To think if you go to the dog beach you should expect dogs

[Blackdogagain]

I took my pooch to the beach for the first time today. The beach is huge and split in half, one half is for dogs, and there were many of them. Most dogs were off the lead and playing freely.

A few families were also on the dog beach, but were without a dog. However, a few families were obviously irate with the dogs running and swimming everywhere.

Is it me, but if you sit on the dog half of the beach, you can't get huffy over dogs running around.

One father and daughter were on inflatables in the sea and 3 dogs were running into the sea next to them and the girl was obviously worried and scared of them. The owners called their dogs back and walked up the beach a bit, which was good of them.

Surely though, if you don't want dogs around, bloody well go to the dog free half of the beach!

I would be disappointed if I was on a dog beach or dog friendly beach and dogs werent running up to me. That's part of the joy in going, letting my well socialised Mutts run around with their new mates.

wee irate hahahaha With some peoples' attitude to dogs that probably does give a good description. Hahahaha.

Staywithme - "You then went on about that as being inexcusable behaviour and got very offended at the thought". Is this the thread you're talking about?

please don't tell me that the dog is safe, for several reasons.

1. You cannot guarantee that your dog is safe. You cannot - not 100%.
2. It may be unlikely/extremely unlikely/nigh on impossible for your dog to bite me. However, I don't want it coming up to me, and I certainly don't want to second guess why it's approaching me.
3. The fact that it has approached me (whether that's just an ambling up to me or a bounding up to me, barking and jumping about) means that it is not sufficiently trained that it will walk to heel at all times.

Nope, not seeing anything in that which says it's "inexcusable behaviour" or that "I'm very offended" if your dog approaches me.

Right I'm away out to pollute the world on a major scale by walking five dogs at the same time! Don't panic public they will be on lead at all times as I'm gasp walking them on a footpath. Yes I have shit bags. Yes I will pick up after them. Yes I will no doubt get at least one dirty look. No, unlike the dogs I won't give a shit! really, really have a childish need for a raspberry blowing smilie

Hooray for responsible dog ownership! See - it is possible!!!!

Nope, not seeing anything in that which says it's "inexcusable behaviour" or that "I'm very offended" if your dog approaches me.

My apologies Chenjin. I should have said your answer suggested that it's behaviour was inexcusable and you were offended. Is that acceptable? Have to go now as the slobbering beasts are getting restless.

Staywithme thank you, she is only 9 and still full of beans so every day is a bonus. Hopefully I won't get lynched for not having kids & being a MN member, hadn't thought of that as there are so many great threads completely unrelated to children

Not scared, not anti-dog (as I keep telling you - if it suits you to ignore what I'm telling you then you go right ahead). I like dogs that walks to heel or ignores everyone and just gets on with sniffing around happily - who doesn't? Anything else - nope, PITA.

Question? When are dogs supposed to run?

Walking to heal is great but they need to run around too.

Staywithme - if you feel it 'suggested' that then that's your look out. Enjoy your dog walk

Dogs don't need to (and shouldn't have to) walk to heel at all times in a public place to be considered under control. No it's not ideal if they approach members of the public but accidents happen and it's always nicer if we give people the benefit of the doubt if there is no harm done and accept apologies.

I am an animal behaviourist and a dog trainer. I have worked with and trained a variety of species and competed in working trials with my bitch who is a very non typical breed for that sort of sport. I still had an unexpected recall failure the other day when some Italian tourists enticed her over to feed her some bread!

Dogs can run around wherever they want - if they can be trusted not to jump up at people or whatever. Otherwise, unfortunately, your mutt has to be kept on its lead or let off the lead when no-one else is around

Sorry about your dog Heff and I hope you get a lot more time with her.

I too, do not have kids but I do have 2 adorable nieces which is why I was on here as I wanted to learn a bit more about kids so I could do stuff they would like with them!

Who the fuck entices a dog with bread?

The Italian couple are now on MamaNettoItaliano writing, "This dog spoiled our picnic in an English park. And get this, the owner calls herself a dog trainer!"

They were feeding the ducks and called her over - it was unmistakeable, they crouched down and made noises to her and fed her and petted her when she came over. Why would I make that up? And why jump to conclusions that I allowed my dog to ruin someone's picnic without asking for more details?

I included that to show that dogs are animals and can make their own decisions and that we will all have the occasional recall failure. If you apologise and collect your dog then no harm, no foul. I'm not talking about dogs who trample picnics or chase joggers or maul small children before you jump to any more conclusions.

"Enticed the dog to feed him bread."

That's like the woman who tried to explain to me that her dog had chased me because I was running in shorts.

I said, "No, your dog got away from you because you're a bad owner." And she looked all butt-hurt.

Nor should they - jump/bound up/bark at people, take toys from children, trample through picnics, wee on property, stick their slobby noses on you, chase you on your bike, not come to heel and the myriad of other things that we all have to put up with from dogs.

If your dog can't be trusted, stick it on its lead or walk it away from people.

Okay, if they really were calling her over to pat her, fair enough. Do people really do that?

I might have missed it in this thread but have any dog owners had a picnic with children on a beach, only to have it spoilt by a dog coming over to raid the larder or kick sand about?

I like the thread anyway. So many different points of view have come out but mostly the same when it comes down to it.