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

Microchips have been the law for several years.

Its completely unenforceable.

The trouble is that the people that are nuisance owners are mostly already the people that aren't following laws. The people with dogs in areas they aren't allowed, with dogs off lead in on lead areas etc

Any form of dog licencing will just be the same people ducking out of it

You can licence things like cars because you can't make a car in secret, you have to use it on a road to get benefit from it.

Dogs can be born in back rooms, walked in fields, exist totally off grid. The dogs that tend to be the real problems aren't owned by people that would participate

I foster dogs at times, and I would be really hesitant for anything that dissuaded people from going to vets, training classes, walking their dog. Its more likely to cause an increase in antisocial dogs

Yes, let's stop people on a lower income having dogs for companionship. DM had a dog, she was her reason for getting up going out but never mind eh? There's many people in the same situation but the likes of you don't care.

My point is that there surely should be more tolerance of children than animals, however, many people seem to disagree on here.

That's understandable, and of course you want to spend time with your dog. Does it accompany you everywhere? Do you think there are any limits to where it should be taken?

No, just running around causing a nuisance, trying to get in the kitchen, getting in the way of waiting staff, coming up to my table and parents glaring when I tell their offspring to go back to their own table!

I don't want to be licked by a dog and I don't want children's grubby hands on me either. It's down to dog owners to control their dogs and parents to control their kids and then everyone would be happy!

Dogless people love to say this. But if you look at the specs of most resue dogs, it will mention anxiety problems, unsuitability for living with children or other animals, psychological problems, aggressive behaviour and/or other non-desirable traits.
Personally I'd prefer to buy a beautiful chocolate labrador from a reputable breeder and when I do, he/she is not going to be left at home alone, tied up outside shops or locked in my car (which is illegal, incidentally). The point of having a dog is to spend time with him/her.

I completely agree with you, @Azureshores , but that's so many people's attitude on here. As if somehow dogs have an equivalence to humans, on any level. I think working dogs are brilliant, I think lonely people finding companionship with a dog is wonderful, but they are not people and this anthropomorphism is very strange.

That's because they are generally better behaved, cleaner and more enjoyable to interact with!

I can't even with these types of comments....🫢

Children are small humans who need to be in public, learn how to behave in public and grow into adults. They have every right to be included in society. You yourself are a grown up child.

We need children, they're the future. Nobody really needs a dog. Nobody needs to breed dogs. As little as ten years ago dogs were not allowed in any shops/cafes and had to be kept on leads on the beach/in public. Nobody died. Children however cannot be left alone at home and are part of society. Added to the fact that I do not see any children acting in the way you describe. Children do not defecate on the street and walk on their bare hands and feet and then put them on the chairs and table in a cafe. They don't make an ear piercing barking sound. They are not strapped to long leads that get in everybody's way and trip them over. They do not run up to you and jump up and lick and sniff you. I know there are people who hate kids but I would argue that that opinion is a lot more strange and antisocial (funnily enough it correlates with the attitude of a lot of dog owners) than people who find the behaviour of dogs with entitled dog owners in public annoying.

Their is no comparison between children and dogs and it's a really crap and silly analogy to make.

Jesus wept.

Yawn.

The absolute dream is that “no dogs” is the default and you have to jump through a million hoops to have one; not just in terms of acquiring it but living with it. Whereas at the moment, society has evolved to the point where we all accept dogs shitting on grass and pavements, so long as the bulk is picked up?! But there are always smears left behind and it’s normal. Fucking weird!

You have to actively seek out dog-free spaces, but it ought to be the reverse: want a dog? Onus is on you to find out where it’s OK to take it.

It’s more difficult if you were there first, opted for a quiet corner and then had a large group with a dog join the next table. Particularly as you’re halfway through the meal and didn’t know the restaurant had changed its regulations to permit dogs.

I think the number plate thing is a bit far but they should all be microchipped.

I would support a return of the dog licence but at a much higher cost - say £500 per animal per year. Compulsory third party insurance. Revenue ringfenced to pay for a UK-wide network of old fashioned " dog wardens" to deal with dogs on beaches where they shouldn't be or those godawful XL bully types. Any dog found to be unlicensed and unchipped is immediately removed and destroyed - no questions asked.

Complete ban on importing feral dogs from Eastern Europe under the guise of being a "rehoming charity". Just no.

Clarification of the law on what exactly is and is not an "assistance dog" and legal protection for staff members who say that actually, your badly behaved labracockadoodledoo with a vest bought off Amazon is not assisting anyone, and that claiming it is gets you another hefty fine.

Can't afford the costs? Boo hoo. You can't have a dog then, can you?

Some of those behaviours are true of kids but it's much more difficult to leave your kids at home or tie them up outside a shop or cafe.

I don't know what the answer is. Maybe to dissuade people from having dogs. Bring back the dog license and make people have to take a test before they get one, like with driving.
A dog tax on all dog related products, dog food, dog leads, dog bowls etc.
Designated neighbourhoods where dogs are completely banned.
There should be specialist dog parks and dogs beaches and dogs should be completely banned from other ones.
Dogs should have mandatory number plates, like cars, so that bad dogs can be identified, reported and dealt with.

I'm fairly sure that a random heavy child won't jump on you, bark at you, give you unwanted licks or make you concerned about being bitten. I could be wrong, however.

Well I don't have a dog or a child so no point on relying on them.

I still don't want other peoples' children bothering me as if they think I might be interested in them!

Yup! Anyone who doesn’t find this gross is….🤢

That’s a sweeping statement regarding human worth. But then my job had made me cynical.

Not my point. Bella your dog is your companion. She will never pay tax or contribute anything to the future of society. We are relying on Bella your daughter to be the future of our nation.

Well they might be if their parents actually taught them how to behave and that they aren't the centre of everyone's universe.

And yes, that applies to dog owners as well, although I've seen more badly behaved kids than dogs.

You think trains are clean? Oh dear. I don’t think humans are very clean either, nose picking, not washing hands after a poo, soiled clothes from their dirty houses and work places. But I agree the dog should be on the floor area or the person’s lap perhaps.

@DinoLil Rehome that poor dog- if your post is real. You didn’t do much research did you, getting a dog when you hate them so much. Do you have form for making uneducated decisions in life.

I think posts like this @MariLlwyd bring out new posters with whole agendas.
Vile. But I hope it brightens your day and makes you happy.

..... exactly. I find it revolting.

@Kardamyli2 What a despicable thing to say. Disgusting and vile, you should be banned.

Dogs sitting on train seats and on pub benches with fabric covers - aagh. That's dog anus and poo particles on those seats. If a human sat there with a naked bum people would be complaining and wondering about disinfecting seats.