Advice-off lead

[ToadRage]

I was hoping someone can advise me as to the rules on dogs off lead? I do not have a dog but my best friend has two mini dachshunds. They are not big dogs and have never been known to be aggressive. I have a pedestrianised area at the front of my house, with grass and trees and I thought with this nice weather we could sit out the front and let the dogs have a run around, my neighbours kids play out there and I have seen people walking past with their dogs, some off lead. But I have no idea about the rules surrounding dogs and I know some people get really arsey about dogs off lead even if they are supposedly friendly.

I love dogs. It's a pedestrianised area for people. The temperament of the dogs doesn't matter, as in, it doesn't matter how gentle and friendly they are.
I would love a dog approaching me but others won't. Extending leads and being mindful that it's a people place not a dog space is the only way it's reasonable.

Why is there a need for her to even bring her dogs when she comes to visit, how long is she visiting for.

How long do you deign long enough to warrant her bringing her dogs with her? 😁

She doesn't have to bring her dogs at all. Over the winter when we sit inside she didn't. I don't allow them in my house cos i have an indoor cat. She lives a short drive away so she visits regularly and doesn't have to stay long, i just thought it would be a nice idea for us to sit outside with the dogs.

And it is a nice idea, OP. Just keep them on an extending lead, they can have a mooch and a sniff, leave a peemail (😮) but be under control.

In my opinion it's fine for dogs to be off lead but they need absolutely solid recall. It's not just about them being friendly. They shouldn't go up to other dogs or people, and if they try to then they should be trained to come straight back. I have a Labrador who is always on lead in public and we get quite a lot of small dogs running up to us, which I find really annoying because my dog gets really excitable and we're training him to ignore other dogs. So if you friend's dogs have solid recall then I'd say it's fine, but if not then keep them on a lead.

The rule is that not everyone understands 'friendliness' in the way that you / your friend do, and that you strive to understand that, however difficult it may be. For some, especially children, being approached by a running, barking dog or multiple dogs is not friendliness, it is threatening. So if your friends' dogs are the type to approach strangers, especially whilst barking and running, or to encroach on others' space who may be sitting with food or drinks, then they shouldn't be off the lead.

No-one gets 'arsey' about an off lead dog minding its' own business whilst under full control and supervision of the owner. People rightly object when said owners feel that their dog's enjoyment of the space trumps feelings of safety for members of our own species, especially vulnerable ones.

Signed, mother of a child who was chased by three 'friendly' dogs, whose owners 'called them', of which said dogs took precisely zero notice. Response from owners - 'dogs are allowed to be here, you know'. Yes, and we never said they weren't but it's not OK for your dog to chase anyone. The entitlement is next level.

The dogs should be under control. For some dogs that means they should be on a lead as they have poor recall - the dogs shouldn’t be harassing other dogs or people. Your friend probably has an extended lead she can have them on so they get some freedom to sniff without being a nuisance.

I love dogs, I'm happy with them in cafes/pubs/parks, basically everywhere. More than happy to have digs approach me on walks etc.

If they were your dogs I'd say fine (IF brilliant recall or in a lead ) but a visiting friends dogs I'd say no. The kids live there & play there, I don't think it's fair to have dogs there that might stop them playing out & peeing & pooping, that don't even live there.

Can't you just get in the car with them & go somewhere dog friendly?

If the dogs are trained properly then it's absolutely fine, they can't be barking at every leaf that blows past or running up to people.
They can be kept on long lines of they are absconders.
We weent to a local attraction recently and someone had a dachshund who would not stop barking which was very irritating, it then when ballistic when my two came out from the picnic table.

If children play there regularly there you may get parents upset that dogs are toileting on the grass where the children play

I tend to see different interpretations of the etiquette surrounding this, which I am am heavily invested in as I have an adolescent male lab who absolutely needs off lead time but is also a bugger for bolting over to other dogs. It’s his age, he is not untrained. So for us, I let him off lead but put him back on the minute I see another dog or person regardless of whether or not the dog is off lead. Although some have said if other dogs are off lead then that signals that they’re all fine to meet.

It depends on the dogs, your friend’s attitude and the environment. Some dogs have zero interest in other dogs or people. In that case I’d say it’s fine. Recall is part of the puzzle but not necessarily all as if they’re already over there causing havoc, the damage is already done. Better to be able to stop the dog going over in the first place if it’s possible (something I am working on with mine) with my dog, it’s easier to catch him before he bolts than try recall him when he’s already half way as his arousal is too high. My dog is the friendliest being on the planet BUT he is bouncy and 30kgs so I can’t use the ‘don’t worry, he is friendly’ excuse.

In the real world, we do have the odd slip up but I have never met an owner who hasn’t just been fine with it. That’s not to say it’ll never happen of course.

There’s also this mythical ‘bomb proof recall’ people talk about but I doubt there are many dogs that will recall 100% of the time in every single situation. They are animals after all.

All that’s to say, use your best judgement (and your friends as they are her dogs) and try and strike a balance between meeting the dog’s needs and not being a nuisance to others. It’s the most stressful part of dog ownership I have found!