To dare to think that the Cult of Dog has gone too far?

[MariLlwyd]

There is now not a single public space in my home town that is dog-free - and that includes cafes, restaurants and even the library. Local beaches, once a quiet escape, have turned into asylums for the fur baby/pupper brigade to inflict their poorly trained animals on others with children getting chased, people jumped on and tripped over and all to the sound of hysterical barking and frequent dog fights.
80 year old woman knocked over by uncontrollable dog? 'You got in his way'.
Ask politely that you take your dog away from our lunch table? 'Go fuck yourself'.
Sit on the most remote bench you can find? Peri-menopausal wild eyed harridan lets loose 3 dogs from her 4x4 to jump all over you and laughs that it's 'their spot' and turns unhinged when you push them away.
Yes, this is a rant and yes I hate most dog owners.
This weird cult that values darling dogs over human beings is actually pretty worrying.
I shall await the inevitable and hilarious 'incoming' from the emotionally stunted Doggo Nutters.

Totally agree with you. It's mental.

My DS was chased by a dog on a beach when he was 7, it was friendly and only wanted to play, but the dog had no recall and the owner could not catch it, it was worrying for all of us at the time, and has left my DS with a fear of strange dogs.

Myself and DH are also not keen on off-lead dogs. I purposefully look for places that don't accept dogs to go for days out/holidays, so we can all relax and not have to look down at the ground for dog crap everywhere we walk.

Too many dogs, too many irresponsible owners.

THIS! ^

I am not a dog person - cats all the way for me - but some dogs are lovely. Some are a pain yes, (but blame the owners.) But the rancid hate and vitriol from the OP (and a small number of others posters on here) towards dogs, and dog owners, is quite bizarre.

I can’t bear dogs in human spaces for all the usual reasons. I also can’t bear the ridiculously entitled attitude of dog owners and the way they laugh off their mis-management of their pets. However, I have noticed that dogs are especially well attuned to being ignored. If you totally ignore them, ie don’t react, don’t push away, don’t makes eye contact (esp that!) then they usually do the same. Vicious beasts notwithstanding.

Of course dogs have more rights and privileges than pigeons. In the UK, dogs are protected under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Despite what most might think on this thread, dogs are actually allowed in dog-friendly cafés, parks, hotels. They even have entire industries built around their wellbeing: vets, groomers, trainers, etc. Meanwhile, pigeons are often considered vermin or pests, especially by local councils and pest control.

Sounds like they may be happy to let the relationship go - differing priorities.

I love dogs. We never got another after ours was put to sleep because our working lives just wouldn't be able to accommodate right now. So I will fuss any dog given the opportunity.

But being called a miserable bitch for not engaging with an unruly dog that jumped up on my back as I was sat at a bench table is just something else. I literally didn't react, just ignored it. But that makes me a miserable bitch according to it's owner.

A 'pocket' dog?! Get a grip. It's an animal fgs so stop treating like some fashion accessory you wear for attention.

There is no enforcement. Owners think a sign doesn’t apply to them on a beach.

I was talking in general: a dog isn’t a person, like pigeons aren’t people.

If you own a dog you’re responsible for it. If you mistreat it the law will fall on you. If it’s dangerous the law will allow it to be put down. If it’s a stray it can be destroyed, just like pigeons.

The law puts obligations on you. It doesn’t confer rights on animals.

🙄

Yep. Was in a really nice (well, it used to be) hotel restaurant at the weekend that we used to go to a lot - one couple thought it was acceptable to put their sausage dog ON the table. With its grubby paws that have trod through god knows what. The staff did nothing. Il name the place actually - it was the Swan Hotel in Newby Bridge. When the couple left another party came and sat down and the table wasn't wiped in between🤮
Also other dogs barking away at one another and basically being annoying and getting in the way of waiting staff.
I Frequently see people putting their dogs on the chairs in cafes lately, even upholstered ones. It's bonkers.

My favourite cafe that we go to the most is the only one that doesn't allow dogs. Please God let it stay that way - they're a dying breed.
I just don't understand why people think it's ok to let their pets sit at the table in a public space, I suspect it's a kind of aggressive "il do what I want - what you gonna do about it"? type of thicko mentality. And the worst part is that the cafe owners do nothing and can't be arsed having some standards.

and don't get me started on the amount of parents letting their kids have their iPads/phones blaring out Bluey etc in the middle of a restaurant

I honestly feel like no one has any manners any more or gives a shit about other people.

I’ve always loved dogs and have had them all my life—but I still completely agree with you. As a responsible dog owner with a calm, well-behaved dog, I find it incredibly frustrating how many selfish and oblivious dog owners are out there.

There’s a local woman near me whose dog has repeatedly tried to attack mine over the past two years. Every time, she acts like it’s just harmless play, while I’m desperately trying to protect my poor, frightened dog from her aggressive animal. She never steps in.

I finally snapped one day—heavily pregnant, with two small children in tow—when her dog was growling, barking, and baring its teeth at me as I stood between it and my terrified dog. She kept insisting her dog “wasn’t doing anything,” even as it tried to lunge at my dog’s neck. Then, she had the nerve to tell me that if I didn’t want other dogs approaching mine, the park wasn’t the place for me. I honestly thought I was going mad.

I have no problem with friendly dogs coming over to say hello. But being a responsible owner means understanding that not everyone wants your dog near them or their pets—and if your dog is off lead, you should have enough control to call them back immediately.

It's definitely a Cult. There's really no escape. Every café, shop or space where I live is "dog friendly". I genuinely don't know what's happened, why dogs are everywhere and why they seem to be getting equal status with humans.

I really don’t think that, apart from the first comment by the OP, for which she has apologised more than once, that the majority of the responses on here, from people who prefer some spaces and areas to be without dogs, have been vitriolic.

There are views expressed from dog owners, who choose not to take them to shops, cafes and restaurants. There are views expressed from people who have a serious allergic response to animals, which can be debilitating, if not dangerous. There are views expressed from dog lovers who recognise that some dog owners are irresponsible and discourteous.

If, as a dog owner, you ignore local regulations, then I think it’s reasonable for others to be annoyed by that, especially on beaches and AONB, where they should be on leads.

It’s a shame that those who are responsible dog owners are tarred with the same brush as irresponsible and thoughtless ones. I think so many more people acquired dogs during Covid and I’m not convinced that all of them were for the right reasons. I agree that it is primarily owners and their lack of responsibility, who are causing the division between groups of people. I don’t think thats a vitriolic response. I

RE : Dogs in Prams

a bit like taking a disabled person out in a wheelchair (done that too) They still like to get out and about

I can’t believe that this comparison was made as if disabled people were a subclass of human roughly equivalent to a pet, AND I’m surprised it’s not been picked up on more. How Disgraceful !

@Azureshores Oh Wow - about the Swan Hotel at Newby - that is really utterly disgusting. I love my dogs but as you say, those people were beyond redemption. That dachshund could have walked in anything before placing its paws (and everything else) on the table. I know it wasn't your responsibility to do so but did you tell the next lot of people who sat down at the table that it needed a really good clean?

No one was comparing them at all. Some pets are disabled too, either by illness, injury or old age.
The dogs in prams usually have mobility issues. They do still like to get out, and have a short walk at their destination.

That is not saying that disabled humans are the same as pets at all.

No one is equating persons with disabilities and pets. Please.

But assuming that a pet in a pram is just a coddled lapdog when it too may be disabled, elderly or ill, is also wrong. There is nothing wrong with being kind and compassionate toward animals; it takes nothing away from compassion toward human beings.

I don’t agree. I think it’s crass and othering.

I adore animals but I do agree on some these points. When DC was about 3, we had a picnic at our local park. A large-ish dog repeatedly ran over our picnic blanket, knocking dc and messing up the blanket. Owner just said "she loves kids!". Then it snatched a chocolate cookie from us (a giant cafe one) and the owner freaked out cause chocolate is bad for dogs. I couldn't believe the entitlement. She was acting like it was OUR fault.

It's not the only time our picnics have been hijacked by "friendly" dogs

Tramatising the child is the entire point! And the traumatised child is their parent’s fault. Perhaps they won’t be such an entitled dick in the future.

I'm a bit phobic of dogs but I don't think it is the majority of dog owners. I've learnt that the majority of dogs and dog owners are sensible. Unfortunately the one's who are not have a significant impact.

One dog owner not picking up shit makes somewhere unpleasant quickly with a new pile everyday.

I agree - so fed up up of entitled people letter their untrained dog off lead. I have been growled, barked or jumped up at several times already this year.

I love dogs too - just hate the owners.

I hate it when dogs are allowed on furniture. They are dogs, not people.

There's a neighbour across the way from us large type XL dog unmuzzled walked by a young teen if this dog flipped she wouldn't be able to control it... accident waiting to happen.

yes I'd love to know where op lives too, where I live (big city) dogs aren't allowed anywhere no shops or cafes libraries . only pets at home allow dogs in. Wish they did as I hate having to tie my dog up outside while I nip in a shop I have huge anxiety about someone stealing him.
must admit i do hate other people's dogs running up and jumping up leaving muddy paw prints on my clean clothes etc while in the park. I keep my dog on his lead.