Morning all,
I would value some opinions here. Every morning, i take the dog for a walk for about an hour around a boardwalk in the forest. I have been doing this for a year at least, down there the minute the gate opens. There are a handful of us dog walkers, and most of us will let the dog off the leash.
There are signs saying 'Please keep the dog on the leash' which i have interpreted as being a request as opposed to an order. The reason i go down first things is to let the dog run before there are any children around, and while it is quiet. If i see a dog i don't know, or if i see a young child, i put the dog back on the leash. My dog is very quiet, and just walks around sniffing, and then running along to catch up with me - he is always in my sight. Most mornings I see the same three dog walkers, and maybe one or two regular walkers - never had an issue with this.
This morning, on the way back to the car, a lady was power walking towards me and yelled at me to put the dog on the leash. This was a lady i have never seen before, so i put dog on the leash thinking she might be scared etc. However, when she came to me she started yelling saying all dogs should be one the leash, she would be reporting me to the dog warden, all dogs should be banned from the area etc. etc. In retaliation i told her i thought she had a stinking attitude and was small minded. I also pointed out that I interpreted the word 'Please' as a request, not an order.
At the time, my dog was sniffing a patch of grass, he wasn't bounding up to her or anything and came straight to me when i called him over to put him on the leash. I really would not let my dog off the leash if i didn't trust him enough or if i didn't feel i had control of him. As a result of this morning, i am raging. Am i overreacting?
I always carry dog mess bags and pick up my waste (it's a pet hate of mine when people don't), go down first thing in the morning, and generally feel i am being a responsible owner. Now i am worried that i will be reported to the dog warden - if a sign says 'Please keep dogs on leash', am I in the wrong for letting him off? If the sign said 'Dogs must be kept on a elash' that would be different in my eyes.
I have never seen this woman in the area before, and it would be such a shame if dogs were banned from walking in the area (there are very places I know of where dogs can run free). What are your opinions?
I would value some opinions here. Every morning, i take the dog for a walk for about an hour around a boardwalk in the forest. I have been doing this for a year at least, down there the minute the gate opens. There are a handful of us dog walkers, and most of us will let the dog off the leash.
There are signs saying 'Please keep the dog on the leash' which i have interpreted as being a request as opposed to an order. The reason i go down first things is to let the dog run before there are any children around, and while it is quiet. If i see a dog i don't know, or if i see a young child, i put the dog back on the leash. My dog is very quiet, and just walks around sniffing, and then running along to catch up with me - he is always in my sight. Most mornings I see the same three dog walkers, and maybe one or two regular walkers - never had an issue with this.
This morning, on the way back to the car, a lady was power walking towards me and yelled at me to put the dog on the leash. This was a lady i have never seen before, so i put dog on the leash thinking she might be scared etc. However, when she came to me she started yelling saying all dogs should be one the leash, she would be reporting me to the dog warden, all dogs should be banned from the area etc. etc. In retaliation i told her i thought she had a stinking attitude and was small minded. I also pointed out that I interpreted the word 'Please' as a request, not an order.
At the time, my dog was sniffing a patch of grass, he wasn't bounding up to her or anything and came straight to me when i called him over to put him on the leash. I really would not let my dog off the leash if i didn't trust him enough or if i didn't feel i had control of him. As a result of this morning, i am raging. Am i overreacting?
I always carry dog mess bags and pick up my waste (it's a pet hate of mine when people don't), go down first thing in the morning, and generally feel i am being a responsible owner. Now i am worried that i will be reported to the dog warden - if a sign says 'Please keep dogs on leash', am I in the wrong for letting him off? If the sign said 'Dogs must be kept on a elash' that would be different in my eyes.
I have never seen this woman in the area before, and it would be such a shame if dogs were banned from walking in the area (there are very places I know of where dogs can run free). What are your opinions?