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AIBU?

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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
Badbudgeter · 16/05/2023 15:45

I have my dog on bc a lead in public. She is very good at being off lead whilst walking through drills but is far too excited / curious in town to be trusted.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 16/05/2023 15:45

And muzzled, please.Muzzled dogs don’t bite ( even when they are just playing)

dancinginthesky · 16/05/2023 15:47

'When my children were children they always behaved in public places'

Well congratulations 👏 I had a very dramatic toddler who turned out to have ASD... wasn't for lack of trying to train him but it's not that simple for everyone. Absolutely petrified me that he could have scared an inquisitive pup off lead into going for him if it approached

Supernova23 · 16/05/2023 15:47

Quveas · 16/05/2023 15:29

I don't need to know what you have done to train your dog. Nor do I need to know anything about the incicent that made her aggressive (it was you who said she is aggressive, not just reactive). You have said, and the evidence is there for all to see, that your dog is aggressive even on a lead, but you expect everyone else to respect your space rather than either addressing your dogs behaviour or taking the dog where it cannot become aggresive. So you are exhibiting exactly the "thick as mince" (in your words) entitled behaviours of an owner with an out of control dog who becomes abusive when their own poor behaviour is called out. Please do feel free to continue to demonstrate the point that the OP is making about "thick as mince dicks".

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The word "reactive" does not make sense. All dogs react. The only dog that isn't "reactive" is a dead dog. My dog has never bitten a dog, because I'm sensible with her, but I'm not naive enough to think she would never do such a thing so she's on a lead around other dogs.

Where do you take a dog that you won't see any other dogs? that's a bloody stupid suggestion. There are dog walkers in all public spaces. Hire a field? no thanks. The nearest one is about 10 miles from me, and I am just as entitled to walk in public spaces as owners of "friendly" dogs are. I like walking, my dog likes walking. She's under control at all times. If other dogs aren't then their owners are breaking the law.

I'm always the one to get out of the way or make space. However, throwing a ball towards a dog on a lead is a dick move. Yes, I absolutely will protect my dog from idiots. I have zero idea of a dogs intentions if it is coming towards us.

Dogs should be on leads in public spaces at all times.

Luckydip1 · 16/05/2023 15:49

I think it's cruel to never let your dog off lead, in fact I don't think people should have a dog if they never let it off lead.

Supernova23 · 16/05/2023 15:51

Daffodilmorning · 16/05/2023 15:35

What? This is bizarre. She’s not expecting people to manage her dog for her, just not deliberately provoke them by getting in their space.

My dog is called to me when we pass a dog on a lead (unless the owner says it’s ok to say hello). A dog on a lead is under control. Any altercation would be the fault of the owner who didn’t have their dog on a lead.

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Exactly.

I've had dogs on all ends of the spectrum. Overly friendly, nervous, dog aggressive. All have been managed accordingly.

Calling your dog away from a dog on lead is basic dog owning etiquette. Throwing a ball towards an on lead dog is incredibly bad mannered. If you can see someone obviously waiting for you to pass, keep bloody walking. Don't stand there like a dick throwing your ball towards the onlead dog.

OopsAnotherOne · 16/05/2023 15:52

My 8 month old labrador hasn't got perfect recall yet so he is always on a lead in a public place. My old labrador, by the time he was 18 months and until the day he died, had perfect recall. He was under my control at all times when he was off the lead and I could completely rely on to do exactly as he was asked, the first time I asked him. I also understand that not all dogs are able to do this, no matter how well trained they are - my old labrador had a very gentle, calm personality and was very easy to train, he just always did what he was told and I completely realise that not all dogs are as easy as this, my current one isn't!

The law requires a dog to be "under control" currently and as I was correct in my belief my labrador was under control, there will be some dog owners who overestimate the level of control they have over their dog's actions. This leads to the current issue of dogs running up to people and other dogs and the owners have no ability to prevent this if the dogs aren't on a lead. I also find this so frustrating when I am out in public with my puppy on a lead trying to teach him that not every dog wants to play with him, thus desensitizing him to dogs and people meaning his recall improves. People letting their random dogs run up to mine completely defeats the object of teaching him to ignore them unless he's specifically told he can go and say hello.

If it meant the dogs who don't have good recall are kept on leads rather than being allowed to run up to anyone and everyone, I'd be all for it. But I would still be sad for the dogs who have been trained so well that they have the freedom of being off the lead due to the fact they'll always recall first time. These dogs, though, will survive and I think the benefit outweighs the negatives on this occasion. There are so many dogs who are fearful of other dogs and are approached by dogs out of their control, there are also people who are either scared of dogs or just don't want to be approached, children who can be knocked over by dogs running up to say hello - "under control" doesn't just mean "within sight" as some owners seem to think it does. It means that if a dog will not respond to you first time and if you do not have complete control of the dog's actions at all times, he is not under your control. If the training hasn't reached this point, a lead is the only way to have this level of control.

Aprilx · 16/05/2023 15:55

I think a dog needs to be able to run sometimes for exercise and so no, I don’t think they should always be on a lead. Most people cannot run as fast as their dogs.

Original poster
Aibutousethisname · 16/05/2023 15:59

Aprilx · 16/05/2023 15:55

I think a dog needs to be able to run sometimes for exercise and so no, I don’t think they should always be on a lead. Most people cannot run as fast as their dogs.

I am not quite sure what you mean here. Surely, in those circumstances, the dog isn't under control?

OP posts:
Lostforwords23 · 16/05/2023 16:00

On lead where the dog is likely to come into contact with people or other dogs e.g. busy public areas and off lead elsewhere like woods, country lanes, fields etc (bar livestock fields).

We trained our dog from a pup with recall and she’s pretty failsafe but obviously I can’t say any dog would have 100% recall. We always lead her to walk past other dogs, people, cyclists etc as I feel it’s etiquette and I also don’t want her learning that she can approach just anyone. I respect not everyone likes dogs or that their dog may be reactive / have an injury so it’s not fair to inflict mine upon them, despite her being a beautifully natured girl if I say so myself!

BasiliskStare · 16/05/2023 16:23

I live an urban area and my dogs are always on leads on pavements / roads etc. We pay for access to a park where people walk their dogs and that is quite nice and most people are vigilant.

I was some time ago walking down our local high st & a couple had a terrier ( off lead ) & I got hold of the dog & said is this yours should he be on a lead & they were really quite rude to me , but having terriers I know that on a busy road , if a terrier ( mostly ) sees a pigeon etc it will chase it with out observing the Highway Code.

So as a dog owner I am in favour of on lead on pavements , high streets , near school etc. safe dog walking areas yes a well behaved dog should be allowed to go for a run .

caringcarer · 16/05/2023 16:30

Yes. My dogs are always on leads when out and I hate it when dogs not on leads come running over and won't go away with their owner out of sight.

Superdupes · 16/05/2023 17:10

There's no such thing as 'dog fields' in most places, I've never known one, maybe it's a city thing. It's ridiculous to suggest that dogs shouldn't be allowed off lead as it would be cruel never to allow them to run or play ball or whatever.

I don't own a dog but I think it would be awful for them to always have to be on leads. Obviously by a road, in town etc they should be on a lead, otherwise no they shouldn't have to be, and all dogs shouldn't be punished because of some bad owners.

Peppermint81 · 16/05/2023 17:11

Definitely. No animal can ever fully be trusted.
I've lost count at the amount of times supposedly harmless dogs have jumped up at the buggy often in children's play parks, of course they are just being friendly...owners have zero care for the stress caused and risk posed

Lindjam · 16/05/2023 17:13

All dogs should be on a lead on the street.

In a park or other public outdoor area, they should only be offlead if they have excellent recall.

CurlewKate · 16/05/2023 17:14

Of course they should be on leads in public places unless it's a place that's desgnated OK for dogs to be off lead. It's bonkers to suggest anything else-but people will....

EsmeSusanOgg · 16/05/2023 17:18

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.

This. A popular dog walking park/ trail, no. Pavement next to a busy road, depends on dog but usually yes. Inside a dog-friendly cafe/ pub, yes.

faffadoodledo · 16/05/2023 17:19

So, @CurlewKate - how do you define public places? My dog was off lead throughout his walk this morning and we only met a handful of other off lead dogs and their owners. And a horse and rider. Indeed my dog came to my whistle when I spotted a horse and rider on the footpath ahead, and sat nicely, gazing at me while the horse went by. All very pleasant and polite. I really don't accept that in that obviously public plan my dog should have been on a lead.

EsmeSusanOgg · 16/05/2023 17:21

2bazookas · 16/05/2023 13:57

That depends on the dog and the public space.

My dogs are always on a short lead on pavements, where there's traffic, and in crowded public places like ferry, train, bus, buildings, the vets, in rural places around livestock etc.

They are offlead on an empty beach/ woodland / on private land away from livestock .

I agree with this.

Kokopenny · 16/05/2023 17:24

We live near open countryside and woods so mine is off unless there’s live stock, she needs lots of exercise. She’s on the lead when near roads. I would not muzzle her.

Kokopenny · 16/05/2023 17:25

Superdupes · 16/05/2023 17:10

There's no such thing as 'dog fields' in most places, I've never known one, maybe it's a city thing. It's ridiculous to suggest that dogs shouldn't be allowed off lead as it would be cruel never to allow them to run or play ball or whatever.

I don't own a dog but I think it would be awful for them to always have to be on leads. Obviously by a road, in town etc they should be on a lead, otherwise no they shouldn't have to be, and all dogs shouldn't be punished because of some bad owners.

I live near a dog field, the farmer rents it out

gogohmm · 16/05/2023 17:27

Under control. For many dogs this means on leads but genuinely well trained ones are fine loose (mine is fully under my control to the point he knows hand signals, directions, and is fully live stock trained)

ASGIRC · 16/05/2023 17:28

Yes!! Always!!

I took my brothers puppy for a walk the other day, to a local park. Loads of dogs around, most of them off lead. All of them would RUN to the puppy, with the owner shouting their name, to no effect.

Luckily my brothers puppy LOVES other dogs and wants nothing else but to play with them, but what if she was scared???

One of the dogs that ran to her was basically on his own, his owner was SOOO far away. She was on the phone, holding the leash, oblivious to what her dog was doing or not doing.

gogohmm · 16/05/2023 17:30

@Thesharkradar

Some dogs are fully trained. I'm fed up with the presumption that dog owners don't train when many of us do (helpful to have a collie who are super east of course so I can be smugGrin)

LittleRedYarny · 16/05/2023 17:32

I personally think yes to leads. However I learnt the hard way a lead isn’t 100% guarantee that nothing will go wrong.

Picture a lovely spring day, two women, one leading 2 horses and the other with the First ladys dog on a short lead walking to a field down a farm track.

A gate is reached and the lady with the dog opens the gate taking her attention off the dog for 30 seconds.

In that 30 seconds that small dog catches a juvenile pheasant and kills it… I nearly threw up.

Dogs will find a way to be dogs on or off a lead.