Do You Report People?

[JulesP]

I have some 'unofficial' offlead areas near me. I was a bit scandalized when I first moved in. But pretty much everyone puts their dogs back on lead if another person appears. Everyone tends to put their dogs back on lead to pass in the official offlead park too. So polite! I love it. Only have some issues on public hols and nice weekend days when the non-regular walkers come out. All the regular people are great.

Dogs in front yards is still my biggest annoyance. I snapped a finger nail the other day, damn it!

I have returned some dogs back to their house twice now after they escaped. The female does not have a great temperament (owner admitted that!). The female was missing for a while. Last time I walked past it is obvious that she is feeding pups The male wasn't desexed and obviously she wasn't either. They are large, bull/mastiff/??? crosses. Both dogs are currently showing even more aggression if you walk past. The gate is still quite dodgy. I would like to report them just for being idiots. Am quite concerned about the puppies, hope they get the male's temperament, although he is now quite feral. He was ok when he first moved in.

[melzawelza]

Makes me happy to live in a small coastal town where 80% dogs are walked off leash, I dread the day when we get more sea changers moving down to get away from it all only to bring all the rules with them. You don't need a leash to keep your dog under control, we have taught our girl to give dogs on lead a wide birth as it is a tourist dog and is not used to freedom. There has only been one person in our area that has troubled other people with out of control dogs ie: killing a little fluffy one. Ironically the killers were on the lead, the matter was dealt with privately.

You seem to be placing fault on the leashed dogs here. If they were leashed and the little fluffy was off the leash then I'm sorry to say but the fluffy's owners were at fault and the poor little dog paid the price of it's owners stupidity allowing their dog to run loose and rush up to leashed dogs. This is a perfect example to SUPPORT the leashing argument.

Edited August 2, 2013 by melzawelza

[Christina]

When I was a child in the 50's growing up in England they didn't have all these dog laws.

Dogs were frequently in the street playing with children, taken in shops & not really banned from anywhere.

The saddest part was that some did get run over despite not as many cars on the road as today & an entire bitch with a pack of males chasing it was awful but not many children or people got attacked, bitten & most children weren't scared of dogs.

The children got smacked or reprimanded if the dog snapped because they were doing something stupid to it as well as the dog so they learned to respect the dog.

While I wouldn't like to see loose dogs out without owners & entire bitches running free it does make me wonder if we are so dog unfriendly & stupid in how we discipline that we have caused the dogs problems.

[Mervin]

Yes small fluffy was offleash in it's front yard(no fence) 3 fighting dogs on lead rush it, drug affected owner could not hold on to the leads, so she ran away. Also council is looking into limiting ownership to 2 dogs, fair enough, those 3 dogs weight combined were double her weight, She no longer lives in town.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Yes small fluffy was offleash in it's front yard(no fence) 3 fighting dogs on lead rush it, drug affected owner could not hold on to the leads, so she ran away. Also council is looking into limiting ownership to 2 dogs, fair enough, those 3 dogs weight combined were double her weight, She no longer lives in town.

Sounds like the other thread where the Staffy on a lead took the head off a Pomeranian in it's front yard.

There was a follow up to that story in the UK newspaper yesterday, the owner of that dog had a previous conviction for having a dangerous dog that had attacked. It also reports that he threw the headless dog's body under a parked car. His female friend had the attacking dog on the leash but couldn't hold it, prevent it from pushing fencing to get to the small dog, what bulls--t that is. The attacking dog's owner made no attempt the stop the attack.

I have walked far bigger and stronger dogs than that, including bull terrier types and yes, you have to hang on hard but I was no bigger/stronger than the woman who had the reasonably small Staffy on the lead.

And then there's the Dane Bouris story, takes his registered dangerous dog (due to a previous attack) to Byron Bay, lets it off the lead and guess what? It does what it did before - attacks another dog. He's been fined $7500 but quite honestly, he should be banned from ever having a dog again.

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

I have watched one extremely unfit but heavy woman fail to hold or control her cattle dog. And I know how hard mine can pull. Fortunately mine rolled over and the other one was happy with that.

I suggested wrapping the lead around a pole or tree for extra leverage - or just standing on it. The woman would have outweighed the dog by at least 5x.

She didn't get a front attach harness or learn how to get her dog loose lead walking. She just stopped taking it out because she was too terrified about what it would do to other dogs.

[silentchild]

Just wanted to point out also that some people do have a fear of dogs, a legit phobia, and they have a right to go do their groceries or walk to the bus stop or and walk home without having to have to deal with the stress, anxiety and worry when they see an off leash dog in the distance coming towards them, no matter how well behaved. They wouldn't know your dog won't harass them, how will they know? All they know is if the dog wants to rush them, there is no leash to stop it.

Not everybody likes dogs.

[megan_]

My rescue dog is reactive. I only walk her in on leash areas. I am sick to death of "friendly " off leash dogs approaching her. I don't care that they aren't aggressive - she will tell them off if they get right in her face and, being a little dog, she won't come off well if there is a fight. The " friendly" dog owners always blame my dog even though she is on leash and well behaved - she just doesn't like being jumped on the head by a dog 5 times her size.

My other dog gets plenty of off leash time, but at designated off leash areas. He has an excellent recall and I don't let him approach any one without their permission. None of this is special - it is the minimum required behaviour according to the law.

I am sick and tired of dog owners who think the laws don't apply to them. The law applies to everyone regardless of whether you like it or not. Spend a day in the shoes of a reactive dog owner (even socialised dogs can become reactive) and see how stressful it is to go for a walk in an ON leash area.

I now walk my dogs at 5am. I am tired all the time. Walks are stressful. I love my dogs very much. They are my treasures. Agility is our hobby and we love it. I am not a paranoid owner. I just have a dog that doesn't like being body slammed by large dogs. At this stage, I'm sad to say that these dogs will most probably be my last - it is all too stressful simply because people - like some of those in this thread - think the laws don't apply to them. If people would just follow the law then Lucy would live a fuller life.

[megan_]

I'm sure there are lots of people who would like to use that park but can't because of all the off leash dogs that you admit visit strangers. My 1 hour walk this morning lasted less that 15 mins when we were menaced by a GSD off leash in an on leash wetlands reserve. But if lots of people do it it's okay, right ?

No wonder the laws are getting stricter. We have a new park here that doesn't allow dogs at all. Why? Because people want a park that they can enjoy without being worried about being harassed. If everyone obeyed the laws I have no doubt that park would be unnecessary. Want to take your fog for an off leash run (like I do for my non reactive dog)? Go to an off leash park. Simple.

I think RazorBlade and their dog are NOT different from everyone else. :p There are some places I go that are technically on leash areas, but at certain times of the day they are so well established as illegitimate off leash dog areas that people ask you why your dog is on leash and assume if it is it's got problems. No one gets reported because so many people with dogs do it. They are part of the community and lots of people who share the areas know the names of the dogs and stop to greet them as well as their owners. Most of the people that use the areas seem perfectly comfortable with strange dogs approaching them and their dogs if they have one. I am one of them. I like getting visits from strange dogs. I gush over them same way other people gush over mine. Doesn't mean I expect everyone will want to talk to my dogs, but it does give an insight into why people think it's okay. For most people it IS okay.

Quoted because it was said better than I could.

[megan_]

I'm sure there are lots of people who would like to use that park but can't because of all the off leash dogs that you admit visit strangers. My 1 hour walk this morning lasted less that 15 mins when we were menaced by a GSD off leash in an on leash wetlands reserve. But if lots of people do it it's okay, right ?

No wonder the laws are getting stricter. We have a new park here that doesn't allow dogs at all. Why? Because people want a park that they can enjoy without being worried about being harassed. If everyone obeyed the laws I have no doubt that park would be unnecessary. Want to take your fog for an off leash run (like I do for my non reactive dog)? Go to an off leash park. Simple.

I think RazorBlade and their dog are NOT different from everyone else. :p There are some places I go that are technically on leash areas, but at certain times of the day they are so well established as illegitimate off leash dog areas that people ask you why your dog is on leash and assume if it is it's got problems. No one gets reported because so many people with dogs do it. They are part of the community and lots of people who share the areas know the names of the dogs and stop to greet them as well as their owners. Most of the people that use the areas seem perfectly comfortable with strange dogs approaching them and their dogs if they have one. I am one of them. I like getting visits from strange dogs. I gush over them same way other people gush over mine. Doesn't mean I expect everyone will want to talk to my dogs, but it does give an insight into why people think it's okay. For most people it IS okay.

Quoted because it was said better than I could.

[teekay]

Are you thick or are you being deliberately argumentative? Where have I said that I let my dog tear around harassing the elderly, biting reactive dogs, terrorising small children (my god won't someone think of the children) destroying family picnics and killing every small fluffy dog within range.

I go to great lengths to ensure my dog doesn't do these things and in many instances I have a more effective control that people waking on lead.

Are you in favour of penalising all dog owners, who are perfectly capable of doing the right thing, because some dog owners don't?

So how, exactly does your dog walk with you off lead? Is he right next to you the whole time? Do you let him wander a metre away? 5 metres? 50 metres? In front of you or behind you? Are you watching him ALL the time. Is this on a path or in bushland? Just wondering exactly what your definition of 'effective control' is.

[megan_]

And does he approach people or other dogs?

[rubiton]

Reading a few replays reminds me of the other day when I had our two out. Just getting back from a walk and two people with a little dog on the lead are coming the other way. I stop in our usual spot and the young one is sitting but breaks it to try and bound at the passing dog. I reef him back (on lead too) behind me and the other owners say 'ohhh he only wants to play referring to my dog'. Yes I know that and no he isn't allowed to as he will bound over and then stand over your little dog - yes friendly but in an excited manner that might just scare your dog (my actual words were yes but he isn't allowed to). So they pass and I stay out there a little longer with both as once he calms down they are allowed to just sniff the area to the end of the lead (without exposure he will not learn). They happened to come back the other way and this time he sits and stays there and doesn't get all excited. People don't say one word obviously thinking the fact I restrained my dog was over the top for a young exuberant dog. Howevr its my dog who would get the blame if he did scare a small dog in his excitement.

[Cosmolo]

It's not just people who have a phobia of dogs or woth reactive dogs who get worried when seeing an off leash dog in the distance in areas where they are not supposed to be. I expect to see off lead dogs in designated parks/ beaches etc and if they approach without the owner asking that's okay when the dog is friendly. I'd prefer they asked in a perfect world but it's not a perfect world and this i am fine with and accept.

However if i am walking down the street and see an off lead dog coming, i will do what i need to do to avoid it. I have no idea whether the dog is friendly, aggressive, rude etc. No idea whether the owner has effective control. And i'd rather not have my dogs within striking distance when i find this information out.

[Steph M]

I cant understand why you would put your dog in that position and completely disregard other people and their dogs.

What if it's not in complete disregard of other people and their dogs? What if other people and their dogs do it everyday anyway? Do you join them because your dog likes it and all the other dogs involved enjoy it or do you continue to walk your dog on leash because it's the law despite the fact your dogs are better behaved than most and the place is already crawling with off leash dogs?

I faced this same dilemma and in the end compromised. Dogs are allowed off on the fields if no one is on them (including the people that practice golf driving next to the sign that expressly forbids it), and they are off along the back of the field where we meet the occasional jogger, walkers, or other dog walkers, then go back on when we walk along the main thoroughfare, past the playground and picnic tables and fishermen and off again at the point sometimes if it's nice and they want a swim. It seemed pointless to keep my dogs on leash when everyone else's dogs were off leash having fun in case my dogs annoyed said dogs (who had already come to greet us anyway). Particularly when people were like "Why are your dogs on leash? Are they aggressive? Do they run away? Should I put mine on?" If we see someone with an on leash dog mine go on leash or into stays well out of the way. I don't consider that completely disregarding other people and their dogs.

I have to admit we've been guilty of this too. There's a few dogs down the on-leash park here that are often off leash and I always ask if they're friendly and usually let Gus have 5 mins of running around with them. I hate having him frustrated like that when he can't get off and other dogs are off and trying to entice him to play. They don't get in anyone's way and they have a blast. There's hardly any dogs around in the park because of the stinky creek running through it, but I quite like having a chat to other people while the dogs have a romp. It does us all good and we have a real lack of off leash parks locally. We generally drive the 20 min to the nearest off-leash but sometimes it's nice to not have to get in the car, I do know it's wrong and in all fairness if I were to cop a fine so be it, I'd be the fool there.

When he's had his five minutes I pop him back on his leash and carry on walking. Surely we're not public menace number one here.

[mita]

It's not just people who have a phobia of dogs or woth reactive dogs who get worried when seeing an off leash dog in the distance in areas where they are not supposed to be. I expect to see off lead dogs in designated parks/ beaches etc and if they approach without the owner asking that's okay when the dog is friendly. I'd prefer they asked in a perfect world but it's not a perfect world and this i am fine with and accept.

However if i am walking down the street and see an off lead dog coming, i will do what i need to do to avoid it. I have no idea whether the dog is friendly, aggressive, rude etc. No idea whether the owner has effective control. And i'd rather not have my dogs within striking distance when i find this information out.

I agree with all of this .... except I believe the rules about on-lead & off-lead should stick.

Safety is involved. Just like we have a rule to drive on the left-hand side of the road. The consequences for not complying with the road rules, might be more threatening to life and limb.

But unleashed dogs in public places also can cause injury to people and their dogs. In extreme cases, dogs being killed.

I'm confident with dogs....but I've given up walking our tibbies on the walking/bike tracks here. Too many bad experiences with our shelties & tibbies, from unleashed dogs, even tho' all the signs say dogs must be on leash.

Close by is a large off-leash park. The people, with the unleashed dogs on the tracks have made a choice which breaks a council by-law. . No 'out' for them, from me.

In contrast, I had many great experiences with other owners of leashed dogs on the walking tracks. Those who asked did I mind, if their dogs & my tibbies could have some gentle socialisation .... saying their dogs were reliable. It was often owners of the bigger dogs... like labradors or even an irish wolfhound. My tibbies are fine with good dogs of all sizes.... even seem to prefer the big ones. These always went well...

Edited August 6, 2013 by mita