To wonder why the UK became so dog friendly?

[LancelotsLeftArm]

I have had several dogs in my life but I'm finding recent events in the last 2-3 years baffling.

Local ice cream shop lets dogs in - no longer go there as last time there was a massive dog blocking serving place where DC choose flavours, not sure what breed but size of a Labrador. 2 year Old's face ended up getting licked and knocked over,now DC doesn't feel comfortable around dogs. Always dogs there now but usually not that bad.

Family member has 2 labs that hate each other (no idea why) plus a history of "nipping" each other (?!) and recently they were growling at each other, teeth bared, lips rolling back. Toddler right between them with a toy. Heard the growling, got worse for about about 2mins, decided to tell toddler to move away quietly and calmly. Put myself between toddler and dogs. In law Relative went ape shit , offended. FFS. Decided we're not welcome in future if we don't accept that the dogs would "never harm a child" (like that's a reassurance).

School (primary school) is dog friendly and allowing dogs on leads in playground at pickup times which would NEVER have been accepted in my school. Including larger ones, not terriers etc - more Pointers etc.

I understand what you mean about bouncy dogs. Our child was also terrified, we’d have to cross the road if we saw one even in the distance. We took them to our local shelter, the dogs are still bouncy and noisy but the key thing is they are confined. Many are also scared and vulnerable which can diminish the fear in the child. All of this was done very slowly over time but eventually we would take the dogs for walks, always on a lead and not for long. A second lead was attached for child to hold so it felt they were walking the dog too. We eventually got a dog of our own and although there is wariness with new dogs (not a bad thing) the fear has gone. I really feel for people who are scared of dogs as it must be so miserable with so many around.

The amount of barking at a shelter would be a real issue for my daughter, she is so noise sensitive.

also, to be honest I don’t really like dogs. I’m not usually scared (though I was as a child and would be of an aggressive breed not on a lead) but I wouldn’t be confident taking a dog out on a walk by myself. We’ve been out with friends dogs on walks and it’s a nightmare even if they’re on a lead.

some of my friends say her fear comes from me but I don’t think that’s true, I’ve certainly never modelled screaming, running away and crying around dogs. I just don’t pet dogs, or want them on the sofa next to me, my friends seem to interpret that as me being scared!

I often find people the way you describe dogs 🤣

Thing is how would cbt work for a dog phobia? It is entirely rational and correct to be wary of a massive animal that judging by the newspapers kills almost daily. It is right to not trust dogs you do not know and even those you do. It is right to be very wary if no owner is 8n sight or it's off lead and actually comes to touch you. The countryside is off limits to kids already now dogs are in their spaces too.

I worked in a dog friendly establishment (temping). I hate dogs.

The owners would be most put out when I ignored their hairy little darlings.

Because there's difference between being wary and staying away from dogs and being terrified to the point where it impacts your day-to-day life.

Cars kill people every day, but if someone was too scared to leave their house because they were worried about being run over, you wouldn't tell them their behaviour was "rational and correct", would you?

You can have a healthy respect for dogs without being petrified of them.

I was a bit wary of dogs as an adult, despite having them as a kid, don’t know why it crept up on me. We walk a lot so met a lot of off lead dogs.

now we’ve got one I’ve tuned back in to their body language and have lost the wariness again. It’s very easy to tell a scared might bite dog from a dog whose just out on a walk. The former are very very rare.

I love love dogs but even I don’t agree with this. I don’t think dogs should be allowed where any food or drinks are prepared.

Then you were being very rude and shouldn't have taken the position. People that hate any animal are not to be trusted.

OK yes obviously if people won't leave their house that's an issue. You shouldn't need to worry as they should be under control, on a lead etc.

Any animal? A pretty large proportion of the population dislike spiders, or wasps, or snakes. Are those people not to be trusted?

No, because you mean dogs. Everybody has to love dogs.

I'd love to see us wake up in a parallel universe where people have giant domesticated spiders they take out everywhere. See how people like it then. Aww, don't worry, he's just being friendly!

Yes, I think reading the dog’s body language is a key thing. Dogs generally give warning signs if they are unhappy or about to bite. If you don’t know these signs (as many children probably don’t) it puts you at a disadvantage.
I’ve been fortunate enough to work with dogs for many years and still would never go to touch a dog I don’t know without asking the owner first. If it’s any consolation to anyone, I’ve met thousands of dogs of all breeds, shapes and sizes and have never, touch wood, come a cropper.

Then the establishment should have a better recruitment process.

It is obvious if a dog is happy for you to approach them. And most dogs want to smell your hand first before you touch them.

Statingbthe obvious but dog shit everywhere is a people problem not a dog problem.

They aren't. I have never seen a dog allowed in kitchens.

It's a dog owner problem and plenty of entitled dickhead dog owners with no patience for anyone else on this thread.
Unsurprising.
Dogs are not people and the amount of selfish dog owners sadly well outnumbers the responsible ones.
Perhaps if there were less cuntish dog owners around people wouldn't mind so much but they are far the majority.

Ridiculous comments from dog owners on this thread that people that don't like dogs are not to be trusted, or being rightfully scared of a powerful animal with teeth is irrational, or that toddlers are as destructive, like it's somehow possible it's toddler shit all over the pavements.

Fucking barking.

A friends daughter was terrified of dogs, jumped on a picnic table when one sauntered over even though it was about 20 meters away and showing no interest in us.
She is now not worried at all with dogs after we got her used to our older calm dog, this was a gradual pushing of boundaries over lots of visits. Started off with seeing her through the door from another room then moving on to in the same room a distance away etc to the point where she now doesn’t mind a bouncy large puppy jumping up!
Her parents are amazed as they had tried with a relatives dog with no results but I think it was the slow process which gained her trust.

I must live in a very different world to you then, because the vast majority of dog owners here (and you really would hate here because I’ve never lived anywhere with such a high number of dog owners) are very responsible and aware of others. Very few examples of bad owners here, I can only think of 3 and it’s a big development.

Well no I wasn't talking about phobias, fear of dogs is completely different, a phobia is the next level completely & further is recognised as needing treatment - a fear though is far more common & exposure can help overcome this.

I didn't consider that the comments would be taken out of proportion in that way.
I still believe that people of any age with FEARS about anything can challenge these. PHOBIAS are totally different (to distinguish the two think about comparing a picky eater with someone with an eating disorder - totally different!)

It's right that dogs bought during lockdown aren't all socialised well. They missed out on mixing with people, other dogs & training & some have grown into neurotic messes. I see a lot of these dogs daily. Damaged.

Massive surge in dog population during lockdown too, people didn't consider that dogs develop issues when they don't get properly socialised & then when people went back to work this will have created further problems with dog not being used to being left all day.

No excuses owners are responsible but those circumstances were never ideal to purchase puppies in the first place.

I think it’s great! It means I can still go out for lunches, dinners a coffee etc without worrying if she’s ok at home and having to run back. Similarly if I’m out on a dog walk somewhere and need to pop in to a shop to grab something on the way back dog friendly places are a life saver.
I get it might be a bit annoying if you don’t have a dog but it’s the same way other people’s kids can be really annoying and I’ve had to leave more places because of screaming/crying children than annoying dogs.

YANBU

What I can’t stand is when you don’t realise you’re in a dog friendly place until you’re there and one walks in.

Had lunch with a friend today and half way through our mains, two dogs come in and one comes over and licks my leg. Absolutely grim. The owner just laughed. Dogs do not belong in restaurants. If they can’t be left alone then don’t go to the restaurant

10000% even areas off limits to dogs the cheeky nonces take their dogs there. Unacceptable. I thought people were struggling financially. How have all these people got dogs!!!
It is getting ridiculous.

"nonces"? Really? Fucking weird use of language to describe dog owners.

What is it with all the anti-dog threads getting resurrected today?