020 21:07

This is the kind of entitlement that leads to criminal behaviour
I’m sorry if you think understanding that young, active, working breed dogs need off lead running is ‘entitled’.

As for criminal behaviour 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I mean when I think of ‘criminal behaviour’ I think of things like mugging, sexual assault, vandalism...
The police are so underfunded they can barely manage those...
I imagine they’ll be very on the ball hunting down those naughty people with dogs off lead.
🤣🤣🤣🤣

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 27/12/2020 21:08

YANBU but I can't believe your first thought was to post about it on mn while your ds was still covered in mud, shivering and in pain. Seriously, put the phone down and look after your child, then post about it later.

mbosnz · 27/12/2020 21:30

I absolutely understand about young active working breeds needing off lead time.

I also fail to understand why people have working breeds when they don't work them - it seems so unfair on the dog. No matter how much the physical exercise, it always seems like the mental exercise is lacking, unless they're doing top tier obedience.

However, surely it's very important to make sure that those dogs are effectively under control when off lead?

And surely it's not too hard to understand that those idiots who don't have their dogs under effective control when off lead, who bully and bluster and make excuses when their dogs negatively impact on others around them, they're the ones who are creating the issues and problems for all dog owners and people who have to reluctantly deal with their dogs?