How many dogs can a dog-walker take out?

[blueskypink]

Twice recently I've encountered what I presume is a dog walker as he has 6-7 dogs with him. He seems to have little control over them and most of them are off the lead.

I've just been out with one of my dogs who is recovering from a cruciate op so needs to be kept on the lead. He's a rescue who came to us with lots of issues and gets very stressed when dogs approach him when he's on the lead (much better off the lead). 3 of the dog walker's dogs circled him growling and snapping. When I shouted at the man to call his dogs back he said, 'oh it's alright love () they won't hurt him'. I tried to explain I was worried my dog might hurt one of his as he clearly felt threatened (he's never bitten but we're always careful to avoid situations where he might be tempted to because of his issues). And also I didn't want other dogs jumping at him in case they damaged his leg. But the bloke just sauntered off.

The first time we met him his dogs did the same thing. On that occasion I was with my very old arthritic girl who was having a steady saunter. Last thing she needs is several big dogs charging at her.

Is it legal to be in charge of that many dogs when you can't control them? He was shouting and shouting at them to come away from my dog but they just ignored him.

I think councils can set limits so I would google yours to see how many. I think 6 seems the norm although a lot of dog walkers limit themselves to less.

My solution to this is to not walk my dog on our local heath between 12-2 as that seems to be prime dog walker time . We have loads near us and frankly I’ve yet to meet one that I’d trust my dog with . Easy money , turn up in a van , turf out 5/6 dogs , let them run amok whilst they saunter around picking up the odd poo that they notice them doing .

It's a worry, mainly because dogs get the Pack Mentality when they're all together. It's not their fault. It's in their nature.
Trouble is, when they are altogether and have strength in numbers, they will often intimidate a lone dog.
They lose their fear.

I'm not sure what to suggest, but it annoys a lot of people, myself included.
Why should those of us with well behaved dogs, either offlead, with good recall, or those who keep their dogs on a lead, always have to try and pick quiet times to walk their dogs?

Can't see anything on my local council website about dog walker licences. Though I see lots of councils say they are needed if walking more than 4 dogs.

I think it must be quite stressful for some dogs to go out in such a large group. We have 3 dogs and, because of their various temperaments, personalities and physical abilities it's quite difficult to give all 3 a suitable walk at the same time. God knows how one person manages 6. Well, clearly they don't!

Four as far as I am aware - I am a dog walker but do one to one. Where I am you never see a walker with more than four and I was told that was the law but I could be wrong.

Round my way in the woods it’s 4 at a time but in the local country parks I see people with more than that. It’s even worse when the dog walkers walk together and have 10/12 dogs with them.
How they keep track of them all I dont know.
There’s a dog walker/childminder near me though who only has a couple of dogs at a time but she lets the 5yr old girl she looks after run about with the dogs who then inevitably drops the lead or randomly unclips the leads and the dog walker has to chase the dogs to get them back. I would go batshit if I was paying her to walk my dogs and she was letting a 5yr old do it instead while she sits on her arse on the bench. She’s already had a dog be killed in her care.

I really hate it when people won't control their dogs, so you have my sympathy. This dog walker sounds irresponsible, and if he was walking my dog I would not be happy at his lack of care of his charges.
Last week I was walking with my little dog off lead in a quiet field when I saw a woman in the distance with three large dogs - two lurcher types and a labrador. She is nervous of large bouncy dogs so I put her on the lead, just in time because they spotted us and came barrelling towards us as a pack, and I mean at a quarry chasing speed. I was nervous, let alone my dog. I picked her up, not something I normally do, but I thought they were going to rip her apart. They jumped all over me, covering me in mud. The woman just turned away calling her dogs. I was having to knee them in the chest to get them off me and was yelling at them. She just ignored me and my expletives. Fortunately they followed her. Some people are just pig thick.

I think what annoys me most is the 'they won't hurt you' attitude. They may not bite but they can terrify me and my dogs, knock one of us over, hurt my dogs by jumping on one of them. Or cause one of my dogs to bite because they're terrified. We walk in local woods which tend to be very quiet. It's very stressful to suddenly have a group of large barking dogs charging at you!

My friend walks 7 at a time all belonging to her! Frankly I'm jealous as can't get my 1 to walk like that.

It’s even worse when the dog walkers walk together and have 10/12 dogs with them.
I've seen that round our way.
Two different vans pull up outside the park and about 6 dogs spill out from each van.

The dog walkers then buddy up and they then monopolize the whole park.
It's a bit intimidating for lone dog walkers.

Each council can set a limit. I only ever do 1 on 1 walks (unless multi-dog household) as, although I can and have walked 3 or 4 dogs at once (from same household), I'm being paid to be in charge of someone's dog and to look after them. If there's lots of dogs at once, it's not always easy to keep an eye on all of them. I often worry about those dogs I see being walked in a large group that have behavioural problems and how such walking practices don't "socialise" or help such dogs, rather just make the problem worse and can also lead to learned behaviours from puppies that get thrown on group walks far too young because people think it helps.

I had problems with a dog walker with 6 or 7 dogs regularly running loose and charging at us. I got fed up in the end and yelled at her (couldn’t talk she was quite away from me when I finally had enough) we even had one of her charges follow us home as she didn’t keep track of them! They were a pain in the ass hassling my dogs, running at us, jumping up and apparently “they were fine” no they are not fine they are a pain. Reported it to the dog warden and they looked out for her and had words

I'm a dog walker & would never walk 6 together although I am insured to, I only take max three out together & only if known to each other or one of mine plus 2 house mates. Too many things to keep an eye out for & if one legs it while you are pooper scooping, they could be miles away when you look up!

our council says that a dog handler must not handle more than 3 dogs at a time.

Depends on local bylaws. But if the dogs are out of control and something goes wrong, the walker will be liable regardless of how many they were 'allowed'.