Should all dogs be walked on leads?

lostinrates

Person_one wrote: »

While I understand that some dogs need to be on leads for their own and/or everybody else's safety, I otherwise feel the same as you. The joy that my dogs get from running free, exploring, meeting and playing with other dogs etc etc. is just a delight to behold.

If the law changed that I could never legally let them do that, I'm not sure I'd ever get another dog, knowing it would spend its life without ever running at full stretch across an empty field. Awful thought.

This is exactly how I feel. My dogs (including a grey) walk off lead where appropriate including appropriate unfenced in spaces. They do approach other dogs, but stop a distance out, and do not approach closely dogs on leads or who clearly so not want to be approached.

The new dog had the benefit of puppy socialisation 'parties' which was the first time we had done this, and it was great being able to socialise from so young with dogs outside 'his family' in a safe environment with a third party, (vey nurses) who could reassure nervous owners that some noises and behaviours were normal dog play and might seem 'rough' to us but were 'normal' to them. And then to clearly show the difference with a couple of more aggro little chaps, who were helped over come their 'lack of social skills' a little.

I am lucky, I can exercise my dogs off lead without leading my property, and I do this more often than not, but its a reluctant choice. I know that meeting and greeting with other well socialised dogs and exploring new places offers them something exploring familiar group d and interacting with just us doesn't.

Incidentally we still come across far fewer dogs displaying antisocial behaviour than we do their owners. Well socialised dogs are actually pretty good at interpreting the behaviour of dogs who say 'nah, don't want to play' its the humans whose behaviour is off that confuses dogs I find, as they are not sure whether to be protective, or whether they are ion trouble or what for.

My dogs run, its their type, No lead walk is ever going to replace that.

pipkin71

krlyr wrote: »

I know of quite a few people who would struggle with a dog racing around on 50' lead though - I've got a few injuries from 30' ones as it is (rope burn mostly, but the odd nasty jolt when I've not been paying enough attention), and I'd say I'm a bit more experienced with them than most since both of my dogs have issues making off-lead time difficult.

I manage it, because I have to, but I'd hate for it to become compulsory. It would certainly make me think twice about adopting a larger breed, and I'm not really a little dog kind of person.

Our male dog meets other dogs, goes exploring, is not always walking to heel and gets more than an hour out each day. We have to be careful with other dogs coming up to our female and she is not confident about exploring but also gets more than an hour each day.

I think, just like raising children, what works for one person may not work for another and the debate about whether or not they should be on or off lead comes down to us just giving our own opinions really, and I'm on the side of dogs remaining on leads.

Johnmcl7

lee111s wrote: »

Dogs love to explore. Nothing pleases me more seeing my dog blasting through bushes sniffing/swimming in the river and having the time of his life. He's a springer and coulnd't think of a worse breed of dog to keep on a lead. Even at 5 months we can be out for an hour (rarely) and he's still full of energy when we get home. I dread to think what he'd be like if he was lead walked only.

I for one think it's cruel to always have a dog on a lead. They just love to play and run around to their hearts content!

I agree, I have a cocker spaniel and I walk him on the lead for round the block walks just because I don't entirely trust him if he sees a cat or similar but on a country walk it's great letting him off the lead so he can bound about to his heart's content. A lead of any length would quickly drive us both demented getting wrapped around trees, bushes, people and particularly other dogs as when he finds a suitable playmate they tend to start sprinting around together. Much more relaxing for me to let him run about as he wants and he's much happier as well, when he was younger he tended to want to speak to people more so I would put him on a lead whenever I saw someone but now he ignores them unless they speak to him.

John

chucknorris

lee111s wrote: »

Dogs love to explore. Nothing pleases me more seeing my dog blasting through bushes sniffing/swimming in the river and having the time of his life. He's a springer and coulnd't think of a worse breed of dog to keep on a lead. Even at 5 months we can be out for an hour (rarely) and he's still full of energy when we get home. I dread to think what he'd be like if he was lead walked only.

I for one think it's cruel to always have a dog on a lead. They just love to play and run around to their hearts content!

Fully agree, although I mainly keep my dog on lead in/around town (he is a rescue lab, only had him 2 months and his recall isn't great) I take him out at least 5 times a week jogging/cycling with me on bridleways or remote areas in the countryside. He is 3 in November and wasn't allowed off lead for the first 2.5 years in his life, he loves his new freedom. Just started his swimming yesterday, he loves that too, I feel sorry for dogs owned by people that don't allow them off lead adventures.

EDIT: He is a great friend and when his time comes I want to know that I have given him the best possible life that I could have (just like the life that my last dog Mills had).

his_missus

I would always walk the dog (we dog sit for dad regularly) on a lead on roads, even quiet streets. I take him off the lead when we're walking along the canal towpath, round the park or accross fields (unless there is livestock in the field) so he can run about and have the freedom to sniff each and every bush/tree/stone/blade of grass. If I see someone approaching with a dog on a lead, I would put him on his lead until we passed them.

ohreally

Better_Off_1983 wrote: »

a Poodle always tends to yap at my dog when we walk past the house

A dog that barks at another dog, who could have seen that one coming?

caringa

love_lifer wrote: »

No, dogs need to run. And they bark and sniff each others bottoms, such is life. Don't have a dog if these things trouble you.

Humans cause more damage than dogs ever could. Live and let live

Totally agree. My daughter and I were walking with our dog off lead along a riverside path the other day when an elderly couple approached us with a huge Ridgeback dog on a lead. Our dog, being very sociable, went up to sniff and say "hello" - their dog reared up and the woman shouted"you'd better get you dog away othewise mine will rip yours to shreads!! We couldnt believe our ears, as this is a very popular path for families and dogs, most of whom are off leads.


We were so flabergasted that we just quickly walked on but on reflection, wish we had said that their dog should have been muzzled if they thought it capable of "ripping" our dog to shreds. Whats more, they were quite elderly and wouldnt have stood a chance controlling their dog had it decided to attack our dog - or a child!

krlyr

caringa wrote: »

Totally agree. My daughter and I were walking with our dog off lead along a riverside path the other day when an elderly couple approached us with a huge Ridgeback dog on a lead. Our dog, being very sociable, went up to sniff and say "hello" - their dog reared up and the woman shouted"you'd better get you dog away othewise mine will rip yours to shreads!! We couldnt believe our ears, as this is a very popular path for families and dogs, most of whom are off leads.


We were so flabergasted that we just quickly walked on but on reflection, wish we had said that their dog should have been muzzled if they thought it capable of "ripping" our dog to shreds. Whats more, they were quite elderly and wouldnt have stood a chance controlling their dog had it decided to attack our dog - or a child!

But what gives your dog the right to approach other people, minding their own business with their dog on-lead? If we all respected each other, i.e. made sure that an off-lead dog is not a nuisance to on-lead dogs, we could quite easily share these open spaces. Perhaps a muzzle would be a wise idea if they know their dog is truly aggressive - but I know many people with fear-reactive dogs who will exaggerate the issue in the kind of situation you explain, because it usually gets a much faster reaction from the loose dog's owner than "my dog is on-lead because it's scared, please call yours back"

Also, it's one of my pet peeves when people pull the "it could be a child next!" card - a dog-aggressive or dog-reactive dog does not automatically become a child-eater. I have a dog-reactive dog who is perfectly gentle with kids, he's given me no reason to worry at all. Cats kill other animals, often for a game, but that doesn't make them savage beasts that will attack all humans too.

neveranymoney

I think it really is individual choice and each dog is different. A guy up the street from me has an Alsatian who is never walked on leash but is extremely well trained and therefore not a bother to anyone. We have recently got a three year old rescue dog who has some very basic training but there is no way I would be comfortable with him off leash. We had been told he was great with other dogs and is extremely excitable when he sees other dogs and any that he actually encountered with us ended in a polite doggy hello and that was that. We still wouldn't have considered off leash at this point but had started to discuss the possibility of it in a large open space as he has no interest in jumping on people and obviously was socialised to some extent as bikes, children etc don't bother him. He had barked quite sharply at a neighbours dog who was a little yorkie but we just thought they didn't take to each other as it didn't happen with other dogs. Fast forward to my husband and kids taking him for a good long stroll and another dog owner had his two dogs off leash whilst he was on his mobile. The larger dog came over, excitement and then nothing and then his tiny pup gambled over to join the fun and our dog went nuts and went for him! My husband intervened and apologised profusely to the guy (who was still on his phone and saying his dog was getting attacked?!) and took our dog away immediately. It was a bit of a shock to say the least, but we learnt that we cannot trust him with smaller dogs than himself and will never know if something happened to him previously or is it his terrier nature to go for a smaller animal. However, that night my husband said to me, whilst he wasn't excusing my laddos behaviour, shouldn't the other dog owner have his dogs on a leash if he obviously wasn't in control of what his dogs were doing? Bloody minefield!

Person_one

caringa wrote: »

Totally agree. My daughter and I were walking with our dog off lead along a riverside path the other day when an elderly couple approached us with a huge Ridgeback dog on a lead. Our dog, being very sociable, went up to sniff and say "hello" - their dog reared up and the woman shouted"you'd better get you dog away othewise mine will rip yours to shreads!! We couldnt believe our ears, as this is a very popular path for families and dogs, most of whom are off leads.


We were so flabergasted that we just quickly walked on but on reflection, wish we had said that their dog should have been muzzled if they thought it capable of "ripping" our dog to shreds. Whats more, they were quite elderly and wouldnt have stood a chance controlling their dog had it decided to attack our dog - or a child!

Accepted dog walking etiquette is that you don't let your dog approach ones that are on leads. If you see a dog on a lead approaching, you should pop yours on until you've gone past. If both dogs are off lead, then its fine to let them say hello.

You were wrong, but now you know for the future.

(I do agree that a dog that aggressive should be wearing a muzzle though, accidents happen.)