What’s the etiquette!?

[CountessFrog]

I have a friendly year old cockapoo. He’s good on and off lead. We live quite rurally.

When I walk him with DH, he goes off lead on country paths. If we see other dogs approaching on leads, we call him back. Otherwise we let them check each other out.

Today we were out walking and we turned a corner to find a man walking two small dogs on leads. Our dog ran up to say hello, we called him back and put him on the lead.

One of these dogs was going a bit crazy. The man told us our dog should be on a lead at all times, like his. Apparently the dog that was going crazy had been attacked in the past by a dog, so it was scared of other dogs.

I disagreed and said we had done our best and put our dog on a lead, but he’s friendly, and I don’t believe he should be on a lead all the time. He was zipping in and out of the hedgerows.

The man said that, in order to protect his scared dog, all dogs should be on leads. He got quite irate and shouted ‘why should my dog suffer because yours is off lead?’

It’s our first dog. I think we are considerate and responsible, but honestly should our dog have been on a lead on a country path?

[BloodyCreateUsername]

I have a dog who has been attacked and would be very grateful that you were able to quickly put yours on the lead before it approached mine. When she was not fearful of other dogs I would have had the same approach as you.

[Definitelyrandom]

Posted on the other thread, but I'm still so cross I want to vent again! Setting out for a walk this morning with our grey (who has started freezing badly on walks and generally being a bit anxious), outside our gate two off lead small dogs (for the second time this week - and the owner could see then ours wasn't happy) rushed over and start licking our grey's bottom and bits. He totally freezes and we take him inside again. The bloke can see this.

Take him out a bit later and on the way back come across these dogs still not on leads. Bloke at least manages to grab the dogs and I politely suggest that if they haven't got recall they should be on a lead - it's just good manners. He just didn't get it. Pretty much everyone else in our area does, as a matter of course. He's probably the sort who would be the first to complain if his dogs were bitten by a reactive dog on a lead.

[Delatron]

Yep I’ve had the same incidents with off lead terriers going for my massive Labrador.

Just because their dog is small I guess they feel it can’t do any damage? But now after being attacked so many times by terriers by dog is reactive and has to be on a lead around other dogs. Such a shame. He used to be such a friendly/lovely dog. It’s a real problem when a small dog goes for a large dog as the large dog could flight back and do so much more harm. Therefore as an owner I have to be extra careful now around small dogs. Yet this isn’t reciprocated the other way.

Anyway OP sounds like your dog has great recall and was under your control so no you didn’t deserve to be shouted at.

[Sitdowncupoftea]

I think everyone with a dog should be aware of the dangerous dogs act. It applies to all dogs regardless of size.
Since the changes to the law in May 2014, a dog no longer has to bite to be considered dangerously out of control. Therefore and because of this, letting a dog off-lead anywhere without that dog having a bomb proof recall could in fact put you and your dog in conflict with the authorities.
I get fed up of shouting at people who don't have their dogs under control. About 2 weeks ago an off leash terrier owner no where in sight ran up to my two dogs and started going for them. I had to hold my two back and one is over 30 kilo one just under. A few minutes later the owner strolled up with an apology. I told her get it on a leash, her answer was she didn't have one. I told her I was about to kick her dog away as it was an aggressive little shit. Its not the first time my dogs have been attacked. I tell them to leave and they do but one day they won't as they are dogs.
I get sick of irresponsible owners. If you dog does not come back immediately when called or lay down in a stay position keep it on leash. Even though my dogs ate on leash if they see another dog coming they are training to sit without being told. I dont trust any off leash dog.

[Tomatoesneedtoripen]

@CountessFrog

I don’t think anyone had ‘every right to shout at me.’

absolutely

i had a terrible experience on a path with a women with 3 large interested dogs, insisted on coming up to mine, who i had put on a lead specifically. when i tried to shoo the dogs the woman was really rude to me and said i shouldnt walk my dog there!
now that is bad manners..

[Thack]

My dog has behavioural issues, so I hate when other dogs run over to us. Well, what I really hate is owners that ignore when we ask them to put their dog on the lead, don't read the fact we change direction to avoid or my absolute favourite, the old classic :"don't worry, he's friendly". Yeah, mine isn't.

(you don't sound like you are in this group, but for context in giving my opinion...)

I'd have no problem with yours being off lead if their recall is good, but please keep them a bit closer at blind spots and make sure they don't go too far ahead/out of sight.

[Itsjustabitofbanter]

If you’re in a place where you can’t see round the corners, you should keep your dog on a lead. I only let mine off in open areas where I can see who/what’s approaching and I can call him back.

[Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel]

Your etiquette issue was when your dog approached the one on the lead.Unless you can stop yours doing that or see who is coming and call yours back you should be on lead


You put your dog at risk by allowing it to approach dogs on leads. Bad manners. Sensible dog owners know that you don't allow that. He was right.

[Katypyee]

My dog is massively reactive on leash, so an unleashed dog running to my dog would not be a good thing. You wouldn't believe the amount of times I have heard an owner tell me not to worry that their dog is friendly. Well mine isn't.

I don't necessarily think your dog needs to be on leash but you do need to work on heal or recall better. Have your dog trained to come back and heal when going around blind corners. It could have easily been a cyclist coming around the bend. Also, on a narrow path it is always better to have dogs on a leash. Off leash on an open green space is fine.

[CountessFrog]

I don’t think anyone had ‘every right to shout at me.’

[CountessFrog]

Yes, he is recalled back - he walks to heel if asked

[RedRiverHog]

In my view the etiquette is not to let your off-lead dog approach an on-lead dog.
If your dog will walk past without going up to another dog than it's fine to stay off lead but otherwise I'd pop a lead on until they have walked past.

[Delatron]

I think it’s fine to have your dog off lead if it has amazing recall.

Yours seems to have good recall. Did you manage to get it back before it went up to the other dog? That is key to who is in the wrong here. If you did then fine. If it managed to go right up to the other dog then you need to keep dog closer to you next time.

[Sitdowncupoftea]

You should never let your dog approach another dog thats on a leash. The other dog may be nervous or aggressive. Read thd dangerous dogs act. It makes no difference whether your dog is friendly or not. The owner of the other dog had every right to shout at you. I walk my dogs on a leash and get fed up of other peoples dogs running up to mine. If your dog is off a leash it is not under your control. I live in the countryside. Dogs should be on a leash in the countryside due to livestock and wildlife.

[Yokohamajojo]

The "etiquette" is to not let your off lead dog approach on lead dogs but you seem to be doing a good job on your recall so I'll let you off wink]

[CountessFrog]

Thank you I’ll try that

[Bergerdog]

@CountessFrog I teach a touch command first. Once they can touch the hand and hold it you can move your hand back and use a command such as back or get back until that sticks.

Also I wouldn’t not let the dog off, dogs need to run! What I do is let them off as long as I can see ahead or at least at recall distance, if I see a dog/cyclist or whatever I recall and put them on leads or ask to heel depending on which dog I have. Once I am past I usually send them forward, I’ve taught them they are only allowed to walk in the direction I’m walking so I know they won’t double back.
I also always recall and heel when I can’t see ahead, turning around corners etc.

It’s up to you how you do it really I would just try and avoid letting your dog approach people or dogs until asked permission, whichever way you find easiest!

[CountessFrog]

Do you have a word you use to get yours to walk behind you? We did puppy school (really helpful!) but they only did ‘heel.’

[HeidiPeidi]

It depends . If your dog didn’t manage to get up to the other dog before being recalled (and if he came as soon as he was recalled), then I think it’s not too bad. If however he’d already been face to face with the other dog by the time you called him back, that’s not great. It’s really hard work having a dog who’s reactive on lead and super stressful, having another dog come bounding up while the owner shouts ‘it’s ok! (s)he’s friendly!’ is absolutely infuriating.

I don’t think it’s fair to expect you to leash your dog in the middle of the countryside (as someone who also lives very rurally, I know a country path isn’t the same as a path in a more populated area. As you say, we very often walk for miles and miles and don’t see another living soul the entire time). I think train him to walk behind you on command, then use this command whenever you are approaching a corner/new field/area where you can’t see up ahead clearly, or leash as soon as visibility becomes limited and let him off once you’re certain the coast is clear (this is what we do).

[Savoury]

@StarSpangled372 I'm sorry to hear you've had that experience.
I admit I have had similar - not in relation to dogs! - and left MN for some time so am now very cautious about the topics I post on.
I can only presume people have very little going on in their lives that they get a kick from kicking others.

[CountessFrog]

😁

[Tomatoesneedtoripen]

@StarSpangled372, bit of a pack

[StarSpangled372]

Tomatoesneedtoripen 😆 is it that obvious!

Yup, many times unfortunately but when you’re a first time dog owner and you’ve got no one in real life to ask you find yourself coming back time and time again. I’ve had great advice and also encountered people who have made me feel absolutely awful for doing nothing wrong but because it goes against their rigid views they come down hard. It’s such a shame. I’ve been here a while now and it’s the same people who jump on others.

[CountessFrog]

(And yes I agree, they are fairly reasonable on this particular thread. I’ve seen some very extreme ones on this board though, and I’ve thought some people are absolutely horrible).

[CountessFrog]

I actually thought that. The thing about NN attracting quite hefty opinions.

I’m definitely not a ‘you ok hun’ person. I’m just a first time dog owner, and I think my husband and I probably have different opinions on having the dog off lead. I’m probably more cautious, but I certainly don’t believe he should always be on a lead. In fact I’ve just been through the woods with him off lead for an hour and we didn’t encounter a single other person. Why should he always be on a lead just in case?

I do appreciate your alternative views, though.