To ask a dog question…

[AnnaBellaCruella]

Is it illegal to walk your dog in a public area without a collar or lead?

Not sure about lead but I think they’re meant to have a collar and ID tag.

Yes, a dog should legally have a tag on, it can't have one on if no collar.

They need a collar and ID tag (owner name, address, ideally a phone number too), that's always the law. They need to be microchipped in addition to this.

They always need to be "under control". That doesn't mean on a lead - just not making a nuisance of themselves and well trained enough to come back when called.

There are some situations where it's a legal requirement to have them on a lead - particularly if walking alongside a road - but not, for instance, in a park.

They need to be under close control at all times and must have a tag with owner's name, address and postcode on it so they need a collar or harness with that information displayed. In some areas they must be on a lead too.

No tag can incur a fine of up to £2000.

Depends on the area. In our town centre it is illegal for them to be loose. Parks/streets etc it isn't but they do have to have a collar and tag even if chipped.

I have one who is always leashed because he has the road sense of a squirrel and is dog aggressive and loves kids to the extent of making a lovable nuisance of himself so he wouldn't be classed as under control otherwise.

The other is hardly ever on lead even in areas where she technically should be. I've never been challenged though because people don't really notice. She heels perfectly when told, never strays from the path and people don't realise she's loose unless she stops to sniff something.

Her behaviour off lead is hugely different to what Ddog2s would be and that's what it comes down to. Control. She is under control verbally. She'll do as she's told 99 percent of the time. I probably have more pull with her off lead than I do with Ddog2 on lead. It's the dogs behaviour they look at.

@DeathByWalkies

They need a collar and ID tag (owner name, address, ideally a phone number too), that's always the law. They need to be microchipped in addition to this.

They always need to be "under control". That doesn't mean on a lead - just not making a nuisance of themselves and well trained enough to come back when called.

There are some situations where it's a legal requirement to have them on a lead - particularly if walking alongside a road - but not, for instance, in a park.

This is correct - although the tag doesn't need to be a collar specifically, it could be on a harness instead.

Some areas require leads because of bylaws and parks etc can require them as a condition of entry. But there's no general requirement for a lead, only for them to be under (reliable) control.

Where I am you need to have your dog on a lead on certain streets. I've no idea why it's those streets and not others!