Dog owners very irresponsible letting them of leafs on walks knowing they too can spread covid19?

[mumieone]

Today on my permitted walk in semi rural area two men having a day on the beach just let thier dog run wild with no consideration for social distancing.

With reports on dogs, cats and the latest tiger having symptoms and testing positive for covid19 should dig owners be allowed to let thier dogs just jump on passers by?

I saw the dog coming and moved about 4 metres away from the men. One just lit up a fab and did nothing and the other watched.

When I moved the dig chased me as I ran to try to climb up a hill. I threw stones near it to try to deter but didn't work and owner eventually took him and said he was being friendly. More like dangerous. I said look we are all trying to social distance and who knows if your dog has covid19 and some of us are trying to keep ourselves and others safe and social distance!

Shouldnt dog owners be more careful?

@Flaxmeadow also please answer my question - you say you had a dog. Did you always keep it muzzled?

I imagine Flax has had a very bad experience with a dog, given the very graphic medical description of 'what dogs can do' up thread. Lacerations and what have you. I think Flax's dog attacked somebody and now she thinks all dogs might? Or Flax was attacked by a dog and subsequently doesn't trust any dog.

I can't imagine any other explanation. It's understandable, if that's the case. But it's not ok to try to tell other, perfectly innocent and well meaning people to change their behaviours because of it.

Had to take my accident prone staffie to vets just before lockdown. You know one of those 'dangerous' dogs. When vet saw her she was pleased because my dog just sits there and let's the vet do exactly what she wants. No muzzle, she does not move, flinch growl even if in pain. Vet loves to see latest trick and always commends me on behaviour of my dog past and present. Went out with mutt if anyone's passing I just whisper ' leave' and she does. Just a matter of training. Wish I could say same for the countless kids running riot in eating places and anywhere else you go. Sometimes I feel like putting a leash on them!

Getting back to “The test” I’m sorry but I fail to see how a paper test for dog ownership will help. Everyone (well, most people) will know they have to keep their dogs safe and to stop them being a nuisance to others. They all know dogs should have a solid recall if they are to be excercised off lead. Most people would deem it desirable for dogs not to jump over people and everyone (I hope) would know that a nervous, reactive dog should not be allowed off lead around people or other dogs. The problem is they know it - they have no idea how to actually do it.... or even take steps to do it. It’s pretty much like the written driving test. People can answer questions on the Highway Code. That doesn’t mean they can drive.

However, I do think it should be mandatory for everyone who buys a puppy or rescues a dog from a shelter to attend a 3 month basic dog ownership training course.

Let’s face it people get a puppy/dog on a whim and don’t have the faintest idea what the dog needs or that it requires training. Lots of posters on here think dog training is toilet training. They can’t see beyond “sit”. Neither can they see that their “friendly” dog running up to leashed dogs is a problem.

I would be all in favour of a test to show competency in the basics of dog handling. However, I (we all) know there will be many dog owners who won’t pass a basic dog handling test. The fate of thousands of friendly, happy - but unruly outside - dogs, with useless owners, doesn’t bear thinking about 😥

Let’s face it people get a puppy/dog on a whim and don’t have the faintest idea what the dog needs or that it requires training

These would be the ones who would fail the test and not be permitted to have a dog. These are the ones the test would be for; to filter them out.

A couple of days ago in our local park I saw a dog walker with 6 dogs all off leads. I tried to think of a genuine reason, but can't really believe that all the owners were isolating.

Possibly because the dog walkers’ clients don’t want them to go out of business?

These would be the ones who would fail the test and not be permitted to have a dog. These are the ones the test would be for; to filter them out

So they’ll go and buy a puppy from a puppy farmer. Puppy farmers don’t care who they sell a puppy to. All they care about is the money.

Who is going to police the buying of puppies? No-one!

A couple of days ago in our local park I saw a dog walker with 6 dogs all off leads. I tried to think of a genuine reason, but can't really believe that all the owners were isolating
Isolating themselves due to symptoms
Isolating due to others in their household showing symptoms
Being in a high risk group themselves so not going out
Key workers

I can think of several reasons.

There's a dog walker who walks near me. They let their dogs off lead. To be honest some of them are better behaved with the dog walker than they are with their owner.

So they’ll go and buy a puppy from a puppy farmer. Puppy farmers don’t care who they sell a puppy to. All they care about is the money
This. Plus, it's a bit like people passing their theory test but then driving at 80/90 on motorways, or 40 in a 30, or (MN fave) parking on the yellow zig zags outside schools because they aren't going to be there. The issue isn't people knowing the rules. Some simply choose not to follow them.

*aren't going to be there long

There will always be law breakers, Silver. Just like with driving. That's not a good argument against having some measures and regulations in place. It could potentially mean less policing, as there would be less irresponsible dog owners. Using funding to nip the issue in the bud, perhaps, rather than on emergency services being called out to attack victims.

The issue isn't people knowing the rules. Some simply choose not to follow them

Yep. I have fallen out with a friend many times. She bought a puppy because she thought it would be “nice” for her dd. Friend picked up puppy, at 8 weeks old, then the following day left it to go to work. For3 years dog has been left alone 10 hours a day, 5 days a week, while she works.

By the time she gets home friend is “too tired” to take the dog for a walk or bother with him. Poor dog is very intelligent, under stimulated, under exercised and chews the door frames, walls and flooring. He is totally off the wall indoors. I accompanied her for a walk one day. Never again!

I have been round there, many times, shown her how to get dog to settle and shown her some basic training techniques. SHE CANT BE ARSED!

She would, however, be able to answer basic questions on dog handling - simply because she does know. She just doesn’t do it!

Eckhart we will have to agree to disagree

The issue isn't people knowing the rules. Some simply choose not to follow them

Just like with driving. Would those of you saying this say that we might as well scrap driving tests/law too, or would you concede that it helps, even though there are still some law breakers? Or is there some difference in these situations that I'm not seeing?

Eckhart People can pass a paper theory test. It doesn’t mean they can get behind a wheel and drive. They have the knowledge, on paper. Actually doing it is very different

Yes, I know. So are you saying that driving tests and laws should be scrapped, because people just ignore them anyway, or would you say that the tests and regulations are helping, to some extent?

Just to clear up about cats so called passing Covid on......
www.facebook.com/groups/1590954437675421/permalink/2575828419188013/

All animals that link is for not just cats.

So are you saying that driving tests and laws should be scrapped, because people just ignore them anyway, or would you say that the tests and regulations are helping, to some extent?

What I’m saying is just because someone will know the answers, in theory, about dog ownership, it doesn’t mean they can put that theory into practice. Therefore unless there is a test, with an actual dog (the persons own dog) the test is useless

Testing someone on whether or not they understand the risks and responsibilities of dog ownership doesn't involve a dog. You could test any non dog owner. It's not to test if the dog gets it, or if the the dog is trained properly. It's to test whether or not the potential owner understands the need for a dog to be trained properly.

Ok then... 🤔

Don't understand why you don't get it. Lots of irresponsible dog owners would say ''F*ck that, then, I'm not getting one' if they realised they had to pass a test/carry a licence/face a hefty fine. Yes, some would break the rules, that's humans for you.

I keep asking and you keep not answering: do you think tests/laws for driving help with regard to increasing safety, or do you think they should be scrapped?

Just like with driving. Would those of you saying this say that we might as well scrap driving tests/law too, or would you concede that it helps, even though there are still some law breakers? Or is there some difference in these situations that I'm not seeing?
I'm just not sure if a dog theory test would make a substantial difference.

There's a whole machinery around driving, tax, insurance, licences, ANPR cameras, registration logbooks and so on. It doesn't stop the terrible drivers or people driving without insurance etc but it does make it more difficult.
I'm not sure how a dog theory test would practically change things in any meaningful way.

Fair point, Lola. I think if dogs were as routinely savage as some pps are making out, there'd be more machinery around owning a dog, too.

Of course driving tests are essential. The cost to human lives would be phenomenal and absolutely mindless if anyone was allowed behind the wheel of car.

There is no comparison between driving on busy roads and owning a dog!

There are lots of irresponsible dog owners (nobody can disagree with that). There always has been. A bloody paper exercise isn’t ever going to solve that. Most dogs, even those with useless owners, are happy, friendly and loving life - even if they are a bloody nuisance to others.

There is a thread currently running... something about ‘When does a dog fade into the background?’ The short answer is, “Never! Get some goldfish!”

While people are stupid and ignorant there will always be those that get a dog on a whim. A paper excercise is not going to stop them. I’ve already said if they fail the pointless “test” that you are putting forward they will simply get a puppy from a puppy farmer.

Let’s get rid of puppy farming. We have been trying for years. That hasn’t been successful so far. People will always find a loophole. People who want a dog are no exception.

They get a cute puppy, leave it on its own for hours at a time, have no time for it. Then when it’s around 5 months old, bored senseless with no focus in life, and becomes an untrained bundle of energy that owner can no longer cope with they dump it in a shelter. A paper exercise is not going to stop that