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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

thinking its now time to get super tough on dog ownership?

474 replies

adam7485 · 10/11/2021 05:06

after what has happened in wales to that poor little boy i can't help thinking its time to not jus bring back dog licences but before you buy a dog you should have to take an exam to prove that you can look after it properly. not only that but if your dog attacks someone not only should it be taken away from you but from that moment on your banned from ever owning dogs. anyone agree with me?

OP posts:
User527294627 · 10/11/2021 05:27

I agree with dog licences. I'm not so sure about an exam - plenty of people might be capable of caring well for a dog but incapable of passing an exam. A lifetime ban would be appropriate in most circumstances but should probably be determined case by case.

rrhuth · 10/11/2021 05:33

I suspect dog licences would be electorally popular.

I'm a doggy person really, we don't have one now but all my family do and I grew up with them, but many dogs are a menace. I'm sick of dog owners not being reasonable.

The situation has got out of hand, both at the low level end (dog shit, annoying behaviour) and the serious level (bites/attacks).

NadiaVulvokov · 10/11/2021 05:35

There’s a lot of inexperienced pet owners around just now after the boom during lockdown. So yes, I think some kind of live Co g would be timely, both for safety reasons and also just to make people think properly about the responsibility of pet ownership. Too many people do it on a whim and then either sell the animal on or take it to a shelter later because they can’t cope.

NadiaVulvokov · 10/11/2021 05:36
  • licensing
mycatisannoying · 10/11/2021 05:38

YANBU. Why it hasn't been introduced before now is baffling. It would help cut down on unscrupulous breeders too.

violetanemone · 10/11/2021 05:39

I think it's a nice idea to bring back dog licenses, but unfortunately the police/ government do not currenlty have the resources or aptitude to actually enforce anything like that. They won't do it because if they do it means they will have to follow through and enforce it.

StarfishDish · 10/11/2021 05:46

Yes! Going off topic, I was walking my dog through our local park a couple of weeks ago with our baby in the pram.

Suddenly, this dog comes bounding over out of nowhere! I told my dog to sit and wait which he did. This dog was jumping around us, going near me, going near the dog but then went near the pram so my dog then jumps up and moves himself in front of the pram! Told him to sit, which he did as this other dog still continues to jump about as the owner continues to stroll over, calling her name! Hmm

A woman with a big dog was walking by and said that they'll distract this dog so we can get going. By this time, the owner has reached us and begins to shout at this poor dog, saying its a bad dog!

I think this dog was only playing but if its recall was so poor, it shouldn't have been off a lead in my opinion.

fourminutestosavetheworld · 10/11/2021 06:11

In my class of 22 children, six are in the process of rehoming their lockdown dogs.

In my nearest park, on any given day, there are many dog owners doing a demonstrably poor job of controlling or caring for their dog.

I would be in favour of something like a licence to discourage bad owners, protect dogs and keep people safe. I expect it would have to be funded by the cost of the licence but I don't know they'd be enforced. It does feel like something needs to change.

sillysmiles · 10/11/2021 06:25

TBH I don't see how a license would have any impact on ownership or dog owning behaviour - unless it came with a proper register and you were required to complete a course before owning a dog.
I think if puppy farms were done away with, dogs wouldn't be so easy to get - and so disposable, that people would really need to consider the life long commitment to owning a dog.

The flip side of that, is that places would need to become more dog friendly - like on the continent where dogs in restaurants is not seen as a issue.

Aprilx · 10/11/2021 06:30

I would be pleased to see something but I don’t know what is the right answer, would a license really do anything didn’t you just have to go and buy one?

NoOtherShadeOfBlue · 10/11/2021 06:30

Why on Earth would restaurants need to be more dog friendly? They absolutely wouldn’t. People with allergies take precedence here - dogs need to stay out. I really don’t understand the leap from licensing dog ownership to having dogs everywhere?

rrhuth · 10/11/2021 06:31

@sillysmiles it would mean unsuitable people (i.e. with a history of not adequately controlling a dog) would be unable to keep a dog.

And FFS no we don't need dogs in bloody restaurants!

bluetongue · 10/11/2021 06:33

I’m in Australia where dogs have to be registered with the council. I can assure you there is no shortage of terrible dog owners here.

rrhuth · 10/11/2021 06:34

@bluetongue

I’m in Australia where dogs have to be registered with the council. I can assure you there is no shortage of terrible dog owners here.
But it must make tracing a problem dog easier.
MrsDThomas · 10/11/2021 06:38

Dogs on restaurants?! You having a laugh? I don’t want to see mutley foaming at the mouth whilst the owner is devouring a t-bone 🤢

The type of dog which is rumoured to kill this poor child us typically linked to a person who lives in grey trackies, wears a baseball cap and doesn’t do much all day. Mark my words, it will be this case.

IReallyCan · 10/11/2021 06:43

In my class of 22 children, six are in the process of rehoming their lockdown dogs.

What is the matter with people? Angry

MrsDThomas · 10/11/2021 06:44

@rrhuth and ensuring the breed is not a banned one.

I saw a video yesterday on Facebook of a bloke who trained his dogs (and they were big beasts like this presumed dog) and the trainer was a big muscular bloke, and the size of the dog beside him. I don’t see why you would need a dig like this, apart from to intimidate people.

What’s wrong with a lab, jack russel or a cockapoo!

SickAndTiredAgain · 10/11/2021 06:49

The flip side of that, is that places would need to become more dog friendly - like on the continent where dogs in restaurants is not seen as a issue.

What do you mean they would need to? Why would dog licenses mean that places would need to be dog friendly? I understand why dog owners would want them to be more dog friendly, I don’t understand why licenses would make a difference?

Thatsplentyjack · 10/11/2021 06:50

About a year an a half ago I would have said it was unnecessary, but now I have to agree. I have a dog and he's older now and I am utterly sick of him being attacked by bigger dogs. And I mean full on attacked. Also the absolute idiot who let his dog on his stretchy lead (taking up the entire path, him at one side, dog at the other about 10 feet ahead of him) knock me over flat on to my 6 months pregnant belly, banged my head AND landed in dog shit.

Strawbales · 10/11/2021 06:51

The rescue centres aren’t full.

lastqueenofscotland · 10/11/2021 06:52

I agree but also for the welfare of the dog.
2 minutes on the dog house forum and you’ll see a lot of people don’t have a clue about puppy farming or an appropriate breed for their lifestyle.
Where I live cropped ears are absolutely rife too, and I refuse to believe they are all rescues from Eastern Europe Hmm

FrangipaniBlue · 10/11/2021 06:52

What’s wrong with a lab, jack russel or a cockapoo!

Are you seriously asking what's wrong with a cocker poo?? How about unregulated breeding, puppy farming and all the health and behaviours issues that come with that FFS 🤦🏽‍♀️

GoodnightGrandma · 10/11/2021 06:54

I often see pit bull looking types walking round, so someone is breeding them. If you stop the breeders people can’t buy them.

Summerhillsquare · 10/11/2021 06:55

Training more like. So many owners lack any confidence in controlling the dog, and boy does the dog know it. The number of dogs that bound up to me, teeth showing, with the owner feebly calling the dog's name in the distance...

MrsDThomas · 10/11/2021 06:57

I know 4 families who have rehomed dogs from Romania.

Is it easier than rehoming a dog from the UK?

When i was a teen, my parents tried to rehome a beagle from the RSPCA and our terrace house with a very large enclisede and supersafe garden was not suitable for sone reason.

We got a Jack Russell pup after that and he lived until the grand age of 18.