Dogs everywhere

^It’s gone too far.
I agree. In general, I like dogs and have had lovely dogs of our own and our DC also own dogs.

However, they are just that - dogs and owners should realise that and respect that they should not expect their dogs to be welcome everywhere, annoying other people, licking their owners plates in cafés 🤮, in shops etc..

sodapop

As Calendargirl said this topic has been discussed many times on GN. I don't like the current trend of taking your dog everywhere you go. I often see dogs at fetes and brocantes where it is crowded and often hot being towed around by their owners. The dogs do not look comfortable and it's unnecessary in my opinion. My two dogs are taken for a walk before we go out to any event like that and then left safely at home. I don't get stressed and they are more comfortable. Certainly never take them to restaurants etc. I'm not sure where this trend came from to always have your dog with you, is it a post Covid thing? Seems the owners suffer from separation anxiety rather than the dogs.

We were in London’s Borough Market which was absolutely heaving with visitors, including lots of very miserable dogs, all in constant danger of being stepped on. One young stall holder admired and petted one of them and complimented the owner on having such a lovely dog. Then went on to tell him how much happier the dog would be running round in a local park or settled down in his basket at home for a couple of hours. She was so right. We never felt the need to drag our dogs around busy places like that.

I agree…..with the exception of therapy dogs of course!
But why is it, people will stop and chat in the pavement's/footpaths to other dog owners, taking up all the space and expect other pedestrians to struggle to get past without tripping over bloody dogs???? And don’t get me started on those wretched extendable dog leads!

What stikes me is that people prefer dogs to people and dogs prefer people to other dogs!

So people can't be that bad if dogs really like them?

Oreo

ViceVersa

M0nica

i am very uneasy with the ides of preferring dogs to children on the basis that dogs give them unconditional love. To me it shows a lack of self respect. It suggests someone feels inadequate and unable to deal with real people with faults and foibles just like them and wants to retreat to a world where they only have to talk to people who agree with them.

Sounds very dull.

Oh, I laughed so much at this - so far from the truth that I can't even begin to explain it. I've spent my entire working life dealing with 'real people' from all walks of life and have absolutely no problem with that - I love a good debate with those who have different views or perspectives. Children do tend to bore me rigid, however.
But again, when push comes to shove, I would choose my dog over almost any other human on the planet. And threads like this only serve to reinforce that view.

Dogs can be a joy, or a bit of a nightmare, even to their adoring owners.
There’s nothing in life that compares with having children and until you have your own child you can’t understand how wonderful it is.
Threads like this serve to reinforce my view.

'There’s nothing in life that compares with having children and until you have your own child you can’t understand how wonderful it is.'

So, you are saying that anyone who does not have a child is missing out big time. I beg to differ. Not everyone likes children or babies. I find the endless discussions amongst young parents about how wonderful there children are monotonous and then the granny bores who talk about nothing else and validate their lives through their children and grandchildren. The world is full of the most marvellous opportunities and wonderful places to visit and things to do. Children are not the be all and end all of a successful life and happy life.


'

As Calendargirl said this topic has been discussed many times on GN. I don't like the current trend of taking your dog everywhere you go. I often see dogs at fetes and brocantes where it is crowded and often hot being towed around by their owners. The dogs do not look comfortable and it's unnecessary in my opinion. My two dogs are taken for a walk before we go out to any event like that and then left safely at home. I don't get stressed and they are more comfortable. Certainly never take them to restaurants etc. I'm not sure where this trend came from to always have your dog with you, is it a post Covid thing? Seems the owners suffer from separation anxiety rather than the dogs.

Oreo

ViceVersa

M0nica

i am very uneasy with the ides of preferring dogs to children on the basis that dogs give them unconditional love. To me it shows a lack of self respect. It suggests someone feels inadequate and unable to deal with real people with faults and foibles just like them and wants to retreat to a world where they only have to talk to people who agree with them.

Sounds very dull.

Oh, I laughed so much at this - so far from the truth that I can't even begin to explain it. I've spent my entire working life dealing with 'real people' from all walks of life and have absolutely no problem with that - I love a good debate with those who have different views or perspectives. Children do tend to bore me rigid, however.
But again, when push comes to shove, I would choose my dog over almost any other human on the planet. And threads like this only serve to reinforce that view.

Dogs can be a joy, or a bit of a nightmare, even to their adoring owners.
There’s nothing in life that compares with having children and until you have your own child you can’t understand how wonderful it is.
Threads like this serve to reinforce my view.

I do have children - and grandchildren - who I love with all my heart, but that didn't change my view on dogs in the slightest. And I make no apologies for that.

When booking a recent trip to Vienna we were unable to find a hotel that wasn’t dog friendly. Apparently it’s the norm in Austria.

Some birds fly hundreds of miles to spend winter in the UK. On our local beach dogs often chase them when they are trying to feed. The birds can then become exhausted.
It’s the same when dogs swim in rivers. We were lucky enough to witness a Kingfisher feeding its young on the riverbank until a huge dog jumped in.

Our local country parks have brought in a ruling of “dogs must be on leads” because of the number of accidents and injuries (some serious) that uncontrolled dogs have caused by threatening behaviours or even friendly ones - like jumping up.

They also caused a number of deaths last year of nesting birds, especially the wild fowl, which I think was the final straw.

Not that it’s solved the problem because the dogs are now on long leads but still allowed to behave in the same way.

I can see that soon the parks will have to fence off a section for dogs and their owners, as in the town park.
It’s a loss to dogs and their owners, not being able to have a good run and explore but one that they have brought on themselves

Incidentally I watched a magnificent display of dog training on the open field of one park. Two collies obedient to every word and signal. It was a real pleasure to watch.

ViceVersa

M0nica

i am very uneasy with the ides of preferring dogs to children on the basis that dogs give them unconditional love. To me it shows a lack of self respect. It suggests someone feels inadequate and unable to deal with real people with faults and foibles just like them and wants to retreat to a world where they only have to talk to people who agree with them.

Sounds very dull.

Oh, I laughed so much at this - so far from the truth that I can't even begin to explain it. I've spent my entire working life dealing with 'real people' from all walks of life and have absolutely no problem with that - I love a good debate with those who have different views or perspectives. Children do tend to bore me rigid, however.
But again, when push comes to shove, I would choose my dog over almost any other human on the planet. And threads like this only serve to reinforce that view.

Dogs can be a joy, or a bit of a nightmare, even to their adoring owners.
There’s nothing in life that compares with having children and until you have your own child you can’t understand how wonderful it is.
Threads like this serve to reinforce my view.

Witzend I was walking up our road one day and a young girl was coming towards me with a Rottweiler that she couldn't control. As I passed it leapt at me sinking it's teeth into my sleeve (thankfully not my skin). It was terrifying. Another occasion I walked past a woman with a Labrador on a lead. It leapt up and put both paws ony chest. It was a wet day and I was wearing a white jacket. My jacket was left muddy with a tear in it from the dog's claws. No apology from the woman. Just a 'Oh you are naughty to the dog'.

There have been other instances, one of which involved the police being called. I have related these incidents on GN before and been accused of making them up as no one could be that unlucky.

I'm very wary of dogs and yes, it's got ridiculous now. They are absolutely everywhere and it's beyond reasonable. Not much more I can say except around our way dog business left in our streets has also increased.

I do like dogs although I choose not to have one. I do dislike seeing them in certain places such as department stores and really can’t understand why this is allowed. When shopping for Christmas presents I encountered a large number of dogs in a very crowded John Lewis and also in another department store where they were even in the food hall! I think dog owners should exercise their dogs in a suitable area and then leave them at home when going shopping.
As for children please remember that they are adults in training and, like puppies, will hopefully become calmer and better behaved in the future.

The problem is definitely the owners, not the dogs, we used to like to walk in a local park but it has narrow paths and is difficult for my disabled husband at the best of times, though he has a quad stick and I hold his other arm, but on several occasions large dogs off the leash have bounded up throwing my husband off balance and we have ended up having to walk on grassy muddy areas where there is uneven ground.
Now we no longer go because of the risk of a fall.

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!

Looking at the trends, the dog population has been growing steadily since 2011 when it was 8.2 million dogs, to 10.6 million in 2024, although 2024 is not statistically significantly different from 2023.

The proportion of UK adults owning a dog has also increased over time from 23% in 2011 to 28% in 2024. This proportion did not change between 2019 and 2021 (26%) but increased to 27% in 2022 and again to 29% in 2023. The 2024 figure is not statistically significantly different from either 2023 or 2022.

I see no reference here to Boris. 2011 was when the figures started rising.

I actively prefer pubs that allow dogs, and have never experienced any problem. I don’t understand how people so often seem to have dogs jumping up at them. I walk most days in a huge park that’s very popular with dog walkers, and except for the ‘deer birthing season’, as they like to call it, many will be off the lead. During more years than I care to remember, I have hardly ever had a dog jump up at me.

Do you all keep sausages in your pockets, or what?

Cossy

Ooops Groomers! Please please can we have an edit button

If you use the ‘preview message’ you can amend things before posting.

If people want to take their dogs on holiday they should book self catering, dog friendly, accommodation not hotels
We always do this if we can. We pay an additional cleaning charge per pet and I have to say the properties are spotless. Only one by a river had a bit of a wet dog smell.
My dogs travel by ferry for 7- 8 hours so we often have to stay in a hotel near the port too. The dogs accompany us to a restaurant or bar on those occasions.

I don’t love or hate dogs. There are some lovely ones and some horrible vicious ones (just like people) but they are animals and should be treated as such, as much for their own sakes as for ours.
If people want to take their dogs on holiday they should book self catering, dog friendly, accommodation not hotels- I don’t want to sleep in a bed that a dog might have laid on.

Yes dogs have always been allowed in bars which is fine by me but they definitely should not be allowed in restaurants or shops. As another poster said the only places dogs should go are open spaces and their own homes.
And what about people carrying little dogs everywhere. The poor things will lose the use of their legs! A dogs whole world revolves around sniffing out where other dogs have been and they can’t do that if they are being carried everywhere!

Having said all that I think dogs can be wonderful animals if properly trained and treated like dogs. I sponsor a guide dog for my DGD and I think that they and other working dogs are wonderful and a great benefit to mankind.

As for unruly children, like dogs it is the minority who give the rest a bad name. My DD and now my DGD were never allowed to run about in restaurants. We always take a puzzle book or similar and she is happy to sit quietly while waiting for her food to arrive as I’m sure that many other parents/grandparents do.

I agree Monica. Uneasy. Someone said to me recently 'I think cruelty to animals is worse than cruelty to children. Children and fight back or tell someone.' I was gobsmacked. Tell that to all the children who are beaten, abused or murdered each year. Perhaps they should have told someone. Unbelievable. Cruelty to any living creature is unacceptable but really?

Far too many dogs since covid. I can no longer enjoy my walk due to them everywhere.

Me too. Can't bear it. It should be possible to go into a shop/restaurant/cafe without having to run the gauntlet of assorted dogs of varying temperament and size.

They should simply not be permitted in eating places or food stores.

Some of my friends have dogs and they never allow them to be a nuisance to me or to others. This is because they are civilized people with good manners who understand that a dog is a dog and not a human being.

M0nica

i am very uneasy with the ides of preferring dogs to children on the basis that dogs give them unconditional love. To me it shows a lack of self respect. It suggests someone feels inadequate and unable to deal with real people with faults and foibles just like them and wants to retreat to a world where they only have to talk to people who agree with them.

Sounds very dull.

Oh, I laughed so much at this - so far from the truth that I can't even begin to explain it. I've spent my entire working life dealing with 'real people' from all walks of life and have absolutely no problem with that - I love a good debate with those who have different views or perspectives. Children do tend to bore me rigid, however.
But again, when push comes to shove, I would choose my dog over almost any other human on the planet. And threads like this only serve to reinforce that view.

Kate1949

Where are all these feral children people seem to see? We go to pubs and restaurants a lot and rarely encounter them. Comparing dogs to children is ridiculous.

I was just about to ask the same question, Kate1949. Fortunately in all my years, some of them living in tourist areas, I’ve never come across these hordes of screaming, obnoxious, feral kids. Perhaps I’ve just been very, very lucky.

I have encountered screaming babies though, which one poster complained about. Invariably with a very harassed parent desperately trying to calm them. We’ve all been there, haven’t we? If not as the parent, certainly as the baby.