Sadly, I know a lot of my clients will now avoid parks and common land where dogs are running free, including myself.

For every responsible dog owner their are 3 who are not, and it can and does cause chaos. As I said previously, the best trained dog in the world can be spooked by a car backfiring, bitch on heat etc. etc.

All of our German Shepherd Dogs, rarely venture far from our side, so a flexi lead still enabled them a good free run. As soon as another dog approached I could relax, secure in the knowledge that my dog was safe.

I have however, had occasion where a young Lab with a lovely temperament, came ambling over to Zak wanting to play. The owner was nowhere in sight!

As explained previously, Zak was fearful of other dogs due to being attacked when he was a pup, and went on the defensive. After much barking and my pulling Zak away from this dog, the owner finally appeared, shouting and screaming at me for frightening her dog!!

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