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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dogs on leads, yay or nay

373 replies

Aibutousethisname · 16/05/2023 13:15

Genuinely interested in people's opinions on this. Should dogs be on leads in public places?
Yes =yanbu
No= yabu

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
JediIsMyMaster · 16/05/2023 13:17

Dogs should be under control in public places.

Depending on the place and the dog, this may or may not require a lead.

AussiUnHomme · 16/05/2023 13:18

Legally they should be under control. If they don't have good, quick recall then that should mean a lead.

I hate when people let their own dogs swamp mine (who are generally on leads) with the protestations that 'they're friendly'.

RavenclawDiadem · 16/05/2023 13:19

Wouldn't it be lovely if all dogs were well trained and controlled in public, came back when they were called, and didn't jump up over people, kids or other dogs.

But they're not, so leads are the only option.

GeekyThings · 16/05/2023 13:27

I really hate vague and open to interpretation way the law is phrased in this country of having dogs "under control" rather than a hard a fast rule over what that means in practice. And I think demonstrably the worst people to judge that are dog owners!

They should just make leads a requirement in most public places, maybe with exceptions for things like dog runs, dog parks and locally designated common areas. Removes the doubt over who's in the right and who's in the wrong, and take away the personal judgement over what constitutes under control.

RavenclawDiadem · 16/05/2023 13:28

Yes, "under control" is a vague term. As a non dog owner, I would define that as "will immediately stop what it's doing and go to owner when called". Others probably have a different definition.

CoronationKicking · 16/05/2023 13:29

Yes of course. Put them on a lead unless you're in a dog field or specified dog park/beach where it is clear to all that they're allowed off

GoodChat · 16/05/2023 13:33

Ideally yes. I have no issue with dogs being off lead in parks etc if their recall is good, though.

tattychicken · 16/05/2023 13:33

Very few dogs IME have 100% cast iron guaranteed recall. So unless you're an obedience champion/sheepdog trial winner/field trial champion, keep them on a lead in public places and on public footpaths/bridleways where livestock and horses may be present.

dancinginthesky · 16/05/2023 13:33

YANBU

It's not necessarily the dogs but I was terrified when DS was an extra dramatic toddler that he'd spook one screaming and get bit

Even an under control animal can get frightened

ComtesseDeSpair · 16/05/2023 13:36

I can’t understand why anybody wouldn’t have their dog leashed, unless in public space like the open area of a park. Even the best trained dog is driven by its instincts and can put itself and others in danger by running into the road or reacting to something which it feels scared or threatened by.

But I guess some people just don’t think very hard about what an animal actually is. I regularly watch some dopey local woman who allows her pre schooler and her dog to run a hundred metres or so in front of her, including crossing side streets. Apparently the dog is “looking after” the kid and would never let it cross the road if a car was coming.

WhatWouldHopperDo · 16/05/2023 13:36

Yep - I would prefer this and I have a dog.

I was walking mine on the beach last week, on lead. I could see a Mum and child ahead so I shortened his lead and took a wide berth. Another dog, off lead bounded up to the quite small child and jumped around while the owner jogged to catch him up and get him to come away.

Child was distraught and owner was oblivious that this was an issues, didn't even apologise to child or Mum. I see this kind of thing every week.

People will come on and say MN hates dogs but, as a dog lover, you can love dogs but still think owners need to be thoughtful.

Purplecatshopaholic · 16/05/2023 13:38

RavenclawDiadem · 16/05/2023 13:19

Wouldn't it be lovely if all dogs were well trained and controlled in public, came back when they were called, and didn't jump up over people, kids or other dogs.

But they're not, so leads are the only option.

Yes, this. And I am a dog owner.

hotdiggetydog · 16/05/2023 13:38

Seatbelts in cars

Yay or nay?

BMW6 · 16/05/2023 13:38

Of course they should always be on a lead in a public space!

I speak as a dog owner.

Floralnomad · 16/05/2023 13:39

Totally agree with the pp that dogs should be under control . I would also like it to be on the spot fines for dogs off lead on pavements and want extender leads banned . Dogs off lead in parks / beach’s etc is fine as long as the owner has control and they aren’t bothering anyone else .

CatsOnTheChair · 16/05/2023 13:39

If leads become required (they won't be) they need to be sensible lengths not meters and meters of string dangling across the footpath as a trip hazzard.

NeverTrustAPoliceman · 16/05/2023 13:39

On leads unless in a designated place. "Only being friendly" to one person can be terrifying to another.

My neighbour's grandchild was knocked over by a "friendly" labrador recently.

As pps have said, under control is too wide. Some owners think that includes almost anything.

vodkaredbullgirl · 16/05/2023 13:40

Dog on lead till we get to the big playing field, then off she goes only interested on her ball.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 16/05/2023 13:40

No.

As long as they're under verbal control, it's fine.

GardeningIsNotMe · 16/05/2023 13:42

It depends what you mean by “public places” and whether the dog has great recall and temperament and has been trained to remain close to its owner, around others or whether the dog is reactive or has not been taught not to bother people or other dogs.

One size doesn’t fit all.

On busy roads, shopping centres, picnic areas and around children’s playgrounds yes all dogs should be leashed.

TenoringBehind · 16/05/2023 13:43

Depends how you define public place.

certainly they should be under control

purplecorkheart · 16/05/2023 13:46

Dog on lead in public places. I think under control is open to being abused by certain people. I witnessed a person knocked over by a dog who was off the lead and blotted. The owner claimed the dog had perfect recall and was excellent off the lead and that the person who was knocked over (and broke wrist) must have done something to attract the dog. Sorry for all the excellent owners but I think on lead is much more set in stone rather than a vague under control.

GasPanic · 16/05/2023 13:49

Yes. Normally I don't like out of control dogs approaching me.

Although I must admit I got jumped on by a medium sized bulldog the other week and couldn't help myself smiling and giving it some fuss. It was just so excited to meet me and wanted to have some fun. The owner was hugely apologetic.

That must make me a massive hypocrite.

Londontown12 · 16/05/2023 13:54

On a lead !

2PintsOfCidernaBagofCrisps · 16/05/2023 13:56

Yes.

I take my dog to huge grass pitches to run. She's off lead there but I steer clear of other people. My dog has excellent recall but even she, on rare occasions, smells something that it far too interesting to her and will ignore me calling her. As such, if I'm walking towards someone else in the field and their dog is on a lead, I assume its potentially reactive or nervous and put mine on a lead before we get too close. If their dog is off lead, I assume friendly dog and they may have a little play.

Public places like streets, pubs or just generally more humans than dogs; always on lead.