Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Dogs on a lead on group walks

22 replies

Squishedpickle · 08/11/2021 11:54

Hi! Sorry for the not very clear title but I'm just after some help around dog walking etiquette.

When I am walking my dog, if someone approaches with a dog on lead, I put my dog on a lead too. Fine and simple.

What is the correct etiquette if your dog is off lead and a group of dogs are approaching (all on a walk together) and some are on lead and some are off? I'm really confused! I have tended to err on the side of caution and pop my dog back on the lead but it seems like a faff for no good reason if others are off lead. I also don't love off lead dogs approaching my dog on lead, he is much calmer if he is off lead too and inevitably some of the off lead dogs come to say hello.

What are peoples thoughts please?

OP posts:
Colin56 · 08/11/2021 12:04

You and everyone else should have your dogs on leads. Reactivity on leash and leash frustration starts when someone decides not to leash their dog. You should all be on lead, its common manners. Off lead in an open space where there are no other dogs is fine. Just came back from France last week.and was struck by everyone who had their dogs on leads and all of the dogs I saw were socialised and happy.

mrsrobin · 08/11/2021 12:06

In that situation, I would leave mine off lead; the dogs on the lead obviously are used to other dogs around them (as they are in a group). Maybe they are on because they have a bad recall! Sometimes, I will get my dog to stay while I shout and ask if theirs are OK....

Stellaris22 · 08/11/2021 12:22

I’d keep mine off lead in the situation you described. If it’s a group where some were on lead I’d assume the dogs were ok to be approached, perhaps on lead due to training or not reliable recall rather than reactivity.

UndertonesOfCake · 08/11/2021 13:32

If they're choosing to walk towards you and the owners haven't said or done anything to suggest that they don't want your dog to interact, then I'd leave mine off lead and presume that they're fine with a greeting, and are probably just on lead because they have shit recall.

youreabeluga · 08/11/2021 14:30

If your dog is trained, or it is in its nature to ignore the other dogs, leave it off lead. If your dog will go over and hassle the dogs, especially the ones on lead, put in on lead. My dog can't cope with meeting other dogs when he's on his lead. I don't mind off lead dogs if they leave us alone.

Original poster
Squishedpickle · 08/11/2021 15:19

Thank you all. My dog says hello if a dog comes up to him but otherwise ignores, so I will leave him off! Thanks again.

OP posts:
purpleboy · 08/11/2021 15:21

But what if the on lead dogs are reactive but are used to being waked with the other dogs so are not reactive with them?
You have a responsibility to keep your dog safe, and unless you ask before you approach them, you have no idea if those dogs could be potentially dangerous to yours.

Original poster
Squishedpickle · 08/11/2021 16:06

@purpleboy very fair point

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 08/11/2021 16:11

I’d put mine on a lead and avoid them... meeting groups of dogs rarely goes well tbh.

Igneo · 08/11/2021 16:16

I also don't love off lead dogs approaching my dog on lead
There’s your answer.

Original poster
Squishedpickle · 08/11/2021 16:38

My dog doesn't approach others at all, but fair point @Igneo

OP posts:
Igneo · 08/11/2021 16:43

You sound like a very responsible dog owner, it’s just people don’t know that from a distance!
This is the issue for me, that doggy situations can be quite fast moving and I think it can be hard to communicate ahead in the way @UndertonesOfCake suggests.

icedcoffees · 08/11/2021 17:00

I always put my dog on the lead if ANY on-lead dog is approaching, regardless of whether the dogs they're with are off-lead or not.

Stellaris22 · 08/11/2021 17:15

I would always put mine on lead if I see any on lead dog, and if the whole group of dogs were on lead that rule would still apply.

If it was a group like OP describes then I would assume the on lead dogs were on lead due to poor recall, if they were reactive then they wouldn’t be in a group. Equally, I’d assume the owners would move away or signal if they were reactive due to the situation.

I’ve never had a bad experience with a group of dogs, usually they are the more sociable ones and owners are more likely to allow play which I like.

icedcoffees · 08/11/2021 17:17

If it was a group like OP describes then I would assume the on lead dogs were on lead due to poor recall, if they were reactive then they wouldn’t be in a group.

This isn't always the case at all.

I walk several dogs in groups (or with their households) who will react to strange dogs but are absolutely fine with the dogs they live with or with dogs they've been introduced to properly.

They will still react if strange dogs approach them, though, which is why they're on leads.

Duchess379 · 08/11/2021 19:35

I walk my 3 in the park off lead, they have good recall & 2 of them are getting on a bit (10.5yrs) HOWEVER, one of the 2, a female, immediately starts barking when she sees other dogs. Probably a defense thing. So as soon as I see other dogs approaching, I put her on the lead. That leaves my other 2 calm & able to mingle with others without her yapping. 🐾

Cyw2018 · 08/11/2021 19:41

In the situation described by OP I'd leave my dog off lead, he would largely ignore the on lead dogs and play with the off lead ones anyway, unless the on lead dogs chose to interact.

UndertonesOfCake · 08/11/2021 22:44

@purpleboy

But what if the on lead dogs are reactive but are used to being waked with the other dogs so are not reactive with them? You have a responsibility to keep your dog safe, and unless you ask before you approach them, you have no idea if those dogs could be potentially dangerous to yours.
In that case, I would expect the other owners to make at least some attempt to avoid the OP - but she describes them walking towards her.

Mine is fine with most, but doesn't like a particular breed of dog. I can assure you that if we spot that dog breed I will change direction (if spotted from a distance) or clip my dog on and give a cheery warning (if they've suddenly appeared at relatively close proximity).

The OP has a responsibility to keep her dog safe, but the other owners also have a responsibility to advocate for their dogs needs and not to actively walk into situations that are going to cause chaos.

purpleboy · 09/11/2021 09:35

Absolutely agree Undertones, it shouldn't fall solely onto op, however I rarely have people put their dog on a lead when mine is and we are often approached.
I can't control other peoples behavior only my own, so as soon as I see an on lead dog, mine goes on too until I can establish there is no threat. My responsibility is to my dog regardless of how other people behave, it's incredibly annoying and as you say if they took responsibility for their own dogs a lot of issues wouldn't happen, I just vary rarely see people doing that so I decide to be proactive and err on the side of caution.

Prattypatel · 09/11/2021 13:50

@Colin56

You and everyone else should have your dogs on leads. Reactivity on leash and leash frustration starts when someone decides not to leash their dog. You should all be on lead, its common manners. Off lead in an open space where there are no other dogs is fine. Just came back from France last week.and was struck by everyone who had their dogs on leads and all of the dogs I saw were socialised and happy.
What a load of bollocks.well trained,socialised,non reactive dogs are off lead.Every other dog that doesnt fall into this group is on lead.well trained=100% recall with distraction!
Prattypatel · 09/11/2021 13:56

My two excellent trained,intelligent Border Collies are never on lead.They avoid dogs on a lead and greet friendly tailwagging dogs.If they would be humans,they'd laugh in your face about all dogs should be on lead!

Colin56 · 09/11/2021 14:21

@Prattypatel its actually OK to disagree without insults and personalising. This is a forum for people to express their view on issues posed by posters. I'm delighted you have well mannered dogs - any chance you could pick up some tips from them yourself?

New posts on this thread. Refresh page