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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:
Breakingpoint1961 · 09/04/2023 05:23

@Judgyjudgy unfortunately yes, not lots, but I've seen it, and in 'naice' places, with (perception) naice people too!

I met a friend a few weeks back, we went to a really popular pub, it was midweek and fairly quiet until...the 'knit and natter' group arrived (no problem) however, one of them must have mistaken her pet carrier for her knitting bag, and promptly sat her dog on the (fabric) bench seating, feeding it treats in between rowsHmm

MysteriesOfTheOrganism · 09/04/2023 06:17

I see far more people dragging bored kids round the shops than I ever see dogs. There are far too many selfish dog owners not picking up poo or leaving the plastic bags lying around - but I see far more trash left by inconsiderate humans: beer cans, plastic drink bottles, burger cartons, sweet wrappers. I see far more kids having meltdowns than dogs running amok. Out walking on shared paths I get more problemsfrom cyclists approaching silently from behind and not ringing their bell (many not even having a bell) than from dogs misbehaving. There are human tossers everywhere - and some of them happen to own dogs.

TheaBrandt · 09/04/2023 06:21

There are so many dogs now. It’s got ridiculous

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Breakingpoint1961 · 09/04/2023 06:34

MysteriesOfTheOrganism · 09/04/2023 06:17

I see far more people dragging bored kids round the shops than I ever see dogs. There are far too many selfish dog owners not picking up poo or leaving the plastic bags lying around - but I see far more trash left by inconsiderate humans: beer cans, plastic drink bottles, burger cartons, sweet wrappers. I see far more kids having meltdowns than dogs running amok. Out walking on shared paths I get more problemsfrom cyclists approaching silently from behind and not ringing their bell (many not even having a bell) than from dogs misbehaving. There are human tossers everywhere - and some of them happen to own dogs.

I echo all you say!

Tara336 · 09/04/2023 06:36

I love dogs and have two, I don't see what the problem is if people want to take their well behaved dogs out with them, as long as they are not bothering anyone else it's fine. We visited a beach yesterday our dogs had a little paddle and play well away from everyone else and completely ignored other beach goers. As did all the others. Plenty of bins to clear up and dispose of waste, so beach was clean as it should be.

But there were two other dogs on the beach running wild, no owners in sight and they were bombing around chasing each other over the whole beach, although they didn't approach anyone they were so invested in their game they could have easily knocked someone over. Pretty sure if one had pooed the owner would have struggled to notice or clear up.

Eventually they were called back by someone sitting on the beach wall, had there been any kind of issue even the dogs getting into a fight they were too far away to deal with it.

Don't blame the dogs and all dog owners, that's ridiculous and unfair, some children are raised feral, some are beautifully mannered! It depends on the owners and parents.

crew2022 · 09/04/2023 07:01

Having seen the mess that entitled parents leave in coffee shops and restaurants, dogs don't worry me.
Parents (some parents just like some dog owners) who let their kids throw food, mix salt and pepper and ketchup into a paste, even leave dirty nappies on the floor are selfish and inconsiderate and I'd rather sit where a person with a dog had sat and left a few hairs.

Tearyouapartlikeahumancheesestring · 09/04/2023 07:09

Met my dad yesterday (with his dog) in a pub near a local beauty spot and I’d never seen so many people with dogs in one place. But even though I’m not a huge dog lover (or hater before anyone says anything) the pub had really got it right as it was packed and even had tables inside specially allocated for dog walkers and their dogs and most of the dogs were well behaved. I guess they’ve looked at their demographic and worked out they’ll be making more money if they do and with so many pubs closing who can blame them.

AlwaysGinPlease · 09/04/2023 07:10

Floofydawg · 08/04/2023 16:01

Oh good another dog bashing thread.

Just what I thought. Boring isn't it.

Imagine a thread " Is it me or are there just children everywhere" 😂

KickHimInTheCrotch · 09/04/2023 07:18

Yep. And the feelings of entitlement that go with it. The owners who believe their dog has a right to run around off lead in a family park, jump all over children and sniff people and picnics seem to be ever increasing.

hattie43 · 09/04/2023 07:19

I love how dogs are inclusive now . I take my French bulldog out and about unless I think he'd hate it eg busy high streets . He / we love a coffee shop / pub garden etc

TodayInahurry · 09/04/2023 07:19

Sadly this is true everywhere. I have a dog and I don’t let her off the lead near people and I always pick up her poo. There is a track at the back of our house with poo bins and guess what people can’t even walk 6 feet to put their dog’s poo into one.

hattie43 · 09/04/2023 07:20

Much rather dogs than other peoples badly behaved shouty children .

TheaBrandt · 09/04/2023 07:25

Dog barking is on a par with shouty children. We have quiet teens and cats so do not add to this cacophony.

SharonEllis · 09/04/2023 07:29

Wonnle · 08/04/2023 16:58

So they can bark all ruddy day and upset the neighbours !

Show quote history

They won't bark all day if they are happy, well fed and well exercised. As others have commented it used to be perfectly fine to leave a dog at home. We used to leave ours in the kitchen - as far as we know he slept. We asked the neighbours & never heard a peep out of him.

Ricco12 · 09/04/2023 07:33

Dog numbers went from 10 million to 13 million after covid

So quite a increase in a year or so.

Jemandthehologramsunite · 09/04/2023 07:35

hattie43 · 09/04/2023 07:20

Much rather dogs than other peoples badly behaved shouty children .

Why do we have to tolerate either! Barking dogs and bratty kids, no thanks. If your dog or kid can't behave, stay home ffs.

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.

SharonEllis · 09/04/2023 07:42

Way too many dogs. I love dogs but you van't move for them & the owners haven't got a clue how to train them. Our neighbours dog regularly (almost nightly) wakes me up barking & she won't do anything about it. Almost never see it out for a walk and I expect it never gets a really long one. Walking down our high st on a sunny day, completely ruined by constant yapping & fighting. Dogs straining on their leads. I imagine a busy high street, constant temptation from smell of food, bikes whizzing around, lots of children etc is highly stressful for a dog.

Hotcrossed · 09/04/2023 07:42

i have my own dog with me, i do not see other dogs come up to me, my dog would show them her Elvis snarl.

hattie43 · 09/04/2023 08:30

Hotcrossed · 09/04/2023 07:42

i have my own dog with me, i do not see other dogs come up to me, my dog would show them her Elvis snarl.

That is so great lol I wish my dog had an Elvis snarl

OceanbreezeSun · 09/04/2023 08:42

Yup, lots more dogs where I live too. I like dogs - what I dislike are the irresponsible, selfish owners who don’t pick up their dogs poo or those that let their dogs off lead in public places.

Twice in the last week, we’ve had big turds on the pavement outside our house. It’s everywhere these days. I don’t understand the mentality of these kind of dog owners.

We were walking on the promenade the other day & a man with a lovely border collie (off lead 😵) called out to these two kids who were on their scooters ‘watch out for my dog’
The kids were not going fast, they were just going in a straight line - I bit my tongue but wanted to say to the man ‘ you watch your dog, put him on a lead!!’

Hotcrossed · 09/04/2023 08:58

i use a shared path with walkers, dogs, horses, cyclists
usually no incident, we give and take,
except my dog doesnt notice cyclists so i stand with her if i think she is going to walk out in front of a cyclists
they never have bells either, which is annoying when they swoop up behind you

1930toEdinburgh · 09/04/2023 09:03

googlejourney · 08/04/2023 18:37

OP....the best cure for a child who isn't keen on dogs is a lovely puppy for the family.

I love love love my dogs and dog people are the very best people 🐶

Clearly not familiar with ND children with severe anxiety and dog phobia

What an ignorant comment.

1930toEdinburgh · 09/04/2023 09:05

SherbertDabs · 08/04/2023 19:15

Almost as many threads whinging about dogs as there are actual dogs. Three days since the last thread.

Your are as bad as those husbands often discussed here that accuse their partner of whinging.

Your post is more whiny than any of the others discussing it !!!

shutthewindownow · 09/04/2023 09:16

Yep get over it