dogs on leads question UK

[mackenzie]

Hi there,
I have a toddler who is very very scared of dogs. I am hoping she will grow out of it, and trying to do what I can to help her do so, but in the meantime she has very unpredictable, vocal and totally panicked reactions to dogs. I haven't ever had a dog, I don't feel completely comfortable with them which I'm sure doesnt help, but I cant do anything about. Im not scared of dogs. There is a couple who live near me (in a small village) with 3 dogs (rottweilers dont know if that makes any diff) and they are always walking them around without their leads on. Friends have met them (just the dogs) on the footpath in the woods, and in other local walks, as well as just on the pavement. I'm afraid of what would happen if we met them and my daughter had one of her freakouts, I don't know what kind of reaction that can provoke, because I have never owned a dog. It's made me scared to go for walks in the woods, and nervous about going to the playpark which is next to their house. Should they be on leads? Any opinions? Ive posted this in a few places for opinions. Thanks!

 

[Button#]

Personally I think it's irresponsible to have dogs off leads near roads or where children are playing, I always see dogs off leads in the park and it annoys me. No matter how well trained and docile a dog is they can still be unpredictable and could misconstrue a child's behaviour as threatening and attack. My child could get away with injuries but a dog who attacks a child would be destroyed and I think that's a big risk to take for the sake of using a lead.

 

[suzib76]

Actually I find this an interesting question.

On one hand I think it's totally unreasonable to expect dogs always to be a on a lead, especially in woodland etc. fair enough at the park but on general walks

But

On the other I am the first to shout in a thread where people leave children alone with animals



Ultimately though, parent is responsible for child. My child would never be more than a few footsteps away as a toddler so if a dog with no lead were to approach I would certainly lift them up. I realise that doesn't necessarily mean the child would be safe though. Interesting.

 

[Button#]

Actually I find this an interesting question.

On one hand I think it's totally unreasonable to expect dogs always to be a on a lead, especially in woodland etc. fair enough at the park but on general walks

But

On the other I am the first to shout in a thread where people leave children alone with animals



Ultimately though, parent is responsible for child. My child would never be more than a few footsteps away as a toddler so if a dog with no lead were to approach I would certainly lift them up. I realise that doesn't necessarily mean the child would be safe though. Interesting.

I agree it's the parents responsibility and on woodland walks and things I agree they should be able to have time off the lead as it's not a play area for children. I think in an ideal world owners would hold onto their dogs as they passed children on those walks but obviously it's not an ideal world.

 

[flump1]

have you got any friends with calm friendly dogs that don't jump up or get over excited that your Lo could meet and give a pat? maybe having a bit of time around some calm dogs might take away some of her anxiety around dogs she doesn't know.

Also I understand why you would be nervous of them being off the lead around your LO I'm the same especially with dogs that are bigger than my LO, If I came across the dogs while out walking I would stay calm and tell your Lo its ok and pick her up (or tell her to stand still until you can get to your LO and pick her up, often when children are scared they run from the dog but this will more than likely make the dog take notice of them and run after them) then either stand still and wait until you can see the owner so you can ask them to hold onto them or put on lead while you walk past and explain your LO is a bit scared or walk past slowly completely ignoring the dog and I'm sure the dog will ignore you, remember they will walk past people every day while out on their walks so if you just ignore them then it will be fine.

 

[Gingerspice]

A few weeks back we went for a walk in the woods. My LO ran ahead on the path. She was in sight. Another walker came walking the other way with their dog not on the lead. Understandable its a wood. Their dog was big but very young. It had no 'social' skills and my daughter started to run back to me(she was maybe 8 m ahead on the path). The dog saw her running and ran after her. The dog got to her before I did. It was jumping all over her (thankfully only licking) and she was beside herself panicking and screaming running around. I picked her up hoping the owner would take responsibnility for the dog while I calmed my daughter down. My daughter literally climbed up me. Screaming in terror and pretty much sitting on my head as this dog was now jumping up at me crying and screaming. The people I was with tried getting this dog to get away from us. All the while I'm trying to explain to my daughter he's just over excited and wanting to play. The owner, not once apologised for their dog. They then 3 times attempted to show my daughter how she was very friendly. At that precise moment the last place on earth she wanted to be was anywhere near that blasted dog yet the owner kept appraching us ( I think they wanted to make amends in some way despite not apologising etc)

Anyway any dog seen on the way home after that resulted in me having to lift her up onto my shoulders and her crying and screaming.

It's taken several weeks of talking about how it was a baby dog and didn't know what it was doing, and just overexcited and looking for somebody to play with. She's not a lover of dogs still but she will often keep walking when one goes past now. Nursery have been helping her get over it also with talking about dogs etc.

I would not have expected that owner to have had their dog on a lead. I would however have expected them to have been happy that their dog was sufficiently trained that when called after finding themselves in that kind of situation it would go back. If its not gonig to respond to you then it should be on a lead. I also do think they should have then put the dog on the lead until the whole situation was resolved. But what really wound me up was their lack of care about it or acknowledgement of their responsibility . They didn't once apologise to me about how their dog has caused mental scars to my child. She was genuinely terrified. I would be if an animal bigger than me chased me and jumped all over me. She was beside herself in fear.

That day my child lost her freedom and will now not run ahead when in the wood at all. She insists on walking next to me the entire time which I don't see why she should have to do that if everybody had some consideration to others when in the wood. The second a dog is in sight she will insist on holding hands and sometimes I have to carry her. I'm not a dog lfan anyway so I had to put myself in a position of having a dog jump all over me which I'd never have wanted but of course I did so for my childs safety.

I try to be reasonable about dogs and lead usage, but tbh that whole episode has resulted in loss of trust from me to dog owners. i do think there should be more done about the 'rules' of dogs on leads and the use of muzzles etc. That day could have ended up so much worse if that young dog had decided not to just lick and I'd have still waded in anyway and put myself in the way.

 

[_Vicky_]

I have three dogs (Labradors) and twins so see both sides.

I think it's a parents responsibility to socialise their children with dogs as much as its dog owners responsibility to socialise their dogs with children.

I really expect dogs to be on leads on pavements and 'parks' but not in woods and forests.

All of my two legged and four legged babies have been taught manners in BOTH directions from tiny - it's the only way IMO x

 

[xprincessx]

I have had dogs my whole life (apart from the past maybe 4 months) and we always kept our dogs on the lead. Dogs are unpredictable and I can appreciate having the dogs off the lead if nobody is around but if it was me the minute i saw a small child i would put my dog back on the lead until we went past them because it's just not worth the risk

 

[Destiny08]

im lucky to have been blessed with a baby who LOVES dogs. as do myself and my husband although we cant have our own.
as far as i know (though i could be wrong. im an immigrant ) it's illegal to have them off their leads on pavements? again could be wrong (and if i am, then they should make it illegal. it can be dangerous. mostly for the dog and drivers on the road.)
i also agree that in playparks they should have to be on a lead. but in woodland areas they should be allowed off. i wouldnt be too worried. just try keep your daughter close to you. and any chance you get, see if the owners will let you bring your daughter in to stroke the dog etc (ofc ask if the dog is friendly first) just to get her used to dogs teach her to open her hand and let the dog sniff her first too.

 

[Gingerspice]

This is interesting reasding: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/controlling-your-dog-in-public

and https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public/overview

 

[Citycroft]

As a mother and dog owner my feeling on this would be that dogs should be on leads in areas like parks with a playground, definitely on pavements but that they should be free to exercise off lead in country parks, woodlands etc. However, I always recall my dogs and put them on their leads if I see young children or other dogs. Not because I am concerned about their temperaments but I do not know how the other dog or children are with dogs and it is unfair to assume that just because my dogs/child like other dogs that all are the same.
I do think I am in the minority in doing this and most people I see out on walks just let their dogs run up to anyone and anything without paying much attention.
Like a PP has said; I feel in the situation you are talking about the responsibility should come from dog owner and parent alike.

Hopefully if your LO gets to socialise with some calm, gentle dogs regularly her fear of them will lessen with time.

 

[Abigailly]

As both a mother and dog owner, I would say it's your responsibility to control your daughter around the dogs. In the same way if my dog was thought to be unpredictable I would make sure I had him under control around kids.

We regularly walk the dog through the park (off the lead) but if we came to kids playing I would put him on. But on a path (not a pavement) I would never put him on a lead. He has every right to be off a it as long as he stays near me.

With regards to your DD's fear. Start small. Buy her a stuffed toy. Let her take it out on a 'walk' with a lead etc. Then when you're out with her compare the dogs you see to her dog. Talk about them regularly. And then, stop any friendly looking dog owner. I'm sure most would happily let you chat about their dog.

Don't be put off by the fact they're big dogs. I used to sit on our Rottweiler's back and pretend he was a horsey!!

Just ask the owner 'is he alright' before you approach them.

 

[Toms Mummy]

We have a Deerhound, he's a pretty tall dog and is a very friendly dog. I have no qualms about him being off the lead with my son. However I will always have him on a lead if we are in a busy area, even if that is our local field which can be completely dead in the morning (he will go off then) but then really busy with walkers/dogs/children/tourists by the afternoon, we do this because he will want to say hello to every dog and person that he sees, he has a tendancy to jump up too! As I say he is very friendly, but he is also very tall so this can be very scary for some people, esp children.

Funnily enough though, my son absolutely loves dogs but is really nervous of jack russell sized dogs as there are a couple in our local village who just roam the street outside their house and will bark & run at us if we walk past..... that is scary for us!

 

[Srrme]

It is very irresponsible for someone to have their dogs off of a lead in a public place. That's what dog parks are for (I am assuming you have them there) and other designated areas where dogs are allowed off their leads.

I love dogs and am very confident around dogs. I have worked with many breeds, and I know that dogs can be unpredictable (even well trained dogs) and do not trust dogs I do not know around my children. Dogs can easily become over excited (if your daughter were to freak out, they might read her wrong and become excited) and when dogs are excited they can nip and jump which can hurt a small child, as I am sure you know. I would definitely be wary around any dogs you do not know that are not on a lead. Even a skilled handler can lose control of their dogs, especially a dog that does not have a solid recall.

 

[KittyVentura]

People here are actually really good. The walk to the lake near us is a popular dog walk and it's either very small old dogs with very small old owners or bigger ones with bigger ones. The small ones the older people tend to call to us that the dogs are friendly and the bigger ones are always grabbed. Always.

We have also always taught Fin to come and hold hands when a dog is approaching or a bike etc so he does that and we talk every.single.time about how most dogs are happy but some dogs can feel grumpy just as we can sometimes so we must always give them space and not touch them without talking to the owner first etc etc and it is working well.

Fin was terrified of dogs from 14 months when his aunt and uncle brought their untrained and rather bouncy lurcher over to Mums at Christmas and it was just in his face And scared him. Through that approach with him and making a point of stopping, talking to dog walkers and petting the dogs myself when confirmed ok etc he is now a dog fan. So much so that we are getting a puppy soon. A Mini Schnauzer called Mavis haha xx

 

[LeoTheLion]

I think every child from a young age should be tought to respect dogs just like every dog should be tought from a young age to respect people .. I too am I mum with a toddler & a large (lab x mastiff) dog, i feel it's all about reading the situation, and acting correctly my dog is very friendly and I walk him off lead with my DS running along with him, but if I see a small child walking towards us I will ALWAYS hold his collar as it must be very intimidating especially to children who are from non dog families. Just like if a unfarmiliar dog comes towards us off lead I will ALWAYS hold DS hand.
I think it's a parents responsibly to teach their child to not be scared of dogs, but also not to just go up to a dog & ALWAYS ask owner if they are okay to stroke.

As for your DD being scared, try not to react to it. Do some role play (as someone suggested get her her own stuffed dog teddy) or ask a friend with a friendly calm dog to meet your DD