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!

MrsLindor has some good advice for a dog friendly picnic.

Yanbu.

I hate all this point proving. It's a dog beach there will be dogs. Now go use your half of the beach!!!

Or go everywhere else dogs arent allowed.

I have been to camber sands many times but missed the info about the dog bit.... Maybe these people had too? Though from your description I think it is further along as we always Park near the toilet block and café.

If I wandered onto a dog beach accidentally. I would exist the dogs to run around unleashed and accept the might shake dirty water all over me.

I wouldn't expect the dogs to touch me or jump up on me. Or steal my food (though I agree an Open picnic might be a silly idea). Or piss on my belongs or sandcastles.

In short i would expect then to be under control (though excitable) and act like they would in a park.

If that is not the etiquette then there sound be signs or a public info leaflet or something explaining what to expect.

I have spent quite a lot of time sunbathing on beaches.
I have never, ever seen one signed as a 'dog beach'.
I have seen beaches signed as 'dogs permitted', but this doesn't mean to me that dogs have priority. I would still expect dogs to be kept under control and not bother people.

I would expect my dog not to jump up at people or steal food whether on a dog friendly beach or not.

'As I said before dog owners can't win!'

Staywithme, she is a dog owner! It's some of us non-dog owners that are saying picnics and strange dogs are incompatible and she's on the wrong bit of the beach.

My dog wee'd a few times in the sand. She pooed once. I picked it up and disposed of the bag properly. I walked around with my doggy bag in my hand containing poo bags and treats so if my dog was pestering anyone, whether they had their dog or not, I could call my dog back and she knew that I had a treat for her so she would be more likely to come back to me (she knows the bag!).

Sounds like a perfect opportunity to practise training as well. in an off-lead area where there are other owners who will understand.
Rather like being in a child-friendly restaurant and trying to train your offspring.

Yanbu.

I don't like dogs at all. I wouldn't chose to sit in an area of the beach where they are allowed free reign if i could sit a few yards further up and be out of their way, and if i did, i should have to grin and bare it or move on. Dogs and their owners have as much right to a pleasant walk/ place to play as parents and children.

That said, even off lead, they shouldn't be left to make a nuisance of themselves (one recently was allowed to piss all over my sister's bag on a beach with no set rules). If the dog can't be controlled properly, even from a distance it should really be kept on the lead if it's around lots of people/other dogs.

I don't think it's designated a dog beach - it's an area where dogs are allowed. Presumably that still means that your mutt has to be under control and kept away from people who might not appreciate your dog "just being friendly" or whatever excuse it is that some dog owners give for their dog not coming to heel when called.

Also - if this is the map of the beach here it seems a stupid layout - dog free area/dogs allowed/dog free area/dogs allowed.

Blackdog Some of those owners whose dogs were jumping up would do well to fully understand the new dog control orders that came into force last month. Because my understanding is that that falls under it. The dog doesn't have to be aggressive to fall foul anymore. And this law now applies on your own property let alone a dog friendly beach.

I adore my dog. But he is the classic 'Oh he is just over friendly' jumpy dog. It is not okay for me to let him run amock and because I can't trust him not to recall then he has to go on a long line.

Some dogs are fearful too. It is irresponsible ( and potentially an imprisionable offence) to presume it is okay to let your dog bound up to to people even in a dog friendly area.

No one is perfect and accidently stumbling on someone when you thought the beach empty is one thing, but knowingly thinking it is appropriate is another

Just to add before we head out, especially in the south west is often quite hard to find a dog friendly beach in the summer, we research it before we go on holiday, ask locals with dogs and usually find one not to far from whey we're staying or just outside the resort were visiting for the day.

There are always doZens of beaches dogs aren't allowed on, so really there's no need for anyone who doesn't like dogs to be on a dog friendly beach or the dog friendly end of a huge beach.

Just like when you go out with your DH child free, you don't choose a restaurant that offers colouring sheets or a pub with soft play and then complain your evening was spoilt by screaming toddlers.

Just because dogs are allowed in a space doesn't mean it is for their own exclusive usage. A foot path on some land where I go running is used by dog walkers, it is covered in shit and I'm always getting "friendly" dogs running up to me jumping all over me and scaring the crap out of me while I'm running. Dogs are taking over the countryside and should in no way take priority over people IMO.

I love GreeboOgg's post. Nicely put.

People aren't the only 'beings' allowed to enjoy the world. We don't own the place, every creature has a right to be here. People will be moaning that their little darlings are scared of grass, or pigeons or butterfly's next and demanding a cull.

Dogs have a right to be here - they don't have a right to disturb humans because they are poorly trained or restrained (by humans).

Can you imagine letting your child loose in its bike to cycle at full pelt up to someone walking along, minding their business, circling round and round them, and shouting at the top of their lungs? I can just imagine an "AIBU to let my child do the above?" The resounding response would be "yes" - it would be totally indefensible. Same with dogs.

But it's not about not liking dogs, I love dogs but I don't want other people's dogs jumping all over me or my dogs.

None of the behaviour being described would be considered okay on a public park, ie jumping up, invading people's picnics, you would be told the right thing to do if you can't control your dog is to put it on the lead. My local park that my dogs normal get to rampage through, is now full of sunbathers and families playing ball games, hence the dogs are not let of if we go with the children in the day.

If you can't recall your dig away from every situation on the beach, it needs to be on a lead. Like I said before, midday when everyone is picnicking and playing on the beach, is NOT the time to exercise your dog, do that at dusk and dawn when your dog will not be a nuisance and it is cooler for your dog.

Dog friendly beaches are not beaches for dogs, they are beaches where dogs are allowed, and with the current trend there will soon be none, because people fail to keep their dogs under control.

Well said GobblersKnob. If all dog owners were like you there would be a hell of a lot more tolerance shown to dogs and their owners.

Absolutely, gobbersKnob.

So if your dog jumped up at someone and spoiled this dress and they complained you would tell them to piss off?

Glad all us dog owners aren't like you. But I can see why some non dog owners don't like us very much if you think that's acceptable.

The map on the link doesnt say that it is a dog beach. It says dogs allowed.

Im not a dog owner and i dont particularly like dogs but I am sure many dog owners also dont want other peoples dogs running amok, jumping up at them and pissing all over their stuff when they are enjoying a day at the beach with their own dog.

If you seriously would tell someone to piss off then I suggest you make sure you are aware of current law www.gov.uk/control-dog-public/overview because the bit about someone just thinking the dog may hurt them is leaving you very vunerable.

I post this as the owner of a giddy friendly dog but I owe it to him not to put him in a position where his future could be decided by a court!

"I would ask them why they chose to sit on the part of the beach that dogs are allowed instead the other part where no dogs are allowed."

Possibly because they have a dog?

I repeat. Do you think it's OK for your dog to jump up at someone because it is on a beach where dogs are allowed?