Warning... It's dog related.. Owners should keep better control over their dog/s

[MamaMaiasaura]

Lovely sunny day so dh, me and 3 dc went to highcliffe beach. It's a really nice beach and families go there as well as many dog walkers. This is fine of course.

However, we had our towels and windbreak up, baby's pram and buckets and spade and picnic. Normal stuff.

So we are there, I'm looking after baby and boys playing with dh in sand/stones.

Dog comes up and pisses over bucket. Owner is horrified and washes bucket in sea. Ok, owner dealt with it.

Bit later a couple of women with 3 dogs, one a standard poodle. The standard poodle comes and pisses over windbreak (picnic bag the other side) owners dreadfully sorry but ffs couldn't they keep dogs closer to them.

And later still family with 2 smaller dogs. Dogs come bounding through our picnic and then one goes to piss on pram. Dh shouted at dog and owners said said "oh they just love kids"... "I said if you can't keep your dogs to yourselves you should keep them on leads"

I have to say there were lots of people with dogs there and most of them just went past and no issues. Oh and the poodle owner quipped "that's dogs for you".... [hmmm]

Sorry I know this seems anti dogs. It's not, it's the feckless owners (minority) who think everyone should love their dogs and not mind them pissing on their belongings.

I think you make up your mind how you feel about dogs by your experiences with dogs TBH.

When DS1 was about three, I was pushing DS2 and Ds1 was on the buggyboard. A little yappy-type dog came running down the owner's drive and clamped it's jaws around my ankle, drawing blood. Now he is very wary of dogs even though he is 12.

He was at the local playing fields playing football and a huge dog came bounding over and burst his football and ran off back to his owners with it.

He would say he doesn't like dogs now, and there was no poo or wee involved.

I totally agree and I am a dog owner and mum. Now I have a dog I am much more aware of other dogs, as my dog is a small lap dog, who stands up on her hinds legs to say hello to people. I can hardly walk anywhere without people stroking her or admiring her as she is the prettiest dog I have ever seen! Countless people tell me that.

HOWEVER, even though she is a lap dog, ie bred to be a companion, follow you round the house, be devoted etc...I understand that she is still an animal and is still unpredictable. If my dog which rarely happens - runs up to anyone, I am straight after her - calling her back.

I however have had large dogs jiumping up on me with the owners casually chatting further away and watching! One stood and watched me going round in circles, getting tangled in my dogs lead, trying to hold my toddlers hand and in the end i screamed " is this your dog can you get it back!" He said " its because you have food in your hand!" Finsished his conversation then casually got his dog back.

The dog looked freindly, i wasnt scared of that dog but i did not want it bloody well jumping up at me!

The amount of times I have gone to take dog and child for a walk and had to turn straight back because some idiot has a large vicious looking snarling beast, trying to lunge at us.

I would like all dogs to have to wear a muzzle, it would make alot of things much easier.

I think some dog owners are deranged over thier pets.

Oh and this weekend on beach - a very small town beach full of young children, again my dog was safely on lead, I am lying down and suddenly a collie pupy - large comes running all over me, I was furious - I could have had a baby lying next to me who would have been trampled on.

I was amazed at how many beaches in devon banned dogs but frankly, stupid dog owners must take the blame for this. I hope people can enjoy the beaches in peace!