Should dogs be kept on a leash in public places?

nblais06

I know where i live they law is that if you are incomplete control of your dog at all time they dont really have to be on a leash. I would prefer dogs to be because i know my dog hates other dogs. So if another dog came up to him in just wanting to play he would probably eat them. That being said it would be the owners fault for not having "control" over their animal

Im in the us fyi

waipepe

If it is the law, then yes, if there are leash free areas then I guess it is up to the owner to decide at that stage.

I have 2 dogs, trained and behaved and they will never go up to a dog on a leash or another person unless invited. Other dogs off leash in the leash free area are ok to go up to. That's just their training.

We have lots of leash free areas including beaches. My dogs get 3 walks a day, 1 hr each. in the morning and mid afternoon to the park which allows leash free and in the afternoon to the beach which is also leash free.

I think for the most part people are the problem not dogs. All dogs can be trained but unfortunately a lot of people cannot train or control their dogs.

My dogs will "WARN" if they are annoyed by another dog and it has happened a few times. I certainly will not punish them when a puppy jumps all over them and they find it annoying or another dog bites them. It's the responsibility of the other owner to control their dogs, mine are under 100% control.

They are kelpies

CollieFit

I have seen red leads that say "DO NOT APPROACH" on them and are highly visible even from a distance. Might be worth investing in as it would give other people the opportunity to leash a dog temporaily in order to pass you safely.

I leash my dog when I see someone coming towards me with a leashed dog. Where I live I trust off-lead ones more than leashed ones, as they are 9 times out of 10 those that are better socialised or trained.

grrrlface

Personally, yes. No matter what you think you're dog is like. It is ALWAYS capable of doing serious damage to another dog or a person.

My dog is unpredictable, he reacts to other dogs because he's had two bad situations as a puppy from unleashed dogs.
One was when I first got him and was taking him for his evening walk and two huge alsations, no owner in sight, cornered both of us. They were sniffing at my dog but he was a pup (jack Russell, so tiny) and he was terrified and these dogs wete half the size of me and I was so scared, I didn't know what they would do.
Second incident, a spaniel off the lead ran straight for my dog, aggresively and stuck its mouth round my dog's throat. Again, owner was round the corner, came round the bend to see me kicking his dog off mine. And somehow it was MY fault! I told him to get it on a lead or I would call the dog warden there and then. (i also don't believe in being violent to animals but I was scared for my pup and I wasn't sticking.g my hands in there..)

That's why my dog stays on a lead.

UK law is that dogs should be on a lead at all times in public areas but people seldom follow it. My dog is on a lead all the time unless in my own garden.

jetlag

My husband and I considered moving to the States. I'm American, he's British. The leash laws is one of the things (healthcare was the other) that put us off the idea. I have to keep my dogs on a lead, whereas there's nothing to protect me from people's unruly children? Don't think so. Sorry but your freedoms are not more important to me than mine or that of my dogs.

Dog parks I've seen in the states are pathetic at best. One I saw in LA was little more than a fenced in dust bowl with no room to run around and nothing to sniff and investigate. it was awful. I utterly fail to understand why public parks (which are HUGE in the states) can't separate dog free areas like they do in the UK, for use by people who are afraid or intolerant of dogs.

I do believe, however, that people who don't clean up after their dogs should get really stiff penalties. But then, I hate it when people spit and litter, too. I also believe that dog training Should be compulsory (and not in the style of that a-hole, the dog whisperer. That man should go to prison for animal abuse).

Owners are e problem, not the dogs. I'm more scared of teenagers in UK parks than I am of any dog.

CollieFit

UK law is that dogs should be on a lead at all times in public areas

That is incorrect.

https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public/overview

It says a dog must not be DANGEROUSLY OUT OF CONTROL in a public space.
Absolutely nowhere does it say it must be on a lead.

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/download/9308/law.pdf

There are TWO places where the UK has "leash laws" and that is anywhere where there is a specific by-law and where there is livestock. that's it.

vonstigator

I think it depends on the temperament of the dog & who's about the area where you take the dog.

I have a 3 year old Staffordshire bull terrier who's always on the lead & if we come to a grassy area with no kids or that she gets off for a run about.

My French Bulldog is only 6 months old & hardly ever on the lead when out walking he just walks beside you, gets put on for crossing roads etc.

LaserMum

UK law differs from US law in that it merely stipulates that dogs must be under control not on a lead. Mine is a collie which heels on command. If she were ever approached by an aggressive dog, her chances of getting away unharmed are better off-lead than on.

Dogs are allowed off lead in public parks. I am not aware of us having any "dog parks" like they exist in the US.
They are not allowed in childrens play areas, which is fine.

My dog is well trained, does not approach other dogs unless allowed, does not approach other people unless allowed, does not jump up at people. Why should I limit her life because a small minority of people can't be bothered to train their dogs?

In my local area most pubs are also dog friendly. I'm glad that I live someone that's not such an adversarial environment.

Very similar situation here. Also in UK. Mine's a working English Springer Spaniel. Well trained. When he hears a bike approaching he sits to the side of the path to allow them to go past! I often have people comment how well trained he is.

If approached by any children, I always try to stop them before they touch him, I keep hold of his collar and teach them how to approach him properly and safely. I make it clear to them that they should never approach a dog unless it is restrained and they have the permission of the owner. I let them know that not all dogs like to be touched and stroked and that some can be upset at this. I think that educating the children is important - they might remember it next time they see a dog.

sunflower505

Totally agree with most people here that they definitely should be kept on leads. Even when a family pet is very friendly with its own family, something can always happen that triggers something in them.

My youngest sister was attacked by a dog that belonged to one of her best friends. She has seen the dog before and absolutely loves animals! She went over to the house one day and went to give the dog a hug (he was a labrador type dog) and next thing he just snapped and went for her. He ended up biting the top piece of skin off her ear. She had to have cosmetic surgery to correct it. She was only about 10 at the time. The dog was not put down as my mother knew the family and they knew it was out of character for their dog. But it just shows you that it can happen.

pinkraynedropjacki

Not where I live, dogs have off leash areas here, the beach included. I think it's great.

teamAmelia

Of course they should. Someone even said that if her dog is not on a leash, it has a better chance of walking away unharmed if approached by an aggressive dog. Well, if the aggressive dog was on a leash and being controlled by its owner, that wouldn't happen. No one thinks that their dog is aggressive. Take the person who told the story about her sister being attacked by a 'friendly' dog that she had played with before. I know that people love their dogs, but it's a bit annoying that they want to risk others' lives so that their dogs can walk around without a leash for a few minutes.

CollieFit

Of course they should. Someone even said that if her dog is not on a leash, it has a better chance of walking away unharmed if approached by an aggressive dog. Well, if the aggressive dog was on a leash and being controlled by its owner, that wouldn't happen. No one thinks that their dog is aggressive. Take the person who told the story about her sister being attacked by a 'friendly' dog that she had played with before. I know that people love their dogs, but it's a bit annoying that they want to risk others' lives so that their dogs can walk around without a leash for a few minutes.

My dog was attacked by an off-lead Alsation without provocation. Had she been on a lead herself she would have been dead and I would have been mauled.

Someone here also gave an example of a 10-year old being bitten in the dog owners house when s/he "hugged" the dog. A full on embrace might not be a clever plan? Why don't people learn a little about canine body language and teach their kids?

kaned_ferret

I guess I live in a very different neck of the woods.. around here, we have many acceptable off lead areas for dogs, fields, woods, beaches, parkland, and it's the norm for them to be off lead on these walks. I encounter very few people that aren't accepting of dogs in these areas, it's a very dog-orientated community. I think generally, when people go to places round here that allow dogs off lead, they expect to encounter dogs off lead so aren't offended by it.

If in a town, or by a road, sure dogs should be on lead for their own safety. And if the dog has any sort of issue with recall, or unpredictability with other dogs or people, then yes it should be kept on a long line for safety and responsible ownership.

I couldn't imagine not giving my dogs the freedom to well, be dogs!

strongmindstrongbody

My husband and I considered moving to the States. I'm American, he's British. The leash laws is one of the things (healthcare was the other) that put us off the idea. I have to keep my dogs on a lead, whereas there's nothing to protect me from people's unruly children? Don't think so. Sorry but your freedoms are not more important to me than mine or that of my dogs.

When's the last time you got bit by someone else's child? Much more likely to get bit by a dog, I think.

elyelyse

When a dog comes bounding towards me off lead, it doesn't matter how kind, docile, harrmless, etc YOU think your dog is. Those moments while the dog is running towards me are HORRIFYING. and I can't do a thing about it.

What if a stranger came running at you, put his face in your crotch and started sniffing you? Is that acceptable behavior that you should calmly ask to stop and hope they do? No. So why is that ok from a dog? (it's not)

When I am walking with my music playing in my headphones, and your dog runs up from behind and I don't notice until they are already jumping on me and I get startled and scared, is that fair?

When I have to say to a dog owner with a pet off lead "I'd prefer not to be approached by your dog" is it right that I'm usually ignored, and when I'm not ignored I'm given attitude, sometimes even scolded or yelled at for being a dog hater.

This is my personal space for goodness sakes. Keep your damn dogs out of it. Unless your dog is trained to completely ignore people and never leave your side, you are being inconsiderate by having it off leash. And even then, the best trained dogs, I still have those moments of fear as you walk past because I DON'T KNOW YOUR DOG and therefore I experience fear that entire time, until you have walked far past me.

And for the record, I love dogs. When I visit with my sister her black lab sleeps at my feet, and when I visit my mom I take her little maltipoo for walks. But I know those dogs and it's my choice. Dog owners who think everyone should love and accept their dog even when they are violating other peoples rights deserve a nice sloppy lick kiss on the cheek from a smelly, hairy stranger. (not the canine kind)

elyelyse

I utterly fail to understand why public parks (which are HUGE in the states) can't separate dog free areas like they do in the UK, for use by people who are afraid or intolerant of dogs.

Wait, so... I should be the one restricted to only certain areas of a park in order to avoid dogs off leashes who will almost surely appraoch me against my wishes? HAHAHAHAHA. Sorry, but that's just selfish of you.

Also, you may not realize this, in many US large parks, dogs are required to be on leash for the safety of the local flora and fauna, it doesn't even have anything to do with people...we just don't want your dog crapping in the woods where domesic-dog crap doesnt belong, and we dont want them scaring away or interacting with the wildlife. Plus, parks don't want to deal with pet owners complaining that a skunk or porcupine attacked your precious dog that you refused to control.

I apologize for generalizing, lots of people have some control of their dogs off leash but the overwhelming majority do not.

fannyfrost

I think it is OK for a well trained dog to be off a leash in a park, at the beach or any other area where the dog will be safe. One of the biggest problems actually is not dogs off the leash hurting people, but running into a street and being hit by a car. Or a case I recently hear of these people don't keep their dogs on leashes and they attacked a small dog almost killing him.

Animals on leashes are not just to protect the people, but they also protect the animal.

fishgutzy

I've never lived anywhere that it wasn't the law.
Cracks me up when people ignore the signs right in front of them and say "but he's a good dog." The sign doesn't say "misbehaving dogs must be leashed at all times." It say ALL dogs must be leashed.
Even good dogs can have bad days.
Our dogs are always leashed when we are outside.
Not one of those 25' long no control things. We use adjustable leashes that can be adjusted from 3 to about 5' and a 2 to 1 leash that is 6' to make it easier for one to walk both.

withabandon

I know where i live they law is that if you are incomplete control of your dog at all time they dont really have to be on a leash. I would prefer dogs to be because i know my dog hates other dogs. So if another dog came up to him in just wanting to play he would probably eat them. That being said it would be the owners fault for not having "control" over their animal

Im in the us fyi

FYI, you are never "in complete control" of an animal and anyone who thinks you can be doesn't know much about an animal. They may be perfectly trained and well behaved 99.9% of the time... it is the 00.1% of the time that can cost your dog his life. You don't have control over outside stimuli.

twinketta

There is a lady that walks her dog on a leash and always comes over to say hello to me and my dog. I shorten my dogs leash and make him sit by my feet.

The lady has a border collie cross, the lady is really nice but her dog has an extendable leash also and she continually keeps letting it go and her dog jumps up at me which I find really annoying as when it is raining or she has just come from the beach my clothes get muddied.

I have asked her not to let it jump up at me and her answer is that `Sultan is just being friendly` So now if I see her with Sultan I just hang back and pretend to be on my phone or walk in another direction.