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Original poster

Just so many dogs nowadays, or is it just me?

276 replies

HairyFanjoBanjo · 08/04/2023 15:08

Away for the weekend at a typical British seaside town in Anglia and am quite shocked at just how many people have dogs now. Am sure there never used to be quite this many, or maybe I am just more observant now I have a child who isn’t keen (on bigger dogs).

Reckon I’ve seen well in the hundreds today, I’d say at least every other family or couple had a dog. So many labradoodles / toy poodles, cockerpoo’s, pugs everywhere.

Some people looked to be almost dragging dogs around the shops in really busy / small lanes of endless gift shops, then waiting for friends/family outside shops (as no dogs allowed) some with fairly stressed looking dogs😢

Is this the lockdown puppy effect in full force now? Just everyone and their pal has a dog now.

OP posts:
KittyAlfred · 09/04/2023 23:20

Fromwetome · 09/04/2023 02:51

the amount of parents here saying they can’t go to woodlands areas and parks because of dogs makes me so happy, fantastic! Piss off to your screaming soft play centres and leave normal people to enjoy the outdoors with out running into moaning “mums and bubs” riddled with the entitlement that comes with the worlds most basic act - breeding.

Are you OK? Very strange post.

crew2022 · 10/04/2023 03:05

@kitsuneghost not the wrong thread just offering another perspective about what can be a nuisance in coffee shops. And generally it's not dogs.

RedKathy · 10/04/2023 07:52

AllInADay · 09/04/2023 21:54

Exmouth yesterday. My grandsons were really disconcerted by the large dogs off the lead that ran up to them all the time, and the 5 year old asked why there were so many dogs? 2 year old throwing pebbles into the waves knocked over by one. It was a bit like a militia dog unit sweeping across the beach to chase villains, almost wanting to exert power and terror.

It has all gone too far.

Oh come on, it's ridiculous enough when parents post these outlandishly precious comments but I'd expect better from grandparents.

Interested in this thread?

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Dogs
Schnauzersaremyheros · 10/04/2023 07:52

@TropicalTheIslandBreeze are you vegan? If so, you do realise that plenty of animals are killed in the production of veg and fruit too, right?

And there is an increasing market in plant-based, and also insect based dog food available now!

AllInADay · 10/04/2023 09:55

RedKathy · 10/04/2023 07:52

Oh come on, it's ridiculous enough when parents post these outlandishly precious comments but I'd expect better from grandparents.

Show quote history

It's good that you have quoted me. You were obviously there on the day and able to comment from first hand experience.

BlueJellycat · 10/04/2023 10:09

Marchforward · 08/04/2023 16:34

Lockdown dogs. Lots of people with huge dogs bounding up to my small children saying it’s OK they like children. They don’t seem too impressed when I tell them it’s not because my children don’t like dogs which are bigger than them jumping all over them. I’ve seen a massive rise of dogs inside playground even in NT places where they are banned inside the play areas.

Also noticed this in shops too whrn I visited the beach at the weekend. Dogs in shops you never normally think was OK. Charity shops, Greg's, m&s. They weren't assistant dogs either unless Fench bulldogs or pugs are assistantship dogs too nowadays

Fedupfatandfrumpy · 10/04/2023 11:02

I've lost count of the number of times I've seen a pushchair then realised it's got a dog in it not a child. 😬 years ago you'd only see that in London but now I've seen it in Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Chester.

Fedupfatandfrumpy · 10/04/2023 11:07

Disneyblueeyes · 09/04/2023 23:11

I have nothing against dogs.
Our village is full of dog owners.

I'm not a huge fan of dogs in pubs while people are eating, but as long as they're not nicking my food I'm not that fussed.

I do agree there's alot more now.
Can't say I'd want one though.

This. I don't think animals around food places is very hygienic. I expect them to be in most outdoor places but I don't think they belong in indoor public spaces unless for assistance purposes.

Teatime55 · 10/04/2023 11:11

I don’t think they should be in food places like greggs. There’s no need.

SharonEllis · 10/04/2023 11:49

Fedupfatandfrumpy · 10/04/2023 11:02

I've lost count of the number of times I've seen a pushchair then realised it's got a dog in it not a child. 😬 years ago you'd only see that in London but now I've seen it in Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Chester.

I've noticed this recently too. And dogs in actual clothes. You used to see greyhounds with a blanket in winter, but now dogs wear onesies. I mean, people have really lost touch with the fact that these are animals, not babies. I think its a bit sick.

RedDirtWildChild · 10/04/2023 12:58

Teatime55 · 10/04/2023 11:11

I don’t think they should be in food places like greggs. There’s no need.

I agree, dogs deserve so much better than Greggs.

thebaneofmylifeisacat · 10/04/2023 13:51

In our locals both gastro pubs you look out of place without a dog. Literally nearly everyone has one and lots have 2 or more. You can choose the dog free restaurant area or the dog friendly bar area.

Seems fine to me although I do think dogs should be on a lead in all busy outdoor places and owners use dog fields or their own baby garden.

Equally I think it should be the dog owners sole responsible for having a fully enclosed garden to match the size or the dog.

thebaneofmylifeisacat · 10/04/2023 13:51

Back garden

Original poster
HairyFanjoBanjo · 10/04/2023 13:58

KickHimInTheCrotch · 09/04/2023 07:40

Every single munsnet thread about dogs turns into "NOT MY DOG and anyway KIDS are annoying" "Oooh I'd much rather a random lovely fluffy dog ran up to me and put its cute muddy paws all 9ver me than have to spend one more minute in the company of SOMEONES AWFUL KID"

I'm not a dog person but I totally accept that people have pets that bring them joy and I wouldn't want to take that away from anyone. However sometimes it's OK to have a moan about modern life being overly dog-centric without being shouted down. The UK is bonkers about dogs. I don't go on threads where people complain about badly behaved kids and start on about dogs - because that would be insane and irrelevant.

Thank you, I couldn’t agree more🙏🏻

OP posts:
AllInADay · 10/04/2023 21:40

XenoBitch · 08/04/2023 22:46

What do you think a dog tax would actually achieve?

Show quote history

There used to be a dog licence. You bought them from the post office and renewed them every year. From memory, they were checked quite rigorously, and you could be fined for not having a dog licence. When I last checked, the Germans still have dog licences, and you paid more for a second dog. Not sure if this is still the case. What did it achieve? Well, it was a source of government income, I suppose. Also, it might fund dog bins etc.

MintyCedric · 10/04/2023 21:54

IME locally to me it seems to be a right of passage…turn 40, dial back on work, get a dog, a tattoo and a gin club subscription.

RedDirtWildChild · 10/04/2023 22:17

MintyCedric · 10/04/2023 21:54

IME locally to me it seems to be a right of passage…turn 40, dial back on work, get a dog, a tattoo and a gin club subscription.

No tattoos and I don’t like gin, but less work post 40 and more dogs....bring it on! 😎

MintyCedric · 11/04/2023 00:52

RedDirtWildChild · 10/04/2023 22:17

No tattoos and I don’t like gin, but less work post 40 and more dogs....bring it on! 😎

Show quote history

😁

I’m just sulking because I got divorced at 40 and it put me behind schedule!

I did replace the XH with 2 gorgeous cats though!

Picassa · 11/04/2023 05:08

Floofydawg · 08/04/2023 16:01

Oh good another dog bashing thread.

Yep can’t bare them

superplumb · 11/04/2023 08:22

Lockdown. I wonder if in 10 years when most would've died off whether the amount will go down. I love dogs but hate irresponsible owners who jumped on the bandwagon. 1. Many are clueless and didn't research breed and 2. Cost of pups during covid meant bad people were breeding and puppy farms increased

Hotcrossed · 11/04/2023 08:26

i wouldnt say people jumped on the band wagon.
so many people during covid worked from home, or were on furlough, a dog seemed ideal to many
many people continue to wfh

AllInADay · 11/04/2023 10:10

KittyAlfred · 09/04/2023 23:20

Are you OK? Very strange post.

Show quote history

The name of this forum is Mumsnet.

AllInADay · 11/04/2023 10:20

Thesharkradar · 09/04/2023 13:13

I can't help being a bit concerned that abandoned dogs will lead to packs of feral dogs, these are very dangerous.
Hopefully the rescue centers will just euthanize them?

Show quote history

I hope not, but I used to do alot of work in the 'stans'. i.e. former Soviet Union Asia, where packs of feral dogs on the streets are commonplace. I left a social do early one night as I was tired, and found by the time I got back to my hotel that I'd gathered quite a following of them. Door locked, rang for the concierge with them all snarling round me. He let me in, beating them back with a stick as if it was all part of an evening's work, like summoning a taxi.

Thesharkradar · 11/04/2023 12:08

I suppose once packs of feral dogs exist people are a bit more likely to abandon unwanted dogs, thinking to themselves 'oh well it can go and join the local pack and have a happy life with them'
I've seen several news articles where young children have been killed by these dogs,
edition.cnn.com/2023/04/01/india/india-stray-dog-attack-debate-intl-hnk/index.html

XenoBitch · 11/04/2023 19:39

SharonEllis · 10/04/2023 11:49

I've noticed this recently too. And dogs in actual clothes. You used to see greyhounds with a blanket in winter, but now dogs wear onesies. I mean, people have really lost touch with the fact that these are animals, not babies. I think its a bit sick.

Show quote history

My greyhound wears onesies. She loves them, and sleeps very well on cold nights in them.

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