If we know that the park we are entering has a lot of people there, and people who picnic, we will put Holly onto her long lead, that way she can roam but still have control. If it's near a road, she'll be put on her short lead. If it's just a park where a few people and dogs, she'll allowed offlead, however must come back if we see another dog on lead, or a much larger dog. She'll be put back on lead, or asked to heel by our side while we walk past.

We love taking her to the dog friendly beaches where she can just roam without us being particularly worried as she's not keen on the sea, so sticks to dry land Plays with a couple dogs, then comes to us when called

As long as you have a dog that will recall at least 95% I think that it's all good. If I see any children approaching her, I will call her back, pop her on lead, and then ask the children if they would like to stroke her.

It should NOT be made law that dogs should be kept on leads! My dog is incredibly well behaved when we're out. He is very friendly with both humans and other dogs and if I tell him to stay he does.

Why should he not be allowed to roam free in woods/ open fields or even the park as long as he is well behaved!

You don't get bad dogs, you get bad owners!!

As long as roaming free and very friendly don't mean he will approach my on lead dogs I would agree with you. It is the minute they spoil someone else's enjoyment that I disagree.

I take my labbie to a park used by children, dog walkers, cyclists etc. and she stays off lead most of the time. The park has two enclosed spaces for the children where dogs aren't allowed so I don't see the problem. If another dog walks past, she'll have a sniff and if the dog doesn't want to play she'll walk off; When a dog walks past on a lead, I ask if the dog is friendly first, and if it isn't she goes on her lead untill that dog's way behind us. When people without dogs walk past, she doesn't even bother with them unless they start making a fuss.

If dog owners have an unfriendly dog that bites then they should take them to a field to be allowed off the lead, rather than walk them in a public park on lead IMO, it's nicer for the dog and others.

Exactly what I do, the safest and most sensible option.

Why ? If my dog is on a lead he is under control. He walks with our girlie dog perfectly nicely, it's up to others to keep their dogs away surely. My girlie is too friendly off lead so we don't let her bother other people, it really isn't difficult.

There are a lot of irresponsible dog owners around. I'm not even remotely scared of dogs but a couple of weeks ago I was walking through the park near my house and a Great Dane absolutely pelted towards me with no effort from his owners to stop him. I thought he was going to knock me down! To be honest, I was looking forward to having a little fuss with him - I love big dogs and he was clearly young and playing but I did think at the time his owners should have had him on a lead. If I were scared of dogs that would have terrified the living daylights out of me, especially as he was SO big. He was lovely though.

They annoy me running on beaches too when there is a clear no dogs sign! My 8 year old daughter is terrified of dogs because some arse let their terrier run free and it ran straight at her when she was sitting playing on the sand. The owner wasn't bothered. She was 3 at the time and I've tried to get her used to "friendly" dogs since, but she is still petrified. Thanks for that.

We take our setter to a park/field at the top of the road where we let her off the lead. As the park is fairly quiet, we don't usually get bothered. She's very good when she's off the lead and doesn't go off far (she actually panics when she loses sight of us) and she doesn't approach other people - she doesn't really like other dogs and avoids them, it usually other dogs coming over to her!

I agree, I own 2 chihuahuas and would love to take them to the park more, but Im scared of some galloping large dog coming up to them and causing them to panic

It's just a stroll round the block a few times these days. I, until recently had a very sweet old Border Collie (RIP) who wouldnt hurt a fly but we only went off leash in very quiet areas and she was well trained for recall.

Hi!

Can you pm me that info, would love to take Alf & Lola for the day!

I have had my dogs for just over a year now and have lived near a park that I walked through every weekend for 10 yrs previous to having them. Not once have I had a dog run up to me or bother me in anyway.

You seem to have such a big issue with it - my advice stop hanging around parks all the time if it bother you that much.

I've pm'd you directions & info ~ hope you can understand them. Have fun!

Maybe because dogs were allowed? Having recently seen some woman deliberately plonk herself in the life of four labradors running out of the sea - it seems to me there is commong sense needed on both sides.

If you take your dogs to a beach where they are allowed - then they are there to have a run and / or swim.

If I wanted to take a child to the beach and there were lots of dogs around, I wouldn't leave the child in a position where a dog could come near it - I certainly wouldn't expect people to put their dogs on leads because I had opted to take my child to a beach where dogs are allowed.

I have never assumed because a sign says dogs allowed it means mine can be off lead and bothering other people, am I reading the sign wrong and it really means dogs in charge and everyone else get out of the way ?

No-one is saying that - what I am saying is there should be give and take on BOTH sides.

Just because you don't like letting your dogs off the lead - it doesn't mean everyone should be the same.

There is nothing nicer than seeing the dogs run free - not wild - free - but likewise, if I took a child on the beach and there were dogs running free - I wouldn't expect them to put them back on the lead.

My dog is very scared of humans, and yet they persist in being in the park whilst my dog is trying to have a walk/run, they're bloody everywhere! Yesterday three people stopped and petted him without even asking if it was okay. My dog would appreciate being able to have a good run without being harassed by people.

Okay, so clearly I'm being sarcastic, but honestly, why go to somewhere when you know there will be a lot of dogs? And yes I'm fully aware of the 'why shouldn't you' argument, but the fact is, you know there'll be dogs there, that's not going to change, so why go?

I don't like chavs, so I don't go to clubs/bars/pubs that I know will be chock full of orange idiots wearing pyjamas hoodies and Burberry. I don't go there knowing this, and then complain about it afterwards.

All that said, I'm considerate of people when I walk my dogs, the local park thankfully has a lot of five a side football pitches all fenced in, so I take the dogs in the morning when the kids are in school, go in one of those, close the gate behind me and let the dogs run around, play fetch with them etc. That way there's no chance they can annoy anyone (not that they aren't well trained and socialised, because they are - I'm just aware not everyone is dog friendly) and I don't take them there of a weekend because I know the place will be full of kids playing and people walking.

Agreed.
I own a collie and am currently doing recall classes with him. Why shouldn't dogs be allowed to run around. You say that the park is full of kids and stuff..... So are woods and country parks. Are they not allowed off the lead there either?
If the dog is well trained then whats the problem?
Yes dogs should be under control, but also so should kids. That doesnt always seem to be the case does it? I have had kids running up to my dog on his long line screaming DOGGY with the parents totally oblivious. Its a good job my dog is good with kids really.
And plus...where does it say parks are just for humans...... I havent seen ANY saying keep dogs on leads, and most I have been to have dog bins, needless to say its expected that dogs will be there

OK I give up - but be very aware when dogs are banned from parks, beaches and eventually public places or we are all banned from letting them off lead it won't be my dogs that have caused the situation it will be those who do not releash their dogs when they see other people and who think their dog has the same rights to use public spaces as the humans who pay for those places.

I will continue to behave responsibly and make sure everyone is comfortable with my dogs being under control as it is second nature to me to do so, I suggest it is also just plain polite but that will fall on deaf ears I am sure.

I don't think anyone is saying that dogs should NEVER be allowed off lead ~ it's just a case of picking & choosing when it's safe to let your particular dog off lead. We all know our dogs well (or should!) so it's different for each dog.

Some dogs are reactive to other dogs, people, cyclists, livestock etc etc. They should, therefore, be on lead & under control in these situations. Other dogs can ignore World War III going on behind them, so can safely be off lead in most situations.

I'm lucky in that the beaches near me are dog friendly inasmuch as dogs are not banned from the beaches all year round. But I wouldn't take them to the beach on a hot summer's weekend afternoon when I know it's crowded. It's not that they aren't well-behaved & under my control ~ it's more that I don't have any control over screaming children, the crowds, people wanting to pet my dogs, droppped ice creams & litter etc etc. But at 6.00 a.m. or 6.00 p.m. the beach is deserted apart from the odd dog walker, so it's fine to allow the dogs to have a good run round & splash in & out of the sea.

But my one bugbear, I must admit, is screaming, hyped up children that come haring towards my dogs. This can sometimes cause Barney to bark at the kids, but I can usually get away with it by saying please don't run at my dogs or scream so loudly as you're frightening them. On most occasions, the children have stopped, apologised & asked if they can say hello to the dogs ~ which I'm happy for them to do. Both dogs will sit nicely so the kids can give them a biscuit & throw Wilma's ball for her. I hope that these sort of interactions will help children be a bit more aware of how their behaviour can impact on dogs & also give my dogs the chance of some pleasant experiences with children. It's just a sensible bit of give & take & we can all enjoy the beaches, parks, woods etc.

My local park has a separate large fenced area where dogs can be let of the lead but none of the dog walkers seem to use it. I do see owners immediately let their dogs off the lead and let them run off as soon as the go through the park entrance even though there are families with young kids walking along the path.

There is a beach we go to in Norfolk which has a sign indicating dogs allowed to the right and not allowed to the left of the entrance path. Now this is a sensible solution for people who are nervous or scared of dogs without restricting the enjoyment of dog owners.

I also recall a friend's lurcher breaking it's leg whilst running full pelt in a park after it collided with another dog running at speed from a cross direction. The vet bills where enormous.

Okay, I will be aware and when dogs are banned from everywhere besides the owners house I will be sure to remember no part of that ban was down to you.

Although, if you could be aware that my dogs are well trained, both on and off lead, and that not everyone shares your opinion on what is polite, and please don't tell me I'm behaving irresponsibly because I don't do exactly as you do. I see nothing wrong with letting my dog run around, he doesn't bother people, the opposite in fact, people, mostly kids who's parents should know better, bother him. Should I take issue with this? And expect mothers to put their kids back in their prams as soon as they see a dog, because it's usually the kids who's behaviour needs sorting, not my dogs. I don't let my dog bother people, I don't expect people to bother my dog.

Or perhaps I should realise that it's all part and parcel of owning a dog, and compromise, like anyone else with a little common sense does.

you seem obsessed with the idea that dogs must be on leads at all times - providing they are trained and well behaved - I am at a loss to understand what your problem is - just because you unable to leave your dogs offlead - why should the rest of us restrict ours when they do behave?

Are you saying that if people continue to leave their dogs off lead that is irresponsible?

As with everything in life, there are bad dog owners, bad parents, and generally all round bad people - but in common with most of these things - those bad people are usually in the minority.

All I am saying is not everyone loves dogs, not everyone is confident around dogs, not every dog is happy and confident to have another dog approach them. I have said no where dogs should be on a lead at all times, I said releash dogs when you see people and other dogs on lead - releash means put it back on a lead !

My dogs do get a run off lead almost everyday but not in a park where humans tend to congregate.

Yes children approaching dogs is a problem but personally I find it less of a problem when mine are on lead so I can get between them and the children but that is just a personal thing I accept.

I am also saying these bad owners you talk of will be the ones who end up getting us all banned from everywhere - and I am sorry it upsets you but I do see not releashing a dog in the circumstances described as irresponsible.

I like to be able to walk my dog in the park without being troubled by noisy, screaming, out of control, selfish kids.

But hey thats life