Keep them on a lead if necessary

Though this only applies to a few people who choose to say the law does not apply to them.

Only the other day, I was playing a game of golf on the Newbold Comyn course, when we saw a dog making for my partner’s ball. We shouted to the owner to stop the dog, he completely ignored us. We then had to wait five minutes, while he managed to retrieve the ball. The dog owner then threw the ball, to the area where the dog had picked it up.

On leaving the owner was heard to say ‘don’t say thank you’. We didn’t thank him because had he had the dog on a lead, then this problem would not have arisen.

Some dog owners (not all) feel they have their dog under control even when they can’t see it.

The players on this golf course don’t see anything wrong with taking your dog for a walk round the edge of the golf course, but if you can’t or don’t want to control it then put it on a lead. This is better for everybody.

C Baker, via email