[compostqueen]

My JRT used to be able to knock me flat by jumping at me from behind and hitting me a shoulder height. Never heard him coming or anything. Little sod! 

I was once upended by a charging GSD while out on a walk. I flipped like a top    I was fine but it's not what you want, I could have been a child or elderly person. The owner was mortified

Dogs ey 

[Growster...]

Rule one, always keep your dog on a lead.

Rule two, never let it off a lead.

[compostqueen]

Many dogs can walk off a lead and be good. Not many though I suspect 

[Tenhens]

Re Rules:

How do you let it have a run?

[Lulu]

Tenhens - Re rules - I'm with you - my collie and springer (who is only 3) need to run and sniff etc, they would never get the exercise they need if I didn't let them off the lead.  It would be a very very very long walk otherwise.  I like peaceful evenings which what I get if my boys have had their run.  ( they are currently snoring their heads off next to me  :happy:)

[tosca100]

Ditto! Ours would be lunatics withot a run!

[elrohana]

I have a BC/GSD cross, a big lad who came from  rescue kennels and can take a dislike to other dogs if they bark at him.  He's got a damn good memory as well, never forgets who's barked at him in the past.  So if I walk him somewhere quiet, I let him off lead but call him straight back at first sight of any other dogs, and if they come towards us I draw him away.  I get quite cross when other owners leave their dogs free to bounce up to mine, despite watching me put him on a lead and walk away, then get all huffy when he barks and lunges - I've even had people telling me he should be muzzled.  Excuse me, but I'M the one whose dog is on a lead and under control, legally if the dogs fight, it will be your responsibility, not mine!!!  If I am walking him somewhere busy (or near a road, as he's scared of cars and has a fear-aggression response to them) I have him on a 30ft training line, and can reel him in if anyone comes close (being half BC he also tends to chase runners and cyclists!).  It's not other people's dogs I worry about, it's mine.

Piegonpie, mine was traumatised by his kennelmate at the rescue, so I totally know how you feel about your poor girl

[Tenhens]

I'm looking forward to the day that I meet another walker and am able to have a 'natter' about our four legged friends while they charge around like a couple of mad things and both come back wagging their tales like mad!

I'm sure it will happen.

[Mazzie]

Speaking from a proffesional view (im a walker and a trainer) generally it isnt a bad thing if people are responcible enough to put their dogs on a lead, sorry. 

I have 6, three are always onlead due to behavioural issues and my Lurcher hates certain breeds after an incident with one when he was a baby so he always goes onlead if we see those breeds. 

Put it this way would you prefer your dog as less able to play or at the vets after a fight.  I do know its frustrating as 4 of mine just want to play but its best with strange dogs to be careful as you never know their reaction

[tosca100]

I'm looking forward to the day that I meet another walker and am able to have a 'natter' about our four legged friends while they charge around like a couple of mad things and both come back wagging their tales like mad!

I'm sure it will happen.

Do you not know anyone with a dog who could go out with you for a run and play?

Our cross is nervy of boistrous big dogs, even though she lives with a lab, and is inclined to run...and get chased...which frightens her, so she goes on a lead if we don't know the dog in case she runs into trouble. But will play quite happily with dogs she knows, as this weekend when we went to visit my sister and two large labs. As you say it's lovely to see the four of them charging around like lunatics, but you must respect strangers who may have a good reason to not want their dogs interracting with strangers. We are careful to re-introduce them all before letting play begin.

[lancashiregardeninggal]

I was interested to read all the comments posted here.  I have a border collie cross who I let off the lead daily - when I first adopted her (she was a rescue dog) and let her off the lead she would run at any dog and I thought she was being aggressive but I have come to realise that she growls in play ie when I play with her at home but is as soft as anything and so I started to take a ball with me and now she just ignores other dogs and concentrates on her ball - she isn't very social and doesn't feel the need to sniff or play with other dogs although there is a male boxer she likes - it seems its female dogs she isn't keen on.  I guess it was cofidence with me as she was my first dog.  I have to keep her on the lead walking down the street however as she herds anything that moves!!

[Spego]

Too many dogs leads their owners nowadays - it's going the same way with a lot of kids, not enough time spent nurturing!
I think the majority of dogs on leads are restrained for being too defensive or  too playful and hard to catch rather than being aggressive  and I believe it makes the situation worse for them.  I socialise my pups, instill loyalty and obedience then train them to ignore all dogs and people unless I say it's ok.  They go out 4 times a day and never have a lead on, they pass everyone quietly and when we are playing and a dog approaches us I tell them to lie down, the playful ones get bored in seconds and return to their owners and the dominant ones get defused when there is no reaction.  They have never been attacked with this method and I've used it for twenty years.

I take offence at people shouting from a distance telling me to put my dogs on a lead.  They are insecure about their dogs and I know mine won't even glance at theirs so why should I be ordered around when it's them with the problem.  I understand they don't know how mine will react but all this panicking feeds their dogs insecurities.

[Tenhens]

Tosca100,

Not as yet, as mentioned earlier - house move - and a change of working conditions office hours and no free time during the day which I had before. Not much time outside family to get out and meet other canine people. Still looking for good dog walking places where the serious walkers go , I am sure that I will find what I am looking for.

Where I lived before most of the people I would see were women and they were always chatty,the dogs ranged from a corgi to a great dane type and one that was like a polar bear! Happy times!

[compostqueen]

there is plenty of dog walking territory in N Derbys and loads of doggy folks to chat to. You have to get out there though or you won't meet any

 

[Dominic]

It is actualy illegal for your dog not to be under control, and that means on a lead of about 10ft in length, might even be 8ft.

Your Dog, might, be perfectly well trained, but the dog it runs over to could be a nervous killing machine.

I have two chiauhahs and they really dont like new dogs, especialy bigger ones, especialy bigger active ones.

It hasnt happened, but my Dogs *might* defend themselves if your (legaly) out of control dog runs over.  If your (legaly) out of control then attacks my dogs, I'm going to defend them....