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!

Some of the responses on here are ridiculous .if I'm sitting on the dog part of the beach ,because I'm on holiday with my family and our dog that does not mean I'm fair game for someone else's dog to harass me ,shake water on me or disrupt my picnic . Likewise I wouldn't allow my dog to do it to other people (with or without dogs) and in the same vein I wouldn't expect to be pestered by other people's children .

everlong I think she just wanted to hurry and get away from the irate woman who was expressing her opinion about irresponsible dog owners

We told her she had to clean up the mess, she was looking pretty sick at the thought of having to do that :) Thankfully most dog owners are not like her.

Everlong My life revolves round my dog. I don't want any dog shot...which is exactly why I think owners have to be aware enough of their legal responsibities to stop any farmer or judge to decide to take it out pf their hands and deem thier beloved dog out of control I really cannot see what id wrong with that. I lovey dog beyond sense sometimes but I owe to him as a giddy young dog to moderate his behavioir by keeping him leashed in situations where he'd make himself a nuisance.

fanof, don't bother. These sorts of threads draw the inconsiderate dog-owners out of the woodwork. Pretty soon we'll have loads of posts with everlong and others complaining that they always control their dogs and anyway it's impossible to control dogs and why does everyone hate their dogs?

Someone once thought it would be a good idea to not only set up a bbq on our dog beach but also to go paddling and leave their sausages unsupervised. The flying whippet was over joyed. My dogs less so because I wouldn't let them near the bbq.

SirC are you saying that you would sit on the dog part of a beach?

It would depend on how busy it was elsewhere - I may have no choice. I would try not to, but you never know. Equally, if I decided that I wanted to walk from one end of the beach to another I'd expect to do that without poorly trained dogs running up to me, shaking water at me or flicking sand at me.

Are you saying that you would allow your dog to do that to people on the area of the beach where dogs were allowed? (note I didn't say dog beach, because it's not)

I live right next to the beach, my back garden gate opens onto a sand dune. Some of the beach if dog free between May - Sept, some of it dogs are allowed all year long.
That doesn't make it a dog's beach, just a beach where dogs are allowed. I walk mine there in the evening when she can be off lead without bothering anyone. During the day, on the dogs allowed beach, she is rarely off lead - she's only a puppy in training and her recall isn't great yet - because I don't want her to spoil anyone else's fun. Most people round here put their dogs on lead on the dogs allowed beach if there are lots of people and dogs around. We are in Lincolnshire so dog owners who don't let their dogs run wild when it's not sensible to do so, please feel free to come to our dog friendly beaches

"Someone once thought it would be a good idea to not only set up a bbq on our dog beach but also to go paddling and leave their sausages unsupervised. The flying whippet was over joyed. My dogs less so because I wouldn't let them near the bbq."

You did the right thing. Like a responsible dog owner. The whippet's owner, on the other hand.....

I'm glad to hear that you wouldn't let them trample on someone's picnic or run amok - but there are many, many dog owners who allow their dogs to do just that. The fact that there are so many of us on MN who have stories of poorly trained dogs with owners who don't give a shit is testament to that.

It's not a case of being uptight, or hating dogs - it's just that we want to be able to go for a walk, or take our kids to the park, or go to the beach without dogs bounding up to us, peeing on our property, barking at us, stealing the kids toys, knocking us over, kicking sand at us etc etc etc - the list is endless.

Of course there are plenty of dog owners who respect the fact that their dogs are pets which need to be kept under control at all times and not annoying other people - but there are many more who give all dog owners a bad name. The reason that you don't come across this anti-some-dog attitude in RL is because most people don't want a confrontation with someone whose dog is out of control.

Yeah, Sir C. I didn't remonstrate with the douche who let his dog chase me in the park this morning on my run. Not worth my energy getting into it with some entitled knob. I'm sure he tells himself, "Oh my dog is never out of control!"

I have a dog. I also have a child. We like to go to the beach, as a family. I would expect to be able to have a picnic and play a ball game without someone's dog interfering. It's not a 'dog beach" it's just part of the beach where dogs are not banned. My dog is fully trained and will not run up to and jump up at people. It won't steal food or balls. It won't shit on your picnic/sandcastle/child. And if I thought for a second that it might do any of those things it would not go off the lead. Just because I have a dog this does not mean I want your shitty dog jumping up at me, circling us, or getting us wet. Take some responsibility and stop being an inconsiderate bastard.

But matilda it was just being friendly - after all, you were in a dog park (aka a park where dogs are allowed) where dogs have rights too, you know

The beach the OP is talking about is not a dog beach. It is just a beach where dogs are allowed.

I think if anyone wants to walk along a beach uninterrupted by either dogs or people then they should be allowed.

everlong If your dogs are running around - presumably a good distance from you (sayy 200 yards) - how can you stop them from ruining someone else's picnic or jumping up at others or defecating right near someone sunbathing?

*say

I would just like to clarify the changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act that came into effect 13th May 2014.

It has always been the case that the threshold for a Section 3 incident (a dog dangerously out of control) has been "reasonable apprehension of injury" if you are in a public place. The key word being "reasonable".

This is taken directly from the wording of the act:

(a)it injures any person; or
(b)there are grounds for reasonable apprehension that it will do so

In reality section 3 is normally used in only the most serious of cases and that is what is recommended in DEFRA's guide to enforcers.

What changed on 14th May is that the DDA was extended to private property (including your own home) and was also extended to protect assistance dogs (carrying up to 3 years in prison).

You will not have your dog seized, you will not be fined or put in prison if your dog runs up to someone and scares them. Like I say there has to be reasonable apprehension of harm. Much more worrying is that a trespasser in your garden can be bitten by your dog and you are guilty of having a dangerous dog (gardens are specifically excluded from the burglar clause). They are going to be looking for test cases over the next few months so it is time to be vigilant.

I've been talking to the Met, our local dog enforcement team and giving talks to various groups on this over the last few months so I am clear on the changes.

That's interesting Fisher, thank you.

So the kinds of problems described herelike a dog making off with a picnic or kids being scaredthose would fall under anti-social legislation?

everlong I'm sorry but your posts come across as being unreasonable.

On a beach where people and dogs are both permitted, both should be able to sit or move about without being disturbed by the other.

On such a beach, people have no right to complain at the presence of dogs, and equally dogs have no right to be a nuisance to people.

That's what I mean about the inconsiderate dog owners coming out of the woodwork on threads like these. And then acting all victimised.

"Sallyingforth I have to wonder why any sane person without a dog would knowingly sit amongst dogs running around on a beach. I mean you just wouldn't would you?"

I don't think anybody is saying they would, are they?

Well yes, why would I go and have a run in my park this morning, where dogs are allowed? And then have the temerity to dislike it when a guy lets his dog chase me? Why don't I go and run little circles in the dog-free penned-in playground area?

How victimised you are.