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!

Yeah these were quite small terriers and I stopped primarily because I didn't want to trip up. The woman didn't laugh but it was a very breezy/nonchalant "ohhh sorry" she gave me. I wouldn't be surprised if the dog whos head collided with my shin is feeling a bit sore this afternoon, it was quite a hard impact. I have a lovely bruise to show for it 🙁

My ex was knocked off a bike when a small dog ran across him on a cycling path. The owner then shouted and swore at him on top of the bloody elbow and a mangled bicycle... Seems like it's mainly the small dogs that's the issue because they are seen as "harmless and cute".
I am yet to see a disobedient German Shepperd on a loose.

Well done on putting the hours in. I think some people forget that dog ownership is a privilege and not a right...and it's a privilege that comes with a lot of work and responsibility. I think if someone isn't able to put in all that work like you have, then they shouldn't get one. It's not fair on them or the dog.

Also what is it with labs and water 😂my aunt's lab was the same and they had a pond in their garden, the number of times she had to wade in after that dog....I'd have just got rid of the pond, but c'est la vie.

I am a dog owner and I totally sympathise with you. My dog has no recall so she is kept on a retractable extension lead. It annoys me when out with her and other dogs come bounding over with owners shouting, '....it's ok they are friendly!', that's fine but how do they know mine is? Our dog is very temperamental and some days loves other dogs but some days not. How would they like it if I was running up to them full pelt not knowing them?

I am also a runner and most people (99%) pull their dogs to the side to let me past which is appreciated and I always say thanks.

The other week I was out running in a large park type of place and at one point I was approaching a group of people chatting and their dog which was offload but sat with them. I gave them all space to be polite and as I was almost level the dog ran straight out in front of me almost tripping me up. I flailed a lot and in the process of trying not to fall over accidentally kicked the dog, it was that close to me that I actually managed to make contact. The worst thing was that I actually said sorry for kicking the dog because I genuinely felt bad even though it was unavoidable and they didn't say a word.

Last year a small dog ran out at me and my youngest growling, I went mad at the owners, told them to put it on a lead and get it under control. I don't have an issue with off lead dogs in general, I do have issues with them causing me to either almost fall over or make me fear they might bite my child.

If your dog has no recall or isn't friendly to strangers it should not be off the lead full stop.

I don't have a dog but if I ever get one I want to make sure it is trained to perfection. If I say x it does it immediately, if it doesn't we work harder and it stays firmly attached to me.

If using a retractable lead, please shorten it when you see others approaching on the pavement. I live by a park and whilst most local dog owners are considerate, many keep the lead long so that they are on one side of the pavement with their dog on the other. I have now taken to walking towards the centre of the lead as opposed to stepping into the road which causes the owner to hurriedly move towards the dog or pull the dog towards them. I shouldn’t need to.

Thank you...yeah I'm going back to my old running route. I feel really I should be just as angry at the man, clearly I have higher expectations of behaviour from dogs than from men in vans (though my friend's husband drives a van and he's lovely, so not all men in vans are bad).

Sadly a plain van, but if I see him again I might take the reg plate and report it to the company running the building site he's working on. I doubt they'll care but it's just nice to make a fuss sometimes rather than accept it.

Not sure if I was deliberatly being lenient or just that I'm too timid to say anything more forecefully. I have big 'doormat' energy generally and hate confrontation (I'm working on being more assertive in life generally), maybe I should have spoken up. But then, as a few people have said, it probably wouldn't achieve much and just leave me feeling worse. Damned if you do...

Report the man in the van for harassment to the police and the building site

"They might have 'a right to be there' but she doesn't have a right to allow them to be a nuisance." ....ohhh that's snappy, wish I'd thought of that. I wouldn't have been brave enough to say it to a shouty lady though lol

Oh that's awful, It's so annoying when you just instinctively say 'sorry' in those situations when you've not done anything wrong. It's such a horrible reflex, I do it too sometimes.

I don't have a dog either. My DH would really like one but I feel concious of how much work it is and whether or not I could do it... we certainly won't be getting one until I know we're definitely ready and able to put the time in.

Yeah I think if I see his van again (not been round that way for a few days) then I'm gonna deffo report to the building site. Not sure about the police (I've had bad experiences with family members who were in the police in the past so a bit wary of dealing with them unless absolutely necessary). Is it illegal to call someone "chunky", I mean he's not wrong to be fair 😂...but it's potentially stepping stone behaviour to something worse so maybe I should.

Dogs with no recall should not be off lead in public places. I’ve been chased whilst cycling by off lead dogs, had a picnic ruined, a wet dog jump at me. Last week an off lead cockerpoo started running towards me as its owner repeatedly and uselessly tried to recall it. Thought I was going to get jumped on again. Five minutes later the same dog is bouncing around what appeared to be a muzzled American bully. Much barking and panicked owners ensued. Being off lead with no recall is a risk to the dogs also.

However, the thing that worries me most is that my son is severely allergic to dogs. Swells up if a dog gets close enough to pant on him. I’ve no idea what direct contact with a dog would do but I sure as hell know it wouldn’t be anything good. Now his allergy is worse and triggers asthma attacks, can’t even be in the same room as a dog. Well done to the poster who called out a friend who’s dog wee’d on someone’s back pack. Dog allergens are in the urine and saliva also; not just in skin/hair. If that happened to our family, we’d need to know so we could get rid of the bag before DS touched it.

It makes me so angry and scared when off lead dogs run up and owners can’t recall or just shout out “it’s ok; he’s friendly.” I don’t care if a dog is friendly. It could be the friendliest dog in the world. It doesn’t change the fact that my son’s allergy can (and has) put him in the back of an ambulance. He should be able to walk in public places without being at risk from other people’s poorly behaved, uncontrolled pets.

My 50kg malamute hates dogs bounding up to him (he's always on a lead). If an un leashed dog gets near his mouth, it gets bitten and bitten hard.
I wear a body cam to protect my dig in such instances.
If you can't control your dogs, put them on a lead or deal with the consequences and/or vet bills

My response to the " it's OK he's friendly" tyoes is "mine isn't...good luck".

This gives me rage!
a woman said to me the other day, when her dogs ran up to me “don’t worry they won’t hurt you” (like that made it ok) so I replied “but maybe I’ll hurt them!” And scowled at her. Stupid cow. Wish these people would read the room, we don’t all want to be near your animal!

The cheek of the woman telling you her dogs had as much right to be there as you.

Training recall in an empty field doesn't translate to adequate recall in a busy environment.

I agree with OP in this situation the dogs should have gone on the lead. But we are not the only animals to roam the earth, and I hate seeing dogs that never have any freedom, it's extremely unfair on them.

My dog is well trained, but he's inquisitive and will go have a look and a sniff if something is interesting to him. I can normally call him back easily if needed, or employ some tactics if he doesn't listen first time!

Everyone here just wants to live in a concrete jungle filled only with humans

I thought that was what extendable leads were for. And there are fields you can rent.

The point is people go out for a walk, let their dog off lead, it runs up to someone and hassles them (or another dog), they call it, and it doesn't come back. And then they run away and you have weeks of sad Facebook posts saying the dog is missing.

Everyone here just wants to live in a concrete jungle filled only with humans

Not really. They just want to go about their business without being worried about a dog jumping on them (or their kids, or their picnic or whatever).

There's nothing else that gets imposed on people in the same way (with the slightly tangential example of England football matches - apparently we have to watch those because they are "historical events".)

But you have to have dogs in cafes, hotels, shops, offices, schools, and now, apparently at physios as "calming" therapy dogs. They will do the opposite of calming me!

No other hobby is rammed down your throat to the same degree. People don't bring their knitting to work and say "look at my knitting, isn't the colour lovely. Feel this [throws wool into your lap] isn't it soft and lovely. " Same if they brought their coin collection into work and spread it all over your desk and demanded you admire it. You'd think them really weird.

I know some drivers will say cyclists impose and get in their way. But people cycle to get from A to B, it's not just the MAMILs hobby riding.

But imposing (pet) dogs on people is apparently fine.

It makes me so angry and scared when off lead dogs run up and owners can’t recall or just shout out “it’s ok; he’s friendly.” I don’t care if a dog is friendly. It could be the friendliest dog in the world. It doesn’t change the fact that my son’s allergy can (and has) put him in the back of an ambulance. He should be able to walk in public places without being at risk from other people’s poorly behaved, uncontrolled pets

Yes, it's really not right and I feel bad for your son. It's not fair.

I haven't read your post but in response to the subject title - absolutely - dogs with nothing less than perfect recall should be off lead where other dogs or humans are.

Yes, retractable leads are annoying at best and dangerous at worst.

The other week I saw a list of "inventions you didn't know were invented by a woman" and retractable leads were listed.

Sorry, I don't think they are a good invention. Either short lead or off lead with recall, please. They are fine to use in a large parkland setting if you are teaching recall but not to use walking along a narrow (or any) path.

I would prefer to live in a world with animals and not humans but totally agree dogs shouldn't be off lead without perfect recall. Its all in the training,