Should Dogs Be Kept On Leads

[pastafreak]

...during the current crisis?
I've come across quite a few dogs that are friendly pests...gotta sniff, won't go to owners when called...so how can the owner gain control yet still practice social distancing?
I deliberately went out early to avoid a lab/staff mix that I have to shout at because the owner won't. Unfortunately, I could hear him being called before he came shooting out of nowhere. Luckily Sammi is ok with it...me not so much.

[pixie374]

Dogs should be under control anywhere, anyway. Not all dogs like being run up to. I am lucky, in that for some reason, they always respond to their names straightaway and come back. So, I don't see a need to myself... they need freedom as they run far more than I walk.

[Bobbisox1]

I say yes ( well at least this one here should) she’s been known to bark at snowman :0/

[Barmaid]

Yes. And particularly for those country walks during lambing.

[Vagus]

The only place our dog is allowed off the lead is on a well known dog walking beach locally.
We’ve tried everything to train him to recall but nothing has worked sufficiently for us to trust him to come back every time.
The beach is ideal as there are no squirrels to chase, or cats to sniff out, just other dogs and dog walkers.
As to whether they should be allowed off the lead then I think that depends very much on the dog and the owner.

[pastafreak]

Unfortunately too many owners don't really seem to see it applying to them...or their dogs.

[Vagus]

You’re right pasta, come across a few of them.

[lankeela]

Under the current crisis it is a very sensible thing because if a dog runs off there is nobody available to go search for them - I am part of the national DogLost team that puts out alerts and issues posters for lost dogs and we organise seach parties but at present much of this is on hold because of the social distancing so please keep your dogs on a lead and make sure they are not only microchipped and details up to date but have collars and tags with clearly visible addresses on so they can be returned home. Something that is happening is that new family members are walking dogs that are usually at work and they don't always realise the implications of letting them off or know which dogs to avoid and of course some dogs don't respond to different family members as much as their usual walker. Also of course it is the lambing season so dogs must be on leads anywhere near livestock - farmers are losing too many lambs and sheep to loose dogs and they have every right to shoot them.

[Apc2604]

Vagus. I think you may be a fairly near neighbour!

[drmorgans]

My dog is always on a lead when I walk her but some owners think it's okay to let them off. My dog will snap at other dogs if they sniff her or come too close. I don't think their owners are being responsible.

And don't get me started on the feckwets who leave their dogs in the garden all day, with a broken fence, so the dogs bounce around the field all day. Richardheads. Rant over.

[Vagus]

Hey, you never know apc ;)