There are typically only two things that can ruin a dog walk, the British weather, and trouble with other dogs.
In most parks dogs are asked to be kept on a lead, but not always.
Dog owners often come into conflict over who was in the wrong regarding their own dogs fighting with each other, with each owner defending their pup to the hilt.
Totally fed up of being chase and attacked by badly behaved dogs on the Heath. If your dog cannot be controlled near other people please keep it on a lead. This was done to me this morning by a black collie-type dog as I went past, even though I stayed to my side of a wide path! pic.twitter.com/N4Q5YZDquY
— Hartley Wintney 🦌 (@hartleywintney) July 18, 2023
But the big question always remains, who is actually in the right?
The contentious issue was recently discussed on the website Mumsnet, where other users disagreed with one another regarding an incident where a dog bit a puppy.
The anonymous post read: “Just want to say, there’s been no complicated situation with this and the owner of the other dog did nothing but apologise and it was actually a very civil encounter where I helped assess their dog, etc.
“I was walking my very reactive dog through a popular park, that’s a hotspot for dogs, but at almost 10pm. I usually do walk him in secluded areas, but as it was getting late, I figured it would be best all around.
“Wasn’t really anyone around, but a little dachshund type puppy (maybe dog? But looked under a year) came running up behind us, I was pulling my dog away, but he just kept following. Owner came running, but my dog did turn around and bite him.
The Countryside Code states you must put your dog on a lead when walking anywhere near livestock to prevent dogs from attacking sheep & other animals.
Read our advice on how to teach your dog to walk on a lead:https://t.co/HNTV1gm4RP pic.twitter.com/UumMsEYqmU
— Battersea Public Affairs (@Battersea_PA) July 10, 2023
“She apologised and acknowledged she should have had him on a lead, but she is trying to work on recall and that’s why she comes late. That’s all that was really said before we checked over her dog.“DH has had a massive go at me! Saying it was silly to walk him through such park and completely OTT panicking about us getting something through the door for court/fines/etc.
“I’m definitely willing to accept it is my fault, but I am genuinely just curious from an outside perspective who is at fault here?”
The first comment defended the owner, King Khazi said: “Your dog was on the lead. Hers wasn’t. You did all the right things.”
Another, Trinity69, shared the same belief: “You weren’t at fault. Your dog, who you know to be reactive was on a lead and hers was not. In this situation, you wouldn’t be subject to fines etc as it was her dog which was not under control.”
However, not all were impressed, “If your dog bites you are at fault. Did you exchange details so she can send you the vet bill?” commented Oysterbabe.
Aprilx added: “You are in the wrong. If your dog is “very reactive to other dogs like that you should put a muzzle on him in public until you can better socialise him. Dogs are allowed to be off lead in some parks.”
Finally, one user brought up the use of muzzles, PickledPurplePickles said: “Your dog bites, he should be muzzled. How can you possibly say your dog would never bite a person”.