Sir – While Mr James (Letters, July 7) may well be a responsible dog owner who has control over his animal, there are unfortunately many owners whose dogs are a downright menace off lead.

When jogging in South Park, I used to be routinely attacked by dogs, and one morning even came home with a lovely little circle of bleeding teeth marks on my back!

While I do approve of any decree which prevents dangerous dogs from being free to attack, I think that such an edict should be somehow nuanced, so that the freedoms of owners with well-trained animals are not impinged. Perhaps a certificate of trained status from a dog school or something. Just a thought.

Dr Daniel Emlyn-Jones, Oxford