When dogs roamed the streets

[Whendogsrulestheworld]

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?

I remember this. Our old dog, a proper heinz 57 would regularly escape and go for a walk. He had a little mate that would sit on the drive and wait for him.

We lived very remotely at one point, he was bored I think when we were at school and used to go on the rob and bring us presents back. Shoes, washing from the neighbours washing line, a semi frozen leg of lamb and once even a (live and absolutely furious) goose. He had a very soft mouth and nothing was ever damaged, he didn't even puncture the bag the lamb was in or hurt the goose.

Now if anyone sees a dog straying, its mugshot is on the local fb page within minutes. Dogs must hate social media 🙄.

I remember seeing groups of dogs (how many does it need for a pack?) in a rough town in N Scotland. And on hols onPortugal when not in a tourist area. A bit scary as ? Rabid and didn't have anywhere to run to.

1980s, 1990s should have added

Dog shit was everywhere. You learnt to watch where your walking quickly as well as wipe your feet on grass verges.

They seem to have their routes and people were incidental to it.
Later on when it just dogs escaping We had a local one that worked out if he sat outside our house he’d get a lift home.

Yes, there was always excitement at primary school when a dog wandered in during playtime.

We used to play out and my friend would often pass her dog. They would say hello and then he would go off with his pack of dog friends.

I remember dogs roaming free, kids roamed free as well in the 1960's.

I'd get sent to grandparents and there were packs of dogs roaming, I was terrified of them.

Like PP a dog in the playground was a hoot.

Yup. Kids abs dogs roamed free. Most dogs were well socialised because of it and rarely was there a problem. The dog shit was no good but it was such a nicer time in general to be a dog or a kid.

I remember white dog poo, but I don’t remember lots of the brown stuff. There was a lassie type dog (called Lassie) on our street, that just played out with us, and a Westie who sat in his front garden and came out to greet passers by. Our dog was always walked on a lead though. This was the 70s.

I'm an 80s child and the 'dog pound' lifted dogs that were roaming free, so you had to be very careful if your dog escaped.
I do remember the dog in the playground at school, the headmaster would go around asking each classroom if they knew who the dog belonged to and whoever did had to take the dog home.

I don't really recall dogs roaming free when I was very little in the late 70s but I do remember a campaign warning about Rabies so I wonder if the start of stopping dogs roaming was related to this?

In the sixties I remember how the dogs always seemed to be going about their own business, not really interested in people and definitely not jumping up at them or wagging.
There was a lot of dog poo, white or otherwise. You always had to be careful walking on public grass but not so much on the beach, as I recall. Perhaps the seagulls helped... 🤮
And yes, the exciting DOG IN THE PLAYGROUND episodes mentioned by the OP.
There was a lot less traffic then, as well as fewer dogs. I don't recall any get run over.
I was staying in a suburb of Moscow a few years ago, with large green public areas with trees, and I noticed the pack of dogs who lolled about in the sun and wandered off on their own missions. Again, they mostly ignored the people. I was told their owners would come and call them in at the end of the day.