To ask dog walkers to keep them on a lead

[HyacynthBucket]

It seems that although dogs cannot catch Covid-19, they can carry it on their fur if they pick it up from someone say sneezing. Therefore dogs need to be kept well clear of other people when out. Please dog owners, put others first, not your pet and do not allow contact between them and people. Only yesterday someone's dog bounded up to me, jumped up, and I heard the usual "He won't hurt you" from the distant owner. This sort of fatuous self-indulgence by dog owners has got to stop now PLEASE, for everyone's sake.

I see no reason why my dog should be onlead. It's crackers. She was off lead this morning.

@ImGoingSlightlyBrad Are dog threads common on MN? I just joined MN about a month a go so have no clue

@ginghamstarfish do you know that chocolate is poisonous to dogs?

Regardless of coronavirus THE LAW (Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000) states that all dogs need to be on a lead on open access land (fells, mountains, forests, moorland etc) between 1st March and 31st July to protect groundnesting birds

You shouldn't be letting your dogs run around all over the place anyway

Similarly you don't have the right to exercise your dogs in farmers fields, you and your dog have a right of way through it using the right of way only. At this time of year dogs should be on leads around lambing sheep.

Just because a field is empty doesn't mean you can let your dog run around or shit in it. That's tomorrow's food for our newly limbed sheep or our silage to feed cows over winter.

I don't care about whether chocolate is poisonous to dogs, personally. I care if they run and jump up at me (and others who really DO NOT welcome this). I'm disabled and a bit wobbly when out on my crutches, and if throwing chocolate saves me from getting knocked over and having another fracture, or being bitten, then fine by me. Owners could just keep their animals under control by being on a lead, couldn't they.

Forgot to add, doesn't every dog owner say that THEIR dog will obey them perfectly, and they can recall them if they see another person ... except it doesn't happen like that.

So my post was deleted - do MNers all HAVE to love dogs and welcome being slobbered on, jumped up at and/or bitten? All the while the pathetic owner vainly shouting the dog's name while being ignored ... Dog owners (most of them anyway), I realise that you find it impossible to believe that some of us feel this way. Imagine that you can't stand, or fear, let's say, tarantulas or scorpions, or snakes, but I took my pet ones out and let them jump on you - would you like it or put up with it, even while I am assuring you 'they're just being friendly'?

I do agree that there are some terrible dog owners about but even before I a dog, I don't think I was ever mauled as much as some people on MN seem to be. You must have pockets filled with liver pate or something

Clymene

I often wonder if I smell!! In all honesty, on 80% of my outings along the path I do have a dog that I have to take evasive action to avoid. All without a lead. Never one where the dog is on lead or when an owner is actively controlling the dog (Eg. When an owner recalls a dog when someone approaches). But only about 25% of my outings have a significant issue and I am out 3 times a week. So, yes. It is rather common sadly so I believe you must be correct. I must smell.....

My dog is always on a extendable lead, pulled in short if there are people about it r we are by a road. However I have the opposite problem to you OP, people think it’s acceptable to approach us and stroke my dog. Dog loves if obviously! I’m not too keen!! Regardless of whether they can carry the virus on their fur (I haven’t looked into this) they are getting too close to me when doing so

Under normal circumstances this wouldn’t bother me but now 😡

Do you run Winesalot? That seems to encourage the chase instinct in some dogs

Dogs can be bloody gits and if they won't leave people alone, they really need to be on a lead.

All decent dog owners agree with that.

People really aren't listening. If your dog breaks a leg running for a ball, right now the only treatment you are likely to be offered is pain relief or euthanasia. Vets have been advised they cannot see anything other than life threatening emergencies. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Typically the dog is considered to be a family member, that means it is afforded the rights of a human being, this generally seems to be interpreted as the right to express it's true nature and/or have the best quality of life possible.
Of course it cant take any responsibility for the consequences of it's behaviour, it is a dog and as such is not capable of making moral choices.
But in the mind of the owner the dog is a family member with the right to make it's own choices and decisions, therefore whatever the dog does is not the owners fault.
I think that's how it works?

That seems to encourage the chase instinct in some dogs
doesnt it just, when I'm out running I am treated by dog owners as if I am behaving in an antisocial way, as if they are the sole guardian of a rare endangered creature and I should tiptoe around it.

I do run. Three times a week. I agree that it does encourage them. However, some days are worse than others .

There are plenty of great dogs and owners as I have said in previous posts.

Dog owners can be infuriating. You really can’t keep your dog to yourself for 3 weeks? No one cares about your dog as much as you do, please stop encroaching

I was on a train similar to this last week, this man had his (staff) dog:

• jump up on the table
• the dog stood on all 4s on the table with it’s head in the aisle, so was touching anyone that tried to walk past, to the point that other passengers just avoided that entire carriage
• then laid down on the table
• dog then proceeded to jump on and sit on the other duo seats in the vicinity, owner couldn’t care less
• owner finally told the dog to sit on the seat next to him, where he proceeded to let his dog lick his own tongue (literally making out with each other)

And of course the owner was most offended when he noticed my disapproving looks.

UYScuti. I’ve been told I am too quick (I am barely jogging and nearly 50), too quiet (I wheeze terribly) and generally told how ‘nice’ I am.

Although, that could be more a question to which I just try to take as a positive statement.

I'm a massive dog lover, I really am, but I do wish people would keep their dogs on a lead, regardless of the current pandemic,for the dogs wellbeing more than anything.

In terms of the current lockdown, if your dog runs off and goes missing there's no saying you'd be allowed out to search for them.

Outside of that I get so sick of people taking their dog off lead in the park and then wandering off not even keeping an eye on them, or walking their dogs along a main road without a lead on, when it would only take one thing to spook them and they could potentially run into the traffic. Or they have their dogs on extendable leads, but again have them at a ridiculous length so their dogs aren't even in sight and walk in front of cars etc. I actually have a particular hatred for extendable leads as a dog once broke off one to come charging for my own dog, so I really do doubt their safety especially for bigger breeds.

Do you have a link, confirming this?

No one cares about your dog as much as you do, please stop encroaching
exactly, I know it's cute but it ranks way lower than a human and we dont want to be inconvenienced by it, it's your hobby/toy, keep it out of other people's way please

And of course the owner was most offended when he noticed my disapproving looks
you could have filmed or taken a photo, but of course this man has already signaled loud and clear that he thinks he is the dogs bollocks and can do whatever he pleases, any attempt to put him in his place would be met self righteous rage, possibly violence.
As for the kissing

My dog is off lead.
Why? because I let him off the lead in a field in a nature reserve where there are no other people and dogs. When we see someone else coming I call him to me and he walks to heel. If their dog is off lead, I will often put mine back on to keep the other dog away.

He has never, ever jumped up at anyone. Why? because he is cautious and doesn't lke new people and is more likely to run away from someone than jump up.

He avoids other dogs too, If I thought he would be cuddling up to another dog, then he would be on a lead.

Not all dogs are the same. Not all places they walk are the same. Not all owners are the same.
I am using my common sense and keeping my dog away from people and under control.

In terms of the current lockdown, if your dog runs off and goes missing there's no saying you'd be allowed out to search for them.

This is my worry. We shar a garden with the neighbour up the stairs. He won't allow us to split the garden so I can keep my dogs and my kids safe and contained. The outer fence that surrounds the garden is falling to bits. Generally he is very good and wouldn't leave the garden but if we are to be locked down and I can't take him a walk, there is a chance a stir crazy dog will run away.

In terms of the current lockdown, if your dog runs off and goes missing there's no saying you'd be allowed out to search for them.

that is true, and I would accept that.
But I find this comment weird. No-one I know who has a pet dog has ever had it run off and go missing.
Is this another mn land scenario?

Just as, where I am, many people with dogs off the lead at the (huge) park. Dogs not interacting with other dogs (owners not letting them) and dogs not interacting with other humans. Dog walkers managing to pass 5 m away from each with a smile.

Sometimes I wonder if I live on another planet than mn

I am a dog owner. My dog is quite new and I wouldn't trust him off lead anyway, but even if I did, I'd be walking him on a lead right now. It really annoys me during the current crisis when we're walking and see other dogs off lead, who come up to my dog. I just want to turn around and walk the other way because I have no idea if the owner is infected or not. Please put your dogs on leads!