Eastbourne, train your dogs to walk to heel

I am appalled at the number of dog owners who walk their dogs on extending leads along public footpaths and pavements.

The dog is often 10 feet plus ahead of its owner. The purpose of a lead is to keep your dog under control and these thoughtless owners do not have any control over their pet whatsoever.

Extending leads are only acceptable in parks and country areas but not where there are other pedestrians around.

I say this with feeling as on two occasions during the last month a dog has approached me on one of these leads and by its sudden movements to either side has nearly resulted in an accident.

Also not everyone likes dogs and do not welcome an animal approaching them.

I have been a dog owner for many years and when taking them to dog training classes was specifically told that the extending lead should never be used in public places.

Sadly during these recent lockdowns many people who have never kept a dog before have purchased one, have no idea of how to train it to “walk to heel”, so instead of walking along on a short standard lead they take the easy and lazy way out using the extending one – it may give the dog more freedom but the purpose of a lead is to keep your dog under control.

Come on owners, take some time to properly train your dog to walk to heel and stop being a nuisance to other people on the footpaths.

Also you look pretty foolish being pulled along by a dog 10 feet in front of you!