This is an old thread, but might as well give my two penneth....

I think dogs should be kept under control at all times, be that on or off a lead.

My dogs are no risk to children whatsoever, I would bet my lifetimes earning on it. Neither are they allowed to approach people without permission. The younger two aren't 100% reliable off lead yet, so I use common snese, but the older one is (as I have said before) and in all situation, so I don't see why she should be kept on the lead.

That said, if we were road walking, for example, she would be on her lead. What is the point of having a dog off lead when it has to walk to heel anyway?

i can think of for and against to this one.
i take max to puppy classes to help socialize him,but out on the street when he is on a lead and a free running dog bounds up to us,it kind of undoes all the work,it does scare him,and puts me on edge for his safety,you get the usual statement from the other owner.ITS ALRIGHT HE WONT HURT HIM.the point being he already has,by causing a setback.i think another point is some people (not all) are to quick to look the other way,or walk the other way when their untethered dog poops,with a i didnt see it look on their face.
having said that,no i dont think a complete ban is in order,this country is far to quick to impose bans and restrict our liberties,we should have the freedom of choice,but be responsible and take the flack when things go wrong.

Now that sounds like a good idea!

Until it happens I'd like to see a safe, enclosed area in all public parks where dogs could be walked off the lead, under control of their owners. I'd also like for these areas to be monitored by a warden so that people who cannot control their dogs off the lead are either made to leash their dogs, or are banned.

No number ten here, i think it would be better if dogs were kept on a leash at all times even if its a long leash, i will not let mine off as one does not like other dogs , only where i know there will be no dogs are they let off , have tried my best to get him used to other dogs but hes been bit twice with off lead dogs and owners not bothered, i know mine is not safe around other dogs since then so he will always be kept on a lead, i just wish other owners with a dog like mine would do the same .

This is what gets me, why do you think a dog can't be under control off lead?

Totally agree with your whole post, I'm pretty much in the same situation, I don't understand where the idea that dogs aren't under control off the lead comes from, it is entirely possible to have a dog (or three) under control off the lead. I would also bet my life earnings that they would never attack anyone.

I do understand that some dogs off the lead are not under control, we get them following us and ignoring their owners all the time but my three are under control so why should I keep them on the lead all the time?

I let my dog off the lead if there are no other dogs about.I stay close by him in case another dog appears so i can put the lead back on him.I would have no problem letting him run about on his own,except he was attacked by a Japanese Akita about 6 months ago.So now everytime a male dog bigger than him appears my dog goes into defence mode and shows aggression towards it.He has no problems with small dogs or female dogs bigger than him.
Its all about the owner showing responsibility.

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If you have correctly trained dogs with good temprements I don't see why they shouldn't be off the lead. I just believe that owners need to be 110% honest about their own dogs because you see too many people that have their dogs off lead that obviously have aggression problems. The amount of times I have had people say to me to keep my dogs away from theirs as theirs are aggressive to other dogs, yet most of the time it is them that have their dogs off leash while I always put mine on a lead when we see others approaching.

I always use common sense with my 2. Logan is well trained so can spend more time off lead than Piper can at the moment as she is only 5 months old and still learning. However if I came to a park where a bunch of kids were playing football I wouldn't let either off the lead because Piper would jump up everyone wanting fuss and Logan would just steal the football

I too would bet my lifes earnings that mine would never attack any person or dog

Unfortunately, as with most things, the few ruin it for the many

A well trained dog should always come back when called, Amber has never let me down in the ten years we had her. She is better behaved than most of the kids who live by us.

I know there is good and bad in all, but in Birmingham there has been more shootings and stabbings this year, than children been badly mauled by dogs.

I know that even one child is too many but we have to put things in perspective, most dog attacks are in the home by the family or friends dogs.

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Slave to Amber (Triskele's Orageaux)

i honestly think that IF you know you have total control over your dog,then you should'nt have to have it a a lead?
having said that.should your dog attack another dog,or a person then you should be given a very high fine,with a warning.

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