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

I was talking in general: a dog isn’t a person, like pigeons aren’t people.

If you own a dog you’re responsible for it. If you mistreat it the law will fall on you. If it’s dangerous the law will allow it to be put down. If it’s a stray it can be destroyed, just like pigeons.

The law puts obligations on you. It doesn’t confer rights on animals.

🙄

There is no enforcement. Owners think a sign doesn’t apply to them on a beach.

A 'pocket' dog?! Get a grip. It's an animal fgs so stop treating like some fashion accessory you wear for attention.

I love dogs. We never got another after ours was put to sleep because our working lives just wouldn't be able to accommodate right now. So I will fuss any dog given the opportunity.

But being called a miserable bitch for not engaging with an unruly dog that jumped up on my back as I was sat at a bench table is just something else. I literally didn't react, just ignored it. But that makes me a miserable bitch according to it's owner.

Sounds like they may be happy to let the relationship go - differing priorities.

Of course dogs have more rights and privileges than pigeons. In the UK, dogs are protected under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Despite what most might think on this thread, dogs are actually allowed in dog-friendly cafés, parks, hotels. They even have entire industries built around their wellbeing: vets, groomers, trainers, etc. Meanwhile, pigeons are often considered vermin or pests, especially by local councils and pest control.

I can’t bear dogs in human spaces for all the usual reasons. I also can’t bear the ridiculously entitled attitude of dog owners and the way they laugh off their mis-management of their pets. However, I have noticed that dogs are especially well attuned to being ignored. If you totally ignore them, ie don’t react, don’t push away, don’t makes eye contact (esp that!) then they usually do the same. Vicious beasts notwithstanding.

THIS! ^

I am not a dog person - cats all the way for me - but some dogs are lovely. Some are a pain yes, (but blame the owners.) But the rancid hate and vitriol from the OP (and a small number of others posters on here) towards dogs, and dog owners, is quite bizarre.

Totally agree with you. It's mental.

My DS was chased by a dog on a beach when he was 7, it was friendly and only wanted to play, but the dog had no recall and the owner could not catch it, it was worrying for all of us at the time, and has left my DS with a fear of strange dogs.

Myself and DH are also not keen on off-lead dogs. I purposefully look for places that don't accept dogs to go for days out/holidays, so we can all relax and not have to look down at the ground for dog crap everywhere we walk.

Too many dogs, too many irresponsible owners.

I've got two dogs and I totally agree with you
They don't need or want to be in cafes or restaurants or anything else
Most are happy with a walk ,and snoozing the day away at home .
I don't even think the dogs enjoy being dragged everywhere

charming. thanks for taking an adult approach and traumatising a child in a fit of pique. 🙄

If irresponsible owners have young kids with them and I am particularly irate I will tell them loudly to fuck off, and I’m calling the police to have their pet put down. I like to think that will get my perspective into the bone-headed idiots who call themselves dog owners yet let their dog bound over to strangers.

I agree with @MattCauthon. Although the choice to bring a dog to a public space and the need to control it falls on the dog owner, many kids are not brought up to behave appropriately around animals. I wouldn't tie my dog up outside a shop for fear of coming out to find kids taunting it as one toddler did to my golden retriever many years ago. I came out to find him cowering back on the lead with the toddler with her fingers actually up his nose. Parent oblivious. I grew up in a farming area and we were told from an early age to respect dogs and by and large leave them alone so it surprised the hell out of me.

Thank god it got deleted, disgusting.

In 1972, down our street, there were loads of dogs. Kicked out of the house in the mornings, wandered the streets all day till their owners came back. Quite normal to see dogs alone on the footpaths, parks, fields. Strays or owned. Some vicious, some not. I remember desperately trying to convince my mum that a dog i'd enticed home was stray. Only for someone to ring and tell mum to kick him out to find his way home, it was his teatime.

Dogs are better off now, and more on leads than they used to be. And believe it or not, there's a great deal less dog poo around as well!

This just about sums up modern life. Even if one of these people had vacated their table, the person who sat there afterwards would be watching TikTok on speaker, or talking to their friend on FaceTime or holding a Zoom meeting or something.

There is no peace any more.

Well this took a turn

That's nice Sally. I can't have children and may be why I hate them but I draw the line at purposely trying to kill them if they run towards me.

Ps. Making criminal confessions on mumsnet isn't ideal

It's the smell which gets me. I was in a high st clothes shop recently which stank of wet dog. There is no way I was going to spend money there.

I love dogs, but my husband is very allergic to them. It's difficult for us to go on holiday because most places to stay are dog friendly. We stayed in one recently that was advertised as no pets allowed, and he couldn't breathe all weekend. He also can't be in places with dogs for long as he starts to wheeze. I didn't realise how many places allowed dogs in until I met him (though it has coincided with everyone getting one during covid).

Also sick of badly behaved dogs. As much as I adore them, I don't want a labrador leaping up me while the owner apologises - train your dog!!!

And yet owning dogs and personifying them is contributing to the destruction of nature.

Studies estimate that pet food production contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. It's estimated that U.S. dogs and cats are responsible for up to 25-30% of the environmental impact from meat consumption in the U.S.

An ironic further update to this, (I commented earlier in the thread), out earlier with dh and dds in a very quiet walking area, dds were walking ahead of dh and I. Suddenly out of nowhere, a dog appeared, barking at dds, and following them. As dh and I got closer, I could see the dog running back and forth it's owner and dds, and I called to her 'Please can you recall your dog?'. She replied 'oh yes sorry I was on the phone' then proceeded to tell us the dog was trying to protect her, and that it thinks we are strangers! I replied 'well we ARE strangers' - why that mattered I don't know as it was a public place not her personal property. She then tried not very successfully to grab the dog, all the while it was barking and snarling at me and dh. I was not happy, said nothing, but my face said it all!!
We passed two ladies with two very well behaved dogs further along, who enjoyed the story immensely 😆

Aww sounds adorable, very annoying that she tried to get in to his face....some people have no sense or boundaries! Then they look offended that the dog doesn't like it!

I agree, I am quite afraid of dogs due to some experiences when I was younger and the number of people who let their dogs jump on you "He's only being friendly"; then there is the whole issue of the dog poo - went for a walk yesterday quite out in the countryside and there were plastic bags of it on the trees; our village has dog poo bins which I know cost about £1000 to install (out of my rates too) - I think dog owners should pay -I don't know why dogs can't be trained like cats, our cat both poos and wees in her tray. I do know that dogs can be trained from a talk by Guide Dogs for the Blind who train them to go in a particular spot in someone's back garden. Finally, wet dogs in eating establishments. I was somewhere a few weeks ago and there was a wet dog under the table next to us, whilst we ate a nice lunch. Just can't get away from them. I do find some dogs quite attractive to look at - labradoodles/labradoors; and friendly - however the XL bullies and the like I cannot understand.

Rant over....!

Totally with you on this one!