OK dog one for the Dog lovers

Is acceptable at country parks for example, to let your Dog off the lead and wonder off so far in front of you that you can't see it?
My Son (Has Autism) because very nervous about Dogs approaching him like this and it really puts us off going to these places.
Just had a argument with a lady after I politely asked her to control her Dog and to respect our personal space. Got the standard "he doesn't bite" response. To which I replied first I don't care, and secondly all dog owners say that until they actually do.

 

You should always be able to see the dog and it should have excellent recall.

 

Most dog owners are fine and behave responsibly. There will always be some who are not so responsible. I have had my very young grandchildren knocked over by over exited dogs only for their owner to say "they love children" or "they are only being friendly". Dog owners sometimes find it impossible to believe that not everyone loves dogs.

Many also seem to be blind when it comes to dog prohibition or restriction notices.

My view is that they should be kept under control in all circumstances.

 

Good advice

 

No, it is not acceptable. As JamDrop says, you should always be able to see your dog and if it doesn't have excellent recall then the dog should stay on the lead.
Another point is that 'all' owners don't say the dog doesn't bite.

 

I will add I think the ratio of bad dog owners has increased massively since Covid. I do not mean maliciously bad or cruel to the Dogs.
Just people who perhaps have no experience of owning a Dog and have made no effort to train them in any way.

 

Your son will have to learn to develop coping mechanisms to there being dogs around though if he goes to shared spaces with dogs off lead. There are always areas where dogs have to be on lead at country parks so people can choose which area they want to access, depending on their preferences. You arguing with someone is just going to make him think he is right to be fearful. That doesn’t absolve the dog owner from the fact that they should have kept the dog within sight and should have recalled it as soon as she saw it approaching your nervous son, of course. There needs to be understanding on both sides, the owner should know they are in a public space and should keep control of their dog and you should know you are in a public space and accept that dogs are going to be dogs and might wander near you sometimes.

 

No I appreciate that and my son has had some lovely moments with Dogs with some great owners who have taken time to let him approach on his own terms. It's just the repsonse we seem to get when excited Dogs approach. It's the uncontrolled and unexpected element he struggles to deal with.

 

Imagine if a bounding dog pushed over a toddler,could be tragic

 

We do accept that but when they approach and the owners are either nowhere to be seen or just seem oblivious to it, I find it very frustrating. A lot of Dog owners just assume everyone is happy to have a Dog jumping all over them. It's too much for my son to take sometimes and he has every right to be in these public spaces despite his disabilities without having to contend with other people's unsupervised Pets jumping on him.

 

Yes, I acknowledged that. You also only said approached and now you are saying jumping up which is an entirely different thing.

 

I let mine off in the country park near me but only when it is quiet.

If I lose sight of them for more than 5/10 seconds I whistle them back till I can see them.

Owners shouldn't let dogs off if they don't have full control. Any doubts they should be on lead.

My pointer (the one in my picture) can sometimes be a bit funny with new people. Not always but happens from time to time. For that reason if I see anyone out when we are walking I pop her on lead until we've passed them and she can go off again.

 

Today was approached we had jumping up in the past. And when they approach how am I supposed to know if they are going going jump up, or be aggressive?
I'm not anti Dog at all for clarity, we visit friends and he loves to watch them play. I just seem to see more and more people with zero ability to control their Dogs.

 

Looking out of my front window is a strip of grass with trees on it that is the end of The Stray in Harrogate. Perfect for dog walking. I would estimate it’s about 50/50 on lead/off lead. Sometimes we have a lovely natured Staffy stay with us and it drives me mad the attitudes of those not using a lead.

Demek is brilliant with people of all ages but let a dog near him and he looks like he wants to fight. They just laugh at me “oh he’s alright “ etc etc. They obviously don’t mind if my dog on the lead rips an ear off theirs then?

 

I have a Springer, who genuinely is the softest most gentle dog you would ever meet and would never hurt a fly but he is also so energetic when he sees people he wants to say hello to everyone of all sizes.
Despite knowing his temperament I understand how some people would find his energy worrying so our rule for walking is if there is no one in sight he is allowed off the leash, the minute we see someone he is called back and put on again.

 

I was once walking down the road and was looking through this terraced house window. There was a skeleton of a Triceratops in the window. I was intrigued as I hadn't seen one before only the the T-Rex one that came with my Dinosaurs magazine.

Anyway to my horror the next door neighbours door burst open and big golden retriever bounded towards me. I ran down the path, hopped over the fence and in the door the dog came from and closed the door behind me.

The owner came down and reassured me that the dog was only playing.

 

Ask Husky owners if their dog has ripped a little dog to pieces recently; usually goes down a treat.

 

I kind of agree with your sentiment, and it's the owners responsibility to ensure that their dog has good enough recalled be allowed off the lead in public places. I've got a very excitable cocker spaniel and he's brilliant with people kids and other dogs but if I sense someone is unsure or concerned I just have to whistle and he'll come back and I'll put him straight on the lead.lmwhilst the people/other dog passes. It's taken literally hundred plus hours though to train him to be like that and I guess that is where other dog owners let us down, it's hard work but some aren't prepared to out in the effort.

 

That's how it should be.

 

What they should say is that the dog hasn't bitten yet. Under the right circumstances any dog wii bite.