Dogs off leads everywhere!

[Peterbear]

Did dogs used to just be on leads more or am I just getting old and intolerant,? Literally everywhere we go for a walk, outdoor swim , park,cafe the place is swarming with dogs off leads. Great if the owner is 'switched on' and aware but really bloody horrible to be licked/sniffed/trampled on/food wrecked if you really don't like them and owner just oblivious. It seems standard now to not have them on a lead.Anyone know why?
If one more person says 'oh they're friendly' I honestly think I will trample on their picnic/ lick their face/sniff their genital s and say 'on well so am I' .Rant over.really pisses me off though.

@Desperate30

And why are dogs now allowed in every coffee shop? Slobbering all over the floor, chairs, tables etc. Flicking their tails so hair goes everywhere and then the owners feeding them off their plates. 🤮

Don’t be silly, they are not allowed in every coffee shop. Find one that doesn’t- or make your own coffee at home.

I’m a lockdown puppy owner. We have worked so hard on our spaniel’s training but threads like these make me feel awful because she has hit the teenage months and everything has gone out the window. I really need to go back to basics. Get her on a longline lead and start all over with recall and stopping.

My small, well behaved dog is on a lead on streets, in the park etc. Theres a field near us used solely by dog walkers where he is allowed off lead. We don't let him approach people unless they ask to meet him, or other dogs unless the owners say he's alright to. It's not difficult to be considerate. Talking of which, I've noticed a massive increase in children asking if they can stroke him rather than randomly approaching him. He's fine anyway but not all dogs are, so bravo to the parents who are teaching their children to ask first

Thank fuck I don't live in the UK

Indeed.

They certainly are where I live! And what a stupid statement - telling me to make my own coffee at home! 🙄

@Desperate30

They certainly are where I live! And what a stupid statement - telling me to make my own coffee at home! 🙄

Seems pretty logical if you really can’t find a cafe to your taste.

There’s plenty of coffee shops to my taste - it’s just the dogs that spoil it!

@Simbacatisback

Live and let live

As a dog walker I pick up the debris from the picnicers and BBQs and drinkers every morning- 365 days a year- rain and shine. Without us you would probably be sitting in a field of detritus.

My dog does the walk 365 days a year- very occasionally on a sunny day there are people sitting on the grass.

Everyone has a right to use the park- not just fair weather visitors.

You can’t ’live and let live’ if dogs are jumping all over you though.

Also parks belong to everyone equally. I use mine everyday (with my dog who isn’t allowed to run up to people). This doesn’t mean I have any more right to the space than someone visiting for the first time. They are public spaces, not your garden.

Completely agree OP.

Just the other day I was walking through the park when some mutt jumped up at me. Wet, muddy paw prints on clean black leggings followed by a very casual ‘sorry’ from the owner 🤬
Put it on a fucking lead if you can’t control it.

@LorelaiVictoriaGilmore I remember my two spaniel’s teenage years well, all they had learnt seemed to disappear along with them after a scent. Keep at it, they do pay attention again after a short while.

@Desperate30

There’s plenty of coffee shops to my taste - it’s just the dogs that spoil it!

Even well behaved ones?

@EcoCustard Thank you! I hope so - I am feeling a bit hopeless at the moment and like everyone who sees me and my wretched pup is thinking ‘bad lockdown puppy owner’!

@LorelaiVictoriaGilmore other dog owners are very likely thinking oh, Spaniels

I run at my local playing fields and am regularly accosted by dogs. I absolutely hate it it. I've had muddy paws clawing at my legs and dogs running around my ankles. Some day I'm going to trip over one of them and end up getting the blame for it being flattened.

If you can't be arsed training your dog, don't own one. Or keep it on an effing lead. My SIL has two dogs which are not properly trained. We occasionally go out for walks with her and it's embarrassing the way her dogs charge up to people, barking and jumping. She's constantly apologising while laughing, as if everyone thinks it's all a jolly good joke. They don't. And I am curling up and dying inside.

I think some - not all - dog owners forget that not everyone feels the same about dogs. I don't wish them any harm, but I really don't want them jumping on me, sniffing around me or licking me.

@Desperate30

There’s plenty of coffee shops to my taste - it’s just the dogs that spoil it!

This is the restaurant/cafe owners decision. They’re the ones that want it to be dog friendly. You make it sound like the dogs and dog owners aren’t wanted there, when in actual fact it’s the opposite.

Unless you live in an incredibly small hamlet/village populated entirely in dog loving small business owners then there will be places you can go to that don’t allow dogs.

There was a very long running thread a week or so ago about dogs in restaurants.
I think as long as the place makes it clear they encourage dogs so people can avoid if they wish it’s better.
A lot of places probably go it because they need the custom.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4288276-dogs-in-restaurants?pg=1

i walk through fields with my dog off lead, unless obviously farm animals, and other dogs on leads, she might run up to other walkers but that is a very rare event that we see them

i havent had dogs run up and jump up at me anywhere

I wouldn’t have a picnic on the ground myself, always find a table, not because of dogs just find it weird to sit in the middle of a park surrounded with food on the floor and wonder why dogs come over…

Not saying mjne would, well he probably would because he’s 11 months old and sausage rolls are tasty. He doesn’t like sandwiches though. I am training him, but in order to train him he needs to go out and about, but also be sensible about where he goes and is on lead if it’s busy but training with distractions teaches him to recall in places where there are runners and kids - long line is invaluable here.

I think there are 2 sets of dog owners, those who get a dog and train it minimally or don’t train it at all and think it’s cute and fluffy and it’s a fur baby 🤮 everyone should love it. And then those who get a dog, train and and put value in having an obedient dog who is happy to go to the park and not chase joggers or jump up at kids etc I wouldn’t allow that from my pup so he’s on lead the majority of walks at the moment whilst he learns to be a good boy. He’s a bit anxious but very friendly and sociable - also a golden retriever and between him and my old boy the amount of kids who just run up and stroke or cuddle him without asking or parents caring is ridiculous. He tried to jump up at one child and the parent shouted at me, she was told in no uncertain terms that her child ran up to my on lead puppy who was minding his own business and tried to sit on his back. Dog obviously thought it was playtime and got excited parent was nowhere in sight - appeared with coffees. She was 3/4. People need to teach their kids to not approach dogs they don’t know without asking first. I still ask owners if I can fuss a dog we meet, don’t fancy being nibbled or jumped up on either.

Lucky you

That to Patsy

@AbsolutelyPatsy

i havent had dogs run up and jump up at me anywhere

That’s some feat. Admittedly it depends where you go though. If you do a lot of walking in the countryside it will happen regularly. But if you already have your dog with you maybe other dogs would think twice who’re jumping up.

*before

I don’t think there’s more dogs off leads just more badly trained lockdown dogs

If a dog is correctly trained I’m happy for it to be off lead