There are far too many dogs in the UK

[habibihabibi]

I am a huge dog lover but dog ownership is out of hand.
Growing up, dogs were the exception rather than the norm.

In the past dogs were..
Working dogs and nippy little raters,
on farms or in the countryside where they could be active throughout the day.
Or
In town or city houses, the odd mid sized low energy doggies with at least one adult at home e.g parent or retired person and a garden.
Or
If in small cottages or flats, small dogs.

People who didn't have time for dogs didn't have one.

They thought long and hard about whether they could afford, exercise and had the lifestyle for a dog and not pick one up off Gumtree..

They did not leave dogs alone for hours getting bored, lonely and aggrevated.

They did not have to sub out dog walking to someone who has so many dogs to exercise that one or more maul her to death.

They did not get a dog if they couldn't afford it because they are costly and time consuming.

They trained their dog using a book or going to kennel clubs.

Shelters housed lost dogs ( whose owners came and got them) and poor dogs whose owners had died or went into care not dogs that people couldn't be bothered looking after anymore.

@Messyhair321 your account of your customer twisting his dog’s ear is absolutely shocking. With people so abusive out there it’s a wonder more dogs don’t turn.

I think the best thing for dogs is love and acceptance. Mine are emotionally very stable and happy and it’s due to never having anything other than good treatment.

Oh interesting. Tell me how they did that? I am not being sarcastic. It sounds really fascinating and I am happy to learn!

Hi @NoNewsIsGoodNews basically many domesticated animals were forcibly brought into the fold (as it were) and bred for what we wanted. Essentially kidnapped from the wild.

Dogs, it seems, self-selected because of their flight distance. Humans created midden piles, some wolves were suspicious and didn't approach, some had a short flight distance, and did. The ones that did ate human rubbish and were useful for keeping other animals away. It was a huge benefit to the wolves with a short flight distance as scavenging is easier than hunting, safer, they can have more pups, less chance of injury. They bred with each other, became more and more domestic, had a shorter flight distance, and over time, humans and dogs (as they became) had a symbiotic relationship. We liked them for all the many reasons they are useful. Protection, hunting companions, companionship etc. And they came to value not just our rubbish but our care for them.

Most animals we have a basically parasitic relationship with. Except cats which is more like religion .

They do things because of us. They stare at us and make eye contact. It actually releases oxytocin, which is love to your brain. Wolves don't make loving eye contact with us or each other. Dogs and humans apologise to each other. They seek out humans when in danger, rather than hiding or running as a cat might. It really is an evolutionary wonder.

They are special. And I look at my tightly wound girl with ND and my poor traumatised rescue when they aren't looking. Her hand on him without thinking, his head falling onto her, both of them calmer because of each other. Well, I'm a bit soft on dogs. The pros outweigh the cons. We can work on licensing or controls or training or law. We can't sever that special bond.

My old neighbours had a staffy. Lovely dog. Both owners in good jobs... definitely not "hooded chavs".

I once took my dog to the local park and encountered a staffie there with "hooded chav" owners. They asked me if their staff could have a run about with my dog... thy ended up being very nice and wanting the best for their dog.

I known it's shocking & really upset me. I have spent time looking for the rescue he said he got the dogs from to speak to them to report him.
You can get the odd dog with neurological problems but in my experience that's rare. This dog just hasn't been well looked after. So unfair on her

Another lovely dog…

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/woman-mauled-american-bulldog-horror-28959991#comments-wrapper

dog should be muzzled in public

Another issue of excess number of dogs & irresponsible owners.

South Downs: Charity walker picks up hundreds of piles of dog mess- 88lb/40kg to be precise Downs: Charity walker picks up hundreds of piles of dog mess www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-64281652 www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-64281652

has anyone tried a dog deterrent Spray? I was thinking about getting some to protect myself and my children when out

@flabbygoldfish all the dog shit everywhere is vile isn’t it. It’s not a minority of owners either!

Petition for all dogs to be kept on leads in public. let’s keep our parks and beaches safe

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/621613

I'd never sign that, its impractical and would do nothing reduce dog numbers or inappropriate breeds.

Plus it would never be enforced.

Far better to have licencing insurance and training, with fees paying for more wardens.

Same.

I was walking a dog, and the fact she was off lead saved her life. She was attacked by two other dogs, and was able to escape and run off. She would have been killed otherwise. One of the dogs that attacked her was actually on a lead.

'has anyone tried a dog deterrent Spray? I was thinking about getting some to protect myself and my children when out

You'd be better off teaching your kids how to approach dogs they don't know, read dogs body language and what to do if a dog approached them rather than scare them with the idea that you need to carry a spray to be 'safe' .

'Petition for all dogs to be kept on leads in public. let’s keep our parks and beaches safe
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/621613'

Oh do go away. I, like many people with a dog, am in the park or on the beach every single day, rain, shine, snow, storm. And half the time we're the only one's there anyway - because all the people who want dogs banned from public life, only show up when the sun's out in Spring and summer.

They're shared spaces. I don't always find having our local park taken over by parkrun, football matches/clubs, military fitness clubs or whatever every weekend either but I'm not trying to dictate how and when other people can use them.

Not exercising a dog properly to it's needs - i.e. not letting it run and exercise can lead to far more behavioural issues

I was walking a dog, and the fact she was off lead saved her life. She was attacked by two other dogs, and was able to escape and run off. She would have been killed otherwise. One of the dogs that attacked her was actually on a lead.

I was reading an article in (I think) The Times this weekend by a dog behaviourist and he was saying how unusual the dog attack last week was and how it was likely that the seven dogs, which were all being walked on leads together and may not have known each other well or at all beforehand, probably found that situation incredibly stressful and that's probably why they ended up attacking. Dogs on leads are unable to move away from a stressful situation (that might lead them to attack), or an attack by another dog. Dogs off-lead can escape both situations and therefore a bad outcome is less likely. I'll see if I can find the article and include a link to it.

And half the time we're the only one's there anyway - because all the people who want dogs banned from public life, only show up when the sun's out in Spring and summer.

Facts!

You must live in a strange place, because it's a minority everywhere I have lived. Dog poo carries as much if not more risk to our dogs as to humans, and anyone who cares about their dog wouldn't leave it behind.

Dogs, it seems, self-selected because of their flight distance. Humans created midden piles, some wolves were suspicious and didn't approach, some had a short flight distance, and did. The ones that did ate human rubbish and were useful for keeping other animals away. It was a huge benefit to the wolves with a short flight distance as scavenging is easier than hunting, safer, they can have more pups, less chance of injury. They bred with each other, became more and more domestic, had a shorter flight distance, and over time, humans and dogs (as they became) had a symbiotic relationship. We liked them for all the many reasons they are useful. Protection, hunting companions, companionship etc. And they came to value not just our rubbish but our care for them.

You do realise that's a lovely fairy tale and nothing more? There is absolutely no evidence to explain how humans and dogs came to cohabit. And there isn't a shred of evidence to support the fact that dogs descended from wolves either! It was Charles Darwin who first suggested this to be the case and "wrote the fairy tale", but it cannot be supported by any evidence. Dogs and wolves share about 98.8% of the same DNA. Humans and Chimpanzees share about 98.8% DNA. So humans are descended from chimps - or chimps are descended from humans?

We only know that wolves and dogs share common ancestory. In fact, scientists believe that 100 million years ago humans and dogs shared a common ancestor!!! Dogs and humans share about 82% of the same DNA. However, todays canids are known to have descended more recently from Miacids who lived about 34 - 60 million years ago, and is the common ancestor not only of dogs and wolves, but also of walruses, some seals, red panda, pandas, bears and cats (amongst others).

I can guarantee it is pretty much everywhere. Not sure I would call the South Downs a strange place. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-64281652.amp. 88lb of dog shit is not from one dog!!

Lake District had the same problem (www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/14109435.dog-poo-causes-a-stink-at-lake-district-beauty-spot/) as of the majority of beaches, footpaths & play areas.

and why put it in a plastic bag then drap it off a tree branch is just baffling.

Plastic shit plums

Totally agree

I completely agree. I feel like dogs are taking over the world! Can't go for a walk or run without being chased, even went to the pub for a meal the other day to find it over run with dogs.

And don't even get me started on dog walkers with too many dogs at once.

You must live in a strange place, because it's a minority everywhere I have lived. Dog poo carries as much if not more risk to our dogs as to humans, and anyone who cares about their dog wouldn't leave it behind.

And it's often dog walkers who pick up dog shit left behind by others IME

People do leave the dog shit behind though. I live in a rural area and any lovely area accessible to the public, canal, hilltop, woodland is littered with plastic dog poo bags. People enclose the poo, then hang it up or leave it in the verge. You didn’t see that even ten years to the extent it is happening now. Massive environmental hazard. In addition, dog attacks on sheep are becoming more common. Also, I saw horrific pictures on Facebook of several sheep who had been driven by a loose dog into a bog and who were up to their necks in mud. You only have to go on some of threads to see that dog owners think it is their right to exercise their dogs in the country above other people, livestock and wildlife.

Just imagine no more poo bags dumped in bushes or hanging from trees. No pops left on the ground.

No barking dogs put in the garden at 6am every day.

No dogs running up to people off lead causing distress/alarm. Jumping up and leaving muddy paw prints on coats. Knocking young children over.

No dogs attacking other dogs or indeed people.

No deaths from dogs.

I see no drawbacks except people who love dogs will have to cope with other pets. Boo hoo.

Boo hoo to you, because that scenario will only ever live in your head.