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!!!

I've witnessed them running behind cars in car parks....and begging in restaurants whilst parents chat. But it was said as a tongue in cheek.

Chasing birds is normal behaviour for dogs...spaniels normally find the dead animals though.

Agree except for the long lead bit. They shouldn't be on long leads either if the owner doesn't have proper control. Long leads are just as much a menace as being loose, especially when the owner is obliviously chatting to someone or looking at their phone.

It may be normal for dogs, but it's awful for the birds. Birds are wild animals, dogs are not. Dogs shouldn't be chasing birds.

I recently challenged a dog "owner" who was tardy at recalling his dog that had bounded off barking, terrifying a woman into standing on a bench screaming while the dog was jumping and barking.

He did not put his dog back on the lead that was draped around his neck.

I pointed out that legally, his dog was out of control and insisted that he put the dog on the lead. He tried arguing back but decided that it was easier to temporarily humour this little interfering woman.
He was not remotely embarrased by his or the dog's actions and the distress he caused that woman.

Naturally the dog was off lead when I saw them again about 5 minutes later.
I warned another dog walker who had a reactive vest and she thanked me and went off path to avoid.

The only surprising thing about that encounter was that he didn't use the word "friendly" or blame the woman for using a park, both of which have been common responses when my children were scared.

I don't hate dogs, just twats who ignore their responsibilities to the cost of everyone else, human, dog or wildlife who have the misfortune to be in the same area.

Or, in the case of my parents' spaniel, the dead people... yup... it really always is the dog walker that find the dead people...

In defence of said spaniel, he knew the dead person was there and was actively trying to block the path so my DPs wouldn't go that way, but they moved him out the way and carried on and found him. Very sad.

Anyway, onto spaniels in general, they're very sensory dogs, so a sniff walk can be just as good as a long walk (https://www.animalcareclinicslo.com/the-benefits-of-sniff-walks-vs-exercise-walks-for-your-dog/)

When I take DP's dog out, I let him lead (on the lead!). He chooses which way to go and how long to sniff. I don't encourage him to move on if he's sniffing something. He then decides when he's ready to go home. Some days we're out longer than others and some days he just can't make his mind up about which way to go, but mostly he has the walk that he enjoys!

Our local woods/ nature reserve should have dogs on leads to protect the ground nesting birds.

One twat let his off lead puppy bound up to DS, jump up, wind him, make him cry then blamed us for taking child to "the dog walking woods"
Absolute twat.

A couple of years earlier, I had to tell the owner of a labrador to put the dog on the lead because it had jumped up at me for a 3rd time getting mud all over my coat. She told me off for scaring her dog
FFS I was on a slow walk and merely used a stern talking voice because she was letting the dog drift out of sight and not paying attention.

Totally agree OP. I've ranted before about the same.

Dogs running up and circling/pushing/licking my toddlers

Dogs jumping up into the pram onto the baby

Loose long leashes being wrapped around the toddlers while the dogs go mental around them

Picnics being eaten by dogs with no owner in sight

Jumping on my on lead dog - who is actually friendly - so much that she gets pissed off, and then making sarcastic comments about my dog not being nice

Dog shit everywhere

And the one that makes my skin crawl instantly "they're friendly". I don't care if they just want to say hello, does it look like I do?

And when you ask them to move the dog, mention that they've stolen your child's lunch, say that you've upset your child/your dog - you're the unreasonable one!

A long line not lead. It is specially for learning recall. You don't walk the dogs on them. They need to be used in an appropriate place.

What really really annoys me is when you have your dog off lead that people seem to think has bad recall when it's your arsy little dog on a long line going up to MY dog annoying him, then it's my dogs fault when hes interested in your dog!

Also, why have so many people become so anal about their dogs sniffing each other, why are we teaching our dogs to act like robots, yes they need to listen to us, recall when we tell them to but why is it so outrageous for them to interact with other dogs?

I got a dog to work with children who hated dogs and teach them how to be boring to dogs as so many parents said they and their children were scared of dogs.

The amount of dogs that come up to my DP's dog even though he's wearing a "keep away" harness is ridiculous.

My usual response to them saying "oh, it's OK, he's friendly" is "well this one isn't, so I'd suggest you take him away". In reality, my parents' dog is just a total scaredy-cat and unlikely to actually do anything, but it's enough to get them to take their dog away.

Only once has someone called their dog away without being asked, with the dog going away instantly when called, and the owner saying "sorry about that - I just spotted the harness - hope I didn't worry him too much".

So basically you hate dogs and they shouldn't exist, are cats in the same bracket? You even object to them urinating do you suggest dog nappies?

My dog is off lead most of the time and he doesn't want to interact with other dogs. I don't appreciate it when people let their dogs come bounding over to him just because he's off his lead.

I'm not sure what point you're making here?

My dogs are a*holes, so they stay on a lead at all times (ongoing training, as both are under a year).
I'm sick of lovely looking and friendly dogs with poor recall, bounding over ebulliently to mine and the ineffectual, wishy washy owners' "Coco/Lola/Fluffy Prick, come here" whilst mine are backflipping in anxiety and extending my dominant arm length with their fucking yanking.
I don't enjoy dog walks as much as a used to because of the Army of Cockapoos/Cavapoos/Twatapoos that seem to roam freely around the fields and lanes near us.
I'm far from the best dog owner in the world and have had my struggles with training, but at least I have brain cells and consideration to keep my furry bat-rats on a lead at all times in public.

Because dogs that don’t mix well with others (could be wearing a muzzle or a halter or have a “reactive” sign on coat or lead or none of the above) don’t need to interact with other dogs in an uncontrolled way that stresses them out and potentially ends up with someone being bitten etc. You wouldn’t jump all over a stranger and sniff them uninvited, neither should off lead dogs be approaching strangers or their pets without consent.

Cats are also a nuisance to birds, yes.
They can urinate anywhere other than gates and benches? Just preferably not on things that people have to touch or sit on. It shouldn't be difficult to keep your dogs away from those 2 things I specified if you have some modicum of control over them.

That's clearly not the scenario PP was talking about though.

That's a false equivalence too, dogs sniffing each other is basically the same as humans saying hello and asking how the other is.

How many dogs urinate on the bits of a gate or bench you touch? Seem to be an unusually high number of food thieving Irish wolfhound size dogs in your area....I'm a cm and in 30 years have never had children's food stolen by a dog despite being out in woods and fields most days.

Dogs meeting on leads are far more likely to be reactive as the introduction is false and doesn't allow the gradual approach and sniffing instead it's more like a passing stranger leaning in for a hug but you can't get distance as your restrained.

Did I mention food thieving Irish Wolfhounds?

I have had a sandwich stolen by a duck 😆

No but they must be that size to pee on the bits of gates you touch

Oh no cage the ducks ....and the bloody seagulls.