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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
quietnightmare · 19/05/2023 08:43

qazxc · 19/05/2023 07:30

Yes dogs should be on leads in public areas unless in a dog park or similar specifically designated area.

Exactly. Simple as this

ginsparkles · 19/05/2023 08:53

@faffadoodledo I live rurally and we have about 4 within a 10 minute drive of us. They are very popular. People book them for 30 minute or an hour slot. They are basically farmers fields that have secure fences, a source of water and somewhere to park.

Our dog goes to one with our dog Walker 3 times a week. When we were training recall we used it regularly to practice recall in. People I know use them if they can't trust their dogs recall or if they have a high prey drive or are reactive.

faffadoodledo · 19/05/2023 08:55

I've actually just googled and we have one about 9 miles away. With a cafe. But that seems to be the only one. But we are VERY rural (MN cliche 😂)

Vikingthings · 19/05/2023 09:51

As for the aggressive poster with the aggressive dog - your dog is the problem here, not the other one. You should move to a safe space or you should decide not take your dog in public. Why should someone else change their behaviour to accommodate your dog’s foibles? If all dogs have to be on leads everywhere, I think all reactive dogs should be destroyed. Never being allowed to run would be akin to death to my dog, so it’s only fair.

Just don't let your dog run up to on lead dogs then?

The cheek of calling other people entitled. Why shouldn't the pp take their under control dog out in public, because of out of control dogs running up to them?

wildinthecountry · 19/05/2023 10:00

I don't always believe a dog on a lead is always under control , I also sometimes think a dog off the lead can be under control . If you can't walk a dog on a lead past another dog off lead then it is not under control even with a lead on.

orangekiwiloot · 19/05/2023 10:08

My dog’s well-being is my well-being. Sharing walks with them and seeing the joy they have at running is an incredible, powerful experience for me. I care about them deeply and wouldn’t consider tempering that joy because some kid is scared of being in their vicinity. I know my dog isn’t interested in your kid and would run straight past. Your kid’s emotional well-being is for you to manage, not me. If being within 2 feet of a dog on a woodland path is too scary for him, why on earth are you taking him to places like that? You must realise that you are the one putting him in positions he’s not comfortable in, surely? If you want to keep him separated from dogs, use your own garden or stick to the multiple places dogs aren’t allowed. Animal haters don’t have a monopoly on green spaces anymore than dog owner do.

What a shame that you have such a view. Says a lot about the entitled nature of so many people. Wouldn't it be nice if everyone spared a thought for all different types of people and all types of animals in the different situations and appreciated that no two situations are the same and require the same behaviour and reaction.

Vikingthings · 19/05/2023 11:03

I don't always believe a dog on a lead is always under control , I also sometimes think a dog off the lead can be under control . If you can't walk a dog on a lead past another dog off lead then it is not under control even with a lead on.

The pp with the reactive dog said about dogs running up to her dog. Likely to mean getting in their personal space, not just walking past another dog.

Thesharkradar · 19/05/2023 12:15

ginsparkles · 19/05/2023 08:53

@faffadoodledo I live rurally and we have about 4 within a 10 minute drive of us. They are very popular. People book them for 30 minute or an hour slot. They are basically farmers fields that have secure fences, a source of water and somewhere to park.

Our dog goes to one with our dog Walker 3 times a week. When we were training recall we used it regularly to practice recall in. People I know use them if they can't trust their dogs recall or if they have a high prey drive or are reactive.

'High prey drive' is that a euphemism for 'very likely to attack'?

ginsparkles · 19/05/2023 12:24

@Thesharkradar nope, it's a term used for dogs whose nature is to chase small furries.

Thesharkradar · 19/05/2023 12:39

ginsparkles · 19/05/2023 12:24

@Thesharkradar nope, it's a term used for dogs whose nature is to chase small furries.

Ok, I understand so a dog with a high prey drive would be something like a small terrier which is bred to attack and kill rats?
(I presume that when you say furries you don't mean men who dress in cartoon animal suits!)

And what is the term for bull breeds that were bred to dismember and kill large animals?

ginsparkles · 19/05/2023 12:43

@Thesharkradar yep that's the commonly used term. Many dogs can be prone to a high prey drive.

No idea re the terminology for bull breeds. Not a type of dog I would ever consider personally, so not one I go out of my way to find out about. I only know a bit about high prey drive dogs because we looked at pitchers, but there are cats around us and thought it might not be the best choice of breed for our family.

Thesharkradar · 19/05/2023 12:48

I used to have 2 cairn terriers and I remember their absolute delight when they found and killed a rat, no training or experience but they totally knew exactly what to do

babybythesea · 19/05/2023 13:09

quietnightmare · 19/05/2023 08:43

Exactly. Simple as this

Show quote history

But it’s not that simple. We live rurally, by the coast. I walk my dog on the beach in winter. On wet, miserable, freezing cold days no other fool is there. Why shouldn’t my dog be off a lead then? In summer it’s different. I don’t often go to the beach with the dog in summer. But when it’s pretty much my own personal beach because I’m the numpty who wanted a dog, and everyone else is sensibly inside, what’s the problem? Yet if we had this law I’d be breaking it.

ginsparkles · 19/05/2023 13:15

Pitchers ?! I meant lurchers Blush

My mums parsons terrier is a menace for hedgehogs! She has to go out on her lead at certain times of the year!

steppemum · 19/05/2023 15:40

I am going to say it again, because it always gets glossed over, because people don't want to hear it.

If you insisted that all dogs had to be on leads at all times in public, there would be MORE dog attacks, not fewer.

Why?
because

  1. most of the people maimed or killed by dogs are attacked in their homes /gardens or the homes/gardens of relatives or friends. Very very few of them are attacked in a public place. It is often the family dog. So those dogs would not be on a lead.
  2. many dogs (not all) need some running time in order to be properly exercised. Dogs which are under exercised become frustrated and more likely to misbehave/attack. So insisting on all dogs only being walked on leads would lead to more frustrated/wound up dogs in home which would lead to more of them attacking their owners or visitors.

If you want to do something about the behaviour of dogs, then make it an offence for a dog to attack another dog, regulate dog walkers, ban more breeds, ban imports of dogs from Romania etc, and make it normal to put down dogs that are aggressive, and do not allow them to be rehomed.

Sartre · 19/05/2023 15:46

This is going to be a bit of a rant.

I’m a runner so dogs not on leads are an issue for me. Dogs see me running and think I’m fair game which is fine, they’re playful creatures and the fact I’m running probably looks like a game to them. Issue is they often run directly in front of me or will run up and try to jump on me. If I tripped over a dog I could seriously injure myself and/or the dog. This is a particular issue with smaller dogs which I may not always notice and it does tend to be smaller dogs that are the issue. Most owners laugh it off and think it’s cute, I even had one owner pull a dagger at me the other day when I wasn’t thrilled about her dog jumping on me like I was the issue. It would become an issue if I didn’t see the dog on time to stop and kicked it or tripped over it, I’m sure. I need to run for my mental health so if I sustained an injury because of a dog I’d be in trouble.

I don’t mind dogs personally but some people are seriously phobic so a dog jumping at them would be terrifying. As a general rule I think dogs should always be on a lead unless it’s like one of those unleashed dog parks (there’s one near me) or in the middle of nowhere.

Boomboom22 · 19/05/2023 16:45

If a dig touches you or jumps at you that is legally assault, out of control and an attack even if the owner thinks its a game or being friendly. I'd urge you to film and report report report to the police and the council dog warden and anti social behaviour team.

steppemum · 19/05/2023 17:14

Boomboom22 · 19/05/2023 16:45

If a dig touches you or jumps at you that is legally assault, out of control and an attack even if the owner thinks its a game or being friendly. I'd urge you to film and report report report to the police and the council dog warden and anti social behaviour team.

which may be true but none of those people will be interested at all unless there is a wound and an attack.

Thesharkradar · 19/05/2023 17:17

I even had one owner pull a dagger at me the other day when I wasn’t thrilled about her dog jumping on me like I was the issue
she threatened you with a knife?!
@Sartre did you report the incident?
This is very serious

OMG12 · 19/05/2023 17:18

Boomboom22 · 19/05/2023 16:45

If a dig touches you or jumps at you that is legally assault, out of control and an attack even if the owner thinks its a game or being friendly. I'd urge you to film and report report report to the police and the council dog warden and anti social behaviour team.

I’m just imagining the police getting a call, when their staffing levels make the NHS seem over resourced and over funded getting a call, “A dog brushed past me in the park today, I have footage” 😂😂😂😂. Suppose with all the stuff they have to deal with they could do with a good laugh

Tellmeimcrazy · 19/05/2023 17:20

Management is so important. Very good Recall and even if they have good Recall if you see a dog on a lead nearby pop yours on a lead as a precaution. This would solve (not all but) many problems.

Tellmeimcrazy · 19/05/2023 17:22

Also don't let your dog get too far away from you. A few metres away is far enough dependent upon your ability and speed. You should be able to get to your dog immediately if there is an emergency. Too many people let their dog run off miles away.

faffadoodledo · 19/05/2023 17:26

@Sartre crikey. Was there cctv? Witnesses? Did you contact the police? Because I would have. That's not a dog problem; that's a dangerous human problem who might do real damage next time.
Please say you did. The police would absolutely take that seriously.

BoobyDazzler · 19/05/2023 17:46

Tellmeimcrazy · 19/05/2023 17:22

Also don't let your dog get too far away from you. A few metres away is far enough dependent upon your ability and speed. You should be able to get to your dog immediately if there is an emergency. Too many people let their dog run off miles away.

There’s a world of difference between a few meters and “miles away”. Dogs need to be dogs and sniff and rummage through hedges and run, that’s what it is to be a dog! My dog doesn’t normally like to be too far away from me but is rarely closer than 5-20 meters in front, but he has 100% recall so is allowed to do his thing. The only time he goes on the lead is when we see cyclists as he’d chase other wise but i’m certainly not putting him on the lead every time I see another dog!

Thesharkradar · 19/05/2023 17:57

faffadoodledo · 19/05/2023 17:26

@Sartre crikey. Was there cctv? Witnesses? Did you contact the police? Because I would have. That's not a dog problem; that's a dangerous human problem who might do real damage next time.
Please say you did. The police would absolutely take that seriously.

this incident makes me wonder if dog owners have started carrying weapons in order to attack those who complain when the dog has attacked or harassed them?
It fits in with the typical attitude of dog owners.