[Dominic]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1285625/Dog-owners-walk-pets-leads-longer-68-face-1-000-fines.html

6' 8" in my local authority, in public parks

Everywhere else, your dog cannot be "dangerously out of control".
If your dog isnt on a lead, I dont see how you can argue in court you could control it.

[Tenhens]

I think the comments at the bottom of the report sum it up.

[Mazzie]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1285625/Dog-owners-walk-pets-leads-longer-68-face-1-000-fines.html

6' 8" in my local authority, in public parks

Everywhere else, your dog cannot be "dangerously out of control".
If your dog isnt on a lead, I dont see how you can argue in court you could control it.

That is a different law goverened by the local authority so if may be not legal in YOUR park however that does not make it illegal.  Dangerously out of control means the dog must respond to the owner its as with anything the risk is YOURS an owner to take.  And if a dog was a killing machine then legally the owner should have it muzzled. 

The law is very grey in this area and its about time Deed NOT Breed came into action

And lets not forget that there has recently been amendments to animal care laws, pets must be free to behave naturally (that doesnt mean attacking others) so therefore if i DIDNT let my lurcher or my sprollie or my PRT offlead to run as they are bred to do i consider that i would be breaking the law.  Where as a Chi needs exercise the above dogs need lots and lots of free running.  Its give and take something we dont seem to have much of now a days.  Dogs are expected to fit in with our quickly changing lifestyles and laws 

[Dominic]

That is a different law goverened by the local authority so if may be not legal in YOUR park however that does not make it illegal.

True, but what at what point a judge deems you unable to control your dog, may be influenced by such local laws.

And if a dog was a killing machine then legally the owner should have it muzzled. 

Again, true, but you "should" be able to leave your doors unlocked and valuables on display.
We all have our own risk tolerances and indeed risk factors, I do of a dog (grey hound type thing) that went for a run, and when its owner caught up, it was missing the skin and fur off a hind leg, so badly had some other dogs attacked it.

If two dogs on leads meet, theres not a lot that can go wrong.
If only one, or neither, is on a lead, the situation could quite quickly get dagnerously out of control.

[elrohana]

If people paid attention to their animals when walking them, instead of yapping on their mobile phones, life would be a lot simpler.  I've been out with mine, on a short lead, when another dog walker has come onto the field with theirs off lead, paying no attention to it, I've set off in the opposite direction and the other dog has followed me....legally, my dog is under control, but if the other dog gets too close and loses a chunk of skin, you can bet your butt the other owner will blame me, even though its patently their fault for allowing their animal to harass mine.  Its almost always small dogs that are treated like this, and they rarely seem to have had any training (don't come when called, for example).  My boy may not like other dogs, but he comes when called off lead and has even come back from chasing rabbits and squirrels.  I've also called mine in on his long line when another dog approaches, and the stupid owner has watched me and STILL let their dog run up to mine.

[Mazzie]

That is a different law goverened by the local authority so if may be not legal in YOUR park however that does not make it illegal.

True, but what at what point a judge deems you unable to control your dog, may be influenced by such local laws.

And if a dog was a killing machine then legally the owner should have it muzzled. 

Again, true, but you "should" be able to leave your doors unlocked and valuables on display.
We all have our own risk tolerances and indeed risk factors, I do of a dog (grey hound type thing) that went for a run, and when its owner caught up, it was missing the skin and fur off a hind leg, so badly had some other dogs attacked it.

If two dogs on leads meet, theres not a lot that can go wrong.
If only one, or neither, is on a lead, the situation could quite quickly get dagnerously out of control.

Hounds can cut themselves on air, so unless you know it was a dog attack im afraid i dont see the relevance.  Believe me i own a Lurcher so i know how delicate they are, as does my bank balance!

But the difference is a dog is a living breathing creature with needs of its own not a tv or a laptop. 

Actually and im speaking as a proffesional (and qualified) trainer here leads are helping to cause a hell of a lot of fear aggression.  Meeting with a lead on isnt natural for a dog, they cant express themselves properly, they cant escape and often they are the reason a dog may become frustrated and a frustrated dog needs to vent.  There are three options any creature (including us humans) have FIGHT, FLIGHT or FREEZE.  If theres a lead attached then the options are down to two and thinking of most dogs only the really petrified will freeze up leaving only a FIGHT.

Dogs need to run, its in their genetics.  Its up to us to socialise them to live with other dogs and learn to control them if they cant but it shouldnt ruin it for the rest of the dog owning public.  Like i said earlier i have 6 dogs, 3 cant be let off lead and it winds me up something rotten when other dogs run up to them BUT i also own 3 who would go insane if they didnt run offlead so i really can see if from both sides. 

[maxyboo]

I am not a dog owner and when I was younger would have been terrified to have dogs running up to me. Certain dogs still scare me. Most of you seem to be thinking about dogs attacking other dogs but how are they with people? It must be difficult if young children run up to your dogs wanting to play. I think I would find taking a dog for a simple walk to be quite stressful! 
I just don't think you can ever trust a dog (or any animal), 100 per cent. Someone I know was out for a walk with her husband and the last thing she remembered was seeing a staffy charging towards her and the sounds it made as it chewed on her throat. Luckily she passed out and they prised the dog off her. This dog was perfectly well behaved prior to this according to the owner.
It sounds like most of you are just trying to do your best to strike a balance between exercising your dog and being considerate to others. Unfortunately there are many others who are irresponsible.
I think I'll stick to cats!

[Dominic]

Mazzie
It wasnt "cut", it was actualy missing the fur and skin from a leg, a whole leg, the vet bill was £1600.
The bite marks were a bit of a give away too.

BUT i also own 3 who would go insane if they didnt run offlead so i really can see if from both sides.

Fair enough, but I see no reason not to bring my dogs under control when they meet a stranger, and think complaining that someone would do so is questionable at best.

I'm more than happy for dogs to be off their lead and free to charge about like maniacs, when safe to do so.