Dogs in Space

There is a “dog problem” and it is a serious one. I say this as a dog lover, the proud owner of two German Shepherds, River and Valley. I am also a professional dog trainer.

Frequently, when I am in the park giving a dog training lesson, my client and I are interrupted by dogs off lead that rush up and want to play or fight. If I politely ask the owner to call their dog, the person usually stands there bellowing while the dog rushes around ignoring its owner. Sometimes, the owner abuses me for making this entirely reasonable request.

This year I have had client whose lovely little dog was attacked and killed in front of her eyes by a dog that ran up to her off the lead. Another client rang to cancel her lesson because a dog roaming the streets off lead had bitten her as she was walking to my place for her lesson. As she said “I have to cancel because I have blood dripping down my hand.” Various other clients have told me how they have intervened to stop off lead dogs from attacking people or dogs in the street. Two more clients have fallen victim to dogs crashing into them, knocking them over and breaking their legs.

The “dog problem” should not be seen as a conflict between “dog people” and “anti-dog people”. The important issue is how to control people who let their dogs become a nuisance or a danger, without penalising responsible dog owners who train and control their dogs.

A well-trained dog can be allowed to run around and will come when called. When I am walking River and Valley along the bike track and I see a jogger or cyclist coming, I call the dogs to heel, and ask them to drop beside me. I let them run off again when the person has passed. It’s not that the dogs would attack or chase the person, just that I realise people can find them frightening. The looks of surprise and comments of appreciation I get from this simple courtesy suggests that it is the exception.

Dogs that are carefully bred, well socialised as puppies and trained in a practical, humane way can learn to meet other dogs without attacking them, and can be trusted not to attack people, bowl them over or jump on them. Such dogs may still be in the minority.

In the meantime, education and training - not just regulation - is needed.

•    dogs should not be allowed to roam in public without their owners.
•    dogs should be required to be on lead near children’s playgrounds or BBQ areas in the same way that they are required to be on lead in the street or at shopping centres.
•    each neighbourhood could have a safe, fenced off area in which to exercise dogs off lead and train them to come when called.
•    in other areas dogs should be “on a leash or under effective control of the dog’s handler”.

Dogs that are well-trained could enjoy some freedom to run, on the condition that the owner or handler of the dog exercises effective control.

This would give some incentive and reward to people who take the time and trouble to train their dogs, without giving dog owners unlimited license to let their dogs run riot. If a Council officer saw a person in the park with their dog off lead but not being a nuisance or a threat, there would be one simple test to tell whether the dog was under effective control. The officer could say to the handler “please call your dog”. If the dog came when it was called and allowed itself to be put on lead, it would be considered under effective control. If it didn’t, it would not be. The officer could then use his or her discretion to enforce the law.

© Kaye Hargreaves 2008, may be reproduced with acknowledgement; www.kayehargeaves.com