Dogs everywhere!

Last week I got tangled up in a dog lead and fell over at the tills in TKMaxx.

I wasn't expecting a small pug to be wandering beside my feet on an extension lead! And I was chatting with the assistant. I came down like a ton of bricks. Obviously I then pretended I was absolutely fine. The young woman holding the lead couldn't have given 2 shits.

The manager had to come over as there was a fall on the floor, and I was so shocked I still apologised. Absolutely raging with myself afterwards.

I have dogs, I love dogs, but you don't take them into shops, especially not on extension leads. In the street or on a walk, even in a pub or cafe i would be alert to the possibility of a dog. But not at a till point in a chain store. And not for my legs to be completely wrapped up in a lead and for the owner to be so clueless and unapologetic.

I have a full arm of heavy bruising, as well as some on my ribs. I wish I'd made a fuss....but these things only tend to come to me after the shock has worn off.

In any thread criticising dog owners, I find the immediate comparison to humans really odd. The human race runs the world, that is how it works. Dogs, beavers or tadpoles are not capable of high-level executive function and don’t make decisions about how we live. Of course the human race has messed up a lot and we do some things extremely badly and cause a lot of suffering. But humans are still in charge, not other animals. I can’t believe that even needs saying!

There are plenty of good dog owners and plenty of advantages for people owning dogs. That should be enough as a defence. Making negative comments about humans and children is just silly.

But really, these are people problems, not dog problems. Dog ownership has changed beyond all recognition, and that's not the fault of the dogs. They have, like people, become more high maintenance, with more needs.

In part this is down to the rise in designer crossbreeds, that are claimed to be hypoallergenic (which, in truth, no living creature ever can be). Nobody wants the naturally moulting breeds now, thus a high proportion of dogs need regular visits to the groomers to be clipped.

Dog walkers used to be a rarity. Most people walked their own dog or relied on friends and family. Now everyone wants a puppy, even people whose lifestyle is not suited to having one. Dogs are crated and left alone for long periods. Thus we have the rise in dog walkers, doggy daycare and behaviourists.

Social media has a lot to answer for with regard to lifestyle choices, for us and for our dogs. Dogs still want to be dogs. They really don't want or need to walk around shopping centres, or go the groomers every week and come out stinking of cologne. They don't need expensive subscription box foods with a high carbon footprint. They can still be well provided for without all this.

Really, all this is on us, as owners, and it's something we can work on.

Bless you. That wasnt my point, I was making a bit of a joke. The UK is third in cleanliness in the world - but its not clean. It does a lot of damage to the world and that is because of humans. My point was the nonsense of the original quote - banning dogs because of human behaviour, and the incessantness of these 'dogs are awful' posts. You could interchange 'litter' with 'cars', 'bikes' 'children!' whatever it is that happens to annoy you. I have been hit by a bike twice. Once as a pedestrian and once in a stationary car while waiting to pick somone up. I have also been hit by a child on a push scooter! I dont put a post on every other day (or at all) that we should ban bikes or scooters. It's people who control (or don't control) dogs, bikes, cars, children. If you want to actually get rid of that, you have to ban humans. Obviously you can't. What you can do is improve rules and regulations around them. Certain breeds of dog, are in fact, banned. Not because of the dog, but the human behind them. Those dogs can be wonderful in the right trained hands, but sadly the kind of people who are attracted to those breeds are often the kind of people who absolutely shouldn't have them. Hence rules.

I think XLs are making a comeback. So many of them about recently.

I love dogs and I love them in cafes and on walks

My first concern is that each dog has a similar carbon footprint to a car and I’m always trying to reduce my carbon footprint! Then some people are starting to want to give them human grade food which makes things worse

My second concern is the industry around them. We want growth for the country, we have shortages of workers especially in care, but so many people now employed in dog grooming and walking when we can’t look after our elderly

But none of this is going to change so I will carry on loving seeing lots of dogs around - except the horrible fighting breeds - put those ones all down for me

Mine is actually called Flo, she doesn’t know auntie Flo though

I voted YANBU because you’re right, they’re everywhere. 🥰

I agree with you @Flamingodaughter

@dynamiccactus

Laughing at they'll never be toilet trained.

All animals don't use a toilet. What do you want, a world without animals? Birds shit where we don't want them to but I like them.

You need to get a grip.

Ever heard of the ever so useful sniffer dogs, search and rescue dogs etc that absolutely do good for society?

It was horrific I couldn't even tut because he has earphones in, i was fuming the whole day about it !

Loved this film

@HangryLikeTheHulk your post just showed why most people prefer dogs over humans !

Perhaps there is a reason for that…

I hate the “He’s just being friendly!” Line. I don’t want to engage with your dog.

i also dread those extendable leads - really dangerous things. Please keep the dog on a tight lead around other people. What happened to walking to heel? Seriously - why don’t dogs walk to heel any more? The seem to range around freely now, getting under everyone’s feet. Walking in my local park is not relaxing nowadays - it’s hazardous.

I don't know why people always compare the two. Kids will hopefully grow up to be useful members of society. Dogs never get toilet trained and therefore you always have to pick up their waste products!

Ma wee pal

Same. Our gigantic pup is no trouble and quiet as a mouse. The cat on the other hand, always yelling and spends her entire life being a trip hazard. We now have a night light on the landing because she lies at the top of the stairs so if we need the loo in the night we're at risk of breaking our neck!

There are lots of dogs in our local town, but I never see them making people jump or anyone tripping over them. Not much barking happening either.

Agreed! My dog is a good girl now she’s an adult - glad I’m past the baby velociraptor stage now 😂

The cat is very elderly and tries to kill me in the stairs every morning, by twirling herself around my legs!

Dora, ready for her close-up walk.

It was boring though. I gave up after 1/3 of it.

I’ve unfortunately read their deranged ramblings before so just skimmed it this time, hun.

To be honest on a day to day basis I am not really aware of dogs, I don't go out too much. Went on holiday to Dorset and saw far more in one day than I do in a month at home probably because we were out and about and also all the pubs have signs saying muddy boots and paws welcome

None were a bother apart from the one who'd left a present in the pub garden not sure if that was a visitor or maybe the pub had a dog?

I'm quite tolerant of dogs as long as they are on a lead and not jumping up me

I'm a cat person, briefly toyed with having a dog but I don't want to pick up dog poo and carry it around in a little bag - ergo I can't have a dog.

And before I get pulled up - clearing out the dirt tray I have a scoop and don't have to get too close to the offensive material.

There are some angry posters on this thread but way more owners of gorgeous dogs. Best thread I've read in a while.