People who walk their dogs off-lead by roads – why do you do it?
Posted by ccascarrabiass@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 169 comments
This always baffles me. Even if your dog has the best recall in the world, is trained to stop at the kerb, is ancient and arthritic and hobbles along at a snail’s pace, what makes you think that your dog is immune to getting spooked by something unexpected and darting out into traffic? The same goes for people who use extendable leads but don’t have them locked in place. So many people in my area walk their dogs on the pavement with the lead length flexible – again, if something unexpected happens and startles your dog, there’s nothing stopping it from going straight into the road. Last year a dog in my city was killed in this exact situation. I know everyone loves their dog, so is it just a case of not thinking about it? Thinking it won’t happen to you?
Mysterious-Sock39@reddit
Pisses me right off I have my dog on the lead walking in the woods or park and here comes a lady in wellies with two dogs off the lead as they going full pelt to say hi to my little dog "oh they fine they don't bite just being friendly" oh fuck off out your dog on a lead you lazy cow.
hellhound28@reddit
My first ever dog jumped the fence and was hit by a car and killed almost immediately. Even now, years and years later, that sticks in my head, and heart. I don't let my dog off lead, particularly because he's a scent hound, unless I know that he can't get to a road.
I've seen people walk their dogs off lead in the middle of London, and it makes me nervous as hell.
Legitimate_Finger_69@reddit
Because their dogs are obedient? Ours if you tell her to heel will stick within a few centimetres of your leg no matter what until they're told they can walk normally again. She will even check for permission to interact if another dog comes up.
Every dog is different, telling other owners what they should or shouldn't do based on hypotheticals is pointless.
ccascarrabiass@reddit (OP)
I said in the post that it's not really about obedience when it comes to unpredictable conditions, like the person up thread who mentioned fireworks spooking their dog. Just because your dog has not been spooked up until this point how can you have 100% confidence that something unexpected wouldn't do it one day?
hackmagic_ni@reddit
How can you have 100% confidence in anything? You might get beat up/mugged/killed walking down the street tomorrow. Or just stop worrying about complete unknowns (i.e. the behaviour of all dogs in the world)
ccascarrabiass@reddit (OP)
Or...just take reasonable precautions which cost you nothing? Let your dog loose in the park, not the side of the road?
hackmagic_ni@reddit
Never leaving the house is a reasonable precaution against getting knocked down by a car, or beat up? Do you do it? No. The reason for this is because you assess the risk and make the decision that, even though you have no control over the actions of others, the likelihood is low enough and the benefits of going outside high enough.
What you're doing here, and the theme of this entire post, is not accepting the risk assessment of other dog owners, to which you are not privy to the details of.
This has resulted in you projecting your inevitable anxiety about dogs getting knocked down onto every dog owner, whether valid or not.
Shall I beg of you to protect yourself from the dangers of the outside world, from those nasty rapists and murderers that will get you? No. You do you. I decided what was good for my dog, and it lived a much happier life not straining itself against the lead, and we had a much better relationship for it
hackmagic_ni@reddit
You are 100% correct. This thread seems full of dog owners that have uncontrollable breeds, or can't or haven't trained their dog. There are also responsible owners that recognise the training and intelligence limits of their dogs and make the correct decision to keep them on a lead. There are also those that are scared of dogs or have had bad experiences with them and thus are simply biased.
Alarming-Recipe7724@reddit
...ego is the answer.
1995LexusLS400@reddit
"It's okay, he doesn't bite"
Fuck off, mine does, that's why my dog is on a short lead and why I cross the road if I see another dog or a cat. Your dog clearly doesn't have any self preservation instincts.
H16HP01N7@reddit
"It's ok, he doesn't bite"
Right, well I'm terrified of strange dogs, after being savaged by 2 when I was real young. How about you don't let your thing jump up at me, and I'll keep my fight or flight in check, and won't defend myself.
StepfaultWife@reddit
I have this problem too. Mine is fear reactive and is very frightened of other dogs.
He is always on a strong lead in parks. He’s isn’t an aggressive breed either, he is just very worried and scared. I walk at first light to give us a chance of having a calm walk.
There are so many people who allow their unleashed dog to approach my leashed one. I shout “please call your dog away, mine is very nervous”, and they answer with “oh my dog is friendly!!”
So I have to shout back “But mine isn’t”
Unbelievably, it’s not uncommon for them to argue with me that I ‘really don’t need to worry because their dog is so friendly’
It’s so tiring. Then they have the audacity to be annoyed if my dog lunges and snarls at theirs.
NobleNun@reddit
Ahh God. I have exactly this with one of my dogs. He's on a neon yellow lead with Not Dog Friendly written all over it, but no. They can't get past their own dog's friendliness. I've no idea how friendly their dog is going to be with my dog hanging off it's nut sack, and I really don't want to find out.
I usually tell people that my dog might bite their dog, and then I get the response of 'well, it'll serve him / her right'. No, Janet, it is not the responsibility of my little dog to teach your big dog to read the fucking room.
DivineExodus@reddit
Was walking my beagle through the town centre last week, which is daunting enough for him and this woman comes walking up, I know beagle is gonna react because that's how he is... anyway I put him on as short a lead length as I can and push us both against a wall, trying to let her pass.
Stupid cow does no more than let her dog get in my dogs face, saying how friendly he is, I tried to tell her mine reacts, is unpredictable (although he has never bitten, he darts) and she just chuckles? She can see how stressed hes getting and she just stands with her dog bothering mine and laughs.
Its exhausting isn't it? Takes nothing to be a considerate owner.
abracablab@reddit
Both me and my husband have had dogs literally jumping up all over us trying to take a snap at our dog that we've had to lift off the ground and above our hands to protect THEIR dumb dog because ours is snappy at other dogs.
All the while shouting 'it 's ok she won't hurt the wee fella'. Just please fuck off. I'm worried that my stupid little terrier is going to start something he can't finish with your massive dog that has zero recall skills.
Lemon-Flower-744@reddit
What is wrong with people like this!? I even see memes on social media about how annoying it is when people shout 'My DoGs FrIeNdLy.' How have people not realised this is not an acceptable way to be a dog owner?
My parent's dog is a rescue. Battersea told us she was used as a bait dog so she was reactive, even after explaining this to owners when she would lunge or bark at other dogs, they would be so offended by it or laugh. And when you think you've made progress, someone comes along with their FrIeNdLy dog and messes it up again.
Recently, my parent's dog was severely attacked by another dog who was tied up by a piece of shitty rope. So she is literally petrified of other dogs now. She will hide, try to run away etc. it's gotten a little better with positive training but even shouting at other owners 'please recall. My dog was attacked recently.' They still get SO huffy about it.
Every now again go out for a walk by myself for some fresh air. I've realised how many dog owners allow their dogs to approach me. And I'm always like hang on, how do they know I'm not frightened of other dogs? What because I'm walking round a park where dogs can exercise, it's one of those well if you didn't like dogs you shouldn't be walking round a park scenario? It is wild. It's totally put me off having another dog that's for sure.
discombobulatededed@reddit
I’m in the exact same boat. My German shepherd was raised with other dogs and is super friendly but she was attacked on a walk last year and is now crazy alert and lunges when near other dogs, no growling or anything so I believe it’s fear. I no longer walk her off leash just in case but I get so nervous about off leash dogs running up to her. Actually happened in my street, someone had their dog off lead and it came running towards her, I put her behind me and blocked the other dog with my leg while shouting at the owner. Why the hell would you be walking your dog in the street off lead?! So frustrating.
StopTheTrickle@reddit
I once fostered a husky cross mal who was fear reactive, she was 65kilo of dog, so I know the pains of dealing with fear reaction well
There's one way I know of to train it out, and it's seen by everyone around you as abusive. But calmly pinning your dog down/against a wall religiously, every time it reacts, will eventually train out the behaviour.
I fostered that husky for a year, 365 days of jumping on a wolf and holding her down by her throat every time she went kill mode eventually "fixed her" she started lying down when she saw a dog.
You have to remain calm when you're pinning the dog down, you have to show there's no fear, there's no anger, just this behaviour isn't okay and you will stop right now or I will absolutely make it impossible for you to defend yourself and you will see that dog doesn't want to hurt you at all.
bucketofardvarks@reddit
....imagine if someone said "oh my children stopped yelling/hitting/misbehaving because every time I did I calmly walked up to them and pinned them to the ground".
Just because what you did worked and wasn't physically abusive doesn't make it ok.
pennoon@reddit
I’m still not used to not-screaming at oblivious strangers with dogs not on leads, after 16years of a fluffy Tasmanian devil on a string. I don’t understand how people thought that was going to end well? (He got attacked by strays, twice, he was ready to fight after that)
And now there’s a new small family dog, sweet as a button and not a thought in his brain just skipping past everyone, and I’m the angry thing on the string 😅
Vehlin@reddit
I had a 30kg Staffie with the recall of a stick. He was never allowed off lead outside of a rented private paddock. He got attacked while on lead by 3 Westies one would go in front and two would go for his back legs. I shouted at the owner to get his dogs away got ignored. He got really upset when I booted one of them tho.
ImStealingTheTowels@reddit
I have exactly the same problem with my dog. He's not an aggressive breed, just a very nervous and reactive rescue.
He used to be fine with all dogs but, after an unprovoked attack a few years ago, he's now petrified of dogs that are bigger than him and/or get up in his face. He actively avoids other dogs, but he's on a lead the vast majority of the time regardless, unless we're in an open space and can clearly see we're on our own (which is rarely). He also has excellent recall, so if I see that another dog has joined us in a space he will happily come to me when I call.
On a few occasions I've had to literally shout at people to call their dogs back when they've bounded up to mine and won't respect his space - usually because the fucking idiots are miles away and not paying attention. Most of the time those dogs will ignore their owners and I'm left trying to wrangle my dog who is trying to escape and/or snapping. "But he's friendly" doesn't matter a jot when your dog has poor recall, they're all over my dog and are ignoring all the signs my dog is giving off that he's NOT happy. A few weeks ago my husband told a woman with a very large and hyperactive dog that had literally jumped on our dog that she needed to put it on a lead. "I can't do that, he's too strong" was her answer. Fucking unbelievable.
SnoopyLupus@reddit
Yeah. I had one jump up at me recently, and I could see that he was being friendly, but he was clearly a bit mouthy too. Fine for me. I can interact with the guy and avoid his mouth.
But (a) my mate passed me in a car (we were heading for the same friend’s house) and didn’t stop because he didn’t want to tangle with a dog, and (b) what if I’d been someone scared of dogs, or a kid?
Doesn’t bother me, but fucking control your dog better.
melanie110@reddit
I am petrified of unleashed dogs. I have a fear of dogs normally but when I’m out walking and dogs just run and lunge at me, and they’re shouting he’s fine he’s friendly. I freeze at the spot and the dogs do not answer to recalls.
Absolutely terrifies me.
Nook-Incs-Pet@reddit
Same. My reactive rescue is terrified of other dogs and more so with off leash dogs. She will completely freeze and either lie down in shutdown or lunge and bark if they get too close.
She’s muzzled and has 2 leads which I always keep short plus a bright florescent lead sleeve which says she’s reactive. I know that if a ‘friendly’ off lead unrecallable dog comes up to her and she has a fear reaction and bites, she will end up being put down and I will end up being prosecuted.
We see a behaviourist who has said she likely has PTSD. I’m trying to make her life as enriched as possible but bloody off lead uncontrollable dogs make every single walk hell.
However, hats off to the owners who see us and immediately put their dogs on leads 🫡
reginalduk@reddit
I don't know about this. If your dog is on a lead and being bothered by an off lead dog, I don't see how it is your responsibility for an incident that occurs.
The thing with off lead dog walkers is that they either don't have insurance, quite common, or they don't understand that their insurance will probably argue that they weren't in control of their dog if it gets in a situation with a dog that is on a lead.
Brain_slop@reddit
Also, your dog might be nice, but I'm not. I don't want dogs near me and I might lash out.
WaltzFirm6336@reddit
Haha, I’ve said exactly this before! I have an on lead dog, small yappy insane dog runs up to us off lead
owner; “Don’t worry, he’s friendly!”
Me: “Do worry, I’m not friendly. If he gets within kicking distance of us, I will to protect my dog. Call him back now.”
The other owner looked at me like I was a monster. God it winds me up so much.
Gods_Haemorrhoid420@reddit
Drives me insane! Makes my dog look like the dangerous one because he doesn’t like hyper dogs all up in his space.
Martysghost@reddit
My dog has arthritis if a dog runs up to him and is hyper around him it can hurt him just cause he has to react quicker than he's used to
Exactly32Penguins@reddit
My dog is nervous. We're working on it but it's taking time. He has a high vis vest on that says 'nervous', he has a thing on his lead saying it, and he's kept close on a lead when we're walking. The amount of owners that let their dogs run up to him, pounce on him, and refuse to call them back because "oh our dog won't hurt him!" Is ridiculous. YOUR dog may not hurt him but if my dog is scared enough he may just hurt them.
Zanki@reddit
I had that happen to me with a foster dog and yelled at them, "but mine does." As I hoisted the dog that bit me through the hand into my arms, luckily she was only 18 kg so I could lift her with one arm with ease. She was getting better with other dogs but this was not a controlled situation like in the park with her muzzled. This was late at night on the pavement. Luckily it was all ok. She was calm and the other dogs were called back to their human. I was not happy though.
Purple_ash8@reddit
Ugh. Imagine being a dog (Brian Griffin aside).
Ok_Elderberry_5690@reddit
It's a risk but a risk people will usually only take if they trust the dog. No normal person will let the dog off the lead if they thought it would run off. The dog will also understand the situation and from my experience you have a better relationship with the animal.
In other countries there's plenty of dogs walking along side busy roads. Quite happily and for years on end. Just because some dogs run out into traffic doesn't mean they all do.
ccascarrabiass@reddit (OP)
But isn't the whole thing about being spooked that it provokes a non-normal reaction? I'm not talking about a distractable dog who will run towards a distraction, but something that scares the dog. So it's irrelevant how much you trust your dog or how well behaved they are. You can't predict an unpredictable external event so you can't predict your dog's unpredictable reaction.
hackmagic_ni@reddit
Any animal with a fear response can be spooked into danger, including humans
Ok_Elderberry_5690@reddit
Yeah, sure, like fireworks. Just don't take your dog out on fireworks night or if it's the sort of dog to jump at anything unfamiliar then don't let it off the lead where that can happen.
Cats get to roam about and they are always being hit by cars.
bobaboo42@reddit
Because she's a sheep herding breed and religiously walks to heel, knows the command to cross roads, and has zero interest in other dogs in her 12 years.
hackmagic_ni@reddit
I did it specifically as I wanted our 8 year old collie to finally enjoy the freedom. It took several weeks of obedience training away from the road and a couple of weeks at the roadside associating cars with crossing and not cars with crossing. Only once, after a very short time, off the lead did she mistakenly cross in front of a car, which was thankfully far enough away to brake without issue. She was able to learn from that experience.
Of course I get the OP's point and I'm sure lots of you will say this single event proves the rule. However, the same could be said for children being let loose in any risky environment, and I'm sure each of you has had at least one "oh shit, I'm glad I didn't die/get hurt badly" moment growing up when doing something daft wrecking about (unless you never played outside etc).
In my case the obvious joy the dog had to be able to move around freely (actually always sticking close by), and the development of trust and communication between us was a joy to me also.
It was the smartest dog I've ever known, was a great goalkeeper, very empathetic, and whose last act was saving our tiny cat from another bigger cat in the garden before collapsing finally from a tumor on her brain.
RIP Shadow 2
mawarup@reddit
real, honest question:
i’ve been one of the people posting in the thread that nobody should do this, but i do believe that a well trained breed like a collie could walk well 99.99% of the time.
would an ‘extreme’ freak event on the road set off your dog? i’m not talking, like, an ambulance passing or something. do you trust your dog to not react if there were a motorbike accident 100ft in front of you? or some teenagers setting off fireworks at a stupid time in the back garden of a nearby house? or, say, a nearby horse gets spooked by someone else’s poorly behaved dog and starts behaving erratically?
would honestly be interested to know. i’ve never had one that wouldn’t go nuts over any of those things, but i’ve never had a breed that’s famous for its obedience, either. that’s been my main argument against off lead walking - that ‘no dog’ could be guaranteed not to react to freak events like the above, but i’d like to hear about it from someone who actually has one.
bobaboo42@reddit
Yes 100%, she's had lots of 'events' and the first thing she does (like most dogs) is make eye contact with me looking for direction on what to do. Dogs on leads lurching aggressively at her (as shes minding her own business walking next to me) cause her to move a couple of feet to the left but nothing dramatic. She's worried by dogs on a lead as such, I presume because in her world there must be something wrong with them as many bark, and some act aggressively.
She sits at the school gate when I collect my daughter, waiting for us to return to her and ignoring the temptation of people petting her and talking to her - which is a problem as they're steadily training her to think it's acceptable to talk to strangers (and I have to battle against their well meaning but problematic behaviour)
mawarup@reddit
i feel like the stuff you're talking about is on a different scale to what i'm talking about, though. sure, your stuff comprises 99.9% of all interactions your dog will have on the road, but what about the remainder?
Psittacula2@reddit
Upvote. You answered the question flawlessly but gave the “wrong social answer”!
My guess is this entire thread is a Concern Trolling emotional drama and “How dare they !” Encouragement comment process.
Clearly actual feedback from dog walkers is not the intention here.
NobDeRiro@reddit
I live not far from some cliffs and it’s a nice walk up them, but the amount of dogs I see walking without leads along those cliffs is crazy, like it makes me feel funny seeing it.
hackmagic_ni@reddit
I know, it's mad to think that dogs have made it this far without going extinct
geeered@reddit
If your dog is liable to jump in the road and they have a lead on - if the owner isn't paying attention, quite likely the owner won't be able to stop it going into the road.
In the 10 years I had my dog he never jumped into the road. Some cases I walked him no lead, some cases with a lead.
The things stopping your dog from going into the road are - predicting any things that your dog might not expect, keeping their attention on you and general good training.
I know people of other people that managed this fine too.
Sadly many people do pay little attention to both training their dogs and to their dogs when they spend time with them. In these cases it's absolutely an issue off-lead and there's probably more issues there regardless.
MasonVII@reddit
Because their dog pulls on a lead and they can’t be bothered to train them to walk on a lead properly
Chase_Analyst@reddit
I’m incredibly nervous letting my dog off lead, not because he’s awful to manage.. but in a park or field if he sees another dog or something he wants to sniff he will not come back easily!
I have to be incredibly vigilant when I do let him off lead, and make sure I’m looking everywhere for a sign of another dog to get him back on leash before he notices
jimmywhereareya@reddit
My brother ran over and killed a dog that had wandered onto the main road. The dog's owner was insisting to the police that his dog had never needed a leash. The officer pointed out that he, the dog, obviously did because he walked out in front of the truck my brother was driving.
Financial-Couple-836@reddit
Yeah it’s also horrible for whoever is driving the vehicle that hits the dog, when they couldn’t have done anything to avoid it happening
jimmywhereareya@reddit
Yeah, my brother was quite young when this happened. There's no way he could have avoided the dog. The fact that the story is still in my mind 40 years later, mind-blowing really
idontlikepeas_@reddit
My Mum refused to walk my little mixed breed on a lead. I’d BEG her to put her on. She was beautiful but not smart.
I still remember the day Mum ran in, Codie covered in blood, a huge strip of skin ripped off her flank. She was dead.
She kept saying “IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY”.
She didn’t need to be sorry. She just could have kept her on a lead and she’d have never run onto the streets into an oncoming car.
Ok-Flamingo2801@reddit
Even if I felt confident enough to walk my dog by a road without a lead, I would never do it with someone else's dog.
The only place that I have my sister's dog off his lead is a specific dog park that is fully fenced off and you book a time slot for only you to be there. He doesn't have very good recall, but even if he did, that's still the only place that I'm taking the lead off.
Pure_Struggle_909@reddit
I’m so sorry 😞 That’s the thing I fear the most when I leave my dog at my parents. Tbh I’d never speak to my mum again if she did that, even reading that boils my blood.
lelpd@reddit
My mum was exactly the same. Refused to ever put a lead on the dog 90% of the time when walking it, even near the road
One night around (but not on) bonfire night she calls me crying, a firework scared the dog so much that she’d yanked out of the lead and run out in front of a car. I was devastated.
Years later, she lets slip when drunk and emotional that, in fact, the story was true apart from the dog slipping out of the lead.. it was never on in the first place, but she’d lied because she knew the rest of us would be livid.
I feel for you. It makes you so angry.
idontlikepeas_@reddit
Oh gosh I’m so sorry for you. You never really get over it do you?
Final_Reserve_5048@reddit
I would categorically never forgive my parent if they did that. It would be end of relationship.
idontlikepeas_@reddit
Only living member of family I have but i understand your sentiment
Downtown-Chard-7927@reddit
Never forgave my mum for our ancient collie getting flattened by a car right in front of 5 year old me on the school run for the same reason. She called her across the road in front of an oncoming beemer. Core memory.
idontlikepeas_@reddit
I’m so sorry. X
pinkdaisylemon@reddit
Bloody hell, it would be hard to forgive that. What's wrong with people who just don't listen?!
idontlikepeas_@reddit
They know better ?
iBlockMods-bot@reddit
"Dog people"
PuzzleheadedAd822@reddit
That's absolutely fucking horrifying. I don't care who it is, that would be enough for me to cut somebody out of my life. So awful that you and your dog had to go through that.
_FreddieLovesDelilah@reddit
My thoughts were ‘I would never talk to my mum again’.
Head_Lie_1301@reddit
As someone who's terrified of dogs, I hate this😅 especially when it's a big dog.
SnooBooks1701@reddit
Big dogs are mostly fine, it's the tiny ones that psychos
mawarup@reddit
there are differences in temperament by breed, but i think most of this is that large dog owners know that if they don't train their mutt not to bite, they're going to end up in court.
you can get away with your chihuahua or pomeranian being a paranoid/aggressive dick to everything it comes across, because you can play it off as 'ooooh he thinks he's a big dog!! he's harmless really' and scoop him up, ignoring the fact that the dog itself is really unhappy, and might have scared another dog into being more reactive. if your great dane gets aggressive, someone's going to end up in hospital or the vet's, and there'll be a paper trail.
Fianchioh@reddit
This is the truth 👆
Large dog owners have to teach their dogs how to react in situations because we have fewer options if they make bad choices. Little dogs end up aggro and angry because they aren't taught what to do, and don't have the same trusting cooperative relationship with their humans because as you said, the human will just scoop.
The most scared of dogs ive ever been was when i had an angry chihuahua at head height 😂 speaking as a person who's been the owner of multiple wolfhounds.
HtheExtraterrestrial@reddit
Yet I could easily stop a Pomeranian if it came to it, not too sure I stand a chance against a medium to large dog.
Downdownbytheriver@reddit
This is how I feel when I see some 45kg woman walking a German Shepherd.
The lead is largely pointless, if that dog wants to go somewhere, that woman isn’t gonna stop it.
discombobulatededed@reddit
I’m a woman (not 45kg sadly lol) but I walk my German shepherd and collie, sometimes at the same time and I have full control of them. My gsd has fully lunged and tried to run at a squirrel and I haven’t dropped the lead or been pulled over. It’s silly to assume a woman can’t control a bigger dog. I do get nervous when I see small kids holding the lead of a big dog though, especially bully type breeds.
Downdownbytheriver@reddit
It’s purely about the weight not being a woman.
I only said woman because a man weighing 45kg would be in deaths door or a dwarf.
Fantastic_Welcome761@reddit
You've missed the point. You've ignored the 45kg part and just focussed on the women part. It's about physics not biology.
sunheadeddeity@reddit
I was walking my calm, non-reactive but always-on-the-lead husky up the road giving the very alert-looking mastiff-type dog a wide berth. It was on the lead too held by an adult woman who was braced against the lead. The mastiff lunged at my dog, as she knew it would, and pulled her flat. I got a slap in on its muzzle that disoriented it enough for us to get away. But yeah, a lot of people have dogs they can't control.
TheAngryNaterpillar@reddit
I saw a kid about 11 years old walking a fully grown Cane corso on his own the other day. If that dog decided to run, that kid was gonna be flying behind it like a kite.
Fehnder@reddit
No. A neighbours dog many years ago was hit by a car and killed instantly. A dog being from a secured garden and chased it. It really didn’t have much of an option. The owner was distraught.
broketoliving@reddit
because my dogs are trained and loyal,they would never leave my side, unless i told them to. i have had dogs all my life and they have all been the same. people have no idea what it takes to properly train a dog.
warriorscot@reddit
We've had several dogs that were far less flappable than people, my Grandfather and Uncle in particularly would have their dogs trained to the point they could walk themselves and often would "walk" the kids rather than the other way around.
If it was an unusual or busy environment sure, but their normal route down a suburban road to a park all of maybe 500m the dog was fine and safer off the lead as both of them have had the dog go home and get help for them.
V65Pilot@reddit
Adding to this. People who open their car doors and just let the dog out. Luckily I saw it coming and had managed to come to a full stop, and their dog ran full tilt into my bumper. I then had to listen to the owner telling me I hit their dog and would have to pay for any vet bills..... yeah, like that's actually going to happen.....And then someone walked up and admonished them for putting their pet in such a dangerous situation.
sunheadeddeity@reddit
I knew two dogs killed like this. Mine is trained to stay in the car until I tell him to come out. And even then he's on a lead.
Im_being_stalked@reddit
Even better, mine is attached to a safety belt in an open crate so she’ll only come off when the lead is attached to her.
TheBikerMidwife@reddit
Legally, they’re paying for any damage to your car.
newfor2023@reddit
I don't by roads. Neighbour does and the dog is insanely well behaved, keeps to pavements, mirrors his movements and will sit under the table at the beer garden with no issue. Doesn't bark, nothing at all unless instructed. Gun dog tho.
I go off lead around here but it's rural where I can be a mile or more away from people easily. If I see someone coming with a dog on a lead mine will stop and not move until the lead is put on. Confused me once as I didn't see a long lead that was very thin in the distance. Dog wouldn't move til leased despite me encouraging as I had it wrong.
Yes I've been to spec savers. Dog just has better eyesight than me.
Best_Judgment_1147@reddit
My lad is a Gundog and they're extremely well behaved, but I went a step further with mine and he's trained to auto recall when he sees other dogs, sometimes he comes back when I haven't even seen them yet but they're there so you aren't the only one needing Specsavers. That being said mine is an assistance dog and we hunt during the pheasant season so he's Gundog and a little extra.
newfor2023@reddit
Yeh she's not an assistance dog but does go out for the pheasants etc. Guys a part time gamekeeper for a local estate. We were doing a few garden fireworks and figured well tell next door cos of the dog outside. Dog didn't give a shit lol.
Best_Judgment_1147@reddit
Lmfao I feel that, I have a video of mine watching the fireworks wagging his tail. We took him to a medieval reactment one day with cannons and he was in heaven.
TheHeroYouNeed247@reddit
It did it years ago, never by main roads. I guess the reason was just because I could, and I liked giving her that freedom.
Same reason i let me cat to hunt at night even though I know he would be safer inside.
eggard_stark@reddit
Too many dog owners will do this anywhere. I go to a lot of walking spots that have signs everywhere saying to keep dogs on the lead. Yet there are countless dogs running up to me and my leashed dog and the owners just seem oblivious.
Shawn_The_Sheep777@reddit
Extendable leads should be banned.They are dangerous for the dogs and a hazard to other pedestrians.
sympathetic_earlobe@reddit
How are they dangerous to dogs? I use one and I am extremely cautious near roads and keep it short when on paths with other people etc.
Best_Judgment_1147@reddit
One thing that stuck with me was the story of a guy I think in the north if the UK walking his Husky and it bolted in front of a truck. The truck didn't kill it, the fact the flexi was long enough to wrap around the wheel decapitated the dog. If you're on Facebook the group "do you want to get bit? Cause that's how you get bit" has so many dogs on flexi leads not being used responsibly. One of the latest I saw was a Staffie breaking it's flexi to go after three horses.
Small dogs are okay on them imo as long as you're vigilant of your environment and have one for your dogs weight range, but bigger dogs absolutely not. The force of the dog running and hitting the end of the flexi can so easily pull the plastic handle off you.
Shawn_The_Sheep777@reddit
The leads are often that loose / long that the dog can be in the road before the owner can reel them in
The number of times you see the owner at one side of the pavement and the dog at the other causing a trip wire. The owners are in a world of their own and if you’re running you either have to hurdle said obstacle or run in the road. Even as a pedestrian they don’t reel them in until you are stood waiting for them to do something.
What’s wrong with having a normal lead for walking on pavements and swapping to an extendable one in a park or green space?
Lemon-Flower-744@reddit
I don't care if I get downvoted for this.
I agree with you. Use a shorter lead on the pavements / roads. Then an extendable lead for the fields / parks. Is it a pain? Yeah probably.
I've found when owners do have dogs on those extendable leads, they pull them in from the collar, literally dragged in. If you need to get your dog in an emergency when they are at the end of that lead. You're not going to do it in time. I'm sorry.
If your dog as well starts running with the extender lead on its collar, then it gets to the end. It's going to hurt the dog.
Also what is it with people in wanting dogs on extender leads in pubs? Why is the dog not locked in on that lead, why are people allowing them to approach people and be smiling like 'oh it's so cute.' It's not cute.
jojojojojojoseph@reddit
A friend of my grandmother was walking her puppy with an extendable lead. The lady’s foot got stuck in a small hole in the field and she jarred her body trying to prevent falling. At this moment, the puppy excitedly pulled away, yanking the hard handle from the lady’s hand. The lead retracted—and by the time the owner had regained her footing, the handle had met the dog’s collar at speed, and sadly killed the poor puppy instantly with one blow to the head.
Apidium@reddit
I don't know I buy that. They are heavy and trail along the ground if dropped.
jojojojojojoseph@reddit
The dog is dead whether you buy it or not.
Extension_Sun_377@reddit
They can certainly be dangerous to dogs like greyhounds. My dog can reach 30mph in a few strides, imagine that acceleration coupled with extendable lead, human shoulder and dog's neck.
Apidium@reddit
Any long leash has that problem and is why dog harnesses exist.
mawarup@reddit
if you're attentive, they can be fine. inattentive owners can end up not being able to rein in their dogs in time, or the long leash can get tangled on something between you and the dog, stopping them from being able to recall to you in an emergency.
cheap (or well-worn) extendable leads can have shitty locking mechanisms that fail if the dog yanks them too hard.
TheScrobber@reddit
No they shouldn't they should just be used responsibly.
KelpFox05@reddit
Do you want to be the guy whose job it is to go around and make sure everybody uses them responsibly? No? Then you know exactly why they should be banned.
TheScrobber@reddit
Shall we ban everything that's not used responsibly?
KelpFox05@reddit
We should certainly ban some things that aren't used responsibly.
It comes down to whether the benefits of the thing when used responsibly outweigh the harm they do when used irresponsibly. For example, lots of people use cars irresponsibly, and that causes a lot of harm. But because cars provide so much benefit when used responsibly, they shouldn't be banned. Same with the internet - a lot of people use the internet irresponsibly, and that also causes a great deal of harm, but because we rely on the internet so greatly, the positive use case outweighs the negative.
Now consider retractable dog leashes. Categorically, we do not need them. They could disappear tomorrow and daily life would not change. Fixed leashes exist. So do long lines. Everybody who owns a retractable dog leash could replace it and do everything they currently do with very little change. The positive influence of retractable dog leashes does not outweigh the negative. In addition, they're so prolific and common that it wouldn't make sense to introduce a training or license system as with other items. It would be impossible to properly manage an entire nation's worth of dog owners to ensure everybody knows how to use retractable leashes responsibly and is sticking to the rules at all times. These factors combined means that it's far more safe, efficient, cost-effective, and simple to just ban retractable leashes and say that anybody caught using them gets, say, a £200 fine, the item confiscated, and maybe has to take a class on walking your dog safely or something. Idk, that last bit is optional.
Puzzled_Principle45@reddit
Have you ever walked a reactive dog on a retractable lead or a long line?
Provided you're using the correct size retractable lead, it's much easier to just press the button that stops it extending than to faff about having to grip a lead that's slipping through your fingers whilst simultaneously coiling so you don't trip.
TwoAssedAssassin@reddit
What a ridiculous hill to want to die on. Absolutely shite take on this mate.
KelpFox05@reddit
Kinda a weirdo thing to say tbh. Get therapy.
Also - active in r/UKpolitics. Lol. Get a life.
pablothewizard@reddit
You can make this argument for so many different things to the point where you're just banning everything that comes with some degree of risk
Shawn_The_Sheep777@reddit
But they aren’t
TheScrobber@reddit
Really? Because every day I see dozens of dog walkers using them just fine including me.
Mackem101@reddit
There's a park near me, which is a signed cycle training route (used by the local cycling/triathlon club), the amount of people still using those leads is still amazing.
I hit a fence avoiding a dog running at me on one of those leads a few years back using that park on the way to work, obviously the dog owner toddled off without leaving details, leaving me off work for weeks with a fracture of the wrist.
Best_Judgment_1147@reddit
My dog is 99% reliable with his recall, no dog will ever be 100% but I always put him on lead when by the road. It isn't worth the risk. I stopped running him with the bike because he had a weird habit of swerving into the road without warning.
What he did do which haunts me is go zoomies in the park and ran straight out of an open gate in front of an incoming transit van. My thought process was "It's only a few minutes run before the bus arrives let him have some off time." he ran straight past my outstretched arms, into the open road, and collided with the van with the most sickening noise I've ever heard. Fortunately he walked away with minor injuries but still needed staples and eight weeks of crate rest.
He had his seventh birthday yesterday and we celebrated with a woodland hike.
SeaworthinessOdd9380@reddit
My dog was hit by a car after being spooked in a park, there's no barrier between the park (just trees and bushes) and the road and I was changing his leashes when he bolted. It was the worst day of my life, luckily for us he's survived with some injuries. Now he has an orthotic boot as he cannot use his wrist due to nerve damage.
It's been a year since it happened and I started taking him back to that park, but I'm very cautious and we've done a lot of training before I felt comfortable taking him there again. Now he runs to me when spooked/scared and I will leave if his behaviour is off.
But I've seen similar situations happen and talking to other dog owners (they always want to know what happened to him) it amazes me how many other people have also had close calls yet still don't leash their dog when near the roadside of the park. Even after hearing and seeing my dog, they still don't change their behaviour. My partner jokingly said maybe we should state how much all his medical care, physio, hydrotherapy and such cost to see if that makes a difference but I really doubt it will. Habits are hard to change and are so ingrained in our daily behaviour, I think everyone thinks it won't happen to them until it unfortunately does.
Gullflyinghigh@reddit
Because they're shit dog owners, the same sorts of cunts that will give it the 'don't worry, he's friendly!' when their mutt bounds up to, and all over, random people nearby.
Graspswasps@reddit
It's getting worse, I don't know what media people are consuming but they see using a lead as a weakness somehow.
Horrible neighbour just got a beautiful dachshund puppy, never picks up it's mess and yesterday saw her walking along the main road with no lead.
The dog was sticking close to her because it was terrified of the noise and she thought it was well trained.
When eventually it does bolt into the road because of a cat, bigger dog, loud noise, leaf on the wind. She will never in a million years blame herself, it will always be someone or something else to blame.
louilondon@reddit
It depends on the breed I had a saffy that wouldn’t walk on a lead off the lead he was great walk right next to me put the lead on he’d start doing back flips but now we have french bulldogs and wouldn’t dream of walking them off the lead
captaincinders@reddit
Because I can't hold onto my dogs and at the same time pick up the fucking rubbish thrown out on the window by passing cars.
reginalduk@reddit
It is actually illegal to walk a dog off lead near a road. If your dog gets hit or a car crashed to avoid it, you'd better have the cash to pay because your insurance company will not pay it.
DogtasticLife@reddit
It’s ego crossed with stupidity. Maybe if they knew that if a dog causes a road accident the owner is responsible for all damages, neighbour not only had to pay huge vet fees (thankfully dog survived) but also had to pay several thousand £s in car repairs - prat
TheGoober87@reddit
I don't have this issue. I know my dog is a dickhead and will happily run in front of a car if he spots anything interesting on the other side.
PuzzleheadedAd822@reddit
There's a bloke near me who always had his dog off the lead until it got hit and died. He's got another one now. He still never has her on a lead.
AWildEnglishman@reddit
"Sounds like you're just feeding ~~cats~~ dogs to ~~coyotes~~ cars."
CaptainMallard@reddit
I saw one only the other day: some guy with his dog off lead, between a small parade of shops with lots of moving cars, and a busy road… whilst he was wearing fucking ROLLERSKATES!! Not sure what he’d have done if the dog had been spooked and run
windmillguy123@reddit
My dog is nearly 8, apart from when he was a puppy going through his training he is never typically walked on a lead unless we have to, mainly other dogs or the local nursery on a walk. We always carry the lead but you get to know all the other dog owners so you know who merits the lead and who doesn't.
The whole point of the training was to not use the lead, we trust him and if he starts
ccascarrabiass@reddit (OP)
But isn't the whole thing about being spooked that it provokes a non-normal reaction? I'm not talking about a distractable dog who will run towards a distraction, but something that scares the dog. So it's irrelevant how much you trust your dog or how well behaved they are. You can't predict an unpredictable external event so you can't predict your dog's unpredictable reaction.
windmillguy123@reddit
If you train you dog when it's a puppy next to busy roads, next to people, near areas where there might be loads noises they don't get spooked. My dog will happily be walked off the lead on bonfire night with fireworks going off all over the place.
I'll stick with my way, it doesn't harm anyone and the risk is all mine. Very much a 'I'll do me, you do you' situation.
SinsOfTheFurther@reddit
I'm a runner and I drive motorcycles. Something about small size and fast movement triggers the chase instinct in the best trained dogs. I can't even count the number of times that I have been charged by off leash dogs doing those two things. Every time it happens, the owner swears that the dog is trained and 'never does that'.
LuckyPercentage5172@reddit
straight up cunts that need a bullet
Annual_Dimension3043@reddit
It scares me tbh. I always loved dogs. I still do but becoming a parent has made me very wary. I have a couple of repeat offenders who walk their dogs off lead on busy streets and they are mostly out when I do the school run. One has a staffy and I'm very nervous of pushing my toddler and walking my 6 year old past it. The owner holds the collar when we get close which is enough to make me think this dog is liable to do something. And has the ability to run to us should it want to. I haven't spoken to the owner purely because he looks bloody hard and aggressive himself and I don't want to start an argument in front of my children. The other is an Alsatian dog who seems placid but again I cannot fully trust dogs anymore. Not even my 2 gentle chihuahuas. Not since I've had kids and I'm always wary. I don't understand why they won't keep these dogs on leads.
LJ161@reddit
Right? I have a flexi lead cause my dog is a tiny guy and it's easier to get a flexi lead with both me and my partner can use and set it to a length we find comfortable. Then when we're in a field or away from roads I can take the lock off and let him wonder a bit.
Never would I be OK with letting him wonder near the roads. He is a fantastic boy but also dramatic by nature and the pop of an engine would make him bolt.
Artistic_Data9398@reddit
I'm almost convinced all dog walkers who refuse to lead their dog, do it as like show their dogs obedience or something. They want to show off how much control they have over their dog. Its absolutely an ego thing.
Goldfinch114@reddit
Oh god yes, this drives me insane. Performative casualness. Like people who cycle down the middle of the road with both hands off the handlebar.
So much risk to the dog and also not much fun for people who are scared of dogs.
Background_Reveal689@reddit
My dog is always on a lead because she's way too overly friendly but the people that just let their dogs run around no lead really fuck me off...
TwentyOneClimates@reddit
Laziness is my best guess. Can't be bothered to hold a lead and pay attention.
Dimac99@reddit
I found my neighbours' collie wandering, it had apparently meandered off when he stopped to speak with someone. We were on a busy B road, unquestionably dangerous for both children and dogs, but he never had it on a lead. I actually didn't recognise the dog or the neighbour (despite living over the road from him for about 30 years!) but I managed to reunite them. I heard it was run over a few months later. At least the new one is kept leashed beside that road, if not on the housing estate itself...
TwoAssedAssassin@reddit
I trust my dog with many things, to the point I can leave my dinner on a table he can reach and leave the room, and know he won't touch it.
I do not trust him enough to be able to suppress his instincts, and bolt across a road to a dog/cat/bird that happens to excite him.
These people are tempting a very sad and entirely avoidable potential outcome.
Apidium@reddit
I don't know about others but when I walk my dog on her flexi leash I always have my thumb on the button. If something spooks her or me, or both of us the button gets pressed. I'm also watching her while I walk her. Mostly so she doesn't eat random things or step on glass but still. She likes to rummage around under the base of trees and it's easier to just keep the length flexible instead of having it too long when there isn't a tree and too short when there is one which imo is probably more dangerous to be fucking around with it instead of paying attention.
tomatohooover@reddit
You know what, I think for some folk, walking their dog off the lead is showing off. "Check out my super obedient dog, I'm a much better pet owner than you". Same folk who will tell you how well their kids did in exams. Usual black Labrador owners.
Kind-County9767@reddit
Because dog people don't care about anyone they inconvenience. Their dog is the only thing that matters.
Henno212@reddit
And are busy staring at their phones,
seven-cents@reddit
Zombies in training
bus_wankerr@reddit
I don't agree with it but dogs are smarter than a lot younger kids and they aren't kept on leads. Mines only off load when I'm sure I'm alone in a field.
OkSpirit7891@reddit
In general, kids can't take off and run as fast as dogs can. But I genuinely do think that kid reigns shouldn't be as stigmatised as they are. Especially if you're walking with more than one kid.
172116@reddit
I once saw a woman walking past me on a busy road pushing a pram and accompanied by an off lead dog and an on lead child! Dog was going a much better job of staying away from the road!
alienbambi@reddit
Ego. It seems to be becoming more common , also morons that don't understand dogs can also go sideways whilst on full extension of flexis too.
Jammin4B@reddit
Of all the traumatic, horrible, shocking posts that appear daily on Reddit, this is easily one of the saddest and most difficult threads I’ve read.
RIP to all these poor lose souls.
gwydiondavid@reddit
Same type of people who let their kids run free before they have learnt to be humans. The number of near misses around town is ridiculous there was a time when kids were on a harness and lead and traffic wasn't as bad.
Alarming-Recipe7724@reddit
Believe me, people will always do the oddest things and always think theyre better people for it.
Ive competed in obedience trials across the country with 2 of my dogs in the past 9 yrs. And id still never risk it.
My dogs are my family and ill keep them safe. No amount of training can make a dog a robot and invincible to a one off accident.
mawarup@reddit
the way some people in this thread are talking you'd think their Fido could pass the driving theory test!
that's what it boils down to for me. you can't get your dog to truly understand how traffic works and the dangers they might put themselves in, and you can't guarantee the environment won't have anything they'll react to, because you're out in public.
i've been approached by an 'aggressive' dog while i was out on an evening walk with my dog before. this dog is usually allowed free roam of her front lawn, which is gated off from the road, but on this occasion the owners had forgotten to shut the gate. usually, you can see she's just having fun, but on that day she was obviously scared, roaming the road, and approached me and my dog with her teeth out.
if i'd have had my dog off lead, he'd have run for it, she might have chased, and then who knows where they would have ended up? it's no longer in my control, and that's the point. as things were, i was able to put myself between my dog and this one, and things ended up being okay, but there are never guarantees!
tarkinlarson@reddit
Why?
I dunno but John Wick did it....
ArcadeCrossfire@reddit
I do it but only on the street on the way back from the park, terraced streets, not main roads. She has absolutely zero interest in being anywhere that isn’t by my side at this point, but outside of that very specific situation she’s on her lead (looped in half) on the inside of the path.
K4TTP@reddit
I have two border collies. My older girl(shes 4) is bullet proof. She can see a running cat, a squirrel, whatever, and wouldn’t even consider chasing it. Head down, ears back, complete focus. She will never go near another dog on lead while shes off lead(she has zero interest). We are in a small town and i could walk her through town off lead. I don’t, but i could. I put her on lead when we hit the town centre.
My boy, he’s 3 now. I don’t trust him. I can walk him from the park to the edge of town centre off lead, but even then. If i see another dog, I’ll put him on lead. He loves dogs, cats, birds, squirrels. He pays more attention to his sister than he does to me. He does pay attention. Stops when i say stop, waits when i say wait. When i put the leash on he stands and waits. He’s good. But i don’t trust him just the same.
_robotapple@reddit
Stupidity breeds confidence.
Some people just lack the foresight to see what could happen
ImpressNice299@reddit
It probably won't happen. Safety is just one consideration of many.
mawarup@reddit
yeah, lots of non-dog fans simply don't like it. it doesn't bother me, but i think you should have a reasonable expectation of not being around off-lead dogs unless you're at a dog walking spot.
N30NIX@reddit
It is the one subject my bestie and I could get into a serious argument over. She’s got a very reactive, nippy terrier, yet she refuses to put him on a leash.
The amount of times I hear her frantically screeching his name to try and retrieve him… urgh.. oh it’s fine, we’re in the park - no honey, it’s not fine. There are kids (yes she grumbled at kids being allowed to “roam”) and other dogs, also off leash, and I hear the “it’s fine mine is friendly” and friend having to scramble to get her terror under control.
We had dogs in the past (mainly bigger breeds like collies, retrievers, labs) there was NO way they were off leash in public spaces. Our garden, yes. The field by us, yes but only when there were no children other dogs.
Some of the memories here are just so sad to read …
Round_Caregiver2380@reddit
I don't get it either.
My dog will walk by my side and doesn't get spooked by anything. If he's unsure he looks at me for a reaction.
I always keep him on a lead because he's a big dog and will get the blame if someones untrained dog comes and starts something because he will finish it. It's usually collies that run up and start shit for some reason.
Mysterious_Access726@reddit
My parents had a dog when I was young that was very well trained, would stop walking if you did, did everything you asked him to do but still put a lead on him walking near the main road.
Thevanillafalcon@reddit
100% agree, my dog is well trained but around roads he’s always on the lead. No matter how well trained your dog is, if something spooks them they might bolt into traffic.
My boy once decided to try and fight a car, I had hold of him, never done it before or since just something got him, if he was off lead he’d have been killed.
Icy_Gap_9067@reddit
I once saw a young couple walk a tiny puppy off lead next to a road, utter madness. I also saw a dog cross the slip road to the a2 without the couple walking it even noticing as they carried on along the footpath.
_FreddieLovesDelilah@reddit
My collie was super obedient and intelligent and I would let her off when going down the quiet country lanes. Pretty much lived in the middle of nowhere. I’d have her at heel around the bends and would grab her collar when a car came.
Badger_1066@reddit
Same reason cat owners allow their cats to wander the streets. They're irresponsible.
Opening-Worker-3075@reddit
I saw someone crossing a busy road today with a toddler and a tiny dog. Dog not on the lead, and he wasn't carrying the toddler. I imagine one or both of them are dead by now.
ThePineappleSeahorse@reddit
I agree. It’s completely irresponsible and there’s no need. Likewise people who let their dogs off lead near cliffs. It’s the poor dog who suffers most because of their owner’s stupidity.
herefor_fun24@reddit
Blissful ignorance, coupled with a large dash of stupidity
Derries_bluestack@reddit
I rarely see a dog walked off lead in this situation. I can think of only one and he seems arthritic and elderly.
huxberry73@reddit
Ego
PackageOk4947@reddit
When I had my little pom, we only, only walked off lead when in the forest and or field. and even then I was careful and always kept an eye on her, there were a few close calls with other peoples and viscious dogs. Or bikes oO I was on the pathway had my headphones in and she almost got hit by a bike. I had to keep my wits with me, which was annoying especially when I just wanted to chill out with her.
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