Ok here goes..........

I think dogs should be allowed of there lead in most parks. If the dog is well trained and obidient then there should be no problem.
But if the dogs behaviour is temperamental then it should stay on the lead.......

I have a park at the back of my garden and it has a big field there.
I have a gate to go directly out on to it, so i am lucky. My dog knows alot of the other dogs out there and has a good run around.
Or will do once she is allowed to run around because of the Op she had!!!

i think there should be some restrictions but no in all places. like on the lead at ALL times in streets etc but they should be allowed off the lead in parks etc. it's unfair to have them restricted to leads at all times especially if like me you have to walk more than one or two at any time.

Even if they bought in a law restricting people from letting dogs off leads at any points they wont be able to control it. PLUS you'll have tonnes of dogs going to rescue homes due to them destroying houses because they can't be let off the lead. Aren't we trying to get dogs out of rescue homes these days.

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Totally agree with everything you say there. IMO banning dogs being off lead in all public places is a "quick fix" that councils are rushing into in a bid to look like they are doing something about the problem of dog attacks. Thing is dogs off the lead in public parks aren't the dogs attacking people. The other problem is, it's inevitably going to cause more problems than than it solves.

I agree with most of what you have stated, there should be safe areas where dogs can be exercised off the leash. Dog owners would then have the choice to exercise their dogs in this type of environment or not.

In the past I have encountered a lot of dog owners who will allow their dogs off the leash irrespective of the temperament/behaviour of their dog(s) towards other people and/or dogs. I have had to try and control both dogs either by putting myself between the dogs or lifting mine. If I misjudge a dog's intentions and a fight ensues I have been accused of having a dangerous dog.

There are the dog owners who cannot control their dogs off the leash but firmly believe it doesn't matter in a Park away from roads as their dog has a good temperament etc..

What these people don't realise is that for owners who take responsibility for their dogs and keep them on a leash whether the dog is on a leash because of dog aggression or whether it will not respond to recall, or recovering from illness/surgery etc., their dogs can cause havoc.

I would prefer there to be a law restricting dogs off the leash. Whilst I sympathize with dog owners whose dogs will respond to recall. It is unfair that dog owners with uncontrolled dogs prevent dog owners like myself, who choose to keep our dogs leashed in public areas, from exercising their dogs in the local Park.

I don't take my dog to the Park anymore because of the hassle I got from dogs and their owners. It used to be a standing joke at work "what are you doing tonight Sue a bit of dog fighting" I would reply "yeh with the owners!" If all dogs had to be kept on a leash in Parks I could take my dog to the Park, its only a half hour walk there, I used to spend an hour or more walking round the Park and a half hour walk back.

If I'm honest even if this law was passed I would still avoid the Park because the one loose dog will belong to the numpty.

It now takes me about an hour or so to reach the Countryside, public footpaths and bridle paths. For me that's what having a dog is all about going for walks, not sitting on a Park bench while the dog runs amok as some owners do.

My dog isn't dog aggressive but he won't submit or avoid an aggressive dog, He'll roll his sleeves up. He also has selective hearing on recall although he is getting better.

I work full time and he is left for very long periods during the day. It is seldom he is exercised off the leash. He is almost 3 years old and has never been destructive. I am of the opinion if the dog has regular exercise and lots of stimuli, a dog that isn't already destructive will not become destructive because he has to be kept on a leash in the Park.

I must add I have walked my dog where dogs are allowed off the leash provided they will respond to recall. Every dog owner knew their dog we didn't have any problems, there were one of two dogs on the leash. That was a brilliant day out and how it should be.

It is a sorry state of affairs that a few have/are spoiling it for the rest.

Sue

We must be lucky I have rarely come across a bad dog or owner in the park we go to amazingly i never feel as though our dogs or us are under threat weve gotten to know most of the people who walk there dogs and even more amazingly all the dogs get on like a house on fire , from labs like ours to jack russsels to cockers and mix breeds . i would however put our girls on the lead if i could see small children not that the girls arnt trustworthy , more like you dont know how the children will react also as they are quite big i wouldnt want a small child to be scared by them . I could nt imagine not being able to let them off to run it would be like owning a sports car and being told you cant get out of first gear . I think its owners who need regulating and keeping under controll and responsable breeders not churning out litter after litter selling them to unsuitable people

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I like you more and more each post you make!

It's the same here, its very rare that there's ever a problem.

Personally i think all dogs should be on lead in any public place. Not just for the safety of others but for the dogs too. preventing any incidents before they happen so to speak.
However if your in a secluded spot where you cannot see any problems arising then i think letting a dog off its lead for a decent exercise and run is perfectly fine.
I think it all comes down to responsable dog ownership and common sense.

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georges mummy

totally agree

A lot of it comes down to what you have to hand our park is very quiet even more so this time of year you rarely see anyone other than dog walkers using it during the summer months we will be more vidgalent accounting for more people coming to use the park to play in ect . I would never let them be on the street without being on a lead it comes down to responsable ownership .

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I think on a lead in all public parks, its the only polite thing to do. Plus with the risk of dog attacks and children these days, I think its wise as a dog owner to be in control, just in case.

I do think something should be done about dog parks though, do they exist in the UK? i KNOW the USA have dog parks, specifically for owners to walk their dogs in (off lead) and I know my poochies would love something like that!

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