Following on from other threads recently,

I dont know if its just where i live but nowhere are dogs meant to be off lead, and I live next to lots of parks and open areas. All signs say all dogs must be on leads, and i did actually think it was the law? but i think it says "under control" which is a bit vague?

After seeing what some people think is right and wrong when it comes to dog etiquette I wondered what everyones opinions are?

Ive emailed the council asking for designated dog walking areas.. just have to wait and see...

I always ask first if my dog can be introduced and cant stand other dogs just coming over, especially if I cant see an owner.

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I always thought it was illegal to have an offlead dog on a footpath/pavement (not that it's ever enforced ) and 'under control' in public areas such as the local park etc.

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we have an dogs only walking area of the side of the park with gates where you are allowed to let them off which is nice .

but where i used to live they put signs up say keep on leads and the park rangers would get called out if some one rang them .

We must be really lucky where I live then. We have numerous areas of parkland, parks and lakes with no restrictions on dog walking, you can walk for miles off lead. Although it's not etiquette for dogs to just run over, it happens sometimes and no one seems to get too worked up about it.

It must be quite frustrating if you are restricted. Surely for most dogs it's a part of natural behaviour to play off lead (obviously some dogs don't for various valid reasons).

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There are some places I just avoid, cos the dogs are off lead and bound over, no one does anything, and I dont like that.

If anyone saw my thread about my bad dog walk it really pees me off, especially as its just manners to have control, not to mention the fcat we got hurt.

Next to my ohs house is a park i walk the dog most of the time, and there are some great parts to play off lead, but it does say dogs should be on lead, but its very rare you see a one that is.

Would love a gated area, makes so much sense, that any dog in that area is free to play with others.

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Dogs on lead or under control, does mean you can walk your dog off lead if under control.
You can find out what councils should do before they put up a dog on lead notice by going to --Dog control orders--Government site.
Someone has put a notice up in one of our dog walking areas 'Dog on lead'. However, this is illegal if the council haven't followed the proper procedure.

As far as I'm aware if a dog is off lead near/on a public highway you are breaking the Road Traffic Act.
Local Concils can put in place local by-laws on certain areas stating dogs must be kept on lead, some even state the lead mustn't be longer than 6ft.
Under control doesn't mean on lead - but unless you have control over your dog then it wold be best to have them on a lead or long line.

I'm very lucky where I am the local parks don't have any lead controls however they respectfully ask that whwn organised sporting events are on that dogs are kept on lead.

The local beach if I head west dogs are allowed all year to the east they are not allowed on the beach april-september.

I also have a lot of country side around - so apart from keeping dogs on lead when walking through farms etc they can run off lead.

And as for my understanding of ettiquette - I never allow my dogs to approach a dog on lead flexi, or otherwise. If dogs are off lead I allow my dogs to approach unless it is clear the owner is engaged in training, calls their dog back to them or has walked in an arc to avoid meeting us.
I'm not claiming I'm always succesful at getting them back
However my 2 rarely want to approach other dogs now they are 3 and 4 years old they seemed to just grow out of this at about 2 or 3.

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It is against the law for dogs to be off lead on a public highway - it's not a well known law from what I hear and see - but it is a law (my late father was a policeman and a very useful source of knowledge),

With regards to other locations, it depends what by-laws the council choses to place on them - quite a lot of parks can be "dogs on lead" - but I wouldn't interpret "under control" as necessarily having to be on a lead. Similarly - councils can ban dogs from parks, beaches and any other premises over which they have jurisdiction - and from what I hear on the grapevine, in some areas, this is far more than others.

Our local council seems to be fairly relaxed on dogs, with many local beaches allowing dogs on them all year round, and the remainder from September to May.

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Before councils make a new order banning dogs I understand there has to be a 28 day consultation period according to UK government site, Dogs control order.

Pass - I am afraid to tempt fate by saying our dogs can go pretty much anywhere but OH (local government) confirms anything planned has to have a consultation period before it comes into force.

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