A plea and reminder to parents of dogs

There_Goes_Trouble

puppy999 wrote: »

It is againest the law to hav a dog off the lead in a public place

I don't think this is quite right, dogs must be on a lead when walking alongside a public ROAD, but not necessarily in a public PLACE as far as I know. My local forrest where I walk is a public place but dogs are allowed off lead there. Also local parks etc have signs up regarding fouling but nothing to say dogs must be on leads.

There are laws regarding control and dangerous dogs, but I'm not aware of a law which stated dogs must be on a lead in all public places.

Humphrey10

If my dog (while off the lead) got bitten by a dog on the lead, it would be my (well and my idiot dog for not realising growling = it doesn't want to play!) fault, not the owner of the dog on the lead. OP I hope your dog is OK, but I don't think the boy did anything wrong at all, he had the dog under control, on a lead. I wouldn't be able to prise open a saffie's jaws if it had hold of something either, I don't think the boy's age had anything to do with it.

tomstickland

Parents of dogs are usually dogs and can't read.

EmptyPockets

elsien wrote: »

With respect though, however friendly your dogs are, often dogs are on leads for a reason, so even a friendly dog approaching can trigger aggression. I get people saying as their dog is all over mine, "oh he/she's fine" and I have to say "but mine isn't, please call yours away." Then they look at me all put out.

ali-t wrote: »

Well said. Off lead dogs are the bane of my life. It drives me round the bend when I am walking mine on the lead and people let off lead dogs run up to them. Dogs on leads are usually ill, recovering from an op, in season, aggressive, nervous, not dog friendly or the owner doesn't want them to play. It never ceases to amaze me the amount of people who take no notice of this.

I could not agree more with what these two posters have already said. Just because you have friendly, out-going and confident dogs, does NOT mean everyone else does.

We have a very nervous Collie who WILL show aggression to strange people and dogs. It is not her fault (she is a rescue) and we are working on making it better for her, but our hard work is often hindered by people who do not have their own dogs under control.

Because we know that she is nervous aggressive, we always take her out with a muzzle on, to avoid anything happening like the situation described by the OP, but even so, I get so annoyed with other dog owners who are NOT in full control of their pets. You should never let your dogs approach a dog on a lead without first checking that it is ok for them to do so. It is this sort of assuming attitude that often leads to canine tempers flaring and incidents like this occurring.

sarabe

puppy999 wrote: »

It is againest the law to hav a dog off the lead in a public place I dont walk in grassy areas now for that reason as the dogs come runnin over and attack mine he is only 2yr an Akita and is a whimp which is a good job as he could make a really mess ........ Please keep your dogs on there leads

No it isn't. There may be bye laws in place at some locations that require this but it is not illegal to exercise your dog off lead in public.

For their well being dogs need off lead exercise and they do need to be allowed to interact with other dogs where appropriate. Owners just need to be considerate and to train their dogs to a level where they don't let them be a nuisance.

gemini12

Whilst I totally agree with you that the responsibility is entirely mine as my attention was on the young lad not the dogs my main point in writing was to remind parents that things happen very quickly. I am in no way blaming the young man. I am only sorry that he was so upset.
I would also add that by the time the dog attacked mine all the dogs were actually on the lead and was being held by me whilst I was talking to the young lad about his dog. Whilst the dogs were off lead she was fine with mine.
I have just re read my original post and have realised that the way it was written was confusing. I called the dogs back and because they only stopped not returned I hobbled over to put them on leads. It was at this point the dog attacked when I was talking to the young man about his dog. My OH then came over to help me seperate them.

cheepskate_2

I ALWAYS go by the assumtion that if a dog is on a lead, it is not safe for mine to go and greet it. That said if a dog is off the lead i assume it is a safe dog that should show no aggression, altho sometimes the owners of " nippy" dogs dont work by this principle.

Lirin

My step-daughter had taken our two out as pups- never on her own. She's only 10, was 8 then.
She had begged me to allow her to walk them alone, and knowing the risks- a Lab will pull the arms off a child- I'd refused.

Gave her the dog on the lead in the garden, as an experiment, and told her to hold on to the lead. Went down the other end and called the pup- she came straight to me, the little one just let go as soon as she felt the pull.

Now she understands she can't walk them alone, as she hasn't the power to stop them.

cheepskate_2

gemini12 wrote: »

We dashed to her as fast as my walking stick would let me, fortunately not far and between my OH and self manged to part them.
.

I would also add that by the time the dog attacked mine she was actually on the lead and was being held by me whilst I was talking to the young lad about his dog. Whilst the dogs were off lead she was fine with mine. (QUOTE)

Me thinks , someone is telling porkies

EmptyPockets

gemini12 wrote: »

I would also add that by the time the dog attacked mine she was actually on the lead and was being held by me whilst I was talking to the young lad about his dog.

If you are going to lie, at least go back and read your first post to make sure you don't make a boob as plain as that