How quick are your reactions?

I think mine need to be quicker than they are. I took Ruby and Elsdon out tonight off lead on the street as normally we are fine and there are no distractions about.

However tonight as we went round the corner, I saw someone coming towards us that I knew and stopped to say hello. What I didn't know was another friend was across the road with her black labrador and whom Ruby knows and loves. She dashed over the road to say hello to them. My reaction to this wasn't quick enough and I was appalled to think that had a car been coming up the road she would have been run over.

It was so quick I didn't even have time to use the emergency stop command and so unlike Ruby. Thankfully the road is a quiet one and I had time to check it before calling her back.

I'll be much more vigilant in future and have learnt a serious lesson.

I just don thave my dog off lead for that reason, no matter how obedient they are off lead, there are always distractions to be had that we dont know and before you know it they are off.

Especially on roads, better to be safe than sorry so mine is on lead :-)

I only allow mine off the lead outside our house, it is a small cul de sac and we live in the corner away from the road.

You were very lucky tonight Jan and thankfully nothing happened to Ruby. Hope you are OK

You must have had a fright, glad Ruby's ok though.

Im the same don't really walk them off lead as I'm sure if they spotted a cat they'd be off after it! x

phew that was scary, glad all is well xx

Phew Jan that must have been a heart stopping moment xx

I only let my boys off lead in the fields when no one is around - buit my reactions are fairly quick - but when the boys see something there off weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

It always makes me anxious when other people have their dogs off lead near roads.

I am so aware how things can go very wrong incredibly quickly. Midge injured her back when she was 14 & this slowed her down considerably & as old age slowed her down further I occasionally let her amble along off lead. One day she was off lead & I was saying hello to a neighbour when Midge spotted Splodge - a cat she hated (long story!) - on the other side of the road & she went charging across at incredible speed. She turned around & ran back at the same high speed when she realised Splodge had stopped & if she wasn't careful she'd catch him... I did try the 'stop' command but by this point her hearing wasn't as good as it used to be.

Luckily nothing bad happened but it certainly taught me a lesson

Both Ruby and I are fine, thankfully it's a quiet road away from the main one but it just pointed out to me what could have happened when you are distracted even for just a few seconds.

I've given myself a good talking to (Not that I'm making light of it)

Good question though Jan - we all fall into comfortable routines that we forget to think about until something unexpected happens.

I don't leave the house without a lead on wouldn't trust mine - Bailey hates walking with us on lead as it is - he'd be off like a shot leaving us tortoises behind him.

You're being nice to me Liz, I'd call me complacent! I was in a hurry too that time, thinking more about my tea and getting ready to go out to dominoes. I won't do it again.

Stop beating yourself up Jan, you are all OK which is the main thing, put it down to experience

Thank you Jo and Liz

I don't know what's wrong with me at the moment, I went to clean a mucky spot on the carpet the other day with what I thought was universal cleaner, then I put my glasses on to check the bottle and found I'd rubbed lamp oil into the carpet!

Must be ready for a holiday Roll on Easter.

..sorry but that is funny !!

I know Liz, I couldn't help but laugh myself

I'm waiting to clean my teeth with shaving foam next.

Easter is not too far away. I have a week off then too and I cannot wait

We're off to Kendal for the weekend to a campsite that is a mile away from the town centre, hmmm, long way to the pub for Glynn

aww thats a fair way from us so we wont see you
unless you come over for the day ?

I know Linda sorry, I just couldn't get into any other campsites in the area that weekend as it was Easter and they are all fully booked.

Ohh! You must have had such a shock. Mine are rarely off lead but that's for other issues but I know how you feel. That sickly feeling comes and your heart is in your mouth. It happened to me a couple months ago. My bf and I were walking dogs in the evening around our estate which is usually very quiet but I still keep leads on. My bf though let Bessie off (much to my protests) and she went running toward this small road only a car was coming (to fast for a built up estate aswell) all I could do was scream the shock was too much. Sacha shouted BESSIE! And luckily she stopped JUST b4 car passed. Horrible.

It all happened way too fast for my liking, luckily we are all ok and I've learned a great deal from it. It won't stop me from walking them off lead though, I'll just be so much more aware of what's going on around me.