An interview with Fede and Asia for Respect The Lead

Following on from a great first interview with Kim and her miniature dachshund Teddy about their interactions with others and the Respect The Lead Campaign, I have had another dog owner get in touch. Here’s the second interview in a series with Fede and her dog Asia and their experiences. Fede has felt so strongly about the issue, she has started a petition and written to her MP…

Interview with Fede and her dog, Asia.

Zoe: Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview to help raise awareness of what my campaign is trying to highlight.
 SO firstly I would love to know more about your four-legged friend!

Fede: Her name is Asia, she is about five or six years of age? Who knows really. She is a mix Malinios bitch, neutered but has had a litter, she is well mannered, chilled, cuddly, and loving dog. She was found astray and lived at the pound for two years. Recommended by my cousin as a wonderful family dog.

Zoe: Is this the first dog you have owned?

Fede: Yes, it is, although I have experience as I had dogs whilst growing up, also fostered my partner’s and walked a collie for over four years.

Zoe: Have you ever been personally affected by an on-lead/off lead altercation?

Fede: Yes, an off lead whilst mine was on the lead.

Zoe: How has it affected your dog now?

Fede: She has a muzzle, can only walk within a metre on a lead which says; ‘no dogs’  and vest with ‘anxious’ written on.

Zoe: How has it affected you now?

Fede: I have not been able to step into a park again, nor the downs, the beach or woods. I have to rent a space in Lewis where she can run free, which is the only time I see her smiling. One hour twice a month.

Zoe: Have you heard of my Respect the Lead campaign?

Fede: Yes, but I know that dogs can’t read nor recognise colours to identify the do not approach dogs. The majority of the time the dogs are far away from the owners in my experience. Maybe they are on the phone?
My accident happened even after I have asked the lady not to let her dog approach me. It was so upsetting. Mine is four times bigger and a lot younger, the dog involved was around nine years old. Asia is fearful and I guess she wishes to defend herself and me. It was only two months that we adopted her, I now know a lot more about training and behaviour.

Zoe: What do you feel could be done to raise awareness to other dog owners about good lead etiquette?

Fede: Mandatory training when adopting a dog?
On lead-only parks, so I can walk with no fear that some random dogs attack us?
No grey areas on Legislation?
I have set-up a petition to my local MP, Timothy Loughton the MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, asking to make dog’s owners fully responsible for their off-leash dog. You can sign it here: www.change.org/p/mp-no-grey-areas-on-legislation-make-dogs-owners-fully-responsible-for-their-off-leash-dog

Thank you to Fede and Asia for contributing and taking the time to talk to me and sharing photos.

Get in touch with your encounters, we would like to hear from you.

If you and your dog have also had similar incidents, or would like to share something positive about dogs on leads, or the Respect the Lead campaign has helped you understand dog behaviour better, get in touch via email [opens new email] or message me on my Facebook page to be featured.