Dogs are everywhere?!

[LadyMonicaBaddingham]

I took DS to a university open day today. Two separate families had brought their dog with them! Is this someone I've missed?! Why is this necessary?!

My DS (11) has ASD and is afraid of dogs due to an experience a few years ago at a lake where an owner had a dog on an extended lead and let it come right up to him when he was bending down by the lake’s edge. He got a fright when he turned and saw the dog and put his foot in the lake and soaked his shoe. So he has never forgotten it. The other day we tried to go for lunch at a cafe. It had two dogs in there so we left. Went to try the next one, which was in the back of a shop, and could hear the barking before we even got to the cafe area. Luckily the third cafe we tried was dog-free. There is a lovely cafe in a large caravan showroom nearby but DS won’t go there with me because so many people bring their dogs there.

But how is that fair on everyone else?

Yeah I love dogs they're better than people.

@Newsenmum youre proceeding from the assumption that the majority don’t like dogs? Which doesn’t seem to be the case or they wouldn’t be allowed in places.

i do think dogs should be well behaved and well trained. And he’s not allowed to approach people unless they indicate they want him to.

there are a LOT of crap dog owners who should manage their dogs better.

he also has lots of time doing dog focused activities.

I don’t mind the vast numbers it’s more the fact they are so badly behaved. I have two young children and the number of owners who let their dog bound over to my child who then screams (she’s now nervous because it happens several times a week.) They then shout ‘oh he’s friendly,’ it’s infuriating. I don’t give a shit. My toddlers friendly but I wouldn’t let her bounce up to you and clamber all over your legs. She hates dogs now and I dread seeing them come towards us, I can’t always pick her up as hands full/other baby etc.

I also found it weird that at my midwife clinic building (also does diabetic appointments/podiatry/dressings for leg ulcers) there was a dog in the waiting area. I was first so I didn’t see if it went into the treatment rooms, although I imagine it did as unlikely one parent to be would come to the clinic and wait outside. I’m not sure why I find it odd (as we all walk in wearing outside shoes etc) but seems dirty to have a dog in a healthcare environment.

I had to deliver something to a person’s house. He was working in his front garden, dog running about - so I asked, to make sure the dog would be ok with me coming in-

“oh yes, come on ahead, he’s friendly!”

was he friendly?

nope. Ran straight over and bit my leg causing it to bleed profusely. 😡

So pardon me if I don’t trust your “friendly” dog not to bite!

I have always had a dog and adore them but it annoys the way they are everywhere at the moment. Most of them don't look happy to be dragged around shopping centres and in and out of busy shops.

LadyMonicaBaddingham

I was discussing this yesterday with DH. We went to a local shopping outlet snd there were dogs everywhere. Since when did dogs enjoy shopping for clothes? 😳🙄

If I had a phobia say of children for example, would I be reasonable in restricting others choices because of that? Or would it be sensible just to deal with my phobia? It can be done. If people choose not to access treatment and expect strangers to work around something that could be sorted then it’s unreasonable. Dogs are a part of life, and that’s not about to change.

It just seems unfair that so many places are full of dogs when yes there are people who don’t like them. And I’ve had a number of negative experiences which you would never get from a child. I hate the attitude of so many owners.

Dogs aside, I'm all for a ban.

I used to sell them. For every box I'd sell to a father wanting them for his family bonfire I'd turn away 20 teen boys wanting bangers or rockets to let off for fun (a nuisance to others).

I was ultra-strict as the kid next door to my elderly nan was stupid enough to put bangers through her letterbox one evening. It scared her half to death but didn't harm her. However, I saw on telly this week the case of the elderly woman who was killed by smoke inhalation from another teen throwing bangers through her letter box.

Needless accidents also happen because of them. Ban them and let people go to safe organised displays. At the very least fireworks like bangers should be banned. I doubt many people need them to scare away bad spirits these days but they're a prank waiting to turn tragic.

Children are human beings for one thing. And lots of places aren’t child friendly. Children don’t come up to you and sniff you. If they do, the parents whisk them away. Obviously some don’t. They don’t tend to have dog poo on them though.

I agree dogs have no place in shops.

I do have a dog and love her but don’t understand why dogs have to be everywhere the owner is.

My dog is small and stupidly friendly, however I do not let her approach people.

I had a dog around 25 years ago and it was different then, dogs fitted into owners life and everyone left them at home and worked full time.

Now it seems shocking to think of leaving them for more than an hour.

The other difference is how people generally act with your dog.

My puppy is ridiculously cute and people approach her all the time.
We had one lady stop her car so she and her children could ‘meet’ my dog.
Have had a woman ask for a photo with her, so strange.
Possibly people think everyone loves their dog if they have experienced this?

It's the dogs in restaurants, cafes etc that really annoy me. Dogs should not be in places where people eat.

Seeing owners stroke and pet their dogs then picking up their sandwich 🤮

I will boycott them happily.
I grew up with dogs and have had dogs myself but now it’s just gotten ridiculous.

Also it’s a line,
isn’t it. What if having pet snakes became a ‘thing’?

Well it's not just dogs is it.

Most animals, domesticated or wild, are negatively affected by fireworks being let off. Maybe bees too.

@Newsenmum i find children really annoying. Can’t think of anything worse than a cafe full of children. And I wouldn’t sit in a pub next to a table with children if I could avoid it.

i find nothing more irritating than a small child coming up and pawing at me.

i don’t think children should be banned from public

Also. I actually like dogs!
well going off them in recent years since covid

Yep.

And you can't tell if those owners have wormed their dogs either.

It’s the massive number of them now compared to years ago. When I was at school no one had dogs except maybe retired people or working dogs now everyone has one and most of those are crap owners who have no business having one.

They're still available to buy locally. They were they fireworks used that killed the elderly woman (unless the presenter got it wrong).

If some slip through that's all the more reason for a complete ban.