Should dogs be kept on a lead?

[Meltinthemiddle]

After the recent story I've heard lots of people saying dogs should be on leads. Whilst the seal story is upsetting, hearing the dog should be put down because it was acting on its own animal instinct is wrong. My puppy is 9mths old and is happiest when off the lead and nose to the ground in the woods. Generally her recall is good, however she likes chasing birds so I do worry what she would do if she caught one. She is the most loving dog though.

Yes, but how would any measures about dogs be policed? Or is it more sensible to suggest that dogs should not be allowed off lead in areas where there’s lots of mixed use (like parks), but on country walks they’re ok so long as there’s no livestock? Take a country park near my house - kids’ play area, cafe, picnic areas, sections where people are likely to be sunbathing/sitting on the ground. Maybe we say no dogs off lead in any of these areas, but if you’re going for one of the walking trails through the woods then the dog can be off-lead? Assuming normal recall/decent behaviour, but I don’t think expecting dogs to have perfect recall 100% of the time is reasonable.

@BigWolfLittleWolf

These kinds of stories really piss me off tbh. There is a really dangerous ‘furbaby’ culture, a viewing of dogs as sweet little people in furry coats.

The reality is they are predatory animals.
Most will chase birds, cats, squirrels etc and some will kill them.
No different to a cat hunting mice or birds.
But because of the culture we have when a dog does maul something, which is horrific, I’m not saying it isn’t, suddenly the dog is ‘savage’, ‘dangerous’, ‘has blood lust’ etc.
It’s absolute bollocks.

I find the double standards appalling aswell, a dog that savagely kills a rat is a hero, a squirrel people are indifferent but a seal and people are up in arms and there are calls to have the dog PTS.

The answer is to train your dog properly in combination with common sense according to your dogs temperament, if you know it will chase, for example, deer, then either you don’t take it where you know there are deer or keep it leashed.
But also understand that dogs are predatory animals and dogs that maul seals or rabbits or whatever are not bad dogs nor dangerous dogs, they are just regular dogs acting on perfectly normal, if socially unacceptable, dog instincts

Exactly this!

Your dog has better recall than most adult dogs (apparently) because she had not yet reached teenager phase.

Yes you can expect a dog to have 100% recall - there are dogs specifically trained for this. Police dogs, sheep dogs, security dogs.

If you go to a field you should expect dogs to be off the lead - yes, well trained dogs that listen to their owner.

Trampled picnics aren't that bad? I had a Labrador steal a banana from my hand and leaping at me while the owner was no where near. If that was a dangerous dog, like an Akita, people would be frothing at the mouth but a lab is ok...

under control at all times unless asleep or in a fenced area where out of control is allowed (e.g. your own back garden).

on a lead on any road, no matter how little traffic there is. That's the law.

one strike and one way to the vets; livestock or people. Your job is a dog owner is to make sure that one strike never happens.

It's not even necessarily about the recall, if a dog comes up to my dog and the owner has made a good effort to recall, acts appropriately and doesn't laugh it off then I don't mind because my dog is under control and I always look out for this type of issue.

An off lead Westie once put itself in my dogs mouth while my partner was walking it. He is very much of the "not my problem if you can't control your dog" ilk so didn't rush to separate them. The lady owner just squealed and did nothing. We told our dog to step away and he did. I still see her all the time with no control.

@TooExtraImmatureCheddar

Yes, but how would any measures about dogs be policed? Or is it more sensible to suggest that dogs should not be allowed off lead in areas where there’s lots of mixed use (like parks), but on country walks they’re ok so long as there’s no livestock? Take a country park near my house - kids’ play area, cafe, picnic areas, sections where people are likely to be sunbathing/sitting on the ground. Maybe we say no dogs off lead in any of these areas, but if you’re going for one of the walking trails through the woods then the dog can be off-lead? Assuming normal recall/decent behaviour, but I don’t think expecting dogs to have perfect recall 100% of the time is reasonable.

Most dog measures aren't policed - that's kind of my point. What would the incentive be to pay for training and exams if you walk in rural areas where you don't see anyone anyway?

I mean, all these measures people want to introduce sound great in theory but in practise they're totally unenforceable. I walk rurally everyday and can quite easily pick trails where I don't see a soul for miles around. How would anyone watching me know if the dogs had passed their tests? And if they hadn't passed, but were well-behaved anyway, why would they care?

on a lead on any road, no matter how little traffic there is. That's the law.

That's not the law. The law states your dog must be under close control at all times. If that can happen while the dog is off-lead, that's fine.

I mean, I wouldn't recommend it and always walk dogs on-lead near roads, but it's not law to do so.

Working dogs are trained by experts at great expense. I’m talking about proportionate rules for the majority of non-professional dog owners.

Trampling the picnic and stealing the banana wasn’t dangerous to you. Jumping at you was/could have been. It’s bad behaviour all round and I’m not condoning it, but there’s a difference between danger and nuisance.

I agree with one strike with hurting humans/livestock and you’re out. I don’t agree that all dogs should be on lead at all times as a blanket rule. I think that’s too draconian.

@TooExtraImmatureCheddar

I agree with one strike with hurting humans/livestock and you’re out. I don’t agree that all dogs should be on lead at all times as a blanket rule. I think that’s too draconian.

Puppies can bite to the extent that people bruise and bleed. That doesn't mean they're dangerous.

Also, a dog that bites isn't necessarily a dangerous dog. Dogs can bite if they're in pain or frightened. A blanket "a dog that bites a person needs to be PTS" is hugely OTT and doesn't account for a whole host of circumstances where a bite would be understandable (not acceptable, but understandable).

Thankfully the courts understand that and take every case on an individual basis.

Coming at this from the biased view of having grown up on a livestock farm then yes, they should.

@BigWolfLittleWolf

These kinds of stories really piss me off tbh. There is a really dangerous ‘furbaby’ culture, a viewing of dogs as sweet little people in furry coats.

The reality is they are predatory animals.
Most will chase birds, cats, squirrels etc and some will kill them.
No different to a cat hunting mice or birds.
But because of the culture we have when a dog does maul something, which is horrific, I’m not saying it isn’t, suddenly the dog is ‘savage’, ‘dangerous’, ‘has blood lust’ etc.
It’s absolute bollocks.

I find the double standards appalling aswell, a dog that savagely kills a rat is a hero, a squirrel people are indifferent but a seal and people are up in arms and there are calls to have the dog PTS.

The answer is to train your dog properly in combination with common sense according to your dogs temperament, if you know it will chase, for example, deer, then either you don’t take it where you know there are deer or keep it leashed.
But also understand that dogs are predatory animals and dogs that maul seals or rabbits or whatever are not bad dogs nor dangerous dogs, they are just regular dogs acting on perfectly normal, if socially unacceptable, dog instincts

Totally this!

When ever another thread comes up about dogs on leads this post should just be churned out.

No. But unless the dog has brilliant recall people shouldn't let them off unless it is somewhere where there are no other dogs, kids or people for it to bother.

@TooExtraImmatureCheddar sounds like you are condoning it. It's unacceptable, dangerous or not and had I moved my hand it could have bit me and not my precious banana. Had it done similar to a small child, or with my dog around it very easily could have been.

Lol at worrying about a dog grabbing a banana!

Have it put to sleep IMMEDIATELY! The DANGER!

I agree with @BigWolfLittleWolf. Brilliant post.

@tabulahrasa I've a pin in my arm from a game of fetch on a lead... (and now limited movement)

@Literallynoidea perfect username 🙄

A dog being so out of control in a public place that jumps up and steals food from my hand is unacceptable and if you don't think it is then you're part of the problem.

We keep pup on lead anywhere near roads. She doesn't care for humans. Knows to come and sit when a bike comes near. We live next to a country park but I keep her in the areas they don't need to be on lead. She ignores about 80% of dogs. If someone has a dog on lead I keep her distracted to get past them. 99% the time it works. If
She doesn't listen I pop her on lead until we are past the interesting dog. Once it is behind her she doesn't care. If I see a horse approaching she goes on lead and sits when it goes past. She has yet to see the sheep. She will go on lead to get used to them. She does like to try and pome her head through the horses fence now and then but is recalled back quickly. A stinky swamp stream though is far too enticing. She is only 8 months old and doing well. She will play with some pups but only when given permission and they go mad for a while. Bring her ball though and she cares for NOTHING around her at all. I do believe it depends on the dogs. A very excited springer cross was chasing her today and I had to put her on lead as she was scared and jumping up for me to save her. The owner did nothing just said he likes to chase. I just walked another way and kept her safe. It depends on the time invested in training but no dog is fail safe for recall and I wouldn't let her off in situations I didn't truly know and even though she likes to say hi to our small animals I ensure she isn't alone with them or too close just in case and I would do the same with wild animals too. I wouldn't forgive myself.

@AyyMacarena

A dog being so out of control in a public place that jumps up and steals food from my hand is unacceptable and if you don't think it is then you're part of the problem.

I completely agree with you and those excusing it are the ones whose dogs are completely out of control. You know, the ones whose dogs run up to people while they desperately scream for it to recall but when it utterly ignores them their forced to shout how “friendly” their out of control dog is. It really, really pisses me off. We have a dog who is always on the lead unless it’s in the dog park or enclosed space. I love dogs, but I bloody hate some of their idiot owners.

Op, your dog should clearly not be off lead. And sadly I think you’re going to learn that the hard way.

Yes, long overdue.

My dog would steal food from a picnic if pff lead and around one. He's totally food orientated. It's completely unacceptable so I avoid places with people once the weather warms up when he needs off lead time.

I'm in the middle ground here. I don't want my dog in lead all the time. He'd be an arse with it. He adores running. But do my best to pick my spot. We live rurally so have a couple of great routes that have no livestock, few other dogs and people, and plenty of sniffs.

Anywhere else, and he's on lead.

Personally I think all dogs have the ability to loose recall so I think they should be kept on in most areas, but this would be really difficult for some breeds

I had a a wet muddy dog jump in my car once the woman was shouting it but it was completely ignoring her and she thought it was funny I was absolutely raging

Another time I pulled up at a woods to go running got out my car to be faced with 6 dogs running riot with a dog Walker and one jumped up and it's claws ripped right through my running leggings

At a packed beach I watch a dog smash into a 2 year old sending him flying into the sea and the mother went mad and screaming get them dogs under control and the owner had the cheek to shout they are under control. What kind of idiot has a dog off the lead at a packed beach

95% of people should keep there dogs on leads there is very few folk who have 100% recall

Totally irresponsible