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Original poster

When dogs roamed the streets

36 replies

Whendogsrulestheworld · 31/01/2021 15:36

DM always says that when she was young dogs generally were just let out - and sort of roamed her local area. I believe this was common for in many areas.

Now - bearing in mind the mere mention of dogs of MN brings out “they shit everywhere”, “they constantly jump on me” etc.

What did actually happen with all these off lead dogs left to their own devices? Were the streets paved with shit? Did loads of people get bitten?

Or did humans and dogs manage to rub along better with less hysteria?

OP posts:
ofwarren · 31/01/2021 15:37

I'm 41 and it was like this where I lived in the north west as a child.
I was never bitten but I was chased by dogs a few times and yes, shit was the norm.
Lots of white shits as people fed their dogs bones.

Gwenhines · 31/01/2021 15:42

I remember that when I was a child and I'm only 39 now.
There wasn't as much dog poo everywhere as there is now, altho there was dog poo. Often it was white dog poo.

I bet there were far fewer dogs back then though if the total could be counted Vs now.
Tbh the dogs let out used to generally not come near us when we played, you would see them from a distance just going about their own dog sniffing business, trotting along. I'm not talking hundreds of dogs either. Maybe a full day playing out with friends and only going home for the loo and food you would see 3 dogs a day, on their own usually. This is on a council estate in the 80s.

DuckonaBike · 31/01/2021 15:42

When I was young (1970s) you would sometimes see “stray” dogs just wandering about, but most only went out with their humans same as now.

However a big difference was that nobody cleaned up after their dog until I think some time in the 80s when the health risks of dog poo were recognised and the law changed. You took your dog out, it did its business and you just left it there! You often had to be careful not to step in it in parks etc. I’m glad that has changed.

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Dogs
Theunamedcat · 31/01/2021 15:43

White shit yes but people used to clean there doorstep daily and throw water out the front door it used to take care of it fairly effectively dogs used to be beaten as a way to train them so they were fairly people averse too

CcWanker · 31/01/2021 15:44

Forces child. We moved abroad to an area where large packs of dogs roamed free.

Distinctly remember sitting in the mess/arrival area when we first got there and them making us watch a video about what to do if we got chased or attacked by a group of dogs. Basically nothing just lie on the floor and cover your head.

It was a lovely welcome!

Saz12 · 31/01/2021 15:47

Fewer people had dogs in the ‘70’s though. Loads of dog shit. But dogs that were let out were definitely getting enough mental & physical exercise so no “bouncing up to people” carry on. Were their not still dog licences then?

Wilsonwilson · 31/01/2021 15:48

I remember our dog when I was a kid was allowed to roam. I think he did the cartoon shit of stealing from kitchens and turning up at the school. I was chased by a little dog once, and the sister of a school friend was bitten very badly Sad

Original poster
Whendogsrulestheworld · 31/01/2021 15:48

Yes definitely dog licences I think.

OP posts:
Mabelface · 31/01/2021 15:50

This is why I was terrified of dogs for so long. In the 70s and part of the 80s, dogs would pretty much walk themselves.

Vicliz24 · 31/01/2021 15:53

Yes I remember this growing up in 70s there were often dogs just out and obviously kids just out too . Nobody picked up after their dogs ever . We all used to have to run across one particular street because of the giant German Shepherd that used to patrol there . My grandparents didn't own a dog lead they just used to let their dogs out twice a day .

bigbird1969 · 31/01/2021 15:55

Lots of stray dogs roaming where I was although not all were strays, they were jus let out the same as the kids. Was never bitten and to be honest dont recall lots of poop. I did annoy my mother as I would bring stray cats and dogs into the house...

Original poster
Whendogsrulestheworld · 31/01/2021 15:55

I started school in the mid eighties and we definitely didn’t have dogs roaming - but then I’m in London and grew up in roads that wouldn’t have suited dogs off lead.

I do remember several instances of “DOG IN THE PLAYGROUND” at school though. It was all terribly exciting when it happened. Dinner ladies corralling us to shelter etc.

OP posts:
fluffedup · 31/01/2021 16:03

Yes, same here, I'm 54 and grew up in a fairly quiet suburban area. Dogs just roamed the area, not causing any trouble. I remember seeing occasional dog poo but not a lot. As a pp said, maybe there were just fewer dogs. And the dogs were well behaved and did not jump up at you, unless they knew you and were greeting you.

I remember reading about how if you lived in an area with fields of livestock, you could not let your dog roam freely, and feeling sorry for those dogs.

We moved back to the area a few years ago. All the dogs are on leads now. It felt a bit weird at first, like something was missing.

thedevilinablackdress · 31/01/2021 16:04

It did happen where I lived, but far fewer people owned dogs compared to now, and it's not like all of them let their dogs roam free. Just been to the park and loads of dogs off the lead there, really annoying. I know it's not the same as chucking it out the back door, but still pretty antisocial IMO.

Floralnomad · 31/01/2021 16:10

I’m in my 50s and I can’t remember dogs being allowed to roam where we lived (SE) , our dog certainly didn’t . My nan had a golden retriever that used to go to the paper shop and collect the paper and he also took himself off for a swim in the afternoon but even then (70s) my parents thought it was irresponsible .

Kleptronic · 31/01/2021 16:17

I was born in the 70's and our dog used to go out by himself. I used to ride my bike to senior school a few miles away and he followed me a several times - far enough behind that I didn't know. He knew which door I'd gone in by (I don't know how!) and would run around the corridors trying to find me. Cue general consternation and hysteria. I'd have to take him home again. That particular dog was hit by a taxi when he ran into the road chasing after a bitch, he was about 10. A neighbour saw it.

Looking back I don't know why I didn't get in trouble for this, but I didn't - maybe it was not unusual to the teachers. My parents still have dogs and they don't go out by themselves these days! I'm not sure when it changed or why. Was there a general edict? Too many cars on the roads suddenly? A campaign by the dog wardens? I don't know but it's never talked about in our family.

Oldraver · 31/01/2021 16:18

Yes I can remember in the 70's dogs roaming and sometimes forming packs

My folks were very fussy and our dogs were never allowed to roam. They would also pick up poo from a beach but this wasn't the norm then, though we didnt pick up poo elsewhere. We lived on the edge of countryside so dog would poo in the hedge. By todays standards it's not on really

Growing up my Aunt came to our house everyday with her dog who would have to poo in the gutter, I can remember seeing other dog poo here as well. Then she would wipe his arse before he came into the house and we thought this was perfectly normal

ofwarren · 01/02/2021 00:49

Ours used to follow me to school too!
Kids thought it was hilarious when he would come in and run around 🤣
He also used to visit the butcher's to get a black pudding 😁

Feathersinthehead · 01/02/2021 01:18

@CcWanker

Forces child. We moved abroad to an area where large packs of dogs roamed free.

Distinctly remember sitting in the mess/arrival area when we first got there and them making us watch a video about what to do if we got chased or attacked by a group of dogs. Basically nothing just lie on the floor and cover your head.

It was a lovely welcome!

Me too. The guard house used to send out a shooting party if the dogs got too bold, or aggressive. Back in the UK in the 60s and 70s, as others have said. Fewer dogs, more dog shit and dogs tended to mind their own business. They usually fell into useful or pet categories. The useful ones were busy working, the pets were on leads. But very few were fur babies. In James Herriot’s vet books, the woman who treats her peke like a human is a figure of fun. Now she’d be on Instagram and in the company of thousands like her.
Kokeshi123 · 01/02/2021 01:21

Surely not in the countryside? A dog hanging around livestock is at risk of getting shot---in any period.

LunaHeather · 01/02/2021 01:27

I'm 44. Grew up in Essex. It was quite frequent to see one dog pottering about and it scared my sister a lot. Mum had trouble getting her out of the house if she saw a dog.

I'm a bit confused about when licencing and leads etc became a norm.

I do recall lots of poo in the street we lived on as well.

SirenSays · 01/02/2021 01:29

My grandmother had two Jack Russell's when my dad was a child. One would walk itself to the top of the street and back again. The other would go roaming. She'd often have the postman or whoever comment that they'd seen her dog strolling through the town center on some adventure.

When I was in Australia a few years ago, we stayed in a few very rural places in QLD and it was very similar there. I found two old dogs wandering near a busy highway and took them home to their owner... who rolled her eyes and let them out again immediately.

JesusAteMyHamster · 01/02/2021 01:29

Our dog used to roam.........I remember walking into town with my mum one day and her spotting a neighbouring dog with puppies that looked suspiciously like our hound and my mum muttering to herself ' it's s bloody good job I don't have to pay child support ' Grin

I bloody loved that dog, he was a full Heinz 57 and a real, ladies man. I can still remember the names of some of the dogs from my childhood, their characters and antics.

I don't remember anywhere near the amount of dog poo then again despite the fact that dogs roamed there seemed to be a lot less dogs then there are now.

LunaHeather · 01/02/2021 01:31

I'm now having faint memories of stuff on TV, like public info about the importance of keeping dogs under control?

ofwarren · 01/02/2021 08:28

One of the families in our street had 2 huge Dobermans. They would "guard" their house so you couldnt walk past. Scary really.