“You’re on a walk and you see a dog on a lead. Your dog is running free.
Q: What should you do next?
Is it:
A: put your dog on a lead
B. Let your dog run over and say hello.
C: Shout “Don’t worry, he’s friendly.”
Or
D: What dog? You were playing candy crush.
The answer is…. A. Did you get it right?”
I saw this post on social media recently. It is regularly posted in various forms and it makes me growl every time. Apart from the obvious omisions to the options it assumes all dogs to be the same danger to other dogs. And it sounds bloody sanctimonious!
I walk Rousay off-lead all the time. I usually don’t even carry her lead if we are walking in a place she knows well. She is very friendly, shyly curious and really timid. She is also responsive to commands from me and cues from other walkers and dogs. Many walkers know her and she loves the attention they give her, others are less familiar and will either stop to pet her or walk on by as they see fit. Rousay loves meeting other dogs but will immediately assume a submissive position to more alpha dogs. She wants to play chase but only if she is the chaser! It’s a collie thing!
My point is that I am responsible for my dog and as such I do not always need to put her on lead when we meet other dogs regardless of whether they are on leads or not. I am not, however, responsible for other people’s dogs. I sympathise if other dogs are nervous, reactive or just bad tempered but it is not my responsibility to cater to their needs. In the same way I was not responsible if other people’s children got upset because my children were eating sweets in the park when they had none. I did not need to stop my children eating because it somehow upset others.
I have met owners of reactive dogs and it often seems to be my fault when their dogs react. I rarely witness those owners dealing with their own dog’s reaction or using the situation as a training moment. It is not Rousay’s responsibility when another dog reacts badly to her presence and I am not going to put my dog on a lead to appease the owner.
I have confidence in Rousay to act appropriately and to respond to my commands. She is trained to obey my commands. In the rare instance that she does not respond she is not a danger to other people or dogs and she is able to read the cues from other dogs who do not want to be approached. I am not, however, the person in option D who pays no attention to what their dog or others are doing. I know where Rousay is, what she is doing and how she is likely to react to the approach of another dog or person. I will call her to heel if necessary and she will respond.
Of course, the argument is that other people do not know my dog and this is true. Just as I do not know their dog and why it may or may not be on a lead. I am responsible for my dog alone. Your dog is your responsibility. If your dog is reactive then you need to deal with that. Instead of being concerned about my dog being off-lead, respond to your own dogs needs. If that means you have to cross the road, calm your dog or use the moment for training then do so. In the same way, if I perceive a threat or danger to Rousay I will move away or give her appropriate training/attention. For instance, Rousay is scared of traffic, especially busses and motorbikes. When she senses one approaching she lies down until it passes. I have trained her to do this and I reassure her all is well. I do not expect traffic to stop when I am out walking her.
Well, not all dogs are as well behaved as Rousay, you may say. Again, true. Sadly, not all dog owners are responsible. I am not responsible for their irresponsibility and when I meet with it I, too, have to take appropraite action with Rousay. We can only be responsible for our own actions and our own dog’s safety. If a dog is aggressive, of course you can report it after taking immediate steps so ensure you and your dog’s safety.
The above admonition to put dogs on lead when meeting other dogs is, no doubt, well meaning. There are definitely owners who should have their dogs on leads. A social meadia quizlet or or article telling all dog owners that it is ‘respectful’ to put our dogs on lead or ‘irresponsible’ if we do not might have good intentions but inevitably misses the point that we are all responsible only for our own dogs. I would rather see posts advising dog owners that a walk with your dog, while pleasurable exercise, is not a time to switch off and let your mind wander. The owner should be fully aware of what their dog and others are doing and be able to ‘read’ any potential situation that presents itself.
Significantly Different 