To think that dogs in the past were well 'ard compared to dogs now?

[Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow]

Dogs of yore...didn't wear coats, ran around unsupervised a lot, ate crap they found on the street, chewed on bones, had fights, did white dog poo.

Nowadays i am also seeing friends having to take their dog to the emergency vet because they ate a bit of chocolate, dogs in fluffy jumpers etc

Is it because many more dogs were mongrels and so they were just tougher? Or or is there another reason dogs seem much wussier these days?

I'm lucky to own a breed that's barely changed its appearance in a century: proper muzzle, functional form.

What I have really noticed lately is how many more dogs are walked on leads. Ours are usually off-lead (they have decent recall and don't jump all over strangers) but on some local walks they are now in the minority. Keeping dogs on-lead all the time because they aren't trained breeds further problems (poor social skills, frustrated greeting). And treating dogs like cosseted grandchildren doesn't do them any favours. They're dogs. They need to do dog things.

I think pet insurance and better technology has some responsibility for the babying of animals. Illnesses that would previously result in an animal being put to sleep or just ignored are investigated more thoroughly.

I think it’s not just being “soft” either. Things people did with dogs in the 80’s /90’s would be socially frowned upon now . Like my family all had dogs and full time jobs. Doggy day care would have been laughed at then. Someone mentioned feeding dogs scraps before dog food existed but people would give you a lecture if you tried that now !

Anecdotally, when I was a kid most of the cats I knew lived till about 12 , 16 was considered impressive. Now I feel like it’s pretty common for cats to live to 16+. I don’t know many dog owners anymore but if it mirrors that I assume it means we’re looking after them better?

@GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman

I'm lucky to own a breed that's barely changed its appearance in a century: proper muzzle, functional form.

What I have really noticed lately is how many more dogs are walked on leads. Ours are usually off-lead (they have decent recall and don't jump all over strangers) but on some local walks they are now in the minority. Keeping dogs on-lead all the time because they aren't trained breeds further problems (poor social skills, frustrated greeting). And treating dogs like cosseted grandchildren doesn't do them any favours. They're dogs. They need to do dog things.

I think a lot of people have become very intolerant of dogs, though. You only have to read some of the threads on here to see that!

It's no wonder some people scared of letting their dogs off-lead when every single minor discretion ends up on social media to be slagged off!

@BigSandyBalls2015

I’ve been amazed by how little you can walk young dogs ... 15 min a day, building up! Was that a thing years ago? Or are we just more knowledgeable about the impact on their joints etc now. And if that is the case how come they can charge up and down a big garden most of the day but I can only do a couple of streets on a walk.

A lot of that is just misinformation. It's actually 5 minutes of exercise per month and exercise is as it is for humans, something that raises the heart rate, trmperature and breathing rate. Most people seem to assume it includes just walking.

Though obviously you do have to take it really slowly at first much of that is socialisation, familiarity, getting them used to the noise and smells etc, hardening off paw pads. There are no real studies on this, so it is all a matter of SM hype and conjecture. None of which replaces common sense

Jesusinthe cabbagevan

Dogs chasing sheep was seen as just one of those things.
Another one of those things was that virtually every farmer had a gun, and dogs who chased sheep..... disappeared for ever.

Yes dogs were shot. And rural people knew not to let dogs chase sheep.

Dogs are still shot now.

@2bazookas

Jesusinthe cabbagevan

Dogs chasing sheep was seen as just one of those things.
Another one of those things was that virtually every farmer had a gun, and dogs who chased sheep..... disappeared for ever.

I know. Back in about 1973 3 men turned up at our house telling us they were going to shoot our dog as he was worrying sheep. They would, they told us wait in our garden for him to return as he was out in the fields as they spoke.

It was just me, 8 years old, and mum at home and we both laughed. Our dog was firmly tied to the house, had been all day.

They did shoot the dog that was worrying the sheep - at which point people began to believe us that it wasn't ours, mainly because ours was still alive, firmly tied to the house, only allowed out on a lead!

Nobody ever thought worrying livestock was 'just one of those things'

Ah well apparently you can't say the N word to a dog now because it's psychologically damaging. Training seems to be far more complicated but dogs are getting more poorly behaved.
We won't be getting another dog when our current one goes, I can't cope with the amount of daft owners around.

In the UK, dogs are viewed very differently from how they are in other countries. In other countries, dogs are not considered to be part of the family in the same way as they are here, so they don't go everywhere with their owners, don't go to doggy daycare and don't get walked by a professional dog-walker.

Going everywhere with owners, doggydaycare and professional dogwalkers are all VERY recent in UK. This century. Before that, the only dogs who went everywhere with their owners were guide dogs for the blind. Every other dog was a SAHD. Working dogs were taken out of their kennel to work then went back to it.

Dogs may be treated differently in the UK compared to some European countries, but professional pet care (walkers, sitters, daycare) is HUGE in North America and Canada too, and has been for 10-15 years now, if not longer.

“Dogs chasing sheep was seen as just one of those things.”

It really really wasn’t!!

“Ah well apparently you can't say the N word to a dog now because it's psychologically damaging.”

Nope, you’re not supposed to use it as a command because it’s a rubbish vague one.

When I was a child dogs did roam free. My parents took our dog out once a day for a walk , but between times he cried at the door to go out he did.
I can sometimes remember that he would go missing and all that was discussed was he must be staking out a house that a bitch was in season.
We lived near to busy roads but he must have learnt to cross them safely . He probably had his puppy vaccines but nothing after that.

@Puppywithattitude

Ah well apparently you can't say the N word to a dog now because it's psychologically damaging. Training seems to be far more complicated but dogs are getting more poorly behaved. We won't be getting another dog when our current one goes, I can't cope with the amount of daft owners around.

It's because dogs don't speak English so "no" doesn't mean anything to them lol. You can't teach "no".

@GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman

I'm lucky to own a breed that's barely changed its appearance in a century: proper muzzle, functional form.

What I have really noticed lately is how many more dogs are walked on leads. Ours are usually off-lead (they have decent recall and don't jump all over strangers) but on some local walks they are now in the minority. Keeping dogs on-lead all the time because they aren't trained breeds further problems (poor social skills, frustrated greeting). And treating dogs like cosseted grandchildren doesn't do them any favours. They're dogs. They need to do dog things.

I keep mine on a lead around other dogs and have done since she started getting aggressive after being set on twice in a short space of time (2 different dogs) whilst I was training her. She was a lovely, playful dog before that and if that hadn't happened then she'd likely have been a dog that would socialise really well with other dogs on walks, she does with dogs she knows. But she is instantly aggressive to other dogs approaching, and while I suspect more socialisation would have helped, and that there's been times that I've been caught off guard and she's started playing with another dog rather than fighting, it's not worth the risk of her getting hurt, and this does sound horrible, but more so the fall out of a fight as I'd be the one to blame.

Dogs 'scrap' to sort out pecking order, my two will have a scrap every now and again if one oversteps the mark, it's mostly always been lots of noise and rolling around and very rarely any damage, I only separate now because one dog is old and frail. People seem horrified by dogs having a grumble and a snap at each other, but having spent a lot of time around 'packs' ( usually the motley assortment of stable dogs that seem to gather at livery yards!) It rarely leads to a full on, aggressive fight, they're communicating with each other and making sure they all know the hierarchy.
I remember one pup going too far one day and the old bitch that ruled the roost chased him snapping at his back legs until he was right outside the group, and refused to let him back in until he groveled. She didn't touch him at all - but he learned his lesson and never nicked her bone again!
As someone else said, the expectations seem to be a lot higher of their behaviour and communication such as a growl or snap of the teeth is seen as negative and in need of correction immediately, rather than looking at the situation and thinking if the dog was actually being reasonable about it and the warning actually should have been heeded.

Our family dogs growing up were smacked across the nose, shouted at, had their noses rubbed in it if they made a mess. They were also loved, fed, cuddled, walked and played with but thinking back its pretty obvious they obeyed through fear. People didn't think about what they were doing because the information wasn't easy to get and you just raised your dog how your family did. They didn't have time for clicker training, dog body language and behaviourists and I reckon the dogs were much worse off for it. I would rather have a dog with a life full of fun who sometimes doesn't listen to me, than one that comes crawling up on her belly when I call because she's scared of the consequences.

Also I know several farm dogs that have a shit life living in kennels far too small for them pretty much 24/7. So what if my dog wears a coat in the snow. At least she's loved.

Surely a lot of this depends on the breed.

If you’ve got a traditionally working or protection breed it’s going to be fine kept in a kennel outside as it’s built for it. A single coated breed not so much.

We have a short haired breed with a single coat, bred to be very lean and she’s just not built to be kept outside or to be out in winter for long periods. She does wear a coat as there’s no reason to see her shiver when she doesn’t have to.

People also have a lot more knowledge these days about dogs, canine nutrition and behaviour. A lot of the old theories about dog training and behaviour have been debunked. There’s a lot more traffic on the roads now so most people wouldn’t think it safe to let their dog roam free.

Companion dogs are much more common and this means the issues associated with those breeds including separation anxiety are more common.

It's the sheer amount of dogs in the UK that astonishes me. And you're not really "middle class" if in addition to your detached house in a nice area, 4x4 car, second holiday home and 3 kids you don't also own a Golden Retriever or a Labrador.

Well I’d always thought white dog shit was just dog shit that had been left outside to dry out for a bit.

Every day is indeed a school day.

@tabulahrasa

“Dogs chasing sheep was seen as just one of those things.”

It really really wasn’t!!

“Ah well apparently you can't say the N word to a dog now because it's psychologically damaging.”

Nope, you’re not supposed to use it as a command because it’s a rubbish vague one.

I guess it depends on when/where you were. Where I grew up, we had no idea of the damage a dog could cause through chasing sheep. We knew it wasn't great, but thought that if the farmer didn't catch us - well, no harm done. Lots of dogs walked by primary age kids - wouldn't dream of that now.

@2bazookas

Jesusinthe cabbagevan

Dogs chasing sheep was seen as just one of those things.
Another one of those things was that virtually every farmer had a gun, and dogs who chased sheep..... disappeared for ever.

Yes, accept I wasn't at all clear! Probably views varied from place to place, but where I grew up (1980s, small village surrounded by farms) my friends and I honestly had no clue! We knew the farmer could shoot the dog, but we had absolutely no idea the sheep could die or miscarry even if the dog didn't touch them. I do feel terrible about it now.

I loved my dog very much (mongrel) and did refer to him as my baby, BUT, he was treat like a dog and "spoiled" in doggy ways. No clothes, fancy food etc but 3 walks a day, lots of affection, never left in the house alone without a quick wizz round the block at least, no sugary treats/ chocolate, came on all our holidays. Very well trained. He could get as dirty as he liked on a walk but had to suffer the hose on his return. He was treat like a dog and was very happy until he died age 17. There is a middle ground between treating them like humans or neglecting/allowing them to stray.

@Looubylou that's pretty much my style of dog ownership too. He's adored, he sleeps on my bed, he eats good quality food and one year he wore a pumpkin costume for a Halloween photo. He put me on a crash course in training and behaviour (he's a rescue dog with ishoos) too.

At the same time, he runs around the park, rolls in awful things, sniffs bottoms, plays with other dogs, sunbathes, digs up molehills, chases squirrels, swims in the river and eats things he shouldn't. All "dog things". And then (if still smelling of the awful things he's rolled in, like corpses) he has a warm shower and naps on the sofa.

There's a middle ground between handbag dwelling chihuahua and farmer's collie.

@Looubylou

I loved my dog very much (mongrel) and did refer to him as my baby, BUT, he was treat like a dog and "spoiled" in doggy ways. No clothes, fancy food etc but 3 walks a day, lots of affection, never left in the house alone without a quick wizz round the block at least, no sugary treats/ chocolate, came on all our holidays. Very well trained. He could get as dirty as he liked on a walk but had to suffer the hose on his return. He was treat like a dog and was very happy until he died age 17. There is a middle ground between treating them like humans or neglecting/allowing them to stray.

Yep, we do the same. I think there's definitely a happy medium between "left to free roam all day" and "spoilt furbaby".

Not fur babies but our pack is mostly ancient breed sighthounds. They divide their time between running (we have a large enclosed grass area), playing aggressive looking bitey face games and snoozing on or next to their humans. They sleep on our beds, have expensive food because they do better in it, run up huge vets bills from being idiot sighthounds and prefer to wear coats when it is cold. I wouldn’t swap them for the more standard family dogs I had as a child.