To think dogs shouldn't be off lead in public if they don't come when you call

[ladylasagne]

So I should start by saying I love dogs, I think they're great. I generally have no issue with them being off lead in public if they are well behaved and obey a call to heel.

Today I was out doing my morning run. I was running along a well used footpath, that is popular with lots of people. I saw a lady with two dogs off lead (fairly little terriers) running all over the place, paying no mind to her shouts for them to come. I slowed right down as I approached (I was already pretty slow as I'm really not fast runner). When I was about 10 meters away (or 30-40 ft if you're old school), these dogs start running full speed towards me. Whichever way I moved, they would change direction to still be heading for me, so I just stopped and stood still hoping to avoid an accident, and both dogs crashed into my legs. It really hurt, but luckily I'm pretty solid because it was a hard enough impact that it could've done damage to anyone frail or vulnerable using that path. I dread to think how painful it must have been for the poor dogs. I stepped around the dogs and walked on until I was far enough away to start running again.

As I walked passed this lady, she said sorry (so she obviously knew she was in the wrong on some level!). Maybe I should have left it at that, but I couldn't bite tongue and so I said to her "don't let them off the lead if they don't come when you call", she replied "yeahhhh sorry". I didn't swear, I didn't shout, but I just couldn't let it pass without saying something. Whenever I see people doing this with dogs, I just think it's a matter of time before the dog runs in front of a car or ends up getting hurt as a result of irresponsible dog ownership, and it really upsets me.

20 minutes later, I'm running back along the path in the other direction. Surprise surprise, same dogs running around off lead, same lady pointlessly shouting at them. I slowed down to a walk and just walked past because I didn't want a repeat of the incident. The dogs were running up to me, I had to repeatedly step over and around them while trying to get past again. I said nothing to this woman (what more can I say really?!?) but I was shaking my head (very british) and just held my arms up in the air (half in despair, half to demonstrate to the dogs that I have nothing on me of interest - it works sometimes, not this time). This lady obviously recognised me, and just starts shouting "they have as much right to be here as you". I continued to say nothing, walked passed, and eventually was able to start running again.

So my question is, was I wrong to say to her that her dogs shouldn't be off lead if they don't come when you call? Should I have just keep my mouth shut, and accepted that I now have a bruise on my leg because of her dogs being allowed to run all over the place?

Thanks in advance ladies. I want opinions but please be kind, I do feel quite sensitive at the moment. The woman really shouted at me, I'm a very delicate, sensitive person inside and I did find it quite intimidating. Also, I ran a different route today because last week a lovely man in a van who is now regularly parked along my usual route shouted something out the window at me (didn't hear it fully but it involved the word 'chunky', so probabaly not a compliment) and I was really upset. He still parks there sitting in his van eating his Ginsters pasty for breakfast, and I still don't feel up to running past him again yet. I just want to be able to run in peace, I'm fat and it's a cheap way to exercise!

I am so so sick of this lately. I have an elderly border collie who is very well trained but I would never let her off the lead while out walking in public. I will admit that I do bring her out to my local green at 6 am and let her off the lead as there is nobody else around at that time.
I would also shorten her lead when we see children or other dogs and especially runners passing by as dogs are naturally inclined to run after somebody running. She is trained to walk right in beside me when we are passing other people or animals but even the best trained dogs have their off days so I am never going to take that chance.
But when other off lead dogs run up to her and especially small yappy dogs, she is at a disadvantage because she is on her lead. This causes her a great amount of stress. Dogs should be on a lead in publics. No matter how well trained they are.

Or if you want to let your dog run around off lead, bring them to specific places where this is permitted and that other dog walkers have the same mindset.

There's out of control dogs everywhere now, dog poo, hanging plastic bags of poo, barking, dogs even sitting at tables at cafés being fed and even dogs that kill people. It's out of control and a licence should be brought in and the national dog population reduced.

Exactly this... As I said, people need to go on a 9-12 month long college course (3-4 hours a week,) that costs them around £1000 if they want to own a dog. Like I said before, if you can't afford £1000, you cannot afford to keep a dog and pay all the vet bills, etc. This will cut down a lot on your amount of people who have dogs.

People who let them off leads, and let them do what they want/fuck around as much as they like are dim and irresponsible oiks. And if something DOES happen, you can bet it will be someone else's fault! 🙄

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My old dog hated other dogs and would definitely attack, especially if they roamed into the garden which is secured. But let me tell you, with humans there was never an issue. The biggest softie ever and brought up around multiple children, happily rolling around the floor etc.

We ended up with a dog reactive dog through irresponsible owners allowing their untrained off of the lead. My then dog friendly dog was attacked by 3 Yorkshire terriers and even then, my dog was on the lead.

I find it so sad when I see dog owners on their phones ignoring their dogs. No wonder the dog is running around for attention 🙁I think a twatty dog is nearly always the result of an even twattier owner.

Since when did dogs have the ‘right’ to be anywhere? They are dogs. They have no ‘right’ to be anywhere. They have a right not to be harmed by humans. That is it. That’s where their rights begin and end.

We started in the house. Then in the park early so fewer distractions on a long lead, then without the lead for short periods, clipping on, walking a bit, letting loose and playing so attention focussed on us, clip on, walk more then off again. Then busier times in park and practice same thing, then larger areas where he could run ahead and explore and same thing, recall, walk, off lead, play, recall for treat and off again. You build up slowly so the dog gets lots of chances to realise back on the lead doesn’t mean end of walk or fun and ensure they have plenty of time to get it right hence no distractions and build up to busy areas.

i got my dog as a very boisterous one year old lab, he was large and bouncy. He needed a lot of exercise but had no compunctions about stealing balls, picnics or running off as had been passed around a fair bit. And he didn’t care what I thought initially as I think he thought he’d only be with me for a few weeks. I had to work at bonding with him, understanding what he loved most which unusually for a lab wasn’t treats but playing with a tennis ball, and build up.

80% recall training took about 6 months, 95% about a year.

He never learnt to obey recall if there was water about. Basically if we didn’t want him in it he had to be on the lead.

it’s hard work but possible and is the minimum standard for a dog owner if you want to let your dog off leash. My dog would have been very unhappy if he was never allowed off and so it was my job to ensure we could give him that whilst still respecting other people’s space.

I love dogs too but not when they are out of control. My DD was knocked to the ground by a dog when she was little (don't worry he's just being friendly) and another growled when we walked past. She's 18 now and still scared of dogs.
I had at least 3 dogs run up and shove their faces in my son's pushchair when he was a baby with the owners uselessly calling them back.
I have seen some really responsible owners too, either with dogs on leads or with excellent recall. But there are always some who just shouldn't own a dog.

As I have said, all dogs should be on leads. But nobody should own an aggressive animal. I stand by both of those opinions.

Yeah exactly, Like on the beach at Barmouth, Wallasey, and Blackpool etc, many people have their dogs off the lead - dozens of people do, and you know this when you go. All the dogs seem to be OK and fairly well behaved. (A few naughty ones, who mess in peoples stuff but not many.)

But to let them off the lead on a canal or river path, or on a public rural walking path, or in a park, or on the main road around peoples houses is just stupid. Irresponsible as fuck. And don't even get me started on the fuckwits who allow their dogs off the leads around farm animals. Stupid stupid STUPID!!!!!! Sheep have miscarried their babies because of arseholes who allow their dogs off leads in the fields.

Well done for calling your friend out on it and not just letting it go. I'd have been mortified if that was my dog (not that I have one), it's lucky the family were understanding.

There is a yappy bouncy nuisance thar lives locally and it's owner never controls it. Ds who is severely autistic gets distressed by it. The owner is always " is he scared of dogs". No just badly behaved ones who get under his feet like yours.

In London, it has definitely not improved. A definite decline since covid when everyone thought it was a good idea to get a dog, with no clue how to train them.

I was in a café in London last week and the waitress came and cleared the human plates and then stacked them up with a dog water bowl! 🤢🤦‍♀️

It makes you wonder what's going on behind the scenes.

The dog peeing on someone's backpack is also repulsive behaviour. I encounter this when sea swimming. It's disgusting and cannot be cleaned off with wipes no matter what you think. I hope the irresponsible dog owner offered to replace the backpack, but somehow I doubt it 😠

You do it in a private setting?

You weren’t wrong to say something but unfortunately the bad dog owners, the ones who’ll let their dogs run amok, off-lead without good recall, etc, already don’t give a shit so won’t respond to being told. We had one the other day hurtle into the centre of our picnic – at a NT site where there’s a clear poster in the car park directed at dog owners with a specific subheading saying “even if some people welcome your dog approaching them, don’t let dogs run at people, particularly children” (had two DC with us). Pointed out they should be on lead if they couldn’t stop them running over people. The response: “lots of people love it”. The implication being so should we! Well, a, there’s a sign literally saying that just because lots of people love it doesn’t mean all people will, so don’t, and b, fuck off.

Playground local to us is endlessly full of dogs with feeble owners going “Oh, no one minds do they? I’ve got to let my kid play, what else can I do?” Follow the rules and don’t bring your dog in a playground, perhaps?

Whereas all the lovely dog owners in our park go above and beyond, so no one needs to say anything to them beyond “Good morning”! Basically if the dog/owner are badly behaved, they’re not going to change for a telling off. Infuriating.

My friend's dog scratched my legs last weekend jumping up at me and it was really painful, even from a dog that you love it's not a nice behaviour to be on the receiving end of.

I also live in a block of flats, at the end of a corridor and we've had dogs running up and down the hallway all the time. It's a laminate floor, and there's one dog in particular who runs, can't stop in time and will slam into our front door. It can't be good for the dog. We always know who it is walking along the corridor when we hear that bang at the door though 😂

I am a runner also OP and also have loads of dogs jump all over me. A lot of owners these days don't seem to train their dog a good recall. I have always had well behaved dogs who do as they are told - but I have always put loads of time and effort in. This is simply what you have to do. Dogs do not train themselves!

My own dog has a pretty good recall as well as a fantastic stay - say stay and she will stop and turn into a statue. This is more useful than a recall I think - easier to do - see a dog on a lead for example, give stay command, call her back, pop her on the lead etc. Works a treat. But I guess my dog is always close to me and doesn't approach other dogs and random strangers.

I agree dogs shouldn't be off the lead in public if they are not under control - but I do not agree all dogs should be on lead all the time. There is no need if they are under control and the dog has a much more enriched walk if off lead.

That bloke in the van is a t*at and out of order. Just congratulate yourself for getting out on your run - while he stuffs his pasty.

Agree with you- should be on a lead if they can't be recalled!
As for the twat in the van....carry on with your running and if he says anything ,tell him to go and f*k himself( because obviously no one else will f*k him) and uf he's in a works van tell him you'll ring his boss if he says anything again!

I entirely respect your opinion and at one point, I’d have agreed. Until my dog was attacked which changed her demeanour with other dogs. Nothing else of her personality changed. We took adequate steps to keep both her and other dogs safe on walks such as muzzles, short leads, using a trainer to help her overcome the fear she had of dogs since being attacked. She loved to 18 and gave us so many amazing memories and due to taking responsibility of her behaviour we not once had an incident where she attacked another dog.

Absolutely.
DD is only allowed off lead if I am very confident he will stay next to me. If I am not then on the lead he goes

It's a very valid point (though, just to be clear, I didn't yell) and probably the reason why I said nothing the second time I went past is because I knew this deep down. It's pointless trying to reason with certain people. It's cathartic to rant afterwards though, even if it is totally pointless. I feel a bit better for it at least 🙂

not sure if you read my comment properly… I was saying the OP did well not to respond to the dog owner when she (the dog owner) said her dogs have the right to be there etc.

Not unreasonable at all, quite lenient I would say. It is awful and I think an extension of the sense of entitlement that a huge amount of people seem to have now. They want a dog and they want to let it off the lead and everyone else has to accept it.

If people want to own dogs that's obviously fine but I don't and never will and therefore I should not be impacted by someone not doing the work related to the responsibility they took on.

She's the problem.
She cannot control her dogs.
They might have 'a right to be there' but she doesn't have a right to allow them to be a nuisance. She should have put them on the lead after the first interaction, though behaving like that they probably shouldn't have been off at all.