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.

Maisie wrote

^I love well behaved dogs.

I don't love owners who don't pick up their dog's crap/dogs who can't walk to heel and bound about all over the place scaring other dogs and people/vicious dogs/owners who can't control their dogs but maintain 'he's just being friendly'/owners who leave their dogs alone all day even when they get distressed/dogs who bark all the time, from early in the morning til late at night.

I imagine I'm fairly typical in my opinions of dogs.^

I could write similar about children.

Well mannered dogs are like well mannered children - welcome (almost) everywhere. Sadly not all children and dogs are well brought up and it means that those of us who do take care to keep their dogs under control are shut out of places.

It does make me cross.

I love that wooooshing sound points make as they go about 2 feet over heads.

I love dogs, as does my DD3, but DD2 is quite nervous of them and DD1 who has SN's is utterly TERRIFIED If dogs were allowed into more palaces than they are now my life would become HELL. The more dogs are kept on leads and out of cafes the better afaic. I think parks should have areas where dogs are not allowed to be off the lead at all, or even better SOME totally dog free parks - that would be life changing for me, and more importantly DD1.

And now this thread is starting to progress as anticipated... usual suspects begin to emerge saying the same lines that are always said, the same intentional point missing, the same accusations of intentional point missing."

Eh?

I wouldn't laugh at someone who carefully skirted around any species of snake. Knowing what you do not know is a valuable skill that I wish I had. Someone who skirted around a grass snake, and then picked up an adder to give it a stroke, thinking it was a grass snake, would be somewhat risible, would it not?

I do like all dogs really, even the naughty badly-trained ones. But then I don't really mind being bounced all over and covered in muddy paw prints (can understand why someone would not want that though!). Obviously I'd be wary of an aggressive dog, but even then I'd tend to be more sorry for them than anything, as it's often fear-based or caused by previous abuse.

I do wish there was more tolerance of dogs, even the ones that don't behave perfectly all the time. Surely it's usually a case of annoyance rather than danger or harm, and just part of living in society. But then I could take my own advice and try to be a bit more tolerant of badly-behaved, noisy children, I suppose. We all have our faults!

I remember a pub in (I think) the Lake District that had a sign on the door: "All dogs welcome, well-behaved children only". That was my kind of place!

Someone who skirted around a grass snake, and then picked up an adder to give it a stroke, thinking it was a grass snake, would be somewhat risible

More likely somewhat dead :)

I am told by friends in Africa that keeping a leopard sorts out unwanted dogs. And the neighbours won't dare to complainabout cat poo either!

Friends came to stay for a while in August, and I remember telling them that my dog was very well behaved in restaurants. They were that he is allowed in restaurants. And a lot of hotels.

I am on the very rare occasions that I am not allowed to take my dog somewhere.

I think that the Lake District in general is very dog tolerant because of all the walkers but in general am concerned about taking my dog over there next year. I'd love to link to a picture of his passport.

I remember a pub in (I think) the Lake District that had a sign on the door: "All dogs welcome, well-behaved children only". That was my kind of place!

I think I've been there - isn't it at the end of a (buggy proof) long walk too?

tearsbeforebreakfast are you aware of how dogs are treated in other countries? You would be very hard pressed to find a dog pound or rescue here. Most parks have huge enclosed dog play areas. Plus I can fly with my dogs to any other European country (apart from the UK which insists they go alone in a box on seperate cargo plane.)

Yes, Petit. It has only happened once that we were not allowed to take Daphne into a cafe. Very unusual here.

And no one has looked at her pic and fawned over her.

I thought we were at the cooing at pics of fluffy doggies already. Shall I come back later?

Awww, your doggie looks almost as cute as mine.

Do Germans really allow people to take dogs into supermarkets?

YABU, it is already very dog friendly. Dogs are even allowed on buses, in some pubs, can stay in some hotels and there are special dog bins in parks and streets. What other ways would you like it to be more dog friendly?

MmeLindo - this is a thread about dogs, not children. I tend not to refer to the thread title when posting.

I agree that there are also shits of the human variety, but I tend to believe that humans are responsible for their dogs (just as adults are responsible for their children), and as such most of the behaviour that I don't like is a result of poor dog parenting.

I 'tend to' refer - not 'tend not to' obv!

I don't understand why these threads polarise so quickly - it seems a bit artificial somehow, as though everyone is determined to follow Dejavu's cliche predictions!

Surely the vast majority of non-dog-owners can see that not every dog-owner is irresponsible and careless?

And surely the vast majority of dog-owners can see that not every non-dog-owner is hysterical and antagonistic?

I think there are lots of places where dogs should be allowed - cafes in dog-friendly locations like parks and national trust places, more relaxed pubs etc - and it is a shame if these places aren't accomodating. Equally, I think there are places where it is probably understandable that the owners have made the decision not to allow dogs - city centre restaurants etc. I think similar thinking could be applied to children to be honest - there are places that are not, and never will be, suitable for children and I wouldn't have a problem with certain places having a no-children policy. Unfortunately there does seem to be a culture of "how dare my child not be welcome anywhere I choose to take him" that is considerably stronger than any similar "how dare my dog not be welcome here" thinking.

The bottom line is that some people don't like dogs and never will like dogs - as long as they aren't screaming 'take your evil animal away' from a distance of about 100m, then they are entitled to feel however they feel. Some people are frightened of them, some people don't like dog hair or dirty paws, some people are allergic to them. They have a right not to have someone insisting on forcing their dog upon them on the basis that "he's perfectly friendly" or "you need to get over it". Equally, dogs have the right to go about their business without being screamed and flapped at. If both parties exercise a little common sense then it really shouldn't be an issue.

DS loves dogs. I have therefore worked extremely hard at teaching him not to run up to them, shout at them, scream "woof" at them and generally harass them. He now points and shouts "doggy" but won't make a move towards them unless I take him over, which I only do if the owner issues an express invitation. I don't let him run up and start stroking random babies or other toddlers so I don't see why he should be allowed to grab at someone else's dog.

DS's cousin does not like dogs and has a very bad, very fast-acting allergy to them. It would be nice if every dog owner he came across applied similar courtesy - unfortunately he has had the "oh he is friendly" experience more than once.

This is one of those areas where both groups need to recognise the rights of the other group to peaceful existence, and that they can't expect the other group to go out of their way to accomodate their own personal needs. So it is unfair for dog-owners to say that children shouldn't be in a park if they are scared of dogs, while letting their dogs approach an obviously frightened child, and it is equally unfair for a parent to say that dogs shouldn't be in a park because their child is frightened of them, while insisting on marching straight through an area where lots of dogs are running about.

JLK2 I don't know about supermarkets, but on the ferry to England my dogs had to stay in my car for 16 hours. On the German ferry, they were allowed to go up with me to the decks, into the onboard restaurant, shops etc.

I'm not a dog lover, or a dog hater for that matter. As long as the poo is cleaned up, I don't have a problem with them. DS1 was terrified of dogs, but has now learnt that if a strange dog runs up to him, he just stands still, lets it sniff and it goes away.

For Dog lovers in Somerset (Street area) my brother owns a lovely, dog friendly pub. They always put a fresh bowl of water out, and have dog treats behind the bar. Plus if you are eating, they will look after your dog for you (assuming they aren't inundated with them that is)

That was my point, Maisie. That poor parenting, dog or children, leads to unruly behaviour but only the dogs are locked out in the cold. Even the well behaved ones.

We went to a castle in Scotland recently and I popped our dog into my handbag - I bought a large basket for holidaying in Scotland as it is the best way of smuggling her into places. I will not leave her tied up outside or in a freezing cold car.

No, JLK. Dogs are not allowed into supermarkets in Germany or Switzerland.

Nah, they'd be immortal after being remembered forever with a Darwin Award.

Actually, more seriously, I think you have lots of time to get to hospital with an adder bite.

I think I can tell the difference between all the UK snake species, but I'd do the careful skirting thing. For their sake, and mine!

Kladdkaka
Ooh, cute doggie. I love Westies.

When we were enquiring about the ferry to Scotland, we were told that she would have to go in a travelling box. I asked where the box was, and what it looked like - the woman sent me photos of the boxes. On the deck of the ship.

A ferry that crosses the North Sea where it is bloody freezing at night and the dogs were expected to sleep on the deck.

Our spoiled pooch is used to sleeping on under our bed.

"Surely the vast majority of non-dog-owners can see that not every dog-owner is irresponsible and careless?"

And surely the vast majority of dog-owners can see that not every non-dog-owner is hysterical and antagonistic?"

The trouble is you are labelled anti dog if you aren't prepared to agree that dogs are at least as important as people. And that it's ok to say "all dogs welcome, well behaved children only" and that shows a proper set of priorities.

Anything less extreme than this and you are a dog hater.

I can't remember exactly where it was Whatmeworry, it was a while ago, could well be the same one though! We've definitely found the Lake District very dog-friendly on recent visits, amazing walks and lovely dog-friendly pubs. Only not-so-dog-friendly aspect is all the sheep (which are fascinating to a city dog apparently) so ours has to be on-lead more than he normally would be.

Loving all the fluffy dog photos. How nice to have a dog thread (in AIBU at that!) which doesn't descend into the usual dog-hating and arguments. Not yet, anyway!