Today I was walking along the canal with Otis, and we met someone with a dog on a lead, who Otis tried to play with, the owner said, to me I think he should be on a lead, and picked up there small, dog. I said, he is only trying to play, called Otis and he came to me. Now Otis wasnt harming the other dog, I was in a safe area, for him to run about in, I had control of him, he came to me. So why should I have to put him on a lead for her benefit. She said , not everyone likes it, meaning Otis attempts to play. Am I being selfish and irresponsible ? I dont think so, I want to enjoy a walk with Otis , and he wants to enjoy it off lead. I dont object to her not wanting to interact with my dog, and I am pleased I had control over Otis, but I do not think I should have to put him on a lead.
Re: On lead, off lead etiquette. Great work on being able to call Otis back You've done a great job with his recall. If I am walking my dog off lead my policy is to put him on lead if I see another on-lead dog approaching. I figure that there may be many reasons why another dog is on lead - recovering from surgery, it might be sick, it might need space due to an anxiety or aggression problem, it might be old. So I just put Obi on lead while we pass. When we are clear of the other dog I let Obi off lead again. It's also a good training exercise to put your dog on lead and then a short time later let them off again - they learn that coming back to go on lead is not the end of all the fun as they will be able to run free again shortly Usually the periods of on-lead time are only short as, in off-lead areas, most people have their dogs off lead If I see another dog off lead then I usually let my dog stay off lead. Would you be happy using the above approach do you think?
Re: On lead, off lead etiquette. Hi Rachael, That sounds a good policy, I see what you are saying, Thanks, Maggie x
Re: On lead, off lead etiquette. Maggie I do the same with Dexter....for all the reasons Rachael mentioned but also because where we live he really shouldn't be off the lead :-\ so I can't afford to get into any conflicts. Otis is a god boy and he was very good to come straight back to you x
Re: On lead, off lead etiquette. Lilly's recall isn't the best but where I walk Lilly its very safe so usually if there is a dog on the lead it is for a specific reason I am generally with Rachael - if I can get her back to go on the lead. interesting thing I find though is that a couple of steps after passing the dog on lead I can let her off and she goes on, rarely will she go back the ways. Think I have already said elsewhere that we have MOST problems with smaller dogs or GSDs.
Re: On lead, off lead etiquette. Same here.....if I have Riley on lead it's usually for good reason so I'd prefer other dogs to just pass by and if we see a dog on a lead I pop him on as we pass and then let him off again Great recall too, well done Otis!
Re: On lead, off lead etiquette. Great recall Otis If I see a dog on lead I call Harley back to me or throw her ball past the other dog. If I recall her I get her to sit, and if she shows any interest in the other dog I pop her on her lead. Sometimes the on-lead dog ones towards us and I always ask if Harley can say hi, but she would be on-lead too. I think it polite to do this because if reasons everyone has says.
Re: On lead, off lead etiquette. For me it depends on the distance between us. The park I walk in is big enough for me to call Penny away from a dog that's on lead and for us to pass without any problems but in a smaller area I probably would put her back on the lead, for my peace of mind more than anyone else's. If I was walking along my local canal personally I wouldn't have her off lead at all as the towpath is fairly narrow at times and you can never see what's coming for enough ahead for my liking.
Re: On lead, off lead etiquette. Yes - as soon as I see a dog on lead I pop Tatze on, they are often on lead due to aggression or anxiety or joint problems or post op, so a big pooch bouncing towards them would not help at all. If the other dog is off lead I leave Tatze off and let her do the introductions - they only speak 'dog' when off lead. Of course, if your dog will trot past to heel then the lead isn't needed. Tatze will do that no problems with people, joggers, cyclists, horses, sheep - but not dogs! Quite often I will pop Tatze on and the the owner says 'oh, he's fine - he just chases rabbits so I have to keep him on' or 'he's friendly but I can't get him back if I let him off' ---- this is where I recommend 'Total Recall'! )
Re: On lead, off lead etiquette. Same here Maggie, if someone elses dog is on lead, mine go on lead, if their dog is off lead I leave mine off lead and ask if it's OK to play. You just don't know what reasons someone elses dogs are on lead for, so it makes life less stressful for all x
Re: On lead, off lead etiquette. Yep, same here. We mirror what is facing us - if the dog is on-lead I recall Harvey and put him on-lead, if the dog is off-lead the Harvey remains off-lead. I work on the basis that if a dog is on-lead in what is considered to be an off-lead area then it is for a reason (whatever that may be) and I respect the other owner's decision and prevent Harvey from inter-acting unless approval is given first (people are generally appreciative of your consideration and will offer an explanation as to why their dog is on-lead eg post-op.)
Re: On lead, off lead etiquette. Same here, and as the owner of a dog who has needed a fair bit of help with some dog anxiety issues over the past year, there were times last year where we were working on this a lot and I really really really didn't want off lead dogs hooning up to her if I could avoid it, no matter how friendly they were... plus its actually a bit of a pain if your dog is on lead and an off lead dog runs up as you are left trying not to get tangled up in the the lead dancing that then usually ensues so I always figure if a dog is on lead its for a reason and stick mine on too And good recall Otis boy!!
Re: On lead, off lead etiquette. I used to be the same as you Maggie, but not anymore. But now I'm the one with an injured dog on lead. I only walk very early, and very late, and pick the quiet spots. I'd be asking for trouble if I marched through the main off lead dog field for example on a really sunny day! I do need other owners to keep their dogs away, it's a problem for me if they don't. Lots don't though, but I think it's because they don't think - if I explain, most people will put their dog on lead for a moment.
Re: On lead, off lead etiquette. Thanks everyone, sound advice. I will leash him when going past an on lead dog, good etiquette. I totaly understand Julie, I can understand what a nuscience an offlead boistrous dog ( like the beagle !) is to Charlie, and what harm it could cause. Love and hugs to Charlie, xx
Re: On lead, off lead etiquette. I've had this response to my lab being off lead and wanting to play as well. Excellent job on the recall though. What do is recall him if I see an on lead dog and make him walk at heel until we are past the other dog, heel work is excellent for this scenario.
