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.

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.
This is exactly what I’m seeing too.

I’m not saying dogs jumping up at humans and other dogs doesn’t happen at times usually. But I’m not seeing it at the moment.

Sometimes I wonder if I live on another planet than mn

Sounds like the people you came across were particularly civilised. I popped out for a brief walk just now, and in the space of 5 minutes someone asked for a lighter then 2 teens on bikes came up saying “oOoOoO corona” (spooky ghost voice)! No regard for personal space at all, I live near idiots

Sorry, I don't recall the part where we were told
'All dogs remain on a lead during the crisis'

Just stick to the guidelines you've been given by the government. It's really simple.

Sorry, I don't recall the part where we were told
'All dogs remain on a lead during the crisis'

Why do you need to be 'told'? It's just common sense, dogs shouldn't be mixing and dog owners shouldn't be taking the risk of their off leash dogs causing an accident resulting in valuable resources being taken from where they are most needed. And once again for the hard of hearing vets are currently only able to see life threatening emergencies, your dog hurts it leg/paw? not going to be treated, gets bitten by another dog? Not going to be treated.

Sometimes I wonder if I live on another planet than mn

Me too.

Dogs should always be under control and the measures required to achieve that avry by dog and environment.

A dog on an empty field with nothing but more fields around, does not need to be on a 2m lead. It might need a longer lead or no lead at all to be under control - depending on training and behaviour.

A dog on an urban street does need a short lead, regardless of it's recall.

All dog owners do with regards to the dog's own welfare is consider the liklihood of accidents and weigh that against the fact that there is no real vet care available at the minute. The result of that will, again, vary by dog and environment. A steady old dog that plods around an open field is very unlikely to get hurt. A young dog running around, might. If in any doubt, then maybe err on the side of caution right now.

But it's not just dog owners. As above, cat owners should be taking extra care too. Cats in urban/built up environments may spread the virus on fur if allowed to roam and may get into an accident for which their will be no medical care. Cat owners in those circumstance should probably be keeing cats indoors right now. Cats in very rural environments who spend their days in open fields, maybe don't have the same dangers.

Horses - similar though process re the risks present in the environment your horse is kept, ridden etc.

I agree at the best of times. I won't have dogs near my children, I don't know why so many dog owners expect people who don't have dogs with them (big indication that they aren't dog owners/don't like dogs), to want to fuss over their bounding, barking pooches.

Endless justifications are getting so dull to read on a daily basis. All those saying the area they walk their dog is isolated so no change needed. How do you know who else is planning a walk, at this time when everyone in the UK wants to all of a sudden go out for one? Unless you're psychic (in which case where was the heads up about cv19) then stop being wallies.

Let's remember that NOBODY has full control of an animal, even those who think they are professional trainers. Someones dog spooked and ran off here Monday, we could see the poor thing running up and down the road where it had come from the 'empty' hills behind it. Tons of people had to join in to search for it who would ideally have been at home, the police turned up also when it started getting onto roads. Keep your dogs on some sort of lead and stop engaging in behaviours that make others wary, are a potential risk, and risk wasting the time of services if something goes awry. Not hard.

Endless justifications are getting so dull to read on a daily basis

Then don't read them - read something you find more interesting instead

All those saying the area they walk their dog is isolated so no change needed. How do you know who else is planning a walk
I can see. With my eyes. Obviously if you see anyone else around you can then act accordingly.

I can tell you can’t quite exercise your mind enough to imagine someone else’s experience so you’ll just have to trust that, for example, on an empty flat beach, or in open fields, or high on the downs you can see all around you.

Lots of people might now be driving to these isolated spots because they want the ability to exercise their dogs in a way that they now can't do in urban areas.

Can you really be 100% sure that there isn't increased foot traffic before/after you have walked?

I know it's unlikely but it's not impossible.

Remind me of a few weeks ago... I was on foot and I saw a large Alsatian style dog bounding along a busy road, carried on walking and a few minutes later I saw it's two rotund owners prising themselves out of their 4x4 and (lacking the cardiovascular efficiency to go faster than a walking pace) waddling along trying to catch up with the dog.
I have no idea what the outcome was and I'm certainly not willing to put my life on the line playing in the traffic to catch someone's dog 🙄

There are nicer ways of wording that post ........

Sorry, I don't recall the part where we were told 'All dogs remain on a lead during the crisis'

Not sure about that but in Spain Restrictions were brought in that
Dogs have to be kept on short leads at all times
Dogs can only be walked once a day within a 50 meter distance of home
Dog owners must carry papers, or information, with them at all times to prove they own the dog and that it is not someone else's dog

Doesn't Spain also have a problem with feral dog populations?

Not that I know of UYscuti

Why?

As a dog owner I can't wait for this to be over ( for many reasons) but one being all the fuckers who suddenly need to be in my park and favourite walks. Hurrah when they can all go back to the shops, or the gym or work!

If I’m walking my dogs on a footpath or Lane, or in a popular area I have them on lead. Much more than I would usually. Despite them being pretty good for recall I won’t risk them going up to other people and I can keep them away from people who might stroke them. But when I’m out in the open countryside where I live they go off lead. I’m deliberately picking walks that aren’t popular to keep myself away from the influx of walkers that have appeared over the last few days. I’m lucky that I can do that, I understand many can’t.

I rarely put mine on leads.

Not sure about that but in Spain Restrictions were brought in that
Dogs have to be kept on short leads at all times we aren't in Spain.

Tony hopefully your dog won't get booted in the face by someone trying to protect themselves or their children, then.

Can you really be 100% sure that there isn't increased foot traffic before/after you have walked?

Am I being silly here? Why does it matter if there’s increased traffic before/after your walk?

hopefully your dog won't get booted in the face by someone trying to protect themselves or their children, then
I doubt it. I don't think there's many psychopaths around here.

Tony any normal person who cares about themselves and their children would do the same. Keep your dog safe and keep others safe and put it on a lead.
I've been responsible and doing my bit not to catch or spread this virus, I'll be damned if some mutt leaps up and gives me it while I'm out for my fresh air.