AIBU dogs on beaches

I always pretend to like them a bit.

I don’t know any people who don’t like dogs in RL. Wonder why?

Well said Maddyone.

I don’t like dogs at all. I feel no compunction to stroke or pat them. I would prefer them to stay away from me. I don’t like to be told that ‘he’s only being friendly.’ What I do want is owners to control their dogs and prevent them running up to other people in parks or on the beach or anywhere else. I absolutely hate being licked by a dog, it’s disgusting.

Oopsminty - you haven't lived. We had a dog jump straight through a birthday event and sat on the cake - which had cost me a fortune!!!!

I have nothing against people keeping dogs and am not intrinsically anti-dog - I just do not like them. I have had some very bad experiences, as my job involved a lot of home visiting. There is nothing more dispiriting than knocking on a door and having two giant animals throw themselves against the other side whilst growling and barking! Or having a little yappy one pee in your handbag!

I agree Luckygirl neither do I want slobber all over my legs. We have friends with dogs (whose houses stink of dog), but a pet hate is being out with friends, maybe pub garden, having a chat...a dog appears, friend stops conversation ‘who’s a lovely boy then, who’s a good boy’ That’s it, I may as well disappear as they then start discussing ‘dog stuff’ with someone they’ve never clapped eyes on before!!

I live and walk on a beach. I've yet to see any dogs wrecking picnics etcetx

Too much over exaggeration going on here

As for poo.

Call me odd but if I had to choose between treading on dog or human poo I'd prefer the former

Many of our local beaches are used by dog walking businesses , they open the doors of their vans and let large packs of dogs run amok. They cant control the packs or keep track of where they are pooing. Spoils the beach for everyone else

Humans do indeed cause mess on beaches; but dog poo is in a league of its own!

Humans in the main do not jump up and cover you in wet sand or scratches down your legs, crash through your little picnic place, flatten sand castles, fight with others, sniff each other's arses or shake water all over you!

I really do understand how people love their dogs and what they mean to them, but it is also important to understand that not everyone likes someone else's dog being "just friendly" (aah...! - she really likes you!!). I also know that there are many responsible dog owners and applaud them for the care they take. But............there are so many uncontrolled dogs around that they create a disproportionate amount of trouble for innocent bystanders just getting on with nice walk or a day out.

There do need to be dog free beaches where anyone can have a nice time without having to fend off nuisance dogs; and beaches where dogs are allowed so dog lovers can congregate and admire each other's pooches. Sharing beaches with dogs just does not work, especially as owners cannot always be trusted to keep their dog under control or pick up after them.

There is also a basic mismatch between the perceptions of dog lovers and non-dog lovers. The former tend to believe that the actions of their dogs are lovable and cute and friendly, and that everyone should agree that their dog is a joy to be with; the latter do not share that view! ......really they don't - I promise you! And it is not a mental aberration!

I'm fed up with dogs on the beach too.This morning a large black one, soaking wet kept jumping on me. The owner had no control and just shouted at the dog, no apology.

Our beaches are pristine and we do have regular patrols throughout the summer months ( not just for dog walkers) . Anyone letting their dog in the sands will be be fined and I know people who have been .

There’s human filth plastered all over our local beaches here in Cornwall, it’s disgusting the amount of litter people leave behind, I regularly pick up various items of rubbish for the bins provided whilst walking my dog ! More people should contribute toward the endless mission of keeping beaches clean and free of #PlasticPollution - get your gloves on and pick it up, even if it’s not yours.

Oopsminty

"Also the volunteer rubbish collectors on our beach are finding human excrement in takeaway boxes and other containers"
Here, in Cornwall, before the toilets were full operational, the beaches, and in particular the dunes, were used as toilets. It was even found in carparks.

I wish I could say the beaches are now totally free of human excrement but they are not.

washerwoman

Come to Cornwall.

Over 300 beaches and only 47 that have some restrictions. Most have a 2 month restriction: 10am to 6pm (July + August
The rest are Blue Flag beaches which have just over a 4 month restriction: 10am to 6pm
Only one has a total ban all year (it's an estuary).

This was done following the feedback from the Public Spaces Protection Orders consultation/questionnaires last year. The times are now consistent across the county and fit in the lifeguards time on beaches.

Totally agree Woodmouse49

The damage that humans cause is incredible.

I live by a beach.

Who is it that leaves rubbish? Burned BBQs. Filled nappy bags. Plastic cartons. The list is endless

Give me a dog any day

Also the volunteer rubbish collectors on our beach are finding human excrement in takeaway boxes and other containers.

And people worry about dogs.

If the dog cannot be left at home, the car should be parked in the shade with a window open.

Crikey, grandtanteje65, that's a shocking thing to even suggest.

grandtanteJE65

Dogs shouldn't be taken to the beach at all, unless their owners have a large sunshade and drinking water for the animal too, which I bet they don't if they can't be bothered not to let them do their business on the beach, or clear up after them.

If the dog cannot be left at home, the car should be parked in the shade with a window open.

Anyone who owns a pet should consider what is best for the animal as well as what is best for people who do not necessarily want others' pets around.

Responsible owners do this if they want to stay on the beach for a long time. Many use windbreaks.
Dog walkers tend to carry water with them or have a bottle in the car for the dog to drink when they return to it.
I don't think you are a dog owner. Because to suggest that it is left in the car, in the shade with a window open, is not responsible for many reasons.

Unfortunately there are a growing number of people who don't consider others. Hence the tons of dangerous rubbish left on beaches every day, many of which are cleared up by volunteers.

Any excuse for the anti-dog brigade to have a moan! It's NOT the fault of the dogs - it's irresponsible owners, so why shouldn't responsible dog owners be able to walk their dogs wherever they want? I'm with the ones who say the mess left behind by humans is far worse.

I haven't read all this thread, but Norfolk beaches have either no dogs on the beach in the summer months, or where there's just one beach access, dogs to the right, no dogs to the left. (Or visa versa.). That seems to work well.

Love that expression Furret " a clarty lot "

Fennel

Furret I've been thinking of something like that, but many visitors would take no notice of the patrols.

I was thinking that patrols would have powers Fennel - same powers as traffic warden but for beaches, parks, etc.

Sadly the British public are a clarty lot, especially some young ones and loutish males. The service would surely pay for itself in fines and save the cost of clearing up the disgusting litter later.

Here in the NE coast we have a beautiful coastline and lovely clean beaches too. Sadly we don’t get the weather . We also have a strictly no dogs policy from 1st May - 30th September and anyone with a dog on the beach during those dates will be fined .

Why can't we take our dogs elsewhere ?It is becoming increasingly difficult to find somewhere dogs are welcome.If you look at British beaches to see when and where you can take your dogs many are restricted to a much smaller area.Some only in Winter.I don't have a problem with researching in advance and sticking to those dog friendly zones and times.I do object to never being abke to enjoy a beach walk with my dogs.
The reality is there is far more beach available to those without dogs to enjoy, Our daughter lives a short distance from a popular beach where dogs are allowed.She rarely goes now as it's been too depressing with the huge amounts of litter,and she doesn't let her dogs off because of the amount of discarded food cartons and picnic rubbish that inevitably they would be tempted to investigate.Give me dogs over humans anyday. For every poo bag I carry back from a walk I have several other filled with cans,bottles etc.

I hate dogs on beaches. Me & DH we’re in Cornwall last year. Went to a lovely beach called Rock - fab sand, great place for a dip in the sea, was totally spoiled by dogs running around, weeing, pooing, basically doing what dogs do. Why can’t they just take them elsewhere? Drives me mad!

I was walking back from the beach today, with my 3yo GD, when there was a tannoy announcement about dogs not being allowed on the beach. We were discussing why dogs shouldn't be on the beach, stepping in dog poo etc, when she announced that if dogs go on the beach they should be put in jail! I tried to tell her that if anyone should be put in jail it should be the dog's owner not the dog; but she was adamant. Though I am still pondering how a 3yo knows about jail.