To have felt so nervous about dog off lead today?

[Lizzie523]

I felt so anxious about this situation today it almost ruined my walk.

Met 2 friends for a walk in the park. 1 friend has a lovely dog. She let's the dog off in the park and gives it free reign to roam. A few times it disappeared into various undergrowth.

It kept running ahead of us, so that any walker wouldnt have been able to pinpoint whose dog it was half the time.

Lastly, we sat near a play park and the dog approached a few times but didnt go in. When it approached a group of teens, who said they were fine with the dog, my friend let it stay with them for 10 minutes.

At one point as we passed the play park my other friend and I instinctively formed a wall where the kids were playing and kept on the dog other side of us!

AIBU to have felt wracked with nerves? I admit as a cat person I'm not used to dogs but I really struggled with this. Is it me?

What were you concerned about in particular? Off lead dogs can be a menace (I've got a reactive dog) but if the dog had good recall (did it?) Dogs off lead aren't a problem. And if she asked the teens if they are happy, I don't see the issue there?

What were you nervous about?

Dog thefts, or the dog’s behaviour?

It’s a little odd to worry about your friend’s dog

I'm not understanding what the problem was.

If it had a great recall as pp said then there’s nothing to be worried about. Or was it because your friend wasn’t paying attention to what her dog was doing? And you were worried it was ‘going’ to run off- or into the play area? In which case she needs to put it back on lead

I was worried about the way it was walking way ahead of us when there were very young children and toddlers about. Often she didnt have it in line of sight. At one point it got closer to a toddler and the father picked the child up.

A couple of times she had to go over and retrieve the dog as it didnt come straight away.

What exactly were you worried about OP?

Dog owners should always be able to see their dogs.
(Sorry x post!)

It isn't like me to feel so anxious but I really did feel it strongly today during the walk. So wondering if I have some justification or if this is possibly about me and how I'm feeling.

Our dog always roams in a sort of circular radius to us. As we move she moves even if much further away running circles. What’s the concern? Dog would attack others? Others might steal dog? Dog and dog would fight? What?!

This would bother me - if I understand the setting correctly. We live close to a large urban park and I hate it when dogs are allowed to do this (except in certain areas of the park where there are wide open fields and dogs are routinely allowed to run). The paths are often crowded and loose dogs who are not good at staying to heel cause chaos. Only today I was walking with my 4 year old when we coincided with 2x GSDs running wide circles around their owners. The dogs were weaving in and out of runners, cyclists, causing problems for other dog walkers. And at one point I was stood still holding a sobbing 4 year old because they were just too big and too bouncy, too close and too fast. And still the owner wouldn’t put them on a lead.

Rural areas, that are less crowded and with more open space are fair enough but courtesy is needed!

I let my dog off lead . He runs into the overgrowth and when I call he comes. If other dogs are within proximity he can see them I walk in the other direction to distract him . In parks he’s mostly off lead because we are trying to learn recall . He’s a springer spaniel and fuck me they live up to their name . Personally I don’t like my dog near humans because he’s still only 16 months old and jumps up with excitement. I’m trying to stop him from jumping but when I walk him on lead in the streets and people stroke to pet him I tell the dog NO! because he jumps and loves to be made a fuss of . I apologise to people and tell them I’m trying to teach him not to jump up. But they still make a fuss all the same. He’s still a work in progress , loves humans and loves other dogs . Is it a young dog ? I’m sure your friend can judge her dog . Like I say he disappears in the wooded area and is now coming when I call ... it takes time

Doesn’t sound like a very appropriate park to let a dog run free, with play park area etc. Were you stressed in case it got lost/ran off or just that it was annoying other people?

Yanbu if the dog doesn’t have good recall then she shouldn’t have it off lead in such a public area in my opinion. Apart from the obvious approaching people that may feel uncomfortable with dogs, or perhaps being attacked by another dog, what about if it stopped for a poo would she even know to be able to pick it up?

Did you say anything to her at the time?

Lovely dog that doesn't belong to you and and never pushed boundaries.

The actual owner wasn't remiss at any time. Why the anxiety?

Maybe not go out with this friend who has a dog that can happily roam off lead.
It sounds like you are very sensitive to this.

I cant really work out what the issue is. Did the dog do something wrong? Sounds like he had a nice walk

If you can’t see the dog you’re not in control and can’t pick up poo. Neither can you guarantee it hasn’t found livestock, jumped up at a child or rolled in something grim.
Doesn’t matter if the dog is happy or lovely. Owner needs to be in control. If you can’t see the dog then how can you be?

What @Wolfiefan said! I can no longer go walking with my children because every Tom, Dick, and Harry has a bloody lockdown puppy with poor recall. It is now utterly ridiculous!

YANBU. You should always have eyes on your dog.
I'm not really a dog person and hate it when a dog runs up to my toddler DS.

I own dogs BTW! Often get looked at like I’m a lunatic because they are sniffing so instead of walking on I stand and watch them. So I can pick up. Or recall. Or whatever.
Too many owners ignore their dogs and march on regardless.

Thanks for being a considerate owner @Wolfiefan. I grew up with dogs and would consider myself a dog person. But I can’t handle two terrified small children plus an unknown dog whilst it’s owner appears from wherever they might be. And they always act like I’m overreacting when I’m pissed off about it.

The dog was out of sight about 3 times.

My friend said she wanders but always comes back....

My other friend at one point said 'shall we put the lead back on" and she 'no it's fine'. I personally dont think a dog should be at liberty to wander close to toddlers. I think it should be brought to heel.

I spend all of my time out walking trying to manage my children’s anxiety (one is far worse but sets the other off), I need the dog person to handle the dog. We do lots of talking about which dogs we can see, and what they are doing and what we can tell about their mood/how they are not interested in him but it is utterly exhausting!

All those saying what was OP worried about and what was the problem. Seriously?
A dog off the lead out of site is a problem whatever its recall is. Fouling, other dogs, nervous children, small children, livestock, are just some of the potential issues.
The walk was past a children's play area. Dogs should always be on a lead in public unless it is a designated area for them or you are so remote that they do not meet anyone else. Bounding dogs are absolutely terrifying to small children not used to them. Dogs are pack animals and you absolutely can not guarantee their behaviour off lead, what ever you think.
Keep them on a lead.

@Springchickpea

I spend all of my time out walking trying to manage my children’s anxiety (one is far worse but sets the other off), I need the dog person to handle the dog. We do lots of talking about which dogs we can see, and what they are doing and what we can tell about their mood/how they are not interested in him but it is utterly exhausting!

Ha I do this too. ‘See, he only wants his ball, he isn’t interested in you! Ah he’s running near, it’s ok, he’s just having a sniff’....then the bloody dog runs full pelt at her and I end up having to pick her up. It’s ruined walking for me!