Should dogs be kept on lead in Public Parks
- Thread starter liaconn
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I was thinking about this recently as my dog loves to be off the lead and once I have treats on me, I'm in control. I wait until very late at night or very early morning to take him out because he does get excited when children are around. But wouldn't it be great if there were public areas where dogs are accepted off leash? I'd love to take him for a run in the local forest however plenty signs up to say leash required.
Whinge whinge whinge. Sounds like parents of little Naoise and Fionn are worried that the dog might bite their little angel. Meanwhile they have their kids screaming at the table beside you and the parents don't say a word because "I won't raise my children that way" or "don't tell me how to raise my child"
Build a bridge
Build a bridge
I agree with Truthseeker. It's very easy to say to a child 'no no don't do that. He doesn't like it' and walk away if necessary. You can't reason with a dog so it is entirely the owner's responsibility to make sure he's not annoying or scaring people. Also, the law is that the dog should be on a leash so any owner who ignores this is automatically in the wrong. In any case, what kind of an idiot would let an excitable dog run around a pond jumping at small kids?
That is facetious, as my point (again) is that some parents can be completely clueless and quite happily let their children poke and prod at animals without any regard for the fact that they are indeed animals. I'd be interested to find out how many of these attacks are provoked by a finger in any eye or a tug at a tail!
What on earth is your point? Because some kids are badly behaved in restaurants then its okay for dogs to jump at kids in public parks and scare them and for parents to be worried about this?
What a stupid post!
Completely agree that this scenario is unacceptable and even if the dog was harmless the owner should have apologised for the upset. I'm merely pointing out that not all dogs are out to attack children - in my experience sometimes the opposite is the case!
truthseeker
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I do agree that youve got irresponsible parents in this scenario - BUT (and its a big but!!), a dog owner is still responsible for their dog and that includes dealing with unpredictable situations like children wanting to poke the dog or pull their tail.
That doesnt excuse irresponsibility of parents with excitable children, but the bigger responsibility surely lies with the person in control of an animal.
To be facetious again then: does it justify a child being mauled or killed by an unrestrained dog because a curious child pulled it's tail?
truthseeker
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They dont. But the point is, there has NEVER been a reported incident of an unrestrained child attacking, mauling or killing a dog, dog owner or child. But there have been reports of unrestrained dogs doing all of the above.
In short - dogs have the capacity to be dangerous animals, children dont.
+1. Or indeed a child suffering a broken leg after colliding with a running dog.
Also, a lot of elderly people like to walk in the park and many of them aren't too steady on their feet. I know if a dog bounded up at my father or tripped him up, it could have serious consequences. The bottom line is, a public park being used by all age groups is not a suitable place for dogs to be running free (or permanently left on fully extended leads as you see all the time in Marlay Park).
truthseeker
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Those extendable leads are the worst invention ever - talk about telling your dog that HE is the pack leader!!! The mind boggles.
The local DSPCA does dog training classes with some (possibly) famous dog trainer - the first thing he tells people is to bin the extendable lead.
The local DSPCA does dog training classes with some (possibly) famous dog trainer - the first thing he tells people is to bin the extendable lead.
It's down to the dog owners to be responsible and know how to deal with their own dogs. I have two, one small, wouldn't hurt a fly, very calm around children so she is left off the lead except near roads. The other is very sweet natured but excitable and medium sized and so is kept on the lead around people and other dogs. I rarely walk them in public parks because i hate keeping her on the lead (seems a very miserable way for a dog to walk, just my personal opinion) so i walk them in fields and waste ground near where i live where the only other walkers tend to be similarly thinking people who like to let their dogs run around off the lead. Not rocket science, just experience and responsibilty. I would never leave a dog loose around children when there is water regardless, this is just plain dangerous.
truthseeker
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I would disagree with this. Dogs are pack animals and the pack has a leader. A leashed dog is playing 'follow the leader' which is actually a very important bonding process for the dog which fulfills a natural instinct and need. A leashed walk imposes boundaries for the dog, which is a very important educational process for the dog as well.
True, but also boring imo. Dogs love to sniff and roam through bushes and trees and i love watching them enjoy it. I have two very nosy terriers and would rather take them somewhere they can roam about. Of course i can only do this because i put in the time training them so they will come back when i call them, and i make the effort to take them somewhere appropriate.
I remember growing up in a small town during the 70s/80s and there were dogs roaming about everywhere and children were completely used to them. We had a lab and a setter ourselves. I dont remember any dog attacks in our area - if anything the dogs were more afraid of us and maybe dogs were more comfortable with people and less inclined to overexcited playfulness. I remember riding a big St Bernard like a horse in the local park and chasing burst footballs with it and the big lump knocking us to the ground and drooling all over us...fun times...until Mr King brought out Cujo (?)...Things have certainly changed in recent years and more and more people are afraid of dogs which is kinda sad. I live in a rural area and the local dogs are mostly free to roam and I am completely comfortable with that but I realise other people aren't.
truthseeker
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I can remember the same, dogs roaming about in a dublin estate. But I also remember a number of attacks, and one particularly vicious dog who for some reason loved me and hated my sibling so on our shared paper route I had to do the vicious dogs house.
I always assumed it was due to the number of attacks and complaints that rules and regulations in this area were tightened up. Certainly I rarely see a loose dog in an estate these days.