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!

But I am on the dog bit of the beach with my dogs AND kids, no I don't want to be jumped on by your wet dog (though I would be delighted to be greeted by it when in dog waking mode, first thing in the morning). I also don't want your dog disturbing my calming sleeping ones in their sun shelter, sleeping because they are exhausted from their two hour romp in the morning, that I dragged my arse out of bed for at some ungodly hour, on my holiday, because that's what it takes for them to be good during the day.

We camp in the summer, so are reliant on going to beaches where dogs are allowed, so we can do everything together as a family. If there were some kind of enclosure on the beach, just for dogs to run around in, you would be insane to set up your family encampment in the centre and then complain that dogs are spoiling your fun, but we all know this is not what dog friendly beaches are, they are beaches where your well behaved, under control dog is allowed, that is all.

"My dogs don't jump up Hakluyt so that scenario wouldn't happen. But I maintain what I said if someone is on a part of the beach that dogs are allowed they shouldn't be getting irate about dogs being dogs."

Ah, the classic backtrack - suddenly you are agreeing with everyone else.

Many dogs love to run wildly, jump up, slobber, woof and bark, steal food and other people's balls and frizbees, get wet and shake water everywhere, hump legs, dig holes, pee on random objects and shit where they like.
So I'm delighted they can have a place to do all those things without me having to be involved in any way.
I'd like to see more dog beaches, parks and designated spaces for them.
So I can walk, cycle play games and picnic without having to be prepared for an approach by an unwelcome dog.

Some dog owners are considerate and lovely with their pets under control, many are not.
I'd like the clarity of all dogs in public being under close control, or in a dogzone and off lead.

'Sit up with the rest of the uptight lot on the bit of the beach designated for you.'

There are a lot of us, you won't be lonely.

I hate dogs since I was bitten badly by one a few years ago. Therefore I never, ever, go on the part of the beach that is for dogs. YANBU.

OorWullie I had the same experience, on a dog free beach a dog pissed on our picnic lunch - the owner made no offer of money to buy a replacement lunch or even an apology. I was furious, she said we couldn't blame her dog and then got all upset when I said we weren't blaming her dog, we were blaming her.

Yes, but it's not uncommon and the response is fairly typical too, overlong. Not loving dogs and all their little antics is seen as being uptight.

This computer has an irritating spellcheck, sorry everlong.

Dogs can run about and have fun without being pains in the arses to other people. So can children.

I expect both my dogs and my children to behave reasonably in public, even on dog friendly beaches or in child friendly restaurants.

There is plenty of time in a day for all dogs for have fun, a midday crowded beach is not it, even if dogs are allowed to be there. I would suggest it's those who can't control their dogs that should stay at home mine aren't bothering anyone.

Being in a situation where we spend lots of time in a town where locals rely on the beach to exercise their own dogs, you become aware that most hate the attitude of the dog owning tourists who give dogs such a bad name and rightly worry about losing such an essential resource.

They should have been mortified and offered to replace your picnic

Yes, they should have done. But perhaps they were taking the attitude that she was just being 'uptight'

Just because you're on an area of the beach (or wherever it is) where dogs are allowed doesn't mean you are allowed to absolve yourself of all dog-owning responsibility. It's a beach where dogs are allowed - not a beach where non dog owners are not allowed. If you don't understand that then seriously, stay at home.

Human free beaches :)

everlong I completely agree it is not aggressive behaviour but you need to be aware of the subtle law change and how it could be implemented. It has been pointed out on other forums I use that the law has changed and it is now down to whether the other person feels intimidated, even if your dog is just after a slobbery kiss. It doesn't really matter if we think it is a great idea or utterly ridiculous, as of May 2014 it is now the law that perceived intimidation could cause a problem on or off your property and that techinically that could include a friendly dog racing right up to someone at speed. It would take an unlikely set of circumstances but its enough to make me very wary indeed.

Fan - what is this change to the law, and do you know if it applies to Scotland?

'as of May 2014 it is now the law that perceived intimidation could cause a problem on or off your property and that techinically that could include a friendly dog racing right up to someone at speed. It would take an unlikely set of circumstances but its enough to make me very wary indeed.'

I've been saying this on MN for years, if dog owners refuse to self-regulate effectively, if they continue to refuse to see the problem with their dogs, unwanted approaches and poo and harassment, then us dog-dislikers will make the laws. I'm delighted that it seems to be happening now. So will many cyclists and joggers I expect.

'Fanof - let's just shoot all the bastard dogs and have done with it eh?'

It's not the dogs' fault if they have crap owners though. Can we not shoot the owners instead?

YANBU, and I say this as somebody who is not into dogs at all. I avoid dog beaches like the plague, but I am really glad they exist as then we can go far away from the dogs to the non-dog beach.

People complaining about dogs on dog beaches feels a bit like an adult going alone for a quiet coffee to the wacky warehouse and then complaining about noisy kids rushing around. The dog beach should be
one place where dogs can run around splashing and doing whatever else dogs do without bothering other people, without the owners having to worry about complaints.

I wish our local parks were divided into dog and no-dog parts like some beaches are. It would make everybody happier.

SirC if someone chooses to sit on a beach where dogs are allowed you would think that they would take on board that said dogs might get them wet, come and say hello, flick sand on their picnic - yes?

No. Dogs should be kept under control by their owners.

I repeat - Just because you're on an area of the beach (or wherever it is) where dogs are allowed doesn't mean you are allowed to absolve yourself of all dog-owning responsibility. It's a beach where dogs are allowed - not a beach where non dog owners are not allowed

www.gov.uk/control-dog-public/overview That is the link to the main page. There were some leaflets doing the rounds that gave more detail but it is the bit about making the person think it may injure them that is crucial as all doen to interpretation and not that of you the owner.

Goblinchild...I have been well aware of it from day one thanks to a good stint in the doghouse doing my research before getting a dog The problems I have seen posters dealing with jist trying to mind their own with fearful dogs play on my mind too