Bloody dogs and their stupid selfish owners.

[pinkthechaffinch]

We live in Dorset, and I don't really care too much if this thread is identifying.

Ds is really into nature and is very good at spotting newts, grass snakes etc.

We went to Thorncombe Woods the other day, where there is a lovely pond with tons of wild swamp life. It's always quite busy up there, loads of dog shit as soon as you come out of the car park, but it's really lovely once you walk on a bit.

Anyway, DS all excited about planned nature observation. but YET again, it's ruined because of bloody great dogs splashing about in the pool, and then shaking themselves over me and my kids, whilst their stupid owners sit and stare at them.

Grrrr

And there are numerous signs asking dog owners to keep their beasts on leads.

Justanothermanicmumsday - Glad you found Riven's post comical too.

I suggest that those of us who are free from a prejudiced, ridiculous and utterly deranged hatred of dogs (which seems to stem from the fact they run around a bit instead of playing nicely in a corner), take ourselves up to Northumbria where they allow dogs on the beaches and welcome them into the pubs with open arms and special biscuits. It's a wonderful place.

Oh, and don't forget your poo bags.

Love it Armi I'm on my way now.

the thing is that kids absolutely love my dog, and even those that are a bit shy or nervous of dogs have really come out of themselves after a little while with him. It's such a shame when parents push their own prejudices on their kids. Instead of ranting and getting angry after the evnt, if the dogs were seriously getting out of control, of course you should have said something, but I seriously doubt anyone's swamp experience would have been ruined if everyone played nicely together.

I don't mind dogs, I probably wrongly assume owners who let them off the lead are confident they won't bite my children, but I am sick of some owners tbh.

Was in the chip shop, big massive jawed dog trying to eat whatever might be in the bottom of my pram . I tell the owner, he says "it's ok, he won't bite you" I don't give a fuck, get the slobbery git away from me.

I'm so glad my kids aren't phobic about dogs, walking along the canal the other day to get to the park, about 10 of the buggers surrounded us. Not good at all, fair enough they were not aggresive, but how the fuck am I supposed to know how random dogs will behave.

People are caca about dogs though, in the same park, some mental owners pointing out the miniature train to an alsation (as if talking to a 2yo, like look theres a train choo choo). Erm wtf, honestly I couldn't decide whether to or .

I am sure it will be covered in shitola soon enough....

This is all v unpleasant

Those people complaining about dogs on beaches, in parks and in other areas, should be aware that local Councils can impose Dog Control Orders - these can ban dogs at certain times completely e.g. dogs on popular beaches in the summer, or impose conditions e.g. dogs must be kept on a lead. Councillors are elected - therefore if they believe there is a groundswell of electoral demand for these powers to be enacted they will do so. Many Councils have put in place Dog Control Orders since they were introduced - they also cover dog fouling and its enforcement. Councils are limited on what they can spend any revenue generated from FPN income from dog fouling, litter etc, but it could be used to plough back in to the Dog Warden/Environmental Enforcement Service. I've worked in a number of councils across the UK and I can say this, you get the Council you deserve, in that the one with the most articulate, arsy, complaining residents had by far the best (most responsive)services. I am always astonished when I read on MN about people who describe their neighbours dog regularly running up and down the street - FFS, call the bloody DW and Complain! Ring your Councillor and complain. Attend your local PACT meeting and complain about dog fouling and out of control dogs. Once the problem is documented, council officers, police etc have to actually do something. Muttering behind the curtains is never very constructive. Campaigning on this issue has never been easier. Why not do a FOI requiest to your local Council about the number of prosecutions or FPNs issued for Dog fouling, or the number of Dog Control Zones? And the number of complaints. Once you've got some data, why not set up a website and get your local mums groups etc to campaign? More dog bins. More sweeping. More patrols by DW and other enforcement staff. A target for the number of FPNs issued .....and so on.

on a recent walk a 'spit the dog' lookylikey small dog ( which I commented on as being cute as it trotted past) jumped up at my two year old scrabbling at his chest as he tried to lick his face, i told the dog owner to control their dog, and told her it should be on a lead if it jumped at small children,

she replied that the dog was only being friendly and perhaps the child should be on reins.

the sad thing is i love dogs, and this really upset my son at the time who ever since clutches his chest and says ouch when he sees a dog

I am sorry but i feel strongly that parks are for people first

The requirement for the dogs to be on leads is probably to stop them disturbing the wildlife, if it's a nature reserve. Hardly unfair, dogs are far from endangered, whereas your newts and your grass snakes are really struggling.

And it makes a massive difference to the habitat - just did a project on this last month for an environmental science course. A lovely clean river in a country park that was continually disturbed by human - and dog - activity, had biodiversity more like it was downstream of a leaky chemical plant.

But I imagine there's as much chance of getting dog owners to care about that, as there is of getting cat owners to care about the huge wildlife massacre they are responsible for. A bit depressing really.

Valhalla thanks for replying.

I've sent you a link via CAT if that's okay?

I don't mind if grass snakes are struggling.

I love my dog but children should always come first and dogs should be on leads where there are children. A dog should not have the same right as a child , they are animals.

Fair enough, animation. Some people might think it's a bit of a shame to let species go extinct, just because humans can't be arsed to consider anything beyond 'I want'.

I don't want to be bitten by a snake.

grass snakes are completely harmless to humans unlike dogs.

Heathen, I'm a dog owner and I do care about wildlife. I completely agree with you about the importance to ground nesting birds and other species of dogs being either kept away or on leads. The Kennel Club did a very interesting piece of research about balancing the needs of dog owners with other land users, including the needs of wildlife and they found they could get positive results if they explained to dog owners why they were asking for restrictions in certain areas and provided suggestions for alternatives. You can see the research on the KC website and it has a lot to offer land owners/councils in terms of ideas on how to effectively communicate with dog owners. Nature reserves are often privately (charities/wildlife trust) owned and I entirely support them being dog free or restricting dogs to certain areas. My experience has been that these restrictions generally work much better than on local authority land.

Don't forget the slow worms...

Seriously,I have children alongside a dog.I am very aware of the hazards of dog shit and the vileness of it.My childrens health and wellbeing is paramount.The dog is the lowest of the pack in house,weI pick up ALL of his shit and we only go to dog friendly beaches and he's only off the lead on known terrority (acres of fields behind us where we see the occasionaly fellow dog owner).

It's quite simple really.

You see a dog shit problem,you report.I know I do as a dog owner.

Ha -maybe a gang of adders should move there and bite a few dog owners on the bum. There is patch of dry heathland next to it.

That'd learn them.

Yes, but you'd still think that a dog owner with any sort of nous would see a small, nature-watching type pond on a nature reserve & NOT let their animal rampage through it!

OP, can you suggest they put a sign up discouraging dog owners from allowing this, if 'please keep your dog on the leash' isn't sufficiently specific for some?

Most dog owners are not irresponsible. Most dog owners pick up after their dog and don't let their dog jump all over strangers. Most dog owners keep their dogs leashed when it says to. I think to tar all dog owners with the same brush is wrong because we aren't all like that. We don't like seeing dog poo either...

And, as much as I believe the safety of children is more important than dogs, why is it fair that dogs can be banned from areas that we use all year round when people only go when the weather is nice?? If there are children only play areas surely there should be dog only areas?

And parks are not just made for children and adults, my local park is a large grassy field with a play area nearby. Why can only children play here?!

MistandMellow, thank you.

Will respond over the weekend if you don't mind - I've a big meeting to prepare for, my best pal coming here for the weekend tomorrow and my landlord turning up at 8 sodding am to fix the dead washing machine, am knackered and won't make sense if I try to reply tonight!

Oh you are very welcome!

Good luck and best wishes for this weekend. No urgent response needed :)

I'm a bit fed up that as a non lover of dogs some pro dog supporters are saying we have a "prejudiced, ridiculous and utterly deranged hatred of dogs" and we have also been called "crazy dog haters".

I object. You love dogs. I don't love dogs. I'm tired of these fanatical labels! (this does not apply to all dog lovers, just the ones who are getting worked up and personal).

Oh and Just Vicki- I understood your point as saying do you blame the badly behaved dog/child or the irresponsible owner/parent?
My response was in some cases its the child/dog and not the owmer. I used teenagers as an example where they are the problem, not the parent/owner. To be honest though, I don't think your metaphor applies usefully here.

YABU