oh, i was caught out the other day - took my mums huge dog and my little dog on the beach. Sort of forgot about it being half term, even though my DD is off school
So, let the dogs off - one did a poo so i picked that up, was on way to poo bin and the other one did one - just for fun, went to get it - in the mean time my little fecker went haring off after another dog, my mothers dog (huge) went haring after it was like human skittles on the promenade - in the few minutes that it took my dogs to do their poos, the beach was crowded like a summers day! There were honestly no people when i let them off - i was mortified and of course put them both back on the lead. No harm done - thankfully, my dogs are friendly and in no way agressive, but of course, they should have been on the lead and would have been had i actually been THINKING!!
I dont think dogs should be on lead everywhere - i was able to take them to a part of the beach where people dont tend to walk in the colder months and let them off again. But yes, i do concede that generally i high human traffic areas dogs should be on the lead. I do love seeing dogs run about though and have found that the majority of people i encounter when im out with my dogs do to. I often find myself having to stop to let children stroke the dogs and people are generally positive - if i see a parent pulling a cats bum face i assume they mumsnet!
Its a question of common sense - lots of people - dog on lead, woodland walk, lots of space - few people, what harm is there in your dog being off lead. Also, most dogs i see walking off lead along the beach pretty much ignore people anyway so can't see the harm, my dog is an idiot and thinks everyone wants to be his friend and jumps up, so he is on lead - except when i have a blonde day and dont think that i will see anyone!