Rules of the road

[saxy_jag]

Can someone settle this little argument for me and hubby?

We were out dog-walking yesterday afternoon on a fairly busy country lane with no pavement and barely any walkable grass verge to speak of. Now, I know when you're walking without pets you should walk on the right hand side of the road, but I've always understood that when you're leading animals of any kind then you should walk on the left, with the led animal on your left so that you are between it and the traffic. I said that the latter should be the case with the dog. Hubby says you should follow the rule for non-accompanied pedestrians (ie on the right).

I've always been taught that dogs should be walked on your left. Therefore if you walk on the right hand side of the road, the dog is exposed to the traffic unless you can get it to walk on your other side.

The Highway Code isn't entirely clear on this as it seems to give conflicting advice in two different sections, and I wondered if anyone could direct me to a definitive answer.

[SeaJayPea]

Interesting. I don't have a dog, so this isn't something that had occurred to me before. I think I'm on your husband's side. When it comes down to it, your safety is more important than that of the dog.

[SeaJayPea]

Oops. didn't mean to do that. Will he/she not walk to your right?

[rojash]

I've always assumed that when it referred to leading animals it meant large animals like horses and cows (which are essentially similar to slow moving vehicles). I would walk facing the oncoming traffic with the dog on a short lead on my near side.

[Old_Geezer]

Also no expert but I'd look at it like this. As the responsible adult human it is your job to see that both yourself, and those in your care, are as safe as possible. Which would mean ensuring the dog was further from the traffic that yourself.

Also you are less likely to jump out unexpectedly than the dog, so the drivers are likely to prefer that arrangement.

Maybe there are no official rules, maybe you just need to use judgement ?

[SlackAlice]

Pedestrians should always walk facing oncoming traffic if there is no pavement. What side your dog is on is up to you, but your more important than them

[boxtops]

My understanding is that when walking, you should always face oncoming traffic. If you are therefore walking a pet, I would walk facing the oncoming traffic (i.e. what you say is on the right) with the pet on the inside of you. I have never heard that dogs can only walk on your left, most dogs seem to walk left or right of their owner, depending on which suits best.

If you are leading animals, eg cattle, then I think you would be (as it were) in the line of traffic, so on the left.

[pink-kittens]

lol Box, I can clearly see you leading a nice orderly line of cattle =)

Walk facing the traffic with a dog nearest the verge on a short leash

[boxtops]

LOL pink, better than herding cats :-)

[sidkid]

I've kept many dogs that have all walked on my right, but I am right-handed so maybe that's why.....

[Khandro]

If you are herding animals, left or right doesn't come in to it; they have right of way.

[vulcan]

guide dogs are taught to walk on the left hand side and slightly ahead.

[saxy_jag]

Look like there is no definitive answer. It would largely depend, I guess, on whether you include dogs in the generic 'animals'. At the end of the day, commonsense is the order of the day, I think, and the dog really isn't too fussed about which side she walks, although I always put myself between the dog and the traffic, just as I would a child. As OG says, I'm less likely to swing myself out into the traffic than my dog.

Cheers all.

[wildwood]

Why not compromise? If your hubby insist on walking on the right hand side and you want the dog on your left, just walk backwards towards the oncoming traffic - problem solved.

[RATTER15]

When I walk mine on the road I just use common sense to ensure the safety of all concerned, I actually walk three large dogs, two on one side and one on the other, it can be a little difficult as we usually need to find a passing place as they take up most of the road in our country lanes, we have never had a problem with traffic, most people give way to us and we just walk by.

[Khandro]

"and we just walk by." With a nod and a smile in appreciation, no doubt Ratter.

[echokilo]

leading animals applies only to farm animals and horses .... if walking your dog, you should walk facing the oncoming traffic, ie on the right, with the dog on your right, so you are between the traffic and it. Led animal travel AS traffic, you are your dog are pedestrians. Simples.

[RATTER15]

Khandro, most definitely, very appreciative of their time and patience.

[divegirl]

I, like Ratter walk two large dogs [Great Danes] and on the rare occasion that I need to go in the road I find most drivers stop in awe....then have a chat lol

Lisa x

[RATTER15]

Lisa, we get exactly the same, we don't have much in the way of pavements where we are so always on the road, the looks on people faces as they approach seeing these huge dogs is priceless. We will often take one or two of the dogs into town, the dogs have usually got a crowd of fans wanting to hug and stroke them within minutes. Taking three dogs into town is not wise, they take up too much room in the narrow streets and the crowd of admirers will often bring the town to standstill lol.

And of course the obligatory remark: You could put a saddle on that!!

[divegirl]

lol...If I had a pound for every time that I'd heard that! What makes me laugh is it's always said like it's never been said before! I just smile sweetly and walk away. Also....you must live in a massive house, er....no, fortune to feed....er....no and the one I really hate is 'whose walking who?' My dogs are well trained and I walk them both on one side, with one hand and on a loose lead, especially annoying when said by the owner of a yappy brat dog that is trying to attack my two!

Lisa x