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Original poster

Dogs on beaches. Why?

306 replies

Chickensarmpit · 20/07/2013 17:23

Today i took my 3 young kids to the beach for a rare day out.
It was ruined by dogs!
They shit all over the place, one pissed up my icebox and one bloody stole my sons ball.
We moved twice and eventually gave up and went home

Why do people insist on taking dogs with them? Grrr annoyed!

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 21/07/2013 08:53

I still think a license fee for the owners of children would go a long way to clearing up the mess they leave outside secondary schools etc. Either train your children to pick up after themselves or go and do it yourself. Irresponsible parents

BeerTricksPotter · 21/07/2013 08:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

curlew · 21/07/2013 08:54

"
No, the problem is that you generally don't notice the responsible ones because they are being responsible."

Well, possibly. But the fact is that dog owners can't just say "not my problem". The presence of dogs often makes things very unpleasant. Something has to happen- I'm not sure what. And, sadly, dog free beaches are a step in the right direction. Because a child's right not to step on dog shit in bare feet is more important than a dog's right to go own the beach.

saintlyjimjams · 21/07/2013 08:55

How many people buy a cute ickle puppy? Dogs are expensive anyway. The only person I've met in shock after buying a puppy (she stopped me on the beach to quiz me about her puppy's (normal) behaviour) had done all the research very carefully. She just clearly had no concept of what puppy's were like.

If you want people to go into dog ownership sensibly then insist on time with puppy's or dogs so they know what they're getting into.

I'd quite like a horse. I don't have one because I know I don't have the time. I know that partly because I ride but mainly because I attend weekly horse care lessons.

Education usually works better than charging a random amount that will put dog ownership out of the reach of many.

I don't think mandatory dog care courses are remotely practical btw but if you want to tackle the issue of irresponsible dog owners they'd work a lot better than charging everyone £1000 to own a dog.

saintlyjimjams · 21/07/2013 08:58

My children have never stepped on dog poo on the beach. And we go there every week all year round. They have however narrowly avoided glass & tin cans. Maybe you'd like to rethink what needs to be banned from the beach?

Honestly how often do you all actually go to the beach? In a year?

saintlyjimjams · 21/07/2013 08:59

Oh I do know how to spell puppies but my phone doesn't

BeerTricksPotter · 21/07/2013 08:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SoupDragon · 21/07/2013 09:00

But the fact is that dog owners can't just say "not my problem".

Well, it isn't my problem. I pick up after my dog and he is always on a lead - what else is it you expect me to do?

BeerTricksPotter · 21/07/2013 09:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

saintlyjimjams · 21/07/2013 09:02

And you are wading through dog poo in that time? In the depths of winter the only people on the beach (keeping the cafe open) ime are dog walkers and surfers/kite surfers etc.

Incidentally I have seen many horse owners with money but no clue, again education is the key, not money. You don't automatically become a good horse owner just because you have cash. Ditto dog owner.

SoupDragon · 21/07/2013 09:02

I agree with JimJams - the vast majority (I would say all actually) of stuff on the beach near my where my parents live is due to humans.

MrButtercat · 21/07/2013 09:03

Saintly and Soup not where I live.

SoupDragon · 21/07/2013 09:03

Yy. I'm only responsible for my dog, not any one else's.

Not entirely sure what your sentiment/meaning is here.

saintlyjimjams · 21/07/2013 09:07

Yes but I am beginning to think you live in a parallel universe as far as dogs are concerned mrbuttercat

Do you have no rubbish left by humans on the beach? Only dog poo?

I really have never seen a dog poo left on the beach. If I did I would pick it up, paid up member of SAS, I like my water clean.

BeerTricksPotter · 21/07/2013 09:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

curlew · 21/07/2013 09:10

I go to the beach about once a week in the winter- 3 or 4 times a week in the summer. Why?

And it's ridiculous to say things about litter and so on. That's bad too. But this thread is about dogs!

SoupDragon · 21/07/2013 09:12

OK - I was confused by the last few posts where you seemed anti dog :o

curlew · 21/07/2013 09:14

And a Macdonald's wrapper, however disgusting, is not anything like as bad as dog poo. And I don't like being shaken over or having dogs run over my picnic rug, or trampling sandcastles either.

SoupDragon · 21/07/2013 09:14

And it's ridiculous to say things about litter and so on.

No it isn't. This thread is making dogs out to be the epitome of evil and solely responsible for mess/annoyance/destruction on beaches. How is it ridiculous to point out that humans are responsible for far more?

SoupDragon · 21/07/2013 09:15

But it's not just McDonald's wrappers is it?
It's glass. Which cut.
And cans - which go rusty. And cut.
Fishing paraphernalia....

curlew · 21/07/2013 09:15

OK. humans leave litter too. Agreed.

Back to dogs......

SoupDragon · 21/07/2013 09:16

And small children behave badly and trample over stuff too.

curlew · 21/07/2013 09:22

Patient sigh.

Yes. But it is very unusual for a small child to trample a sandcastle and run across a picnic rug and for the parents either not to see because they are 100 metres away, or for them to say "oh, sorry, he's only being friendly". Also not many small children would be actually frightened if another small child did this.
Now, back to dogs....

MrButtercat · 21/07/2013 09:26

Curlew kids don't often lick other people's food,put their noses into picnic bags or jump on/ over kids they don't know and run round and round picnic blankets getting more excited the more the poor kids sat on the blanket get terrified.

saintlyjimjams · 21/07/2013 09:30

Ok. I have never experienced a problem with a dog on a beach. Not once. In parks yes, on the beach not once. Despite using the beach more than the majority of posters on this thread. And more often than I use parks.

I have nearly cut myself on glass while surfing. I have had the kids nearly cut themselves on BBQ shite left behind while surfing, I have had people swear at my disabled son who was minding his own business. I have come across used condoms on a beach. I have come across nappies dumped in unsavoury places. I have come across drunk people fighting on the beach.

Erm the problem really isn't dogs. And if you can't tolerate dogs on the beach in the summer you can usually find a dog free beach. I drive past two to get to my regular beach (which also had a summer dog free area). Now I'd like a lemon sucker free beach or one free of the tut tut brigade. Unfortunately they're harder to find (although midst of winter seems to work well).