To wish this country was more dog friendly?

[lesley33]

I know some dogs are badly behaved, but surely not all dogs should be tarred with the same brush? My dog is a very well behaved labrador. On the continent dogs are allowed into lots of pubs and cafes and in places like Paris dogs are regularly walked along City streets. But in the UK, lots of people do not seem happy to let dogs share their space anywhere, which I think is vvu.

Oh, here we go again: dogs are people, too, better than people even. They should be allowed everywhere.

NOT.

doesnt bother me if others like dogs or not. Me and mine keep ourselves to ourselves.

My dog is with me pretty much 24/7.

A major part of why we chose the village where we live was based on the fact that and there are loads of walks and the pubs are dog-friendly, in particular you can have a meal even though the dog is with you. She's more well-known at the local now than us. Same when we go on holiday, we choose our accommodation based on this too and always make sure we're walking distance from a dog-friendly pub.

When I was recently in New York, it was really noticeable that dogs were allowed everywhere, shops, cafes, parks etc yet nowhere was soiled.

In my experience, provision for dogs in the UK isn't too bad.

Imagine how much more overpopulated the world would be if humans hadn't deliberately bred dogs to have juvenile traits into adulthood so that we respond to them to in a parental way.

The reason I have two kids rather than 4 is because I have dogs to use up all my excess maternal instinct on.

Hmm. I've just got back from LA, and dogs are allowed pretty much everywhere there. They are walking around shops, sitting under tables at restaurants (outside) and in one disturbing encounter for DH, using the urinals. And flushing. It was a bit odd to me, because we don't see it here. But you know what was even odder? How well behaved those dogs were. If they were on a lead, it was slack. But most weren't. They were so well trained and totally obedient (and wearing clothes, but we'll ignore that). So, tbh, I didn't mind those dogs one little bit. If I compare that to my school run this morning, where I saw lots of pulling, jumping up, a random shitting incident and some scared children I'd say that dog owners in this country aren't as responsible as they should be (obviously this is a horrendous generalisation). If owners didn't let their dogs run about jumping on people, shitting on pavements and generally causing mayhem, perhaps people would be more tolerant. IMO it's the human element that can't be trusted. And I say that as a cocker/springer x puppy owner who is utterly bonkers and far from well trained yet. But I aspire to the LA dog that can use a urinal and flush.

I think the balance is about right. Some places that do let them in, so I can go with my whole family (which yes, includes my dog - she's not like an extra kid but I chose to have her because I enjoy having dogs around and prefer to go to places that she can come along too. Otherwise she's shut on her own in the house and we have to head home early so she's not left alone for too long). I like those places. Other places don't let them in - fine. We either don't go there or go for much shorter periods, and it means that people who don't like them have somewhere safe to go from ramapging wolves.

What I hate is people who go to dog friendly places (dog friendly beaches, parks etc) and then complain that dogs shouldn't be allowed there because they don't like them. Bog off to a DFZ (dog free zone) and let me and my family enjoy our day out, which includes playing with the mutt. Yes lady at the NT park last week, I'm looking at you. My dog didn't even look at your kid but trotted past you, at my side, staring hopefully at the ball (that I hadn't yet thrown so the dog wasn't running around near your child - I did that deliberately because I thought a running dog might be more scary than one that stayed to heel). It explicitly says on the noticeboard that dogs are welcome, so if your kid really is that scared of them, then don't be rude to me - go somewhere else. And take your manners along with you next time...

"He has been on an open top tour bus, he has been in the poshest restaurants" conjuring some highly amusing mental images there, maddy - does he sport a top hat too?!

Well I was almost right - page 2 before we got the "dogs are not people or children" line... next stop - page 5.

Who's for a game of MN dog thread bingo? Pick your top five dog thread cliches, cross them off as they appear and the winner gets a biscuit icon that I can never figure out how to do.

Do I really need to wait for page 7 to discuss the never ending poo that covers the wheels of the buggies and the pavements around where I live?

OK - marks place.

I'll be back in a while.

Bloody hell' if this country was any more dog friendly we'd have to give up our seats to them on public transport!

Okay, dog cliches:

1. I don't have to teach my child to behave responsibly around a dog. If my child attempts to blind a dog with a stick and the dog barks at my child, it is the fault of the dog owner for not properly training their dog.
2. No public area except the side of a mountain/bog/other hazardous area should allow dogs on it. People who are not capable due to age/disability of walking dogs in these areas should not be allowed dogs.
3. A dog that jumps about excitedly is lunging at my child, even if my child is 50 metres away.
4. Dogs should be on a lead at all times, wearing a muzzle and should never be bigger than a dog carried in a Gucci bag by Paris Hilton.
5. Dogs should only ever be exercised in the owner's garden.

I wonder what countries you are comparing UK to if you proclaim it dog friendly. China and Saudi Arabia?

DejaWho got there first. I was about to come on here and say the same.

Additionally I predict that by page 3 some twat will tell us that their park is full of Pit Bulls - because despite that there is no test to identify one and that to do so takes a court case, several expert witnesses and STILL it's not an exact science, MN appears to be full of workers in non-dog environments who can ID a Pit at 50 yards.

I predict that I will be called a dog apologist/dog-centric at some stage. I further predict that this shall be greeted with a huge smile and profuse thanks for the compliment.

I also predict that some dork will advocate that all dogs should be kept on leads whilst in public by... oh... page 2, and that someone will by page 8 mention allergies.

So rather than go through all that I'm with DejaWho and happy to skip to page 15 and compare photos of our pet dogs. Only two of my three are on my profile - a long haired white German Shepherd and a B&T German Shepherd. Apologies to my black Labrador, photos of him will be added soon.

BTW - is everyone aware of LENNOX ?

Might join you on page 15

I X posted with DejaWho. So I can have 2 more goes at predictions? Great! (But you got all the good ones!).

Whilst I'm thinking of more, may I add that of COURSE dogs are not people. If they were we'd have a far better standard of dog welfare in this country than we currently do.

I hate dogs. With their tongues and wagging tails running around the park, preying on small excitable children. And then the dog owners who give you dirty looks when you say to your child "Don't you dare go near that dog". It's like they offended...I hate dogs.

This country is not dog-friendly. If this country was dog-friendly, it would not be socially acceptable to leave unhappy dogs outside in a garden on a freezing winter night.

No-one would drag their dog along when it was trying to go to the toilet, because the owner couldn't be bothered to clear up the mess, and didn't want to be witnessed breaking the law.

There are lots more examples of poor treatment of dogs, which are all socially acceptable.

PS: I prefer cats, and I'm not dog-centric in the least. They smell funny.

That's fine, MrBloom. I hate other people's children, personally. Each to their own.

DogsBestFriend - are you comparing dogs to children?

Can I add a bingo phrase with I must be a bad mother to have a Staffy around a child?

They're evil, drooling monsters just waiting to rip yer face off ain't they?

Jessie, my dog smells vile, and he's only tiny. Who knew?

MrBloom of course not. That would be an insult to dogs.

BTW, I won't be offended if you tell your DC to keep away from my dogs. I'd prefer it. Less chance of them getting hurt... my DOGS, I mean.

One of my dogs still has a sore eye from where some little brat poked him in the face a week ago.

Ok.

1. Children should be taught that under no circumstances should they touch a dog they don't know without asking. BUT dog owners should not allow their

dogs to jump up at anyone. And if their dog does over excitedly jump up at a child who is alarmed by this, the dog owner should say sorry, and explain sensibly to the child why it happened. They should not say either "don't scream, you'll frighten him" or "he's not used to 4 legged puppies, bless him"

1. Dog owners should always and every time pick up their dog's poo and put it in a bin.

1. Even if it is a dog friendly beach, dog owners should stop their dog peeing on a 4 year old's sandcastle.

1. I expect my child to behave impeccably in restaurants and pubs and in public generally. Dog owners should expect the same from their dogs.

1. Anybody who says seriously that if they had a choice between saving their own dog or a stranger's child from drowning they would save their dog needs to look very carefully at their priorities.

And finally. Anyone who uses the expression fur baby or fur child should be shot.

I thank you.

Staffies look like they'd eat you, but I have to say I've never met one that hasn't rolled on its back and tried to lick me to death. Weird, huh? Yet a chihuahua tried to bite DS2's ankle last week. Vicious little git.

Fur baby does make me a little sick in my mouth, to be fair.