To dare to think that the Cult of Dog has gone too far?

@threenaancurrywhore

I live relatively close to the places you mention but haven't been to any recently, Seaford Beach has started to get bad and Abbots Wood is just one big dog poo, it's vile.

Arlington Reservoir seems to stay relatively poo free though

There aren't any.
I found one in the city centre, where there are no dogs, but I don't think they ban them, I've just never seen any in there.
Also, I'm not going to drive miles to go to a cafe in the hope that it's dog free.

This is moving the goal posts.
It was that there weren't any. Now it's that there aren't any in walking distance.
Now it's that there weren't any that are free.
This wasn't the argument. The complaint was that there aren't any.

There are very few dog-free public spaces. It’s easy to find dog-free attractions or those that heavily police dogs on leads, but it comes at a cost. Whereas if you want to walk for free anywhere, it’s riddled with off-lead dogs, oblivious owners stomping past clear “take the lead” signs. Recently we’ve seen dog poo left on the Seven Sisters, in Ashdown Forest and Cuckmere Haven, and dogs off-lead in ground-nesting and protected sites. Who looks at the majesty of the Seven Sisters and thinks “You know what this needs? Rover taking a big dump.” They’ve just banned coach parties from Birling Gap to protect the landscape; dogs should be next, please.

Whereas to find somewhere dog-free you generally need to pay: Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway is a good respite, but costly. The only dog-free park I’ve ever found is in Chichester in West Sussex and it was heaven: letting children roam free without shouting “Watch out, poo!” every seven seconds, eating a picnic without being trampled on by tinkly laugh “He’s just friendly” fuckers.

(Once had a woman’s dog rush through our picnic at a national trust site that had specific signage saying “Just because some people enjoy being approached by dogs doesn’t mean everyone will: particularly children and the elderly”. This dog rampaged across our group of toddlers and my ancient great-grandfather. We pointed out the sign and got told, as if she’d misread it entirely, “Well, some people do enjoy it. So you’re WELCOME.”)

Well, I've just counted the 11 within walking distance, and they're all dog friendly. I think it's just because of where I live. I don't mind one or two, but most places, it's more than that. I went to a really nice independent cafe and there were only a couple of dogs and they were well behaved, which was fine. However, I went back on a warm day over Easter and there were lots of dogs and the smell was horrible. I think dog owners don't always notice or mind it, but I personally don't like it.

Its hard because understandably you're probably not going to tell me where you live 😁

When we are on holiday we search out dog friendly places and generally stumbled on lots of non dog friendly places even in places like op in Wales

In terms of days out for example, theres several gardens that don't allow dogs locally to me, beaches with dog limits (but appreciate people break them), historic houses they arent allowed in
There are a small number of things like zoos, museums, farms, kids places etc that allow dogs but normally the ones that don't far out number them.

Pubs and cafes do tend to skew to dog friendly but I've rarely seen a 100% rate unless it's a small places with only a handful.

I understand that people might feel they are too many places and get annoyed by that. I just struggle with the hyperbole about people having zero access to dog free spaces, and being stuck indoors because every day out, food place etc is full of dogs.

It might be there is a majority of dog friendly places in some areas, but posters are genuinely talking about having zero options, and that they need "some" places not to have dogs

That’s so disgusting. How any dog owner can think it’s ok to take their dog into a place where food is sold, or where clothes are sold, is just beyond me. If they can’t even see what a basic hygiene issue it creates then what hope is there?!

Well, I had a look at my area, and they all seem to be "dog friendly" from my research. I looked for a dog free one, and there is one in the city centre. I think it's because I live in an expensive suburb and there are a lot of wealthy people who take their dogs everywhere.

I'm now really genuinely intrigued if there's any place that is so incredibly dog friendly there aren't any dog free places.

I did a quick search of ops area and some traditionally dog friendly places and was able to find dog free places fairly easily

I wonder if I'm just out of touch and there is a complete lack of dog free space somewhere

I support dog friendly restaurants but also do think that there should always be some dog free options. Ive yet to find anywhere where there a zero options with no dogs

I saw a big slobbery (tho quite friendly looking) thing take a massive sneeze in the ladies wear section at John Lewis the other day. 🤮

What a drama llama.

I don't for a second believe there are no dog free spaces in your town, or that every single dog owner you meet swear at you.

And of course other people are allowed to use public spaces. Not much you can do about it. Sit in your garden if you want to control who is there.

The only part you aren't being unreasonable about is that people should have control of their dogs.

I don’t have to “know anything about dogs” to know which size dog annoys me.

I didn’t say big dogs weren’t friendly - in fact it’s being friendly that’s the problem!!!

At least the little ones aren’t jumping up me with their big slobbery mouths leaving drool on me and their dirty feet leaving paw prints and general dirt on my clothes, or breathing their stinky dog breath in my face when all I’m trying to do is enjoy some food or a drink in peace! 🤮

Little nippy dogs that don’t leave drool and dirt on me are far more preferable to the “lovely and friendly” big dogs that do.

I didn't say it affected anyone else.
I think you must have the wrong poster.

And how is someone treating their dog to an ice cream affect anyone else?
Another poster said it was disgusting as there are kids going without breakfast. How are they even linked?
They are not.
It is indulgent for a human to have an ice cream too. Maybe we should all be issued with state provided packs of Huel. Meets all our dietary needs. No need for anything fancy.

YANBU (speaking as a wild-eyed perimenopausal harridan myself). The thing I hate, hate, hate is that it's not just sharing the spaces with dogs - it's having to look at, walk past and occasionally step on the dog shit, bagged and unbagged, all over the place.

I don't think it's that; more a reflection that if dogs have special ice cream it indicates the level of indulgence now granted to pets. You may feel that's ok, but that these things exist, and that so much is "dog friendly" is definitely a societal change.

Another comment about dog ice cream.
You don't need to buy one. It has zero impact on you that dog ice cream exists. My dog loves them, and it is a cooling treat for her. But how dare I treat my dog to something nice... must mean the end of times.

Because rescues are often not suitable for a variety of reasons. We did try but never got responses. Most can’t be housed with children (even though mine are older I have young dc as guests) or rabbits. My rabbits live free in my garden - I’ve trained my spaniels not to chase them.

Now I’m an experienced dog owner, dh and I may well rescue when we’re retired but it isn't simply a case of just rescuing a dog. also not a month’s pay but i actually think dogs being expensive is a good thing - it encourages thought before buying.

Been going to the Lake District for years and it is - as you say - very much a dog lovers destination. We go in spring nearly every year. Most people keep their dogs on a lead in spring. There are always one or two that don't. On 2 paths this year there were signs on every gate reminding people to do so. On one path - Railway path Keswick to Threlkeld - it specifically said 'short lead' but dogs off lead and long lead abounded. The sheep were hiding. The poo bags thing I mentioned was ridiculous. Especially on the Buttermere circular route. Really every few steps there was one at the Fleetwith end and a third of the way round

Banned for having a different opinion to you? How on earth do you navigate life if you can't cope with people voicing opinions you don't like? Do you have a meltdown every time you hear a politician you disagree with?

I really struggle to believe that there is anywhere where at least some places aren't dog free already

Even places like the lakes which is the most notoriously dog friendly places has plenty of dog free accommodation and restaurants

It has dog friendly places too which outnumber them perhaps but also non dog friendly places. 90% of chain restaurants don't allow dogs as a start

Maybe dog friendly pubs, hotels and eateries should have to pay a special dog tax to encourage at least some of them to be dog-free.

That's always the problem with these threads (and the many many each week that come before it) is they go off the rails. These are the things we should be disuading etc

It usually starts as quite a reasonable rant that anyone sane would find hard to disagree with

But it normally escalates (as it has done on this thread) to some sort of dogs should only be allowed on private property and people that own them are mentally deficient.

I completely agree (as a dog lover) about 90% of the annoyances. I hate dog poo on a shoe as much as anyone.

I'd even argue that I find dogs off lead in places they shouldn't, badly behaved dogs in cafe more annoying than 90% of non dog owners because I know the risk of places then removing dog access, or because they behaviour that annoys people also annoys dogs trying to be on their best behaviour.

I also think theres a responsibility on things like dog friendly cafes to be dog friendly rather than simply allowing dogs.

Nothing is more irritating to book a meal in a dog friendly pub for example to then discover your on a table where your dogs are in the way, there's 300 dogs every where and no chance of settling a dog.

However these conversations never happen, every thread turns into a race to the bottom about how I must be a terrible, thick, unloved person and how dogs should be poisoned (a genuine comment of someone talking about taking grapes to places to feed dogs in the last 48 hours)

This. The audacity of people wanting businesses to turn away the vast majority of their customer base because they don’t like dogs there.

We get it every year. All through the winter dogs allowed on beaches, in cafes/pubs. Come summer the grockles appear with their litter and inability to reverse down a country lane, some business (generally newly owned) decide dogs and their owners who keep them going through winter aren’t welcome - then wonder where last years clientele is next winter. Dogs kicked off beaches (although luckily our local council are busy with looking at relaxing some of the rules -recognising the pooch pound)

It's not as easy as walking into dogs trust and walking out with a dog. Rescues tend to be impossibly strict with their adoption criteria (not all of them granted but it seems to be most of them)

We tried to get a rescue before we got our pup, as soon as we said we both work full time they wouldn't let us go any further. Despite that fact that we're both hybrid and we alternate our office days so someone is always at home with her day to day. We've trained her to be left on her own so we can now go out for a few hours and leave her at home.

They also turn you down if you have children, other pets in the house, if you live in a flat, the list goes on.
A friend of mine tried to adopt a spaniel and was turned down because she lived in a (Fairly spacious) one bed flat. They completely glossed over the fact that she was a horsey person and said spaniel would be going to the horse yard with her daily, so yes admittedly wouldn't be getting an hours walk around the park every day...but WOULD be able to spend 6-8 hours running around the yard, accompanying her on hacks ect.