Dogs everywhere

I would also like to add how horrible I find it when people allow their dogs to lick them on their mouths. Dogs lick their own bums and private parts!!!

The thing is, there are just too many dogs since Covid. A family member insisted during Covid that she wanted a Romanian rescue dog, no one in the fanily had ever heard of the breed. £££ and much angst later, the dog arrived. It has proven to be an absolute nightmare. Poor damaged dog, it growls, snarls, bites... she's stuck with it.

RosiesMawagain

Allira

AGAA4

I agree with everyone who has said dogs are beneficial to people in different ways.
What I can't agree with is dogs being allowed into restaurants and shops unless they are guide dogs.

In a nutshell.

Hardly warranting yet another anti-dog thread either.

Bovvered?

😁

Rosie says "Me - go in a caff? Beneath my dignity, dahling!"

A couple of observations about dogs, I agree that there seem to be many more taken into cafes and pubs and restaurants than before Covid, don’t know if those things are connected or not.
Also where are the mongrel dogs of the past? Every dog I see is a certain breed, and the ginger curly coated dogs are just everywhere!

I love your dog RosiesMaw 😍 it looks like it’s racing in its sleep!

🤣🤣🤣

Chardy

We talk on here about the newly-retired getting a dog, so they get out, get some exercise, don't feel so isolated etc. I'm with Foxie, the benefits to children of having a pet that's part of the family, a cat or a dog, teaches kids so much about responsibility, but also about life and death.

I agree.
My large dog was the school dog, and roamed the classrooms supervised. He came to assembly and wore the winning house colour rosette each week, a bit like a mascot. He went on school trips. He comforted children. He was the biggest asset the school owned, and even a parent who fainted if she were near a dog wanted her child not to have that reaction so she overcame her fear at the school gate.

There are responsible dog owners. I'm not saying anyone here is complaining unnecessarily, but it's not really all bad as the thread is turning it out to be.

Allira

AGAA4

I agree with everyone who has said dogs are beneficial to people in different ways.
What I can't agree with is dogs being allowed into restaurants and shops unless they are guide dogs.

In a nutshell.

Hardly warranting yet another anti-dog thread either.

Bovvered?

AGAA4

I agree with everyone who has said dogs are beneficial to people in different ways.
What I can't agree with is dogs being allowed into restaurants and shops unless they are guide dogs.

In a nutshell.

I agree with everyone who has said dogs are beneficial to people in different ways.
What I can't agree with is dogs being allowed into restaurants and shops unless they are guide dogs.

Lathyrus3

LaCrepescule

Ridiculous comments about how much dogs smell. And the one about them sniffing eachother because they smell🙄
It’s because their sense of smell is far, far superior to ours.

Every living thing has a smell. Horses smell, fish smell, flowers smell, I smell, you smell.

I was going to say that it’s ridiculous to deny that, but then I realised your sense of smell is probably very poor and you don’t realise what other people can smell.

I used to have a keen sense of smell but it seems to be subdued since I had Covid, although not disappeared completely.

We talk on here about the newly-retired getting a dog, so they get out, get some exercise, don't feel so isolated etc. I'm with Foxie, the benefits to children of having a pet that's part of the family, a cat or a dog, teaches kids so much about responsibility, but also about life and death.

I do find it strange that restaurants are mostly very vigilant about food allergies but allow dogs in which could cause a fatal asthma attack.

It does mean that those with severe allergies are unable to visit quite a lot of places now.

We were in The Ivy in Canary Wharf yesterday and a dog was sitting on the velvet bench at the table. It had been raining very heavily and the dog was wet. The restaurant is beautifully decorated but it totally put me off.

I'd like to move to some of these places that are so dog-friendly, because here on the coast - where lots of people holiday as they don't want to go abroad with their dog - I don't see a lot of dog-friendly places.
The change I've seen is cafes with tables on the pavement to accommodate smokers, which also accommodate dog-owners.
The dogs I see in the park or on the beach every day are pretty well-behaved.

GrannyGravy13

Lathyrus3

LaCrepescule

Ridiculous comments about how much dogs smell. And the one about them sniffing eachother because they smell🙄
It’s because their sense of smell is far, far superior to ours.

Every living thing has a smell. Horses smell, fish smell, flowers smell, I smell, you smell.

I was going to say that it’s ridiculous to deny that, but then I realised your sense of smell is probably very poor and you don’t realise what other people can smell.

I can smell if a dog has been in a room, restaurant or any enclosed space.

Oh yes and if someone is a dog owner, even if they haven’t got their dog with them. Just like you can smell a smoker even if their not smoking.
Or the shower gel people used a few hours ago. Or what they had for dinner even if you visit the next morning.

Smells linger and become inbedded. It’s a world full of smells.

(Maybe I’m really a dog😬)

Going around a very packed, with decorations, garden centre, at Christmas, you were tripping over large dogs, yappy dogs, all on longish leads, owners oblivious to what they were doing whilst they chose their Christmas baubles. Really, I'm sure the dogs loved it, really. Sniffing and snuffling round our ankles, I think they should have a dog owner day, so we all know when we can keep away.

Cossy

Sarnia

Blame Boris. Get a dog, he said. And here we are.

I happen to like dogs but can see the OP's point that they are everywhere. Boisterous dogs are as irritating as boisterous children in places like cafes and restaurants but often those in charge seem oblivious to their bad behaviour.

I agree 100%

Sadly, thanks Boris, so many “covid” dogs ended up in rescue refuges or otherwise rid off!

So some one tells you get a dog, so they did. Many people had no sense, or couldn't think for themselves as to what it would entail.

Lathyrus3

LaCrepescule

Ridiculous comments about how much dogs smell. And the one about them sniffing eachother because they smell🙄
It’s because their sense of smell is far, far superior to ours.

Every living thing has a smell. Horses smell, fish smell, flowers smell, I smell, you smell.

I was going to say that it’s ridiculous to deny that, but then I realised your sense of smell is probably very poor and you don’t realise what other people can smell.

I can smell if a dog has been in a room, restaurant or any enclosed space.

I’m fond of dogs too, but I agree that not every space needs to be dog-friendly. It’s fair to want places where people can eat or stay without worrying about animals around.

LaCrepescule

Ridiculous comments about how much dogs smell. And the one about them sniffing eachother because they smell🙄
It’s because their sense of smell is far, far superior to ours.

Every living thing has a smell. Horses smell, fish smell, flowers smell, I smell, you smell.

I was going to say that it’s ridiculous to deny that, but then I realised your sense of smell is probably very poor and you don’t realise what other people can smell.

*chips not chis

I have not owned dogs because I knew I would be travelling and living abroad and thought it would not be fair to have a dog and then leave it behind.

I find that despicable, and cannot understand the many dog owners who do that. If you take on an animal abroad, you should be prepared to factor in the many costs - passports, (now AHCs), rabies jabs, chis or tattoos, worming products, transport charges etc - to bring the animal back to your new home. We moved 3 dogs and 4 cats back and forth. It's what you do as a responsible owner, despite it being a right palava.

How sad that people think thoughtless and ignorant dog owners are in the majority. Perhaps its because they only see the dogs in unsuitable places with owners who have failed to train their dogs correctly. Our dogs have never behaved like the ones described on this thread, I've never taken a dog shopping although I have taken it to Pets at home, who has a vets practice, grooming facility and positively encourage dog owners to take their dogs in for socialisation training. I have a dog sitter who lives in when we go on holiday abroad and I do not use kennels (most are not like doggy hotels!). Every single pub I've taken my dog to on walks have dog free areas and often it's dogs outside or not at all. I wouldn't dream of allowing my dog to lick plates etc.
How sad that the benefits of dog ownership haven't been mentioned. Dog owners tend to be fitter, slimmer and live longer with better mental health. Dogs provide love, emotional support and a sense of purpose especially as we get older or live alone. Children who grow up with dogs have been found to have stronger immunity and learn valuable lessons about responsibility and caring for others.
It's dog owners that are the problem not the dogs! Unfortunately people got dogs during COVID who didn't realise that buying a puppy means lots of hard and consistent work if you want to own a well behaved dog without unpleasant habits.

I have not owned dogs because I knew I would be travelling and living abroad and thought it would not be fair to have a dog and then leave it behind. But many of my family did have both dogs and cats and my granny who had a farm, was well known to be very good with dogs and not only had her own ones but would be asked advice by people on their animals and the police would sometimes bring her a dog to look after etc etc., so have been round them all my life.

As you say there are far more dogs around since covid. The problem is that people have got an animal in that time, but have not been able to meet other dog owners and socialize etc and learn by good example how they should be treating their dogs or meeting others with or without a dog.

Fortunately (or unfortunately depending who you are ) I have been a teacher and head of various departments and an eldest, so I mind my own business normally but where I see a problem I speak out. Firstly as others say it is not the dogs but their owners , who really need training. I go to Cafe Nero locally where dogs are allowed and the great majority of dogs and dog owners are very well behaved, so dogs are sat quietly and out of the way of people and staff passing tables. However one day I was there and there was a young women talking to a friend across the table and her small terrier type dog was constantly barking and making a noise. Other dogs who were usually fine were getting restless and you could hardly hear yourself speak if you were in a table close to her. She took no notice at all of the dog, simply ignoring it and talking to her friend. I went across and asked her to take her dog outside, calm it down and then bring it back in. I deliberately stood a little closer to her than you would normally, did not blink and just remained there quietly waiting for an answer. She obviously found that a bit intimidating, glanced round and saw many people looking at her , and muttered oh sorry, took the dog out and did as I suggested, and came back in with a quieter dog. I said thankyou and returned to my seat.

On another occasion I saw a woman pour some tea or coffee into a saucer and prepare to put it on the floor for her dog to use. I immediately said "Please do not put something a human uses for your dog to use. They have dog bowls for water if you want here. She replied that it wouldnt do any harm and it would be being washed up anyway. I told her that if she did use it I would speak to the staff and complain. That what she did in her home was her concern but that in a public place , especially where there were water bowls available for dogs , she should not do it. She huffed but at least did not carry on but got a dog bowl. I said that it was not fair for her to do such a thing as other people might not say anything but may not come back to the cafe if they saw such behaviour.

The worst things I find is not in cafes but the wretched owners who have their dogs on long leads and dont check where they are or shorten them in busy streets etc. I have complained to one local man who wanders down the high street looking in shop windows with no idea where his dog is or checking for the safety of people passing.

I might say that in the cafes etc I have also spoken to noisy children running about too. But I have a couple of tricks that I can do with my hands and also am quite good at making paper ships and aeroplanes ,so can often get them interested in doing something more interesting. When my son was very young I always chose a seat where he was unable to get out without passing me, and usually had a small book or pad with crayons with me to give him something to do. We are not good in this country about taking children out to restaurants, and they then do not learn how to socialise and enjoy meals out. When I lived abroad there was no problem with children being there. Normally they would get a small portion of whatever food was on offer and not be offered the appalling diet of fish fingers or beef burgers etc . so learnt to try many things, and meet lots of people of all ages.

I have occasionally had snappy comments back from dog owners or parents, but in the majority of cases things have improved after I have spoken to people and sometimes they genuinely dont seem to have noticed the effect their pets or children have had on others. I always thank them if they respond sensibly and intend to carry on speaking out when I feel it is necessary.

The cafe owners are in a difficult situation re dogs or no dogs, if they do not have a big enough area to be able to separate the groups and in this difficult time obviously do not want to turn customers away, but yet they will lose customers , when those who do not like dogs or at least dont want dogs disturbing them in the cafe, and it is the responsibilty of the dog owners to be aware of the owners situation and behave in a decent way, and think of others and not just what and how suits them. Just generally trying to look at situations from others point of view instead of just being totally selfish and only concerning yourself with what suits you, is not a lot to ask and there will usually be a middle way if we look for it that everyone can be accommodated if we try