Looking Out for Each Other on Our Walks

I wanted to take a moment to talk about something that’s been on my mind lately - the sometimes worrying behaviour of other people’s dogs. Twiglet and I are lucky to have a wonderful community of familiar walking friends where we live, and most of our outings are happy, tail-wagging affairs.

However, from time to time we do come across dogs we don’t know. Twiglet loves a good sniff (as most pups do!), but if we’re unsure about another dog, she’s always popped straight back on her lead. It’s a simple precaution that helps prevent any unwanted behaviour before it starts - and keeps both dogs comfortable and safe.

Recently, though, there’s been a situation locally that’s left quite a few of us feeling uneasy. A young, energetic larger breed dog has been walked on an extendable lead and, unfortunately, has slipped its collar on more than one occasion. Sadly, its unpredictable behaviour has already led to a few incidents - including one poor pup needing stitches, and even a couple of owners being bitten while trying to intervene.

What’s especially concerning is that, even when people have been hurt, no one has reported the incidents to the police. Understandably, many don’t want to make a fuss - but without those reports, there’s no way for authorities to step in and prevent further problems. Solutions could be something as simple as being asked to change the lead type or walking with a muzzle. For some of our older walkers, or those with smaller breeds, it’s made local walks feel a little more stressful. Many of us now find ourselves being extra vigilant - always checking who else is out and about before letting our dogs off-lead.

If you ever experience a situation like this, it’s so important to record it properly. You can contact your local police force by calling 101 to make an enquiry or report an incident. Doing so helps keep all dogs and people safe - and ensures that the right steps can be taken before anything more serious happens.

Most of us dog owners care deeply about doing the right thing. We share paths, parks, and play spaces with others, and by staying alert and responsible, we can make sure those spaces remain safe and enjoyable for everyone - humans and hounds alike.

Thank you for reading, and for doing your bit to help keep our local walks happy, safe, and stress-free.

With love,