23/10/2026
GRIMSBY DOG OWNERS 🐕 LET’S HAVE A HEALTHY FRIDAY NIGHT DEBATE…
OFF-LEAD DOGS APPROACHING ON-LEAD DOGS. 🐕
I genuinely want to hear people’s opinions on this, because it seems to be a subject that causes so much frustration when out walking our dogs.
Why do so many people think it’s acceptable to let their off-lead dog run straight up to a dog that’s on a lead?
And before anyone says, “My dog is friendly!” or “They just want to say hello!” — please remember that not every dog wants to say hello. ❤️
There are lots of reasons why a dog might be on a lead:
🐾 They might be reactive or nervous.
🐾 They might be recovering from an injury or operation.
🐾 They could be elderly, in pain or have a disability.
🐾 They might be in training.
🐾 They might simply not want to interact with other dogs.
🐾 Their owner might be working hard to manage a situation you know nothing about.
When an off-lead dog charges over, the owner of the on-lead dog has very little control over what happens next. The lead can restrict their dog's ability to move away naturally, and even a normally calm dog can feel trapped or threatened.
And what happens if things go wrong? Often, the owner of the on-lead dog gets blamed, even when they've been trying their best to keep their dog safe.
So here's my question: if your dog has poor recall and won't come back when called, why is keeping them off lead more important than being able to keep them under control?
Recall isn't just about getting your dog back eventually. It's about being able to call them away from other dogs, people, wildlife and potentially dangerous situations.
Nobody is saying every dog should spend its entire life on a lead. Dogs deserve exercise, freedom and opportunities to explore. But surely that freedom comes with the responsibility to keep them under control?
A long line, quieter walking areas and recall training are all options while you're working on it.
And just because your dog has never attacked another dog doesn't mean every interaction is welcome or safe.
A friendly dog can still be an unwelcome dog. And “he's only saying hello” doesn't make the situation okay.
So let's hear both sides 👇
💬 If your dog is on lead, how do you feel when off-lead dogs approach?
💬 If you walk your dog off lead, what do you think your responsibilities are when you see an on-lead dog?
💬 And honestly, if your recall isn't reliable, should your dog be off lead in places where other dogs are walking?
Let's keep it respectful. I'm interested in people's genuine opinions and experiences, not arguments. 🐾❤️
