Dear dog lovers/owners...

[INeedABiggerBoat]

A few tips for 'dog lovers':

• Don't leave your young children to pet a dog while you p* off to the loo or go to buy a pint, without checking with the dog's owners first. Dogs may not find your children as adorable as you do. Some dogs also bite children/when scared and I'm betting you won't be blaming yourself if that happens.
• It is not okay to feed a dog without its owners' permission - especially when you give the dog a small bone that could choke it/splinter in its throat. Unless you're happy for us to pass on the vet bill to you.

And one for dog owners:

• Whistling for your unleashed dog to follow you while you merrily cycle off home does not constitute 'having control' of your dog.

Any other tips to add, MN-ers?

Dogs are regarded as unclean by many Muslims and Hindus and contact with them is haraam (forbidden). As with so many issues, some observe this strictly and some don't

There was a huge row in our area when taxi drivers refused to have even service dogs in their cabs; eventually the local licensing body insisted that they'd have to accept them, but I'm told it's still being widely ignored

Because, everlong - if someone claims that having dogs on leads is going to result in more out of control dogs and dog bites then I want to see the evidence - but of course there isn't. There are dogs that prefer to be exercised off lead, and others that don't.

As I've said earlier, I don't have a problem with dogs off lead, providing that they don't bother anyone to any extent. Imo (and in the experience of many on here) there are many, many occasions where that just doesn't happen - which is why people get so fed up with dogs.

SirChenjin, dogs need mental stimulation as well as physical. A dog that is walked only on lead gains neither in any good quantity - much as a human needs interaction with other humans, so do dogs. Being able to follow a scent or sniff where other dogs have been is their version.

A human that sees no other nor speaks to no other human is likely to end up with MH issues (see studies on solitary confinement in prisons), same goes for a dog.

That would make the dog unstable, unpredictable, quite possibly aggressive.

A dog that is tired out mentally and physically is happier - endorphins make that happen.

I have worked with so many dogs over the years that I have seen it with my own eyes - the grumpy, nervous, aggressive dogs that change the more stimulation and exercise they get.

You don't have to believe me, of course, but I have no reason to lie and no agenda here. Just experience.

Oh no. Don't go there. Have done but no reason to do so now.

LtEve, why get into this argument? It's pointless. It's quite clear that some posters on this thread feel it is unreasonable for any dog ever to be allowed off the lead in a public place. They are clearly never going to change their mind and the dog owners amongst us are never going to agree that they're right. So the whole thing is pointless....

Royton?
Bloody hell, some of my worst dog experiences have been in Oldham, including taking children from Glodwick to the swimming pool and having them run into the road to avoid dogs chasing them, being knocked over by a mastiff with no owner in sight, being snapped at when pushing a buggy, being cornered in the cemetery by a small pack.
Never had a picnic in town though, too much dogshit in the parks.

I know, back in the 90s when I worked there, I'd never lived in such a polarised community before.

Dear dog owner next door. Please accept that when you go out, your dog barks solidly, all day, until you get back. Don't say to me "oh no, he'd never do that". You're not around to hear it you fucking morons.

I really think lots of people here have been.a bit unlucky. Admittedly I do walk.my dog in a large country park which is used almost exclusively by dog walkers but even when I don't we very, very rarely see out of control dogs. Yes, we do occasionally and I totally agree that in these cases the owners should have them.on a lead and or muzzled. I love dogs but even I hate being jumped all over by muddy dogs however small they might be.

Maybe it is where I live but the vast majority of dog owners here are really considerate. Same when we visited Yorkshire on holiday and dogs were allowed pretty much everywhere....we saw no problems at all.

Yeah, I know Everlong. I suppose I hope that one day someone will actually say "oh I didn't know that, thankyou" or "That makes sense" or anything really, other than "all dogs should be on leads at all times"

I've learnt tons since I've been on MN, and make a point of telling people. I've had my mind changed, my attitude changed and it's made me more passionate about what I do.

I suppose I can't help but try.

But cheers, I suppose you are right. Sad though.

There are some dog owners on this thread who clearly take their responsibilities seriously in terms of training their dogs. I wish that all dog owners were so good. Not all are and it's not fair on the dog.

Also sidebar. What is it with bagging poo but then hanging it from trees. That's just utterly bizarre.

LittleBear, it's probably hung there waiting to be picked up on the way back again. If I'm out on a walk and know there are no poo bins en route I often bag up the poo, leave it in the undergrowth and then pick it up on the way back again. No doubt someone will be along in a moment to tell me that's unreasonable though

There are about 300 bags waiting to be collected under the bridge on the canal.

Round here they bag it, then hang it in trees. It's like a really shit alternative universe Christmas

The latest trend seems to be bagging it and just leaving it on the pavement though

Dear Dog Owner,

What is the point of dog ownership? Really, I don't understand. If you simply must have a 'pet', there are much, much less anti-social choices. Guinea pigs for example.

Also sidebar. What is it with bagging poo but then hanging it from trees. That's just utterly bizarre.

It really is, isn't it!

On a similar note I was walking my dog a couple of months ago past a specially placed dog-shit bin. Somebody had watched their dog shit right next to the bin and then walked off and left it.

There was a dog shit on the verge right next to a dog shit bin!

My gob was proper smacked.

I was so fucked off I made a detour back there the next day, when I was walking the dog and had bags with me, just so I could bag it and move it into the bin.

Actually, that will be my top tip to fellow dog owners. Sainsbury's value/own brand nappy sacks. 16p for 100. Yes, they're thin, but at that price you can afford to double bag.

Please please please pick up dog poo! That is all.

Picking up other dog's poo gives me the heaves. Sometimes I accidentally pick up a stray turd. I know as it is cold and my pooch's poo should still be warm.