to wonder why there's been a massive outbreak of dogs howling at the end of the semi-final?

[M3lon]

And to feel a horrible sinking sensation I can guess why.

What is wrong with people....its a bloody game for goodness sake.

Oh shush. People are sad, that’s why. I’m not terribly keen on football but lots of folk are. So I feel sad for them. And ds was gutted - just been geeing him up ( he’s 8).

no I mean literally dogs barking and howling. I think people may have hurt them.

I don't know. They've all just been let out for a wee after a couple of hours of being ignored and one has triggered a mass howl? All dogs are Croatian and they're celebrating?

Do you think it's something sinister? I don't have dogs so don't understand the workings of them.

?? No dogs howling around here!

It’s the twilight barking, they are spreading the news

Because their owners are sad?

Because their owners are late taking them out for a walk?

Because of unfamiliar crowd noises?

Because they can hear other dogs howling?

Oh, I don't think several people in one neighborhood would be kicking their dogs would they?

There are several barking...and one that sounds like its injured.

But maybe its just being let out after being ignored. Fingers crossed!

Jan eh - I think the op was fearful people had hit their dogs! No howling here. I’m practising sit and down with my puppy! If anyone has hit their dogs because of the football I pray to God they had their balls bitten off

What a ridiculous thought - you must live in a truly terrible area if you believe that there are several animal abusers within such close vicinity.

They've clearly just all been let out to the toilet and one will have set the rest off.

could all be dogs belonging to one person.....

You're saying it's automatically because they're all being kicked?
Why would your mind go straight to there?! That's fucked up.
Maybe it's because their owners are doing lots of shouting at the telly like people tend to do when the footy's on and nothing to do with abuse.

Yes, been doing the same with my DS too (cheering him up and enforcing the positive message). I think it's sad we lost; yes, I know it's 'just a game', but it's also about being behind your nation. The team played well, and Gareth Southgate led well.

More likely they are distressed as their owners are upset? Or joining in with the human howls across the country?
I wouldn't put it past a couple of people to hurt an animal in frustration, but can't imagine it's happening en mass.

I think people may have hurt them

I doubt that very much, no normal loving owner is going to hurt their dog because of a football match - although I have scared the cat once or twice with a shout...

Of course an abusive owner is an abusive owner and might be abusive, football match or no

Oh! Wrong end of the stick. Sorry. Are you sure it wasn’t people howling? I heard something similar (partly from ds - I had to leave the room after Croatia’s second goal because I’m a wuss who can’t deal with the disappointment)!

Those were not dogs.

There was a loud human yell than dog howling, then lots of barking and more howling.

I think people are right, the dogs probably just reacting to distressed humans right?

Do you think that multiple households in your area have all randomly decided to start abusing their dogs?? More likely they've been let out for a wee after being couped up for a couple of hours.

Eh? Are you taking the piss? Why are you making this about dogs?!

And as for the dogs, it's probably the noise or the fact they've been let out.

Well I live in Spain and we have dogs howling outside. So what’s your point, you sad little person?

They've clearly just all been let out to the toilet and one will have set the rest off.

True, that - round here if one dog starts howling or barking,the whole bloody street and the next one across starts too

Do you have a dog? When owners shout or cry they usually howl or bark. Can also be if someone hugs there owner.

I might have been sensitized to the idea of violence by the warnings about domestic abuse increasing during the world cup period. I mean if people are prepared to attack their partners, then dogs don't seem a stretch.