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Original poster

Bloody dogs everywhere!

88 replies

WetherspoonsMondayClub · 20/09/2023 17:26

AIBU to think there's been a substantial rise in dog owners in recent years?
I live by the coast with a fantastic beach and lots of nature to walk in so perhaps it's just my area and similar areas around the UK.

I am an animal lover including dogs but even I'm getting mildly annoyed with constantly having to dodge them on the footpaths near me. (I walk 3 miles every day to the gym). Some owners don't give a toss if another member of the public is walking towards them.

Dogshit everywhere.. It's an increasing problem here.. Not just dogshit.. but black bags of dogshit on the floor 😂

I suspect many of these dogs are not truly loved - They play in with the British obsession of 'showing off' to the world with designer brand named clothes and flash expensive cars on finance. These fancy expensive breeds are just for the owner to ponce around with outside and show off.

Can't stand the ugly types.. Staffies and bulldogs.. orrible demon creatures.

OP posts:
noideabutstilltrying · 20/09/2023 19:11

I have 2 old labradors and have seen many more younger dogs that are poorly trained.

It's got to the point that walks are not enjoyable any longer.

I don't think I'd ever have any more dogs in the future

So much bad press which comes with ownership

GreenwichOrTwicks · 20/09/2023 19:16

Yes far too many -thank you for this thread. I live in Twickenham and they are everywhere! All cafes and pubs are ‘dog-friendly’ -people not so much. This year I have been bitten by a dog in a pub and last week had a dog jump up at me (I was sitting) and scratch my neck.
How much does it cost us in council tax to empty the bins of dog poo from those owners who actually bother to pick up? (only when someone else is watching or nearby judging by the deposits left by dogs whose owner ‘haven’t noticed’.
Worst are those owners who refer to ‘my girl’ or ‘my boy’ and even describe themselves as ‘mum’ to the dog….

Pleasenowthatsenough · 20/09/2023 19:16

Nearly 20 years ago my dog stayed home all day while I went to work, walked before and after, and was happy as Larry. Now people think they need to go everywhere. I own a cafe and have huffed many people because we're not dog friendly inside, although have outside seating and water bowls. We're very busy, the staff collide never mind if they were having to dodge dogs.

This was the norm 20 years ago and even when I was younger. I certainly don’t remember there being half the problems that there are now with aggressive dogs, the mess and the sheer entitlement of owners.

I won’t go into a shop or cafe if dogs are welcome and I really hope that more people vote with their feet and show businesses that we don’t all want to sit and eat smelling dog, or be bothered by them by boycotting the place. I have a shop in my town that has a sign outside ‘Dogs welcome, humans tolerated’… supposedly funny but needless to say I no longer go in there.

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Dogs
VeridicalVagabond · 20/09/2023 19:17

I think there's a big increase in bad owners as well which doesn't help. People who don't really understand dogs but got them during lockdown for company or because they suddenly could because they wfh, and have done absolutely piss all to train them.

Every other walk with my 3 we get some badly trained Labradoodle or spaniel or cockapoo or something running up bouncing around, hassling my poor 14 year old Greyhound who's just trying to enjoy his day, jumping on me getting me all muddy which I hate. I always tell my three to sit, which they do, and wait patiently for the owner to retrieve their animal, which they often can't. It's frustrating. I miss the days of only meeting responsible dog owners with well behaved dogs!

And don't get me started on people taking them absolutely everywhere like they're children.

GreenwichOrTwicks · 20/09/2023 19:19

Why on earth do you need 3 dogs?

PaprikaPlease · 20/09/2023 19:23

I agree with the ‘cult of the dog’. Most guilty in my social circles are empty nesters and women in their 30s/40s who haven’t yet had kids. I get sent photos of people’s dogs all the time that I’ve never shown any interest in! It’s bizarre!

LucyAnnTrent · 20/09/2023 19:31

You say that you're an "animal lover including dogs", OP, but you do sound a bit intolerant. I agree with you about dog poo, but why does it bother you when you have to "dodge them on footpaths...some owners don't give a toss if another member of the public is walking towards them"? What is it that you'd like the owners to do when they see you walking along the footpath? Unless these dogs are jumping up at you or being aggressive, then surely walking past a few dogs on a footpath is part and parcel of living in a town or village and not really a big deal.

DewinDwl · 20/09/2023 19:31

I have stopped going for walks in our local woods due to several unpleasant encounters with off lead dogs, with the owners miles away, out of sight, eventually catching up and panting "it's all riiiight! He wouldn't hurt a fly! He's a big softie, really". Fuck off. Due to the nature of the woods the dogs, no matter how good-natured or well-trained, are startled by any strangers they meet and invariably react defensively.

And thus many people are pushed out of public spaces because of some irresponsible dog owners.

sallowsense · 20/09/2023 19:39

eatdrinkandbemerry · 20/09/2023 18:12

My sons severely autistic and his real only trigger is dogs 😩.
They are everywhere now and even allowed in a lot of cafes and shops!

Same here. My son won't leave the house now to do anything except go to his SEN school as there are dogs everywhere off leads and barking. His love was to walk in nature and on the beach and now he stays at home all the time.

I would say dogs and dog owners have control of all outdoor space and there's nothing left for anyone else.

Original poster
WetherspoonsMondayClub · 20/09/2023 19:45

There's a bloke in one of my local pubs that brings his 3 greyhounds in. They're constantly farting and trying to mate with each other... (they're all males). 😂

OP posts:
OrangesLemonsLimes · 20/09/2023 19:57

Even as a dog person I agree with you, OP. It’s gone too far.

Your three greyhounds story made me chuckle though. 😁

TheRosesAreInBloom · 20/09/2023 20:03

I’d like to know how people afford them, so many threads on here reflecting how families can barely afford to feed themselves anymore 🤦🏻‍♀️

Highandlows · 20/09/2023 20:06
Dogs Reaction GIF

Ok

Mojoj · 20/09/2023 20:11

Enough with the slagging off of Cockapoos!! They are great wee dogs, clever and very affectionate. I don't know where you live OP, but it must be minging if you're knee deep in shit. Lots of dogs where I live but very little dog shit because we are responsible dog owners. My Cockapoo is well trained, walks to heel, does not jump all over strangers and is a complete delight. No such thing as bad dogs, just stupid, lazy and feckless owners.

BackT · 20/09/2023 20:48

The barking around here is getting well out of control.
I hate it 😩

FunkyMonks · 20/09/2023 20:56

Agreed love dogs but I'm fed up right by my children's school there's always dog crap on the pavements that gets trodden on by children going into school I'm fed up and have now starting calling where I live dog shit valley.
I've told my children it's not the dogs fault it's the lazy arse owners who don't clean up after the dogs that are at fault.
Lockdown certainly has a lot to blame for the amount of idiots rushing out buying dogs and then not caring for them properly or training them etc.

I sometimes wish you could find the lazy owners and rub their faces in the dog shit as punishment. 🤣

dooneyousmugelf · 20/09/2023 21:14

I feel like I'm fucking hop scotching down the street thanks to all the dogdoo that's about these days. Also on a night out recently and some guy had brought his dog :/

letstrythatagain · 20/09/2023 21:19

Lol. Great thread. There are loads more dogs around. I'm not bothered though tbh. Have a 1 year old Weimaraner and got her soon after our 13 year old of the same breed passed away. She's just amazing!

BUT have to agree on the poo front. We came out of the front gate the other morning and there was 3/4 lumps of poo sitting on the pavement. Totally gross. No way the owner could have missed the dog doing it but clearly chose to just leave it there! 🤮

IthinkIamAnAlien · 20/09/2023 21:25

I agree OP, too many dogs and insensitive owners. I was at a talk last night and of course someone brought their dog which whined and snuffled and fidgeted all the way through.
Instead of liking dogs, as I once did, I'm fed up with them everywhere, with the poo and the expectation that I don't mind being jumped up at or sniffed or accosted. I hope its a fad that will be over before long.

extramaturecheddarcheese · 20/09/2023 22:22

It's not so much the dogs but the people who think their dogs are gods gift and expect every to think it's ok that they're in shops, hotels, transport etc. There's a place for dish and it's not in a hotel bed or train seat.

extramaturecheddarcheese · 20/09/2023 22:25

extramaturecheddarcheese · 20/09/2023 22:22

It's not so much the dogs but the people who think their dogs are gods gift and expect every to think it's ok that they're in shops, hotels, transport etc. There's a place for dish and it's not in a hotel bed or train seat.

Dogs! Not dish ffs Blush

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 20/09/2023 22:40

BackT · 20/09/2023 20:48

The barking around here is getting well out of control.
I hate it 😩

Me too! Dd is ASD, and struggles with sounds.

Someone on the road below us has a dog that barks all the time. This sets off the dog next door but one. He then sets off the dog 2 doors down across the road.

It drives us all insane. If the bastards on the road below didn’t let their yapping dog outside all the time the other two would be quiet😡

choochooallaboard · 21/09/2023 13:46

Omg yes. Everyone seems to have a dog. Oh they're friendly as they jump up you with muddy feet or knock my kids Down!! Very annoying!!! I don't let me kids jump over strangers!

Roughashouses · 21/09/2023 14:01

I'm sure if there was an increase in dogs (and dogshit) someone would've mentioned on here before now.

IDriveMySupernova · 21/09/2023 15:03

This year, where I live (pretty affluent area), everywhere stinks of dog shit. It was particularly bad in the hot weather when the shit was literally baking. Even when it's cool though, like this morning, the smell is so strong. I was walking along the pavement that borders a park earlier and the entire stretch reeked of shit where dogs must've taken a shite in the park's perimeter and nobody's bothered to clean it up, or perhaps just chucked poo bags in there. The poo bins are always overflowing so the bags get left on the ground and absolutely reek. I've stepped in dog shit three times in the past year - a new record!

Having said all that, I can see why people want them and get a lot out of dog ownership, especially if they've chosen not to have kids or whatever. It's good to be able to have a moan about it sometimes though.