What's the etiquette for off lead dogs?

[LuneyTunes]

I'm curious to know what the done thing is when there are off lead and on lead dogs. My dog is always on lead (not had him very long, he's a rescue, rather keen on squirrels, more people than dog oriented). When we're out and about walking in different environments, I'm really curious to know what the etiquette is.

Should off lead dog owners allow theirs to come up and say hello to mine without even trying to call them back? If they see us from a distance in the woods, should they put theirs on a lead?

Mine is initially friendly, but finds strange dogs leaping around him very unsettling and will start to react as he likes his personal space. This has happened a number of times now and is very frustrating.

I can understand more so in the park that it's expected to have off lead dogs and therefore that's why I avoid it, but I would expect other owners to keep their offlead dogs away out of courtesy in wilder settings like the woods or nature reserves, and I'd like to have the balls to tell them this when they start bothering my dog, or is this just expecting too much? Thanks, hive mind

My understanding is that if you approach a walker with their dog on a lead you should put yours on lead as well. You can’t tell from a distance why the dog is on the lead, it might be happy to be approached, it might be frightened, it might be aggressive, so the safest thing is to get your dog leashed and wait until you are closer to see if it’s ok to let your dog off. This doesn’t always happen though

I call my dog back to me if there’s a dog on lead. She’s allowed to go up to/ play with dogs off lead. I don’t think it’s fair at all for owners to let their dog approach dogs on a lead but unfortunately not everyone seems to feel the same.

The number one rule of dog etiquette is that you should always have it under control and not bothering people, livestock or other dogs.

Unfortunately a lot of people don't do this. So I'm afraid you will need to call out to owners when you see an off leash dog approaching that they need to recall it.

(If they can't recall it then it shouldn't be unleashed)

For me off lead means fine to greet.
On lead recall and put your dog on too.

Mine are always on lead around strange people or dogs and I get very annoyed when off lead dogs come up to me.

I was always under the impression that you put your own dog on lead when approaching an on lead dog, especially if you dog’s recall isn’t great. We got a puppy recently and it appears that not all local dog owners have got that memo though, judging by the “just being friendly “ dogs that have barrelled up to our tiny pup. Smile and nod, smile and nod…

I often can't tell if another dog is on lead or not so if I see one I'm not sure about I'll call my dog back and put her on.

Thank you all. That's exactly what I thought, but clearly not everyone has read the rulebook. I want to carry on walking in the woods, so I will just have to be vigilant - and vocal - if I see an off lead dog that could create an issue.

Sadly there are too many stupid dog owners out there. This advice seen in a woods local to me is spot on.

I frequently walk mine off lead (fine for the areas I'm in). For me, if the other person is walking their dog off lead, I leave mine off and let them greet as I chat to the person. If they have their dog on lead, I stick mine back on.
If there's is on lead but clearly not aggressive but straining at the lead to say hello to mine - I ask the other owner if they want to let them say hello.
Most of the time, my dog is more interested in saying hello to the other person not the other dog!
However, sometimes my dog my not be liking the vibe of another dog and in that situation I walk on quickly and say "lets go". Most of the time if you keep moving the "other" dog doesn't really bother him.

I can't stand it when people let their off-lead dogs approach mine. I'm a dog walker and it seems to happen daily.

There's a woman who lives near me who constantly lets her dog approach - she has no control over him whatsoever. On Friday, her dog ran up to mine (who was on a short lead as he's very dog reactive). I've told her numerous times he's not friendly so she should know by now.

Anyway, my dog growled, whipped round and air snapped and all she said was "but he looks so friendly!" ffs.

It's helpful if you have a 'give me space' lead as it gives an extra clear message. Mine is pretty good, but occasionally a little stubborn/deaf about coming back. Not enough to keep him permanently on the lead. If a dog has a give me space lead I am extra careful to get him back- as in make a ridiculous noise and run backwards until he follows. I prefer not to as it's rarely necessary, and actually slightly high risk as I'm then further away, but can if I know it's important.

I only let my dog off the lead in secluded woodland or an empty field, the minute I spy another person, never mind a dog, he’s quickly back on the leash. I hate it when other people don’t leash their dogs because I don’t want them chasing up to my dog and I.

My dogs are mostly off lead.they are Border Collies and really not interested in other dogs(even my 13 months old).But I think this is a collie thing,they also dont like other dogs in their face.for me, an off lead dog should be able to pass other dogs without cuffaffle.

This is the very frustrating thing about dog ownership. It seems like there are dog walkers everywhere who don’t seem to know this etiquette. I don’t understand how they can’t know. I keep reading it everywhere on Facebook groups I am on etc. plenty seem to think it is almost to be encouraged.

I would love it if there was some sort of nationwide ad campaign on radio and tv to tell all dog walkers

My 5 month pup is really nervous and scared of other dogs. We are working on this slowly with trusted other dogs.
It is driving me potty when we are out on a walk a bridle way which has wooded edges but also is the access for 8 houses so does have traffic/deliveries/ bin collections etc. I always have pup on lead and when other dogs are spotted he is brought closer and walked so I am in between him and other dog. If dogs off leads still approach I do ask owners to call them back which seems to get a response that I have asked the owners to roll in fox poo. I have had so much abuse from ' I need to toughen up' 'I shouldn't have a dog if I'm going to treat him like a caged animal' and 'who the f**k am I to tell them what to do with their dogs'. All whilst me dog is whimpering and climbing up me and their dogs are trying to sniff him and some even barking at him I have lost count of the times I have come home in tears all whilst trying to calm my pup and not show him fear.

The worst have been ladies in their 70's plus.

We keep changing the times of our walks and routes but I don't drive at the moment so can't go on walks too far from house (though we lived in perfect location with the woods/bridle paths at the end of our road.

I have had so many dogs before and always would put mine back on lead/hold onto collar if I saw another dog who was on lead. Sadly any etiquette around this (and in general but that's another thread) seems to have disappeared in our selfish society.

That’s awful Bellie99. There does seem to be an attitude that is is the fearful dog that is at fault and it is very frustrating.

I would always put my dog on a lead if I see another dog on a lead and we are going to pass by them.

I'd expect the same from other dog owners but it doesn't always happen.

The amount of times I have my dog on a lead and a baby in the buggy and another dog comes bounding over!! My dog is reactive and protective and will go for another dog if this happens. It's very infuriating!

There is so much talk about “socialising” dogs that I think lots of owners think if there dog wants to speak to everyone and anyone that they have done a really good job of “socialising” and any dog that isn’t keen to speak to their friendly dog it is the fault of the owner for not socialising correctly.

Mine is called back and marched past as I grab his harness if we don't have much room to pass. If there is a wide area I call him and make him pass close to me indicating that he wont approach the on lead dog. Sometimes if they are close by I will shout if they want me to grab him if I think the owner looks nervous.

We actually have issues with off lead dogs who run up to him and start growling and sometimes get aggressive when mine isn't so even with off lead dogs I tend to get him to pass at a distance.

We had a trainer out to the house this week as I wanted to get a head start on the group session starting next month. She's hugely experienced and really knows her stuff - and she absolutely hates the idea which some dog owners have (usually the ones that cba to train their own dog) that socialisation means 'your dog should approach every dog'. It means nothing of the sort.

My dog is mostly off lead, if I see an on lead dog I either put mine on her lead or call to the other owner to ask if mine is ok to approach. Often they are quite happy for my little schnauzer to come and say hello. I don’t let her make a nuisance of herself though.

Our dog is mainly off lead, hes completely ignorant and ignores other dogs, we’ve worked hard to teach him dogs are really boring and not worth approaching.

You shouldn’t approach any dog, on or off lead without asking the owners. If an off leader approaches mine and shouts “oh shes friendly” I do sometimes shout back “mine isn’t” because generally people will react and call their dog back.

It can sometimes be forgiven, we were approached by a (very cute) puppy recently on his first off lead trial.

I really don’t mind when friendly dogs approach and the owner is friendly and either asks if ok, or quickly makes an effort to call their dog back. It’s the ones who allow their dog to pester others and dont do anything about it that are annoying.

The correct thing to do is to put your dog on-lead if you are approaching another dog that is on-lead. Sadly, too many dog owners do not do this though. Some seem to think that running up to any and every dog/walker/child means their dog is sociable and fine as long as they are 'friendly'.

My dog is a rescue and hates being approached by strange dogs. He is always on-lead in public and wears a muzzle (as a precaution in case strange dogs/children etc try to play with him). If I see an off lead dog I try to get out of its way even if this means turning round and going back the way we came or hiding behind a tree. Basically, it could not be more obvious that we don't want to be approached. yet I have lost count of the number of times someone has let their dog run up to us then acted annoyed and surprised when mine barks at them. One 'lovely' lady told me that she shouldn't have to put her friendly dog on a lead- if mine didn't like being approached we should have him put down as he was obviously a problem dog!

In short OP, dogs should be put on lead around yours but there are a lot of arsehole owners out there!

@Turquoisesol

There is so much talk about “socialising” dogs that I think lots of owners think if there dog wants to speak to everyone and anyone that they have done a really good job of “socialising” and any dog that isn’t keen to speak to their friendly dog it is the fault of the owner for not socialising correctly.

It's sort of the canine equivalent of Random Man saying 'cheer up love' ... with more chance of biting.