Dogs to be kept on lead.

None of my dogs has ever shown any desire to play with other dogs. I’m sure this ‘dogs need friends’ thing is quite new. My last whippet had a couple of dogs that we walked her with sometimes and she used to wag her tail when she saw them but that was about it. There’s no way that I’m going to take my latest dog to a doggy play park to play with dogs I don’t know. My dogs have been attacked too many times over the years for me to feel comfortable with that. Whippets have very thin skin and the slightest nip can result in a nasty cut and a trip to the vets.

Golly whats wrong with Graeme? He seems very kind and talented to me.

I like his program too. He does seems to be very successful.

But Robert Alleyne seems a good choice for more 'energetic' hard to train dogs.
He also has sensible opinions on licensing, training for the trainers, and puppy farms.

My husband thinks Victoria Stillwell is best but not sure it's for her dog training ability

Kate1949
Good point.

Recently a large dog off its lead ran at me on the single track road I live on. I’m 78-year-old recovering from a replacement knee operation; all I had to defend myself was an empty shopping bag, which I held in front of my knee. The dog’s owner, a respectable looking young man bellowed at me, “Don’t touch it.” Would he speak to his aged mother or grandmother in such tones? We are besieged by dogs off their leads who run up our garden paths urinating and defecating whilst their owners look on, undeterred. If a child behaved like that they would be censorious, but dogs take precedence over humans in these times. I hope the homes of these irresponsible dog owners pong of stinking doggy do doos… after all, do they wipe their bottoms before they let them sit on their carpets?

With all the dognapping going on, I'm surprised anyone lets their dogs off lead.

I'm reading so many posts where people are saying that dogs should NEVER be allowed of their leads on this thread, can the same rule be applied to rude, unruly, obnoxious, vile children (and some adults)?
If not, why not? When I'm in a park with my dog (off-lead off course) I come across far more of these badly behave humans than I do badly behaved dogs!

Harmonypuss

I'm reading so many posts where people are saying that dogs should NEVER be allowed of their leads on this thread, can the same rule be applied to rude, unruly, obnoxious, vile children (and some adults)?
If not, why not? When I'm in a park with my dog (off-lead off course) I come across far more of these badly behave humans than I do badly behaved dogs!

Absolutely, harmonypuss, I think a dog off lead is the least of our worries!!

I am not a dog owner , but love them- DH not keen. I think dogs should be on a lead in parks and all public places. If your dog can not wear a collar then buy a harness!!! Many people are afraid of dogs , the elderly and frail are afraid of a dog knocking them over! Dogs are capable if behaving out of character if they feel threatened . Most dog owners are very responsible but a minority forget they are dogs!!!

grannygranby

Good grief I had no idea and am so saddened there are so many dog phobics on here. I take my dogs to parks and woods twice a day where they romp off lead and have so much fun. They charm other people all the time going up to be stroked. Many a lone person has been charmed by their friendly attention. But then I love dogs who have been our companions for at least ten thousand years but never till now expected to be our leashed slaves. I think it’s appalling how they are treated. They deserve far more respect being the lifeline and comfort to millions. I certainly wouldn’t be the happy person I am today without them after many tragic human losses. I think dogs should have the right if at least an hour off lead in the open today. They have no freedom are totally under our control and so easily abused it’s heartbreaking, all I see on here is intolerance.

Have you actually read the posts, grannygranby? and seen just WHY each person is "dog-phobic" ? Each post is a true story of what has happened to someone and could happen to someone else even including at the paws of your beloved pets Dogs are descended from wolves, who live as a pack and defend one another if they are attacked. If your peaceful pet mistakenly thought that you were being attacked by another human, they could spring to defend you in a second.

And not every dog is as well-trained and well-adjusted as yours are. Some are very quick to respond to an imagined threat. Some think that all humans want to join them in a wrestling match in the mud, even old ladies with zimmer frames or tiny children who are bowled over at the first lunge. Some are even encouraged by their psychotic owners to show aggression.

That is why there are areas with notices that leads must be worn. In other areas it is the law that dogs should be "under control", and a dog which is allowed to jump up at a stranger, put their paws on their shoulders and bark in their face, or attack another innoffensive pooch or chase sheep is NOT under control. Genuine dog-lovers know this and are the ones in control - on a lead when that is appropriate.

Now don't get me wrong, I am a responsible dog owner and love 4 legged friends, but walking through the park just now I had a scary incident. A large muscular dog off lead came past our goldie who was on a lead and growled, so my DH walked past as quickly as he could into the distance. Then the horrid beast lunged at me, paws on my chest and face to face. I stumbled to get away, caught my foot on the side of the bridge and fell flat. Two bruised knees and one cut palm.
Ohwell, at least I didn't fall in the river or get bitten, but it shook me up.
Keep dogs on leads in parks.