dogs on leads?

[reddi8]

this weekend we took our retired greyhound with us on board. At the lock I let him on his lead stretch his legs. As I was standing alongside the boat a family approached with a Jack russell pup running around. I asked her would she put it on a lead to stop it annoying the greyhound. She said dogs don`t need to be on a lead on the canal bank. I just wondered if she is right. Luckily our old dog didn`t seem bothered.

[Paula]

I don't think that there are any rules about dogs on leads from BW, but under some act, I can't remember which one ,it states that dogs should be under control at all times.

 

Jack Dog (the best dog in the world) is on his lead at all times on the canal.......he will run away after rabbits otherwise!!!!

 

I think the owner should have repected your wishes if it was upsetting your dog....its just common sense.

 

Paula XX

[Bernie]

Paula is right, a dog should be kept under control at all times and wear an identification tag with owners details on it. I would never let either of my dogs loose around locks anyway since I do know of several that have been drowned in this way after either jumping or falling in. I don't always have them on lead when walking them though since their recall is excellent and they don't annoy other dogs unless they are told they can go play with them.

Edited May 1, 2006 by Bernie

[Maffi]

This points in the general direction http://www.dog-breeds.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=14&article=1

 

Most Dog Law is covered by bye-laws made by the local authority. Google 'dog lead law & your local authority'

 

This one is quite interesting http://countrysideaccessforum.hants.org.uk...kingdoglaw.html

 

The Dangerous breeds law applies to any dog that is out of control, and thought to be likely to cause injury, even though it doesn't.

Edited May 1, 2006 by Maffi

[DHutch]

Not sure what the rules are. But we very rairly had piper on a lead when at lock, and also she often used to run along the towpath between bridgeholes, eather with or without some on shore with her, depending on how busy it was.

 

She was a frendly and controlable dog and very well meaning dog,

- However, occational if we though it was suitabe we would hold her coller or put her on the boat and tell her to sit. Ussally this was when the where small children around, as frendly as she was, she was on largesize, and even i would be affraid fo a dog that was taller than me and bounding around like a wild thing!

- Certainly if someone had have asked us to put her on a lead we would have held her or put her on the boat. Although in all the years of doing this, we where never asked.

 

 

Daniel

[Bernie]

The laws in this country are that a dog must be kept under control in a public place at all times, not necessarily on a lead. They again in a public place by law have to wear a collar and identity tag with the owners name and address and tel number engraved on it. If this is not complied with then the dog wardens have the right to pick them up and take to the local pound, where if reclaimed a fee of at least £40 and upwards is payable. If not reclaimed then the dog is either PTS, rehomed or a rescue place found. This does not necessarily apply to working dogs. Although this is a blanket coverage for all places some councils do have additions where a dog must be either kept on lead or banned altogether :eg certain beaches.

Edited May 1, 2006 by Bernie

[grey]

this weekend we took our retired greyhound with us on board. At the lock I let him on his lead stretch his legs. As I was standing alongside the boat a family approached with a Jack russell pup running around. I asked her would she put it on a lead to stop it annoying the greyhound. She said dogs don`t need to be on a lead on the canal bank. I just wondered if she is right. Luckily our old dog didn`t seem bothered.

 

 

i suspect the only reason youre retired greyhound was annoyed was because you had him tied up while the pup was free to play.

lets hope the pup wasnt having too much of a good day.im sure you helped by being a grumpy ***.

[Bernie]

Unfortunately that little pup one day just might meet and try to play with the wrong dog with sad consequences. It surely is common sense not to allow one dog to bound up and try to play with another without first finding out if the dog is in fact friendly, there is usually a good reason why a dog is on lead.

My elderly dog is arthritic and although is not aggressive will grumble at a dog if it bounds up and attempts to jump all over him.

Edited May 1, 2006 by Bernie

[Khayamanzi]

Unfortunately that little pup one day just might meet and try to play with the wrong dog with sad consequences. It surely is common sense not to allow one dog to bound up and try to play with another without first finding out if the dog is in fact friendly, there is usually a good reason why a dog is on lead.

My elderly dog is arthritic and although is not aggressive will grumble at a dog if it bounds up and attempts to jump all over him.

 

 

I quite agree and in my experience, 9 times out of 10 the reason why dogs are on the lead is due to over-anxious owners! Simba is very rarely on a lead, (unless on PAT duties where it is a requirement,) and loves nothing more than a fantastic play, jump, roll and slobber with another dog. A dog that is on a lead is often naturally aggressive as it can't defend itself. It's a well known fact that many 'aggressive' dogs are absolutely fine when let off the lead and allowed to socialise in the way that is natural to the animal. Sadly many owners are unable to read their dogs psycology and mis-interpret play for aggression, getting very uptight when dogs jump up at each other or even play fight to assert dominance. Whilst there are dogs who are not sociable with other dogs, (usually due to lack of supervised and free socialisation from an early age,) I have to admit to getting very annoyed at the owners who take dogs for a supposed 'walk' and then hold them down and close on tight short little leads - how frustrating that must be for an animal whose very nature is to run and play, it's similar to keeping a large exotic bird in a tiny cage unable to fly. If a dog can't be trusted to come back, then time and effort should be spent on re-call and basic commands - I guess it's indicative of a society where responsibilities don't have to be taken seriously any more.

 

Of course if another dog is clearly older or disabled, it is common politeness to re-call and 'side' your dog and not allow it to 'leap all over it'. Again, if a dog won't re-call and side then basic training is not in place and needs to be invested urgently as a matter of responsibility and kindness to the dog!

 

Having said all that, if someone expressly requests politely that your dog is kept well away from theirs, for whatever reason, it is common courtesy that they comply I would have thought.

Edited May 1, 2006 by Khayamanzi

[gaggle]

dog owners should be made to keep them on a lead no longer than 1 metre,this will stop them pretending that the loose dog fouling the towpath does not belong to them or taking out a plastic bag and pretending they will pick it up when they reach the spot.

the towpaths i have come across are about 10 ft wide which is hardly a wide open space for dogs to rampage around,dog owners need to get the message that they and their dogs are becoming socially unacceptable.

i dont know why smokers can be stopped having a ciggy in a public place while dog owners can go round letting dogs shit everywhere,it is about time something was done once and for all.

[Supermalc]

Your dog should be on a lead in a public place....this is everywhere outside your home or garden. Now I know this is a ridiculous law, but dogs MUST be under control at all time.

 

I went to dog training classes, and after my first dog, leant how to train my dog. Yes he has moments but if fine 99% of the time. He certainly is never dangerous.

 

If you have done your job properly a dog is ALWAYS on a lead, even when it isn't. Yes I know that doesn't make sense, until you understand how to train a dog. If the dog is trained properly the lead is a SIGNALING DEVICE not a restraint. Of course it IS a restraint when the dog sees a cat and tries to chase it, but normally it should be loose, with your dog by your side.

 

I have just spent time with Allan (Keeping Up) and his dog, a rescue cannot be let off the lead because of previous experience. It is NOT the dogs fault, but the fault of previous owners.

 

If your dog is loose, and bites a dog on the lead YOU PAY. That is the law.

 

BW state dogs should be on the lead on the river/canal bank. But hey, that's the reason most of us have a boat, and a dog, to get free access to the countryside.

[dor]

dog owners should be made to keep them on a lead no longer than 1 metre,this will stop them pretending that the loose dog fouling the towpath does not belong to them or taking out a plastic bag and pretending they will pick it up when they reach the spot.

the towpaths i have come across are about 10 ft wide which is hardly a wide open space for dogs to rampage around,dog owners need to get the message that they and their dogs are becoming socially unacceptable.

i dont know why smokers can be stopped having a ciggy in a public place while dog owners can go round letting dogs shit everywhere,it is about time something was done once and for all.

 

Hear Hear!

 

It should be quite simple to sort this out. If a dog craps anywhere, and the owner does not immediately pick it up, an offence has been committed. This should be dealt with by a minimum £1000 fine. After two or three well-publicised cases, dog owners might just start to be a little more responsible.

 

The situation at present is totally worthless, in that even if someone in authority sees the crap being left behind, they have to repeatedly ask the dog owner to clear up before they can progress any further. In thye extremely rare case that a case is taken to court, a minimal fine is all that is made.

 

I'm getting sick of having to look down where I walk all the time - not just on towpaths - I suppose it is just another sign of the "up yours" mentality that seems to be pervading society these days.

 

[/rant]

[Bernie]

As a responsible dog owner I wholeheartedly agree with you dor, it is just a sad sign of the times that because of some we are all tarred with the same brush which I get rather annoyed at.

[Khayamanzi]

Well said Bernie! It's the sort of draconian measures being talked about on here that gets everyone up on soap boxes! Of course there are a small minority of very ignorant owners and always will be as there amongst boaters, teachers and probably vicars but draconian measures won't deal with it unfortunately and draconian talk will peobably make the more responsible owners feel they aren't appreciated and so why bother!!? I agree some well documented and high profile cases may help but I don't think they will solve it. Bring back the dog licence, I say so that some form of regulation and responsibility can be commanded.

 

Come to that, there ought to be a licence to keep kids as well!!

[dor]

Of course there are a small minority of very ignorant owners

 

Unfortunately Andy, I don't think it is a small minority that cause the problem.

 

It seems to me that it is a small minority that do pick up after their dogs (and then some of them just throw the bag in the hedge!).

 

Isn't it in the interests of the responsible dog owners to do something about it? I am afraid that it will take significant fines to make people wake up to their responsibilities.

 

Maybe it is not too bad around your way, but you should take a walk say up the Audlem flight after a nice day, and see just how much crap their is about.

[Diane]

I totally agree that dog owners should pick up after their dogs, as I always do, but it would be a great help if bins were provided!! Along the Montgomery Canal there are now no dog bins & as in Audlem there are plenty of filled bags to be found in the hedges. More often than not we tend to take ours home with us but I can see why some people don't!!

[Sir Nibble]

Here we go again, dogs!

Those who don't keep their dogs under control or fail to clear up after them are the enemy. My enemy as someone who doesn't think it acceptable to leave shit all over the place, and the enemy of the responsible dog owner who will be the real losers when BW just throw their hands up in despair and ban all dogs from the towpath.

They are a threat to the peace and beauty of the waterways, and to the health of the people.

Bring back the dog licence,

Good idea, pitch it at about £50 and it should cover the costs of clean up!

[Diane]

Here we go again, dogs!

Those who don't keep their dogs under control or fail to clear up after them are the enemy. My enemy as someone who doesn't think it acceptable to leave shit all over the place, and the enemy of the responsible dog owner who will be the real losers when BW just throw their hands up in despair and ban all dogs from the towpath.

They are a threat to the peace and beauty of the waterways, and to the health of the people.

 

 

Tell you what let's ban children aswell & anything else that might annoy you shall we?!?!?!!

Edited May 2, 2006 by Diane

[Bernie]

Isn't it in the interests of the responsible dog owners to do something about it? I am afraid that it will take significant fines to make people wake up to their responsibilities.

 

 

Yes and I for one did, with someone who just let their dog foul outside my front gate, I followed them home and tipped it on their front garden, telling them they had forgotten something. This person hasn't been past my house since, sadly they are probably allowing their dog to poo outside someone else's house.

I have called the dog wardens on numerous occasions too, but all they say is unless I can give them proof of who the perpetrator is there is nothing they can do. So about as much help as a chocolate teapot. It is £1000 fine in my area but has made not a jot of difference.

Bringing back the dog licence is a good idea in theory, but again only the responsible owners would purchase one as previously.

[nichimyo]

At least with children you've a fighting chance that they understand, "Excuse me, you're in the way, I need to get to that" (pointing at paddle winding gear or whatever). And children in my experience don't jump up and try to lick your face. Or c**p on the towpath, or p**s on the winding gear, bollards, or other upright items.

 

Dogs. Under control, they're great. But, they easily get excited (like children) and that's when the problems start.

[Bernie]

At least with children you've a fighting chance that they understand, "Excuse me, you're in the way, I need to get to that" (pointing at paddle winding gear or whatever). And children in my experience don't jump up and try to lick your face. Or c**p on the towpath, or p**s on the winding gear, bollards, or other upright items.

 

 

And in many cases today they tell you in foul language where to go or throw stones from bridges..

[Diane]

Was just thinking the same Bernie

 

I'd rather be licked to death than pelted with stones!

[nichimyo]

True, but better than being bitten I guess Actually, thinking about it, I'd rather be told to F-off than be licked, even.

Coo, aren't we getting oursleves wound up this afternoon, fun, eh?

[Bernie]

No not getting wound up just pointing out the facts, why do you think some areas are no go during school holidays. I'd much rather have my dogs than many people I know.

[Bones]

No not getting wound up just pointing out the facts, why do you think some areas are no go during school holidays. I'd much rather have my dogs than many people I know.

in addition, if the worst comes to the worst you can always eat a dog - it isn't very PC to do the same with children