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Original poster

Dogs Everywhere

768 replies

SusanandMidge · 17/09/2023 20:36

I don't live in the UK but am just back from a holiday in Cornwall. We were shocked at the amount of dogs allowed everywhere. They were in every restaurant, cafe, pub and hotel. Two or three people with dogs would all go into a small shop, blocking the aisles for everyone else. In Port Isaac on a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon the whole harbour and uphill area was disrupted by loud and continuous barking. Dogs were running around off leash on every beach. People were clogging the narrow pavements with two or three dogs on leads, wheeling dogs around in prams and buggies, stopping outside holiday cottages for ages chatting while their dogs barked, yapped and howled and ruined the peace for the people inside.

We were genuinely wondering if the next time we came back there would be dog and owner spaces in supermarket carparks and an expectation that you should stand up on public transport to let people with dogs sit down.

AIBU to think England has gone a bit mad when it comes to dogs?

OP posts:
Nevermind202020 · 18/09/2023 10:39

vivainsomnia · 18/09/2023 10:36

Part of the issue was taking dogs on beaches at locations/during times they weren't allowed, so that is being selfish

That's not what OP said. She refers to beaches that don't specify dogs are not allowed, so indeed where they are allowed!
their dogs aren't welcome everywhere, poo poo the concerns or discomfort of other people around their dogs, insist that a beach that doesn't explicitly ban dogs mean they can let their dogs take over the beach, and refuse to accept that smelly slobbering dogs are unpleasant for other people in restaurants and pubs

There definitely was a point made about dogs being in locations on beaches when they were not supposed to be there (I will try to find it and link but there is a lot to wade through so give me a little while!).

Original poster
SusanandMidge · 18/09/2023 10:36

KimberleyClark · 18/09/2023 10:32

Why do you have “allowed to go” in quotes? Businesses, local authorities etc are allowed to decide where they want to allow dogs. They are not breaking the law by doing so. I would rather not take my dog into shops either except pet shops. But there are coffee shops near me whose USP is that they are dog friendly so why shouldn’t I? And I wouldn’t let him bother people. He usually doesn’t want to anyway!

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Because so many people interpret 'allowed to' as 'I don't have to use any common sense or consideration'. How often have you heard people say 'I'm allowed to make noise until 11 at night' to excuse blasting loud music out in their garden, or 'my child is allowed in the cafe/library/church' to excuse their child being overly loud and disrupting everyone else. The fact that a shop allows dogs doesn't mean that if the small shop is already crowded it's ok for you and your husband to squash in there with your labrador. Common sense would dictate that one of you stays outside. Or the fact that there's no sign saying dogs should be kept on a lead on the beach means you can let your dog tear around wildly, barking his head off, kicking sand up on people and sniffing at their picnics,

OP posts:
MsRosley · 18/09/2023 10:36

Nevermind202020 · 18/09/2023 09:59

You're maybe choosing the wrong husband(s), I have lots of conversations with mine.

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Yes, I have many with mine. Almost exclusively about the dogs.

vivainsomnia · 18/09/2023 10:36

Part of the issue was taking dogs on beaches at locations/during times they weren't allowed, so that is being selfish

That's not what OP said. She refers to beaches that don't specify dogs are not allowed, so indeed where they are allowed!
their dogs aren't welcome everywhere, poo poo the concerns or discomfort of other people around their dogs, insist that a beach that doesn't explicitly ban dogs mean they can let their dogs take over the beach, and refuse to accept that smelly slobbering dogs are unpleasant for other people in restaurants and pubs

KimberleyClark · 18/09/2023 10:32

SusanandMidge · 18/09/2023 10:25

Taking a dog where they are allowed to go is not being selfish

Surely that depends on how you behave when you have taken the dog where it is 'allowed to go'

Why do you have “allowed to go” in quotes? Businesses, local authorities etc are allowed to decide where they want to allow dogs. They are not breaking the law by doing so. I would rather not take my dog into shops either except pet shops. But there are coffee shops near me whose USP is that they are dog friendly so why shouldn’t I? And I wouldn’t let him bother people. He usually doesn’t want to anyway!

Afterrain · 18/09/2023 10:26

I wouldn't take the dog shopping either.
If she is on holiday with us and I want to go into a quaint little shop. I leave lovely dog and DH outside.

Original poster
SusanandMidge · 18/09/2023 10:25

Taking a dog where they are allowed to go is not being selfish

Surely that depends on how you behave when you have taken the dog where it is 'allowed to go'

OP posts:
Original poster
SusanandMidge · 18/09/2023 10:23

Highandlows · 18/09/2023 10:18

People who answer by calling people not very bright as a response also show how horrible they are. OP you are confirming you are a not very nice person.

Where did I call anyone 'not very bright'

OP posts:
Mischance · 18/09/2023 10:23

I spent the weekend at a small Pembrokeshire bay - on the Sunday we counted nearly 50 dogs just in and around this bay. Ridiculous.

Anewnamea · 18/09/2023 10:22

PaulaZackMayo · 18/09/2023 10:17

Some dog owners give dog owners a bad name. I keep mine on a lead. I don't let them touch others dogs or people unless I definitely know they want to interact with my dogs.

There are many good dog owners though. I wish they all were.

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I agree, many of my friends are responsible and considerate dog owners and as a a result I’ve grown to like their dogs even though I’m not a doggy person at all generally.

I’ve also had friends who have very hyper dogs who have kept them in another room when I’ve visited their house which was also kind of them.

Nevermind202020 · 18/09/2023 10:22

@SusanandMidge I pretty much mostly agree with you, the only thing is that I can understand why some people are slightly reluctant to tie their dogs outside shops because there definitely have been more thefts, or at least perceived risk of thefts, especially in some locations.

Nevermind202020 · 18/09/2023 10:21

Highandlows · 18/09/2023 10:18

People who answer by calling people not very bright as a response also show how horrible they are. OP you are confirming you are a not very nice person.

That's a slightly ironic reply based on your recent posts though.

MatchyM · 18/09/2023 10:21

vivainsomnia · 18/09/2023 10:00

There is no denying that selfish dog owners are having an impact
Taking a dog where they are allowed to go is not being selfish.

OP moans about dogs of the lead in places where they are allowed to be so. Moan about dogs in prams. Perfectly good dog owners but still being vilified because they dare loving their dog and looking after their needs.

That's the problem. Dogs are part of society and yes, it is a growing phenomenon. I totally understand how frustrating it must be for those who don't like dogs but it doesn't make all owners selfish, unpleasant, idiots and all other deragotary words used on this thread to refer to dog owners.

‘it doesn't make all owners selfish, unpleasant, idiots and all other deragotary words used on this thread to refer to dog owners.’

Most people have said there are good dog owners around.

Whereas some dog owners here think that everyone who doesn’t love animals is not to be trusted. Which is a rather stupid and facile thing to say, given that many people are doing jobs with responsibility perfectly well even though they dislike dogs.

BubziOwl · 18/09/2023 10:20

WhateverMate · 17/09/2023 20:48

Dunno, I still prefer them to most kids including my own

🐶🐕🐕‍🦺🐩

Genuinely very sad

PaulaZackMayo · 18/09/2023 10:20

Nevermind202020 · 18/09/2023 10:15

Seconded!
I bet you do other things with your dogs, which they enjoy, such as playing and taking them walks?

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Yes. I've never thought about taking them shopping. It's bad enough taking the DH.

Original poster
SusanandMidge · 18/09/2023 10:19

Nevermind202020 · 18/09/2023 10:09

We are all bothered by different things though, isn't suggesting some people 'attract it' taking the onus away from bad owners to, I don't know, become slightly better owners? There are many dog owners on here who are also relating to the frustration of bad/selfish owners, so it's not just those who are not so keen on dogs.

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Exactly.

I remember the days when dogs were left at home when their owner went shopping, or were tied up to a lamp post outside while the owner nipped in for a minute. Why is that suddenly deemed unacceptable?

But some dog owners seem to have the mind set of the type of parent who translates 'family friendly' to mean 'my child can take over the place and be as much of a nuisance as I want' or the type of smoker who thinks 'I'm allowed to smoke out of doors so if that means sitting beside some stranger on a park bench and lighting up, or forcing my friend to breathe in my cigarette smoke when we're out walking then that's ok'.

Absolutely no judgment.

OP posts:
Highandlows · 18/09/2023 10:18

People who answer by calling people not very bright as a response also show how horrible they are. OP you are confirming you are a not very nice person.

PaulaZackMayo · 18/09/2023 10:17

Anewnamea · 18/09/2023 10:14

We need more owners like you!

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Some dog owners give dog owners a bad name. I keep mine on a lead. I don't let them touch others dogs or people unless I definitely know they want to interact with my dogs.

There are many good dog owners though. I wish they all were.

Original poster
SusanandMidge · 18/09/2023 10:15

Highandlows · 18/09/2023 09:52

Do not be ridiculous. You are just a dog hater I do not even own a dog but live in the U.K. so can see if there is a real problem here. Yes, they are everywhere but not causing havoc. I have seen most dogs in the continent but not surprised the supposedly tolerant people of the U.K. have a problem with it.

Edited

Strange how most people can see what you cannot. But of course we're all just dog haters.

OP posts:
Nevermind202020 · 18/09/2023 10:15

Anewnamea · 18/09/2023 10:14

We need more owners like you!

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Seconded!
I bet you do other things with your dogs, which they enjoy, such as playing and taking them walks?

Anewnamea · 18/09/2023 10:14

PaulaZackMayo · 18/09/2023 10:12

I have a couple of dogs but do not take them shopping or into cafes. I couldn't think of anything worse. It wouldn't be a relaxing experience for me and I wouldn't want to annoy anybody.

We need more owners like you!

Anewnamea · 18/09/2023 10:13

SusanandMidge · 18/09/2023 09:50

I suspect this would be the response of the dog owners who allow their dogs to poo in shops, grab other people's food at picnics, bark non stop etc. 'Oh no, no, it doesn't happen, it's just dog haters making stuff up'

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And the dim witted folk who believe it’s not happened to them so of course other people are being dramatic and making it up.

I’ve never been bitten by a dog but the reality is thousands of people attend the NHS as a result of dog bites every year. Not experiencing something doesn’t mean it does not happen.

Until last year I’d never had a random dog jump up and scratch me but I definitely believed the stories of my friends who said their toddlers had been knocked down by dogs in parks.

I have ate in a park maybe 4 times in the past 5 years and two of those times a dog has interrupted my picnic.

The first time a pitbull looking type of dog stuck its head in a large pack of crisps which we had to throw out after my manager told the owner to come remove their dog immediately as he could see I was terrified & disgusted and the second time thankfully we were packing up but it started walking over the folding table again with the daft owners looking on.

Interestingly enough this never happened even once growing up and I spent a lot of time outside having picnics etc.

I don’t know what’s gone wrong with modern dog owners or it’s just the fact so many have dogs now there is a higher likelihood of these things occurring?

PaulaZackMayo · 18/09/2023 10:12

I have a couple of dogs but do not take them shopping or into cafes. I couldn't think of anything worse. It wouldn't be a relaxing experience for me and I wouldn't want to annoy anybody.

Nevermind202020 · 18/09/2023 10:09

actualpuffins · 18/09/2023 10:08

Can't say as I've ever noticed dogs being a problem anywhere, nor small children.

Some people seem to attract it. Perhaps the ones who like to moan about dogs and small children look for every perceived fault.

We are all bothered by different things though, isn't suggesting some people 'attract it' taking the onus away from bad owners to, I don't know, become slightly better owners? There are many dog owners on here who are also relating to the frustration of bad/selfish owners, so it's not just those who are not so keen on dogs.

actualpuffins · 18/09/2023 10:08

Can't say as I've ever noticed dogs being a problem anywhere, nor small children.

Some people seem to attract it. Perhaps the ones who like to moan about dogs and small children look for every perceived fault.