To think, if you can't recall your dog, it shouldn't be off lead?

[fanaticalfairy]

The amount of bloody loose yappy, jumpy dogs my 4 year old comes across, where the owner ineffectually tries to call them back is ridiculous now!

One time I had to ask owner to call back, as the dog was being ridiculous, and he was like "Coco..... Coco..... Coco..... Coco.....".

Multiple times, I've ended up taking them by the collar back to their owners who then look like I've dragged them by the ears or something.

Keep them on the fucking lead!!!

Agree, but, people do need to be careful with long lines. I was walking my dog (off lead, bullet proof recall) in a public field popular with dog walkers, families, walkers, kids playing sports etc and a dog owner was letting her dogs run round and round in a clear case of the zoomies, on a trailing long lead. The dogs were obsessed with my dog, who was walking beautifully to heel because the situation with the other dogs was well out of hand, and the other dogs managed to wrap their long leads around my legs and nearly had me over multiple times. Totally ineffective recall, completely inconsiderate owners in a very busy field. I might have let my irritation show. There was definitely some muttering from the other owner.

I agree however the only way to train a dog is to expose it to those situations

I never let my dog approach other dogs if they're on lead. It's not fair to the dog on lead as it can't get away if it doesn't want another dog in its space. It's a recipe for disaster. I've had some funny looks though when I've called my dog away from another dog who's "very friendly" but on a lead.

Oh for sure. They need to be used in thr right environment. I've never used one for my dog.

@HappyNewYear2027 we take our dog to a dog field and let him play off lead - that's the whole point, his recall isn't 100% so this allows him to run free.
What is the problem with this?

My DD and I take the dogs to an enclosed field, she pays for it. No other dogs around, dog with poor recall loves it.

This 👆

I can't complain as I make my living training dogs, but in truth, it is rarely training the dog. It is usually training the owner not to treat the dog like a child.

The irony is that the harmony achieved with a well trained dog that the handler has a good bond / relationship with is so much more fulfilling than it is to watch Fido running off into the distance following someone else / deer / squirrel / sheep / etc. (Delete as appropriate) while meekly calling its name in the hope that it might come back.

I don't have a dog,but love them so look after 4 dogs who belong to 3 different friends/my ds if they go on holiday

3 of these dogs are amazing-healthy,bullet proof recall,walk glued to my heels (with or without a lead) and are not fussed about other dogs (all adore people and children but dont go near unless allowed)

The 4th is a nightmare-his owner (or mummy as she calls herself) refuses to train him-he can't be trusted on a bloody lead (which is one of those extendable ones that you'd use on a tiny dog-its like string)

He pulls,pisses on everything (my boot is often the victim),shits slop as she feeds him nothing but sugar (he only eats dog food if hes at mine) will almost have me over if he sees a child and hates other dogs-he's fat and unfit but bloody strong

She just laughs when I mention actually training him

'But he loves people and he's amazing with kids!' and 'he's just being friendly!'

Yes,but I don't want a fat,grunting,unfit,muddy,smelly (he stinks as im the only one who gives him a bath) staffie jumping all over me,no matter how much I adore dogs myself

We have him for a week a year (he is lovely and is desperate to please his humans) and we train him to do the basics (like 'sit') but he then goes home and she doesn't bother carrying on as 'there's no point'

So he spends his walks dragging her about,leaping on others (to the point he ripped my hair out of my head with his paw) and being the dog you dread seeing in the street

But it's OK as he's friendly and she thinks it's funny

Totally agree. I've one with 100% recall (and minimal interest in people/dogs), and my old boy who loves everyone and if he sees something of interest is off! So he stays on the leash unless we are alone.

The irony is that the harmony achieved with a well trained dog that the handler has a good bond / relationship with is so much more fulfilling than it is to watch Fido running off into the distance following someone else / deer / squirrel / sheep / etc. (Delete as appropriate) while meekly calling its name in the hope that it might come back.

Definitely, that just sounds extremely stressful and the dog could find itself in difficulties.

To be fair and balanced, most of the dog owners in my local area are considerate and sensible. There are still too many that are not, though.

YANBU. This is why I have two kids who hate dogs. No dog should be approaching strangers.

I agree OP. I will probably get flamed for this but here goes

I thought my dogs recall was iron clad then she suddenly chased a goose which I'd not a anticpated would be there ( inland not by water never seen one before in that location) and wouldn't come back despite all her training and me trying every trick in the book it took about 5 minutes and i was in tears by the end of it. Thankfully neither goose or dog actually touched each other. I have been frightend to let her off ever since except in private well enclosed areas.

I was so scared and so ashamed and had nightmares about what could have happened for about a week. I've had to get the dog trainer in again. Believe me however well you think they're trained there's always room for error because they're independent minded

Sadly I've completely lost confidence in myself handling her now so it's me.that needs retraining as well.as.the dog. She was 100% now i feel I can never let her off again in public

You sound very patient with your friend, I wouldn't be. Dogs who don't have recall drive me insane and, like you say it is absolutely the problem owners who think shouting 'don't worry he's friendly' is better than being able to recall their dog are so annoying, even worse are the people who assume everyone loves dogs and just because he's small everyone should be fine being approached.

I have dogs, one is excellent off lead, he ignores people and other dogs. My other dog is not overly friendly and his recall is hit and miss, so he doesn't go off lead, simple. The amount of people who are happy to let their dogs approach mine, whilst the one on the lead is visibly not happy is amazing.

I love dogs, but even I don't want one approaching me that I don't know. Recall should be a basic thing that is taught for the dogs safety as well. So no, OP you are definitely not being unreasonable

I ride horses, we are harassed by dogs all the time. I'd say at least 20% of people who have their dog off lead don't have recall when they see a horse.

It's so dangerous, for me and my horse, for the dog and for the owner trying to pull it away from an upset horse. Most horses will stand or run away but I've seen 3 dogs killed by a swift kick when they horses patience has finally run out.

So for PP who say they just don't have their dog off lead near kids or in built up areas you are irresponsible and putting your dog and others at risk.

Obviously the dog shouldn't stick its head in a pram, but walking to heel at all times is unrealistic. I have a working breed and it's in their DNA to run zig zags, circles etc, to cover as much ground as possible. Equally, it's natural for (especially male) dogs to pee to mark. It's natural and instinctive. People complain about owners treating dogs like humans, but you can't have it both ways. It's good dog ownership to let them carry out natural doggy behaviours (safely and without annoying others, obviously).

If it's unrealistic, the dog should be on a very short lead. If you want your dog to zig zag, take it somewhere private.
I'm a childminder, I don't drive most of the time. I spend hours outside every day, "natural doggy behaviour" is the single biggest pain in my arse.

I don't like dogs, but a dog walking off lead sniffing with zero interest in the people it passes doesn't bother me at all. Dogs that approach me, jump at me, bark at me or (especially) get in my young children's faces really really piss me off and make life much harder than it needs to be.

People always suggest hiring a field as the solution but apart from being expensive my dog and I both find it very very boring. He isn't interested in balls, he will play tuggy for about 5 mins and sniff and wee up the perimeter and then after that we both just sit in an empty field in the rain. I can't understand how it's supposed to be a fun experience vs going in a long walk in nature

His recall is unreliable despite much effort (likely breed related) so I don't let him off to bother people or other dogs unless it's someone we know and have permission from. We go to places we can be alone (the trouble is recall from dogs and people not refusing to come back generally) or he stays on the long line.

Obviously I do walk her in fields as much as possible, walking in a busy park is incredibly stressful so a walk in fields is more enjoyable. What do you mean by 'somewhere private' though? Without owning acres of land, that is unlikely.

@listsandbudgets These things happen, and your reaction proves that you're a good dog owner. Dogs are animals, they're not always predictable no matter how well trained they are, and how well you know them. You can't train out their instincts. This is why pet insurance has legal cover, as unfortunately from time to time horrible accidents happen (although it sounds like yours didn't cause any harm).

Agree. My puppy used to have perfect recall. Now she’s a teenager she’s being an arse, so she is currently firmly on lead until she stops being an arse.

If you don't have acres of land, don't own a poorly behaved dog. Or hire a dog field. You don't have to have a dog. Why have a working breed if you don't have work for it? The rest of us shouldn't have to tolerate it. Dogs aren't wild animals, they are domestic animals, which means it's your responsibility to manage their instincts - not everyone and everything else's responsibility to tolerate it.

Absolutely agree. I’ve stopped walking my dog in our local park as pretty much every dog in there is off the lead with no recall. I had no choice yesterday due to my insanely busy schedule to take him quickly round there before work. It was unbelievably stressful, I ended up with my work shoes covered in mud from having to try and walk away on the sodden grass from two dogs converging on us from opposite directions. I asked both owners to recall and find it baffling how slowly people react to me shouting “can you recall your dog, mine is very reactive?” followed by “does your dog not respond to you?”

My poor boy has to wear a halti as he pulls so much, so doesn’t have the ability to properly defend himself with his teeth if it comes to it - he gives off some really strong “attack me” vibes for some reason - even though we have tried three different trainers/behaviourists, he still doesn’t walk well on the lead or cope well around other dogs at all when he’s with me (rescue collie).

I usually take him to a totally unused grassy area for a runabout every day and then for a lead walk in the evening on quiet streets with wide pavements and driveways we can duck into so he doesn’t see other dogs all that much. He’s had many seizures after encounters with other dogs and I have to manage his environment now rather than keep putting him through it.

Just wish that other people would not let their dogs off the lead if they aren’t the type that ignores other dogs / have bombproof recall. I don’t mind the old dogs that potter along and aren’t fussed about my boy, or the ones who are locked into their owners commands (so bloody rare) and trained to leave other dogs alone.

My boy has ok recall when we’re in our grassy area, but I always have a ball in my pocket to lure him with in case I need to - he can ignore other dogs if he thinks he’s getting a ball thrown.

We were on a usually deserted beach recently in the rain so it was a surprise when two black labs suddenly appeared from the dunes - luckily I had a ball so just started running away from them and my dog followed me - their owner was screaming for me to stop but tbh I was glad to teach her a lesson (her dogs have gone for mine before and ruined our walk) as it was a huge distance we travelled before they gave up chasing us. I waited for her by her car and we had a proper shouting match. Felt good to get my frustration with the world’s off lead no recall dog owners off my chest!

Right 🙄you clearly have no idea. My dog is incredibly well-behaved and in 4 years we've had a couple of very rare slips in her training. No harm has been caused, and we were very apologetic to anyone who was involved (in the middle of a forest). My responsibility is to give her an outlet for her instincts. By walking, chasing balls, sniffing for treats, etc which I do. You say you're a childminder. By your logic, why do your clients have children when they can't stay at home and look after them? You don't have to have a child. They're their responsibility, and the rest of us shouldn't have to tolerate it. (Obviously I am being facetious).

I hate inefficient dog owners, a dog isn’t going to magically one day wake up and be trained…

I say this as a dog owner who’s put in hours and hours of time to train my dogs…and I don’t mean train at the local village/town hall with some idiot who thinks they know how to train a dog, I mean proper training with a dog trainer. (My dogs are trained my an ex military dog trainer who has massive of experience with the breed)

I am so fed up of off lead dogs running to our puppy when out sometimes on lead sometimes off lead I don’t give a fuck if bloody Fido is friendly…a dog should never be approaching another dog jumping and bounding around 🤷‍♀️

Big dog’s recall is bomb proof and he’s never not returned to me, little dog not so much but is getting there until I am 100% it’s a long line and training.

For a good blow out I sometimes take them to the enclosed field so they can just be dogs and play without me worrying about other idiot owners.

Curious what kind of "slips" your dog has?
Besides uncontrolled zig zagging and toilet you appear to think is essential.