Owners ‘regularly break’ dog walking rules

Poor dog walker etiquette from owners is creating potentially dangerous situations, new research suggests.

New research by charity Guide Dogs suggests that owners who let their dogs off-lead, only half said their pet always comes back when called, and 19% admit they always or often disappear from sight completely.

Almost half of owners who unleashed their pets said their dog was ‘likely’ to chase wildlife. Only 75% of owners said they put their dog back on the lead if they saw another walker with a leashed pet, the research reveals.

Some admitted their dog often jumped up at strangers (16%), instigated conflicts with other dogs (15%), and their dogs had pulled their walker over or into the road (31%).

Hannah Wright, Guide Dog Programme Lead at Guide Dogs, said: “Walks shouldn’t be a source of stress for dogs or owners. They’re an essential part of a dog’s routine and should be enjoyed. As the weather gets wetter and days get darker, getting out and about is even less of a priority.

“We need to reframe dog walks from either a trudge around the block or a free-for-all where dogs can run wild without control.”