Your dog is not bomb proof

[Trainarmrestfairy]

Trigger Warning - animal death.

For the love of God please stop walking your dog off lead by busy roads or trying to cross busy roads with your dog off lead.

Your dog is not bomb proof.

This morning I watched as a dog I’ve seen every day for pretty much for the last seven years got spooked crossing a road. Before that I’d have described it as bomb proof although I did privately disapprove of it being
off the lead. Walked perfectly to heel. Never left its owners side. Always off lead. Today it spooked crossing the road and was hit by a car. It’s dead.

If it had been on a lead it may be alive. So please put your dogs safety first and put it on a lead when you cross the road. The lead may not have saved its life, but at least the owner may have had some chance of stopping it. Without the lead the poor dog never stood a chance

I agree. I cringe when I see dogs off-lead near roads, even if they appear calm and walking to heel etc. It's a certain kind of arrogance in an owner who takes smug pride in believing they've trained their dog so well. They are animals not machines.

I know what you mean OP. I see a few people where I live walking their dogs off-lead on the street (including someone with four huge bully type dogs but that's a whole other issue). Obviously it's impressive but, like you say, I also always think it's a big risk.

Sorry you saw that this morning, it must have been very upsetting.

Also agree.

My dog was launched upon by two off lead dogs in a town centre. Couldn't even see the owner. Also, a shop owner has two dogs wandering about next to a road whilst they are inside doing shop things.

A dog has not been taught by Tufty (for those who know!).

Can’t agree more. I know a few. One small dog got run over and the owner still does it. Says it was a freak accident, the driver shouldn’t have been there etc.

Arrogance is a good word.

Totally agree. I consider my dog bomb proof. She walks to heel off lead and doesn’t leave my side. Perfect recall. I would never walk her off lead near a road.

Absolutely agree, I live in a quiet village, but it is a poular dog walking area. Several owners wander along effectively ignoring their poor dog trailing along the road in front or behind them. One chap even throws a ball down the road.
Unfortunately a few years ago I had to rescue a dog stuck underneath a car that had been driving too fast, it died shortly afterwards.
It's also illegal to not have your dog on a lead on a public road. My dogs walked perfectly to heel and didn't need a lead, but they always had one on. It isn't big and clever to keep your dog off lead on a road, it's idiotic.

The only dog my older dog has barked at from the house is the one that got walked off lead down our busy road. It's been on a lead the last few times I've seen it thank goodness

Poor dog.
I hate seeing dogs on extendable leads alongside roads too. I used to know a man whose dogs were always 10 feet in front of him. And on occasion they would run into the road to get to a cat on the other side.
Even if the leads are locked short, they can come undone if the dog suddenly jerks and pulls.

We were warned in our puppy classes years ago never to let the dog off lead by a road or cliff edge or whatever. I don't know why we don't have rules - dog absolutely must be on lead on a pavement by a road. Other countries have rules about when dogs must be on a lead.

I believe we do have rules about dogs being on lead alongside public highways. But people are arrogant enough to think it doesn't apply to them.

Saw a man yesterday walking three dogs alongside the main road through the town. Two of them were off lead. One of them took an interest in my dogs and started to follow us. Not only is it dangerous in terms in terms of traffic, it’s also a fucking nuisance for other dog walkers.

I’ve only ever see men do it, middle aged men. Arrogant bastards.

Our neighbours are terrible for this, the amount of times their dog escapes out of the front door and is then wandering around our road-a cul de sac but people whiz round the corner so quickly.

Makes me cringe that they’re so laid back, half heartedly calling and laughing 🙄

I agree. I used to walk one of my previous dogs off lead a lot, and she was so good, but it just takes one squirrel or seeing someone they love on the other side of the street and tragedy can happen.

A friend of ours does it with his lab. She's pretty steady, yes, but I've seen her chase deer – so not that steady. Worst of all, for me, is that he's a police officer. He doesn't even take a lead with him sometimes, walking along an A road that quickly goes from a 30 to a 50. Absolutely bonkers.

Totally agree, there's no such thing as a bomb-proof dog. If your dog is so well-trained, it won't be a problem for you to put it on a lead.

It's already illegal for dogs to be off the lead on public roads, people just ignore it.

Agree that dogs on cliff paths is another thing. I saw an interesting photo recently taken from low to the ground on a cliff path, said it was the view your dog would see - and how it can make it impossible for a dog to realise there's a massive drop. If the see a bunny, etc and chase it then it can end badly.

Totally agree. There are a few people round here that do it and though it is a quiet country lane what is to stop that dog chasing a rabbit or getting spooked. I always think this is the owners showing off to everyone how well they have trained their dogs.

I wouldn’t run the risk of my beloved dogs being run over. I would be completely devastated and the pain would be so much worse knowing it was my fault and so easily preventable.

I hate seeing dogs off lead by busy roads. Or on extending leads. Mine are always on a short lead by roads. I wouldn’t risk an accident.

It's not. They must be under control but it doesn't specify a lead

Road Traffic Act 1988
A person who causes or permits a dog to be on a designated road without being held on a lead is guilty of an offence.

Yes, it is. Dogs must be on a lead next to a road unless they are working (eg. collies herding sheep).

Please note should not must and the road traffic act specified designated roads. That is a specific order issued by the local authority.

Personally I think it should be law that all dogs should be on leads except in designated places.

This is my logic as well.

Absolutely no reason for a dog not to be on a lead around roads. As a PP said, it's a particularly type of arrogance to have a dog off lead in these situations.