22/04/2025
Both yesterday and today whilst walking dogs on lead, we've had dogs charge at us. Yesterday, after a man's dog came running at my 3 on lead dogs, he shouted, "he doesn't bite" over and over, and his excuse was that his dog was ONLY 18 months old. The dog ran at us 4 times causing upset with my 2 reactive dogs, and even my non-reactive dog snapped as he was uncomfortable. I was walking my dogs on a bridleway at the time. I dread to think what would have happened if a horse had come along. I purposefully walk my dogs at this location as it is almost always quiet and we never bump into other dogs.
Today, 2 off lead dogs charged at my afternoon group, which included one of my own dogs. They were all on lead at the time as we were heading towards the road, back to the car. One of the off lead dogs ran over, teeth bared and snapping at my dogs. I really thought it was going to go for them. Thankfully, everyone is fine, but both incidents could have ended very differently.
This isn't the first couple of times, either. I do my very best to keep all of the dogs in my care safe, but when things like this happen, I can't always control the situation.
Also, just because your dog is "friendly" or wants to play or say hi, it doesn't mean my dogs do. Please, take accountability.
A post that shouldn’t need writing.
This week, several of my clients have contacted me to say that their on-lead dogs have been ran at and attacked by off-lead dogs. Some of them have then been blamed by the person walking the off-lead dog. Many of my clients have nervous dogs, and their families have worked really hard to help them feel more confident in the outside world. Some also have pain issues and could be seriously hurt by a dog running over and knocking in to them.
One of these incidents involved an off-lead dog running across a busy main road and having a go at an on-lead dog, who was being walked on a pavement.
So often when this happens, people are met with abuse when they ask the person with the off-lead dog to recall them or regain control of them. Here are some details about dog law that you NEED to be aware of if your dog is off-lead.
1. Failing to have control over your dog is breaking the law. If you know that your dog does not have reliable recall then you should not let them off of their lead. You can use long lines in appropriate spaces, to allow them more freedom without them being completely off-lead.
2. If your dog is behaving dangerously in a public or private space and causing reasonable fear of harm, you are breaking the law.
3. Having your dog off-lead on a designated road is breaking the law (Road Traffic Act 1988).
4. Your local authority may have further bylaws stipulating lengths of leads required on pavements. For example, my local council stipulates that dogs should be on a lead of 1 metre on pavements.
5. Your dog should be on lead on Open Access Land between 1st March and 31st July regardless of if you can see livestock or not. This law got some traction in the media last month but is not new.
Everyone is entitled to an enjoyable time outside. It is nice to see your dog having time off lead but if you know that they behave in a way that could be harmful to other people and dogs, you need to keep them on a lead. It isn’t fair to blame on-lead dogs or say that they should “sort it out themselves” which is quite frankly, dangerous. You have no idea how hard somebody has worked to help that on-lead dog comfortable on their walks, emotionally or physically. You have no idea how much your dog could hurt the on-lead dog that they charge in to, and how that happening could result in the dog having to have reduced exercise and take increased pain relief. Just take accountability for the situation.
If your dog has reasonably reliable recall and isn’t antagonistic towards other dogs, but has the occasional wobble which you are working really hard to stop happening, this isn’t aimed at you! 😊 Sadly, there are folks out there who do know that their dog will run over and behave in a hostile manner towards other dogs, but instead of apologising at the time and learning from it, they blame the other person/dog. It is simply unfair.
Please also note that even if your not is not antagonistic towards other dogs or people, you should still be able to call them away, and it is still not advisable to let your dog run up to on-lead dogs. Everyone should be able to go outside without worry of being approached in an unwanted way.
For my overseas followers, please note I'm based in South West England, and I am referencing laws that apply to where I live.
Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Claudia's Canines: Dog walking and pet services, Dog walker, Exminster, Exeter.
