Walking off lead on pavement.

[MarcoPoloCX]

Do you or would you?
Do you only do it on quiet residential streets? And how do you feel about off lead walking on pavements?
Are they well trained dogs or well trained until something happens?

I wouldn't with mine because there are plenty of cats on my street and they'd be off.
But I experienced dogs that are normally good darted across the road. Or a dominant dog felt threatened from an on lead dog and it cross the road. It only takes a second for something to go wrong.

I don't think dogs should be off lead full stop.

I wouldn't with mine but then she is a bit daft. I'm not a fan of it generally but then I'm not convinced most dogs are 100% unshakeable. I've never understood people that says dogs should NEVER be off lead, though to be fair I'd prefer all child to be on a lead until the age of 18 - they're infinitely more annoying and dangerous, and they're always leaving crap behind.

I agree with seahorse. We have a 3 year old husky who is only ever off lead in the fenced tennis courts when they’re empty! I don’t care that your dog is well trained/friendly...in public places your dog should be on a lead! It only takes a second for something to cause them to run into a road or jump up at people who go for another dog. You’ll get those who come along and say that their dog is 100% reliable and wouldn’t hurt a fly but the truth is NO dog is 100% trustworthy. It drives me mad when we walk our dog, we get dogs off lead bounding up to him and luckily he has been fine with that so far but he was recently attacked by a some idiots off lead dog who he described as “fear aggressive” ! Ffs, why is it off lead in a park then?!

Sorry for the rant but dog owners drive me mad.

*or go for another dog

I only let mine off in an open space that I can see all around.

If a dog is fear aggressive then the owner should have recalled, lead up and keep away from other other dogs.

But I do think by keeping a dog on lead at all times limits its socialisation and interaction with other friendly dogs.

I don't let them go up to on lead dogs unless I checked first but normally I just recall, walk away and get their focus on me.

It’s illegal on designated roads.
I wouldn’t. Ever.
Don’t know what you mean by dominant dogs but dogs can be distracted. Even the very best trained dog. Plus I think it’s scary for drivers or pedestrians to feel the dog isn’t under control.

I just wonder why on earth you would risk it? Even the most well behaved dog is going to be distracted if a squirrel darts out in front of him.
Keep on a lead and then let off when in a safe area. Common sense.

I think dogs should be on leads on pavements and only off lead in fields if the owner has good recall. My greyhound goes off lead in parks/fields but rarely strays far from me and either comes/stays as ordered. I don’t like it when dogs come bounding up and start nipping at my hound while the owner is either totally oblivious or calling the dog in a tone it clearly feels happy to ignore. The old chestnut ‘oh he/she’s friendly’ comes out quite frequently.

On the other hand if, walking on an extending lead on pavements, why do people think it’s ok to let their dogs walk all over people’s lawns/flower borders? I’ve seen people let their dog use someone’s lawn as a toilet and not just the edge closest the road! My hound is never allowed to walk on lawns that’s just rude.

I don’t think extending leads are safe (well at all really for most dogs) by a road. Should be a fixed lead.
I too say no stay off people’s gardens if she wanders off the path. Of course she understands me.
And bouncing up to your dog isn’t friendly. It’s rude!!

I don't think I ever could even if I wanted! Cats, squirrels, birds and rats! too much risk. I have to admit that I admire the ones that do it, I have one on my road and he just trots behind it's owner and doesn't even look very old or anything

I hate to see dogs walked off lead on pavements, if I'm honest. No matter how steady the dog, I always worry about something happening to spook it and the resulting danger near roads etc.

In other areas it depends on the area. Most dogs should be on leads in parks etc but there are still plenty of rural places in which there are no livestock and you can see far enough around you to know you are alone. That doesn't negate the need to have the dog under proper verbal control.

If a dog is fear aggressive then the owner should have recalled, lead up and keep away from other other dogs.

I disagree with this. Or at least, I disagree it only applies to fearful dogs. All dogs should be kept away from other people/dogs unless you have already established they are fine to be approached. As is said so often here, there are many reasons why someone might not want to be approached by another dog, even if their own dog is friendly.

One of mine does very occasionally just on our quiet estate. He has had two knee operations last year so Is very slow and likes to plod along at his own pace, he gets frustrated by our other dogs running in zig zags on their leads and he likes to stop and sniff for ages which our other dogs hate to be stopped. So he plods along sniffing a metre or two behind us, with one of us keeping a close eye. He isn't phased by cars, squirrels, cats etc. Just likes to plod along with his nose down and tail up.

These rare occasions are only in the middle of the day when no one else is around though. If anyone is around he stays on - more for other people than him.

Having been terrified of dogs most of my childhood I understand that people may not appreciate any dog off lead.

Absolutely not - my dog is a prat and is at his worst around traffic, but even if he was perfect I think the risk just isn't worth it - if he saw a squirrel or cat he'd be straight off after it.

It's also illegal on public roads.

No, they will be after any cat or squirrel that happens by.

We have someone who walks his spaniel off the lead next to a busy road and the dog has its attention on him the entire time. Its quite incredible to see.
I would never have mine off the lead next to a road, no matter how busy. But she is off the lead in safe areas. I would hate her to have to be on a lead the whole time. Part of a dog walk is being able to go an sniff the amazing smells. It has taken a lot of work, she is a 6 almost 7 year old cocker, but she is 90% reliable. She comes to me when I call her if I see another dog coming towards us, esp if they are on a lead.
I agree that dogs who are fear aggressive or who tend to not get on with other dogs should be on a lead, esp in a park.

If I walked my dog off lead on a pavement he would be dead. He has no road sense and he's a dog so hasn't learnt his green cross code .

I have seen people do it around where I live and along roads with lots of cars. I wouldn't risk it even with the best trained dog as it would only take one time for it to be a disaster.

I regularly do with mine.

I only tend to do leashed near cars because she is a working collie and used to try and herd them.
She’s alright with cars now but I don’t think I would ever risk it just in case.

She will walk at heel if requested, has good recall and doesn’t approach strangers/other dogs so why not?

It's illegal to walk them off lead on the road, at least that's what our trainer told me! I wouldn't just incase something spooked her and she jumped into the road.

Off road she's offlead, she's got a reliable recall and if I see a dog on a lead she goes on hers.

It is illegal on designated roads. Check local bye laws.

It is an offence for dogs to be off lead on roads - except the collie or dog that are herding animals (or sporting purposes eg hounds for a hunt guess that may have changed now though)

Never. Mine is a whippet and has reasonable recall but I’d never trust his near traffic.

He gets off lead time on the beach and in fenced dog parks. I don’t think these are really a thing in the UK but councils here in Australia have them set up in a number of suburbs. Most have a seaparate section for small dogs (idiot whippet goes in with the big dogs).They aren’t without their issues but they do give my boy a chance to let off steam and if there’s any sign of an issue we leave straight away.

For me it isn't even about your dog.

Your dog may be lovely and well behaved and friendly but DS is still petrified. Showing him that the nice man has his lovely doggy in his lead and wotn let him near you (said loudly to tell other person please don't bring your dog over) helps. A friendly dog that wants to come for a sniff will send him into a total panic

Never. I was on a bus yesterday which had to slam the brakes on, sending people flying, to avoid hitting a husky that was off the lead and had stepped into the road. Dog freaked and ran further into traffic (was caught unscathed). Off lead at the park, beach etc. I think it's a shame people don't let their dogs off the lead as much now in open spaces.

I wouldn’t like to see dog parks in the UK.
Huge numbers of overexcited dogs in a confined area not being properly supervised is a recipe for disaster...

My dogs would happily walk by my side on a road and be controlled BUT I think it causes worry and concern to other people so would always have them on a lead.

As a driver I would be more alert if I saw an off lead dog, as an adult I could feel uneasy passing an off lead dog so for the comfort of others I would always have dogs on lead near the road.

In the same way I would also put dogs on leads near livestock - mine are working dogs and have no issues at all amongst sheep and livestock but it is a clear indicator to farmers etc that my dogs are under control