Dog off leash in the countryside

[BigDogsWang]

I often walk my neighbours Choco Labrador when they are at work. I walk him down the street on the lead, but when we get to the open fields (I live 3 minutes walk from the nearest Public Countryside footpath), I let him off the lead. He's a friendly Lab and rarely gets in any bother with other dogs who are off the lead (just sniff each others ar*es). Today I approached a bridge and there was a grey haired man in his early 60s looking into the river. As we got around the corner he started shouting at me to put my dog on a lead, it was then I realised he had a Staffordshire Terrier which was straining at the leash to attack my dog. Luckily the Lab ran straight passed him, but the old boy started yelling at me that it was "illegal to walk a dog off lead". I must admit I became quite aggressive with him as to me it appeared he had no idea how to control the vicious mutt he was holding and told him he shouldn't be walking a dog so ferocious if it's uncontrollable. I then told him that it is not illegal to walk a dog off leash in the countryside. We exchanged a few pleasantries (hmmmm) and went our separate ways. Which of us is right?

[jules77]

There are signs all round my area (on the public footpaths) to say dogs should be on a lead at all times. 'Some' countryside areas have the same rules where there are farm animals. I dont mind dogs being off lead 'if' they are under control....unfortunately there are too many owners than think it is ok for their dogs to approach other dogs, and not all dogs are friendly.

[Kerosene]

There are so many 'grey areas' here - even more than the grey hairs I've got! I, too, have dogs, always had so say 'soft ones' which only want to sniff/play/say hello etc etc.

It seems blatantly obvious here that the old guy with the Staffie was probably pooping himself on seeing the Lab that it was going to rush up to the Staffie and all hell might break loose? So, apart from the dozey old Lab just meandering past, it seems to have degenerated into a slanging match between both dog walkers because one didn't have ther mutt on a lead?

I haven't read every post but I can't work out if this happened in a public place or on private land? Even so, it all seems like a storm in a teacup and there are always dog owners becoming all sanctimonious and precious about keeping dogs on leads at all times etc etc. You can't win.

[wildwood]

Maybe the man was worried about hydatids

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

What made you so sure the staff wanted to attack? It may have just wanted to play. In my experience Staffs are lovely dogs and can be trusted around just as much as a lab can.
It's interesting that you want your dog to run free but his to be muzzled.

[craft1948]

Sorry ganesh................I was feeling a bit arsey earlier on.

[lankeela]

There is no general law that dogs must be kept on leads but some areas have brought in Dog Control Orders which might include dogs being kept on leads in certain areas. Reading the original post the alarm bells started to ring with me when you said 'rarely gets in any bother with other dogs' - this tells me that he often wanders up to strange dogs and this is not fair particularly on dogs that are not friendly to others. There is a campaign going around to get people to wear a yellow ribbon on there dog lead to indicate that their dog needs 'space' and does not appreciate other dogs getting too close. Some dogs just don't like other dogs, it doesn't mean they should never be exercised. My small dogs don't like strange dogs coming up to them and they let them know in no uncertain terms yet you still get idiot owners who won't put their dog on a lead when they obviously can't control them.

[Kerosene]

lankeela,

An interesting post. We all have our ideas what makes a responsible owner and what makes, as you call them, 'idiot owners'. I know what you mean by small dogs being kind of snappy, I tend to think it's a defence mechanism on their parts because they do recognise the difference in size between them and, say a Great Dane?
A lot of the time, though, it's all mouth, and full blown fights are easily avoided as long as owners know their dog's traits and don't just take other dogs for granted. The problem is, though, that anyone can own a dog, there aren't usually any checks done in advance, so the inevitable happens: more 'idiot owners'.

As I always say, it's very rarely the fault of the dog, it's the beepin' owner's!

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

To answer you question, he is.

[Sir Alec]

I live in a rural area and frequently used to let Hamish off the lead. The only instance I had of an irate person, was when I hadn't realized it was 'school time'. I had wrapped a dead rat I'd come across in poop bags and was putting it in a bin. The man was so impatient and travelling too fast through a lane which is only 100 ft long. He was beeping like mad at my dog. I called him a few names. He just drove off with his 'little darling, ignoring me.

[Kerosene]

A 100 foot long lane and someone was driving too fast? Blimey, that's only about 30 or so yards long? He must have been in a Ferrari.

[Sir Alec]

Had he been reported I could have pointed out the tyre skid marks he left. I have no idea what car he was driving, I was only concerned for mine or anybody elses dog at the time.

[ganesh]

Hey,maybe this rule could apply to the hunt-I can see all those dogs running after foxes on their extendable leads!!Great,we could finally have a law that stops them.Funny how some farmers don't seem to mind all those dogs running over their fields frightening their cows.

[islasmum]

Wildwood what's a hytadids?

[wildwood]

^^ Hydatids

http://www.hpa.org.uk...ackgroundInformation/

[chaptazbru]

^ Personally I'm more worried about being mugged, burgled, raped, ripped off by a rouge trader or hit by a drunken driver etc etc etc ........ !

[BigDogsWang]

Mojo......... the fact that the Staff was barking, snarling, teeth bared, dribbling at the mouth..... etc. I am not so stupid that I can't tell the difference between a dog that wants to rip you apart and a dog that wants to play.

[ganesh]

I agree,it sounds like the guy was just as aggressive as his dog and reacted against your friendly lab who likes to meet and greet other dogs.I know of others who have told me about similar situations,just ignore him.You are in the right and I am on your side.I would hate to have a vicious dog like that.There have been so many stories about staffies and,although I do know a couple of extremely sweet ones,they do worry me as a breed and I tend to give them a wide berth.But that's another thread!
PS.You are forgiven this time craft-lol.

[jedimistress]

Only if there is a Dog Control Order (1995 - think) in place from the local authority where it states a dog must be on a lead in certain areas, then it is an offence. Example: Exeter City Council say all dogs must be on leads on all pavements and footpaths. This is an extreme example. Most councils are more lenient, and dogs are excluded from childrens parks, or asked to be on a lead in certain areas..promenades or such. The dog control orders can also have you put your Dog on a Lead by Direction, which means if a dog warden has asked you to do so. Other dog control orders (1995?) can allow authorities to impose restrictions on numbers of dogs you can walk. Basically, a law was passed and authorities can pick and choose what and where they want to implement it. It does confuse matters as each council will be different.