What's the point of a 'dog exclusion zone'?

FishChipsAndVinegarPlease · 2025-05-27T15:25:29+00:00

Lots of cafés allow dogs now. No problem, I'll go elsewhere. Lots of beaches allow dogs over the winter. Shame for me, but them's the rules. But we are now in the summer season, and I was at a beach today in the UK, sitting in a marked 'dog exclusion zone'. Someone with a dog off the lead, but fairly close to heel walked by, and the dog came up and urinated all over my bag. I'm heavily pregnant so couldn't leap up and grab the bag. Looking around, there were quite a lot of dogs on the beach. I just wonder what the point is of the dog exclusion zone. It is totally ignored. I was pretty sad to have my bag urinated on, particularly as I'm pregnant and getting things cleaned up is harder than usual. The owner didn't even say sorry, though she was standing barely five feet away. I expect plenty of people will be along go tell me they prefer their dog to me and my future kid, but I just wanted to sit on the beach and relax today. In any case there aren't enough benches for everyone on the prom, and I just wanted to sit on the beach.

cava14una · 27/05/2025 16:32

You are not being unreasonable. I had dogs and once at a show my dog cocked his leg near someone's coat. I was mortified and immediately went and spoke to the owner of the coat. She hadn't noticed and thankfully he had missed but I still couldn't have walked away.
Totally understand what you mean about people having dogs of lead in on lead areas too. Just why?!!

mondaytosunday · 27/05/2025 16:36

Did you shout out when the dog did this? I’d have had a few choice words!
I’ve lived near a beach and the dogs are not allowed from May 1 to October. I’d say I rarely see someone breach this, and usually it’s because the signage is fairly poor and you can enter where there is no sign at all. Is there a lifeguard? I don’t know who you would report this to. Most people are pretty apologetic if called out but if there are other dogs then it’s hard.

Auroraloves · 27/05/2025 16:40

Another reason I can’t stand (some) dog owners. FFS selfish

ZippyPeer · 27/05/2025 16:41

I hate inconsiderate dog owners

Original poster

FishChipsAndVinegarPlease · 27/05/2025 16:43

I'll be honest with you, I was flabbergasted. I didn't know what to say. What could I say? I wasn't about to demand money for a new bag or something, I'm sure I would have been on the receiving end of a few choice words. What can you say really? Not, "your dog has peed on my bag" - because she saw it.

Supposedly there are on the spot fines of £100. But no-one at all to enforce that.

It wasn't a lead zone, it was a no-dogs at all zone.

OP posts:

Original poster

FishChipsAndVinegarPlease · 27/05/2025 16:45

I wonder who is voting IABU. IABU to be sad that a dog pissed on my bag?! Am I supposed to clap my hands with glee?

OP posts:

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 27/05/2025 16:45

I’m a dog owner and have been really shocked at the behaviour I’ve seen from other dog owners and their dogs. I’m also a wheelchair user and have had several occasions of dogs cocking their against my wheels. The owners have been mortified and very apologetic every single time. I laugh and say I view it as a compliment that they want to claim me as their own. I am utterly sick of people not picking up dog poo though, I’m so sick of cleaning it off my wheels. I used to keep a brush and bottle of water in the back of the car for this because it happened so often and I don’t want to load my wheelchair back in the car covered in poo.

MoominMai · 27/05/2025 16:56

FishChipsAndVinegarPlease · 27/05/2025 16:45

I wonder who is voting IABU. IABU to be sad that a dog pissed on my bag?! Am I supposed to clap my hands with glee?

Entitled dog owners of the irrational and anti social sort who anonymously will vote YABU as unable to actually come up with a defence 😑

YeOldeGreyhound · 27/05/2025 16:58

The vast majority of dog owners do abide by the rules of such zones.
I took my dog on holiday recently, and the dog bit of the beach was not that big, but I would never dream of taking her to a bit dogs are not allowed on.

A poster on here said dogs should not ever be allowed on beaches as they piss in the sea 😂

it annoys me too though. There is a memorial park where I live that does not allow dogs at all, not even on a lead. I am always seeing people walk through with their dog.

Suedelfinoofwisterialane · 27/05/2025 17:01

MoominMai · 27/05/2025 16:56

Entitled dog owners of the irrational and anti social sort who anonymously will vote YABU as unable to actually come up with a defence 😑

Show quote history

i think you’re right, just in case any of the people who thinks OP is being unreasonable read this, the majority hate you entitled selfish fuckers

Auroraloves · 27/05/2025 17:03

FishChipsAndVinegarPlease · 27/05/2025 16:45

I wonder who is voting IABU. IABU to be sad that a dog pissed on my bag?! Am I supposed to clap my hands with glee?

Who knows, anonymity is wonderful for these idiots. The entitlement astounds me.

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 27/05/2025 17:04

Is it an all year round exclusion zone? Our closest beach has an exclusion zone but only from 31st May to 30 September.

No excuse for the dog owner letting it pee all over your bag even if the above is the same on your beach. I can't stand irresponsible dog owners 🤬

Mama2many73 · 27/05/2025 17:08

We live nr a beach which has dog exclusion areas over the summer (possibly april/may to october). We don't take our dog to the beach every week but there are ALWAYS people ignoring the signs and I have never read of anyone being fined!

Original poster

FishChipsAndVinegarPlease · 27/05/2025 17:10

It's from the start of may. There are big signs and a diagram showing the area to one side of the pier.

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AllProperTeaIsTheft · 27/05/2025 17:13

YANBU at all to be angry, but YABU to question the point of a dog exclusion zone. Presumably the majority of people obey it. It's like saying that speed limits are pointless because some people still drive too fast.

vodkaredbullgirl · 27/05/2025 17:16

Couldn't think of anything worse, than taking my dogs to the beach at this time of year.

Original poster

FishChipsAndVinegarPlease · 27/05/2025 17:20

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 27/05/2025 17:13

YANBU at all to be angry, but YABU to question the point of a dog exclusion zone. Presumably the majority of people obey it. It's like saying that speed limits are pointless because some people still drive too fast.

I think that's a good point. I would be interested to know whether councils do Police it at all though.

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crumblingschools · 27/05/2025 17:21

We used to love taking our dog to the beach out of season. There are some beaches near us that do allow dogs all year round but they have to be on lead in the summer months. Other nearby beaches have a dog ban during the summer. So plenty of choice for everyone, but I have seen these rules flouted by some inconsiderate dog owners.

I would have been mortified if my dog had peed on your bag

modgepodge · 27/05/2025 17:25

In south/west Wales when we went we found most beaches had half designated as for dogs and half not. It was largely ignored. I have an extremely dog phobic child so it was extremely frustrating as it ruined our day many times when she had a meltdown about a dog. However her yelling ‘naughty doggy! Why is the dog on this beach it says NO DOGS!’ did shame some of them in to moving on

Bluevelvetsofa · 27/05/2025 17:32

It’s the same round here. No dogs on the beach from May until October and dogs on leads on the prom.

So there are dogs on the beach and dogs off lead on the prom. Why is it ok to ignore rules that are in place?

Saucery · 27/05/2025 17:37

That’s horrible, poor you! I’d have been raging if it happened to me and I own and love dogs.
Agree about enforcing the exclusions. I’ve seen it done on a couple of popular Welsh beaches and we regularly see a little quad bike thing driven up to dog owners ignoring the seasonal signs at our nearest beach. Wish they could drive a little quad bike up to United Utilities and tell them to stop pumping shit onto the beach as well but hey ho.

Tutorpuzzle · 27/05/2025 17:39

That is grim. Really grim. And I’m a dog apologist usually. Someone upthread said it’s like speeding, still need the rules even if they’re not adhered to. I agree, but the speeding rules here are really rigorously enforced. And the ‘no dogs’ bits of beaches should be too. The dog police (not actual dogs, obviously) in Lyme Regis appear if you happen to glance at the dog free beach. In February. In sleet and hail.

Original poster

FishChipsAndVinegarPlease · 27/05/2025 17:41

Saucery · 27/05/2025 17:37

That’s horrible, poor you! I’d have been raging if it happened to me and I own and love dogs.
Agree about enforcing the exclusions. I’ve seen it done on a couple of popular Welsh beaches and we regularly see a little quad bike thing driven up to dog owners ignoring the seasonal signs at our nearest beach. Wish they could drive a little quad bike up to United Utilities and tell them to stop pumping shit onto the beach as well but hey ho.

So often Wales is overlooked environmentally because it isn't in the cotswolds. If it received similar protections it would be a tourist hot-spot bringing more work and money in.

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Original poster

FishChipsAndVinegarPlease · 27/05/2025 17:42

Tutorpuzzle · 27/05/2025 17:39

That is grim. Really grim. And I’m a dog apologist usually. Someone upthread said it’s like speeding, still need the rules even if they’re not adhered to. I agree, but the speeding rules here are really rigorously enforced. And the ‘no dogs’ bits of beaches should be too. The dog police (not actual dogs, obviously) in Lyme Regis appear if you happen to glance at the dog free beach. In February. In sleet and hail.

You made me think of Paw Patrol.

Right, Lyme Regis for me then!

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Toootss · 27/05/2025 17:47

I would have some chocolates with me and give them to the dog - but fortunately I live away from areas like yours.