09/11/2024
You’re on a walk and you see a dog on a lead. Your dog is running free.
Q: What should you do next?
(Cue *who wants to be a millionaire* music).
Is it:
A: put your dog on a lead
B. Let your dog run over and say hello.
C: Shout “Don’t worry, he’s friendly.”
Or
D: What dog? You were playing candy crush.
The answer is…. A.
Did you get it right?
Many dog owners don’t. They don’t understand what a negatively life-altering situation a rogue dog can be for on-lead walkers.
Here’s why:
Dogs you don’t know could be on lead for 100s of reasons.
They could be blind.
They could be recovering from surgery.
They could be deaf.
They could be aggressive.
They might be scared of being approached by strangers.
They might be training.
They could be a service dog.
They may be a rescue.
They might be terrified of dogs they don’t know.
They could be elderly or physically vulnerable.
They might simply prefer to walk on lead.
In the end, it doesn’t matter why they are on a lead. It’s none of your business. But what is your business is CONSENT.
Leads are a little flag that say “don’t come close”.
When you see them, putting your dog on a lead is respectful. You show the other owner that you CARE about their choice and consent. It doesn’t matter if your dog has 100% perfect recall. You respect the other person and their dog enough to be courteous and kind to uphold everyone’s safety by making absolutely sure everyone is on a lead (no matter how much you trust your dog).
As a person who is often walking a dog on lead for all of many the reasons listed, I can’t tell you how my heart sings when I see someone extend this gesture to me and my pack.
Your dog has no right or business running up to ANYONE (dog or human) without clear PRIOR consent to do so.
You have a responsibility to ensure your dog is in control in a public place. Failing to recall is an offense. It counts as a dog out of control in a public place.
Please remember to…
🐶🐾 Give Space and Be Responsible 🐾🐶
