To think dogs should be banned from beaches?

[Bedroomdilemma]

At least during nesting season?
www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/nov/14/study-adds-to-calls-to-ban-dogs-from-beaches-during-nesting-season-birds
Not that I’m anti-dog...I’m researching getting a dog. We go for a lot of walks at the moment (not much else to do😄) and I love looking at the dogs on our local beach but it’s also a nature reserve and I’m beginning to get a morally uncomfortable with it. It’s actually mostly a nature reserve for wintering birds so I’m not sure a ban just during nesting season is sufficient.

Lots of beaches ban dogs at certain times of the year. I have to research very carefully before I take my dog to a beach as there are lots of restrictions.

I think it depends on the beach - there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution because every beach is different.

I don't think it would be fair at all to ban all dogs from all beaches.

Owners need to be responsible, though - keep their dogs under control and pick up after them.

beaches should be split into dog and non dog. dogs on beaches should not be bothering other people even if it is a dog beach. Rules should be enforced.

Most dog owners are respnsible but there are a few who aren't.

Targeted banning is fine.

There are times when it's not needed.

How about banning humans.... the mess,pollution.... that would solve many problems

Yes I agree, though appropriate zoning and keeping dogs on leads can work if there is compliance. The problem is people have blind spots when it comes to their own dogs and the damage they cause which let's be honest unless you know a bit about ground nesting shore birds is quite hard to contextualise. HOWEVER, we are awful in this country at providing beautiful dog friendly recreational green spaces and it's not fair to ban people from nice places without offering alternatives especially at the moment so it's quite a complex picture. We need to invest in green space for people so the pressure on important wildlife sites is reduced and able to thrive in harmony with the very need for people to get out in nature.

I guess banning humans might work as there would be no dogs without the humans but it might be overkill! And the research seems to show it is specifically dogs - birds can get habituated to human activity, even heavy traffic and industrial noise. The place I have in mind has one of the few cafes in the area where dogs are welcome, and there are a LOT of dogs, the cafe is right beside the dunes. I only became aware of this dog/bird issue through work, I really think there’s very low awareness.

But yes I’m only thinking about this because I’m trying to work out how a dog would fit into our lives and this habitual haunt of ours - cafe, nice views, a walk, dunes and beach seems perfect for a dog, but is it really?

I May be in the minority but i hate dogs being on the beach. I hate that in this country people take their dogs to beauty spots to use as a toilet. Even if you pick up after it's still filthy and children will be playing there touching the sand, people picnicking there. It's gross

I don't think dogs are the problem - it's irresponsible dog owners.

As a dog owner I respect beaches in the school holidays should be closed to dogs. We were in the Isle of Wight late September and some beaches were closed till October, but there was nobody on them and the only people about were dog walkers.

Many beaches ban dogs In the spring and summer months anyway.

@SausagePourHomme on my beach I see parents letting their children wee up against groynes and poo in rock pools. I see families leave behind broken sandcastle buckets. I see picnickers let an unbelievable amount of rubbish fly off in the wind or just not clear up properly and leave their mess behind.

I’m not saying this is you by the way, I’m just saying that it isn’t as easy as dogs vs families using a beach. Everyone needs to respect beaches and it’s wildlife more.

I May be in the minority but i hate dogs being on the beach. I hate that in this country people take their dogs to beauty spots to use as a toilet. Even if you pick up after it's still filthy and children will be playing there touching the sand, people picnicking there. It's gross

In my experience (ddog died earlier this year at the age of 14) most popular beaches have at the very least, a dog-free zone from May to September. It's usually in the most popular/accessible part of the beach. That's fine in my opinion - it was no problem at all for us to take the dog further along a beach to avoid the dog-free area.

Re. picking up - on a beach, sand will stick to the poo where it's touched it, and you tend to scoop up a handful of surrounding sand along with the poo so nothing is left filthy.

In any case, birds and wild animals will also poo on the beach. If you're out and about in any public place you might touch a surface that, unknown to you, has been touched by something 'gross' - I would have thought it normal good hygiene to wash or sanitise your hands before starting a picnic.

Might be easier to have beaches where dogs are permitted and beaches where they are not.

Then everyone knows where they are and doesn't have to worry about dates of the year. Also, the dog owners would stand out if they were breaking the law and so hopefully wouldn't do so.

Whilst yes a dog running along a beach is cute, it isn't always a good mix with the public who don't want to be bothered, or bowled over by a stranger's dog.

Nor have to put up with dog faeces from the inevitable irresponsible owner.

Actually I’ve just looked into this more and the Council has in fact now proposed a complete ban on dogs on large swathes of the beach/nature reserve. Apparently asking dog owners to obey the rules wasn’t working and council workers were being met with abuse.
Dogs still allowed (on leashes) down near the cafe so I can still bring my imaginary dog there on its imaginary leash.

I guess the problem isn’t with those who keep their dog on a leash and pick up their poo, it’s with the sizeable percentage who won’t.

@Bedroomdilemma

I guess the problem isn’t with those who keep their dog on a leash and pick up their poo, it’s with the sizeable percentage who won’t.

Yes, and that's a problem for other dog-owners too. More than once, our little dog on his lead was threatened on a beach by an out-of-control, off-lead dog.

Just ban dogs altogether imo. From parks; from the UK.

That’s a nice update @Bedroomdilemma ! Happy wildlife and happy dogs/dog owners.

I love going to a cafe with mine. It’s hard work training them to get to the point where you can take them but it’s definitely worth it.

(What breed is your imaginary dog?)

We walk the dog at a nature reserve which has some rare birds alongside others that ground nest.
The rule is to keep your dog on a lead until you get to the open beach through the dune system. Everyone respects it and it works well once in the beach the dogs get a great run as it's over 2 miles long.

@burritofan er, how would that work? And why would you need to ban dogs from the U.K., what do you propose we do with them??😆

Different beaches might require different rules. I walk my dog on a beach that is completely submerged at high tide so no nesting birds to disturb, most beaches in my area are like this.

Yes definitely. We used to go to a beach that was open for dogs and had to play dodge the shit

Oh just ignore @burritofan there’s always a dog hater who pops up on these threads to goad other posters

I think dog free areas are the answer. But banning dogs altogether would be a shame as they love it and it’s good family fun. (I’m not a dog owner, as I never wanted the commitment, but I enjoy walks on the beach with other people’s dogs.)