Dogs Everywhere

[SusanandMidge]

I don't live in the UK but am just back from a holiday in Cornwall. We were shocked at the amount of dogs allowed everywhere. They were in every restaurant, cafe, pub and hotel. Two or three people with dogs would all go into a small shop, blocking the aisles for everyone else. In Port Isaac on a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon the whole harbour and uphill area was disrupted by loud and continuous barking. Dogs were running around off leash on every beach. People were clogging the narrow pavements with two or three dogs on leads, wheeling dogs around in prams and buggies, stopping outside holiday cottages for ages chatting while their dogs barked, yapped and howled and ruined the peace for the people inside.

We were genuinely wondering if the next time we came back there would be dog and owner spaces in supermarket carparks and an expectation that you should stand up on public transport to let people with dogs sit down.

AIBU to think England has gone a bit mad when it comes to dogs?

I must admit I find it weird that dogs are allowed in establishments where food is served. I find it very unhygienic and as such I avoid dog friendly pubs and cafes.

In Cornwall we stuck to the beaches where dogs are banned. We stumbled upon a dog friendly beach accidentally this year, but had already unpacked everything before we realised. The barking was very noticeable, and irritating. Some family near us let their dog come over and sniff all around our stuff. When I didn’t return the woman’s gormless grin, she did have the decency to call the dog back (not that it did it straight away because Heaven forbid people actually train their dogs in effective recall).

Another family near us had their dog on a lead and it kept barking and they kept shushing it. The dog seemed bored and unhappy, and the family seemed irritated by its barking. It didn’t look like any of them were having a nice time, and I couldn’t help wonder why they had brought the dog in the first place.

And for those of us who are English, live in England and don’t want badly trained dogs everywhere…?

I think the noise of other families on the beach would be expected, but if it's a beach which doesn't allow dogs (either at all or at that time point) then the noise of dogs shouldn't even be a consideration as they shouldn't be there!

I fucking hate kids screaming unnecessarily but that is a different thread. This is about cuntish entitled dog owners and them taking over places we all should be allowed to enjoy but can’t.

If you want to start a thread about cuntish parents who allow their kids to scream while playing I’d agree with you but this is about dogs. Different species. Different debate.

Dragging dogs around shops and restaurants isn't being 'nice' to them.

Many people take their dogs on holiday just research areas more next time before you book.
Cornwall is dog friendly but especially from September onwards as many of the beaches allow dogs again (not allowed between July and end of Aug) so you probably saw loads more because people book these weeks just after the summer holidays with their dogs as they are allowed back on the beach!

I live in a touristy area about 1/4 of places allow dogs the rest don't, it really is area dependent. Only 3 shops allow dogs in the wine shop a pet shop and a dog specialist!

Not my problem. I don’t have badly trained dogs and I avoid them so you might try do the same

I was being sarcastic. I was trying to keep it relevant to the original post.

Your first post says ‘We were shocked at the amount of dogs allowed everywhere.’ but later you say ‘shocked their dogs aren’t welcome everywhere’ - are dogs allowed everywhere or aren’t they?

A quick google shows Cornwall is one of the most dog friendly places to visit in the UK. If I didn’t like dogs I’d probably have chosen elsewhere for a break.

@MatchyM yeah good owners that leave their dogs home alone all day with no interaction and bored as hell. Great owners they sound

‘Again, why are we comparing children and dogs?’

Because it’s the only defence shit dog-owners have. If kids are criticised somewhere, I will agree that badly behaved children and selfish parents can make life difficult for others. I don’t start saying ‘but dogs are worse!’

This kind of owner has no defence, is happy for their dog to cause havoc and can only defend it by saying that children are worse. They lose the argument immediately when they do that.

I only take my dog to places she is welcome. She is well behaved, does not bark (she barks about twice a year!), does not approach other people etc. But yet I am cuntish and entitled?

My point is people who live here can’t just “go elsewhere”.

And I shouldn’t need to avoid dogs, they should be kept under control in public.

I was in a kid friendly, dog friendly pub at lunchtime once. My two dc were older primary age. They were sitting quietly at the table...not running round or screeching...just talking at a normal volume with me. My friend bought her huge dog along. At the next table were a horrible couple...the type who sit at lunch together and don't say a single word to each other for hours. They spent the entire time scowling at my sitting quietly children. Meanwhile, people couldn't stop gushing over my friends dog and how wonderful he apparently is.

What???

Oh I totally missed that!

Who said ‘all day’? With no interaction?! You made that all up as you have no defence! They take their dogs for appropriate walks. And train them to feel safe home alone. They realise that their dogs don’t need to go to bingo or the disco.

@Nevermind202020 "Again, why are we comparing children and dogs?
As for screaming kids, I don't enjoy it much either, but it is how some younger children show emotion and most grow out of it."

Because to a lot of people, including people with children, others people's children are really annoying! And it's irrelevant if they grow out of it when at the moment in question their behaviour is disruptive to others. People are just identifying that different things annoy different people. Some people find young children more annoying than dogs. I definitely do!

‘This thread has been an interesting insight into the minds of the kind of dog owners who can't understand why their dogs aren't welcome everywhere,’

What?

I agree. Most around where I live are great but you get the odd irresponsible owner with a difficult dog. I worry too. What can we do?

Oh they must all be in Cornwall.

Not actually as daft as it sounds, a lot of the beaches in Cornwall are off limits during the Summer season to dogs, and then the rules change to allow them back on. Some beaches have a before 10 and after 6 rule or something like that, so people can walk the dogs before/after the busy times. Some beaches like Port Issac are dog friendly all year round.

My favourite Cornish beach has this rule in place 'Dogs are welcome on this beach except from the 1st July to the 31st August between 10am and 6pm when a seasonal dog ban is in place'

The difference being you cannot leave small children alone for any length of time. But you CAN leave the dog at home when you go shopping, or in Kennels when you go on holday.

Same! We were all kids once although some seem to forget that

Still not getting your point.

I agree. I don't have anything against them as such but I don't particularly want them sat brushing themself up against seats that are obviously not vacuumed in between sittings and then me ending uk with dog hair all over me when I don't even own a dog! I see dogs being towed around like children.