Would you consider that large and medium-sized dogs should be phased out?

I dislike dogs intensely. I am disgusted when I see them doing their business on the beach or on grass verges. Even if the owner picks it up there is still a residue. Everywhere I go there seem to be dogs and many people aren't content with just one. The whole pet trade needs to be regulated. And I agree with whoever said there are too many people and too many dogs.

He’s gorgeous Blondiescot. Reminds me of a Sandringhan Labrador I saw years ago with that beautiful solid head. When I was in my late teens my landlord had a black Labrador called Rufus and I’ve loved them ever since but I don’t exercise my dogs enough to have a Labrador so have never had one.

There are too many dog around and these days they have to be on a lead all the time. They are great on farms working as sheepdogs and also as seeing eye dogs etc but if you live in a flat and have no backyard then to own an energetic dog is quite cruel.

Skydancer

I dislike dogs intensely. I am disgusted when I see them doing their business on the beach or on grass verges. Even if the owner picks it up there is still a residue. Everywhere I go there seem to be dogs and many people aren't content with just one. The whole pet trade needs to be regulated. And I agree with whoever said there are too many people and too many dogs.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion of course, but your attitude reminds me why I prefer dogs to most people.

Presumably only dog haters would ever support such a measure.

In general I’ve always preferred large or medium dogs - little ones are more often inclined to be snappy. Friends of ours had two flatcoat retrievers - dogs with really lovely natures - plus a little white Westie.

Children were often attracted to the ‘cute’ little white one, rather than the two big black ones - but the Westie was a snappy little bugger, , they couldn’t trust him anywhere near children, or any strangers, come to that. The two flatcoats OTOH adored children and everybody else!

Having said that, neighbours had two Yorkshire terriers, which I’d always thought of as snappy, but they were sweet, very good natured little dogs.

I'd rather phase out the human race, which is solely responsible for the destruction of the planet

Presumably only dog haters would ever support such a measure.

What measure? It’s simply a suggestion that people might possibly consider going for smaller dogs over larger ones when they choose a pet in the future. In an effort to limit their impact on the world’s resources.

I’d consider that. Now please explain - how does that make me a dog hater?

The OP’s wording (‘should be phased out’) indicated a suggested legal measure, to me anyway, Maggiemaybe, not a personal choice.

The OP’s wording comes directly from a newspaper report, probably intended to stir up a bit of outrage. It’s easy enough to google what Howell actually said (basically what I summarised).

www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/medium-large-sized-dogs-should-25908524

He said scale down, the newspaper decided this meant phase out.

This is the silliest post I have ever read.

Note the apology at the bottom of the article.

A previous headline of this article reported that Cllr Howell called for medium and large-sized dogs to be banned. In fact, he did not call for a ban, but said pet owners should consider ‘scaling down’ and getting smaller dogs in the future. The article has been amended accordingly to reflect this, and we are happy to clarify this.

I’m starting to feel like Mark Howell’s cheerleader. I’m not, I just can’t stand the way our great British press twists things to suit their own agenda.

He’s got an appropriate name though, hasn’t he?

I am not against dogs, large working ones are a necessity. When I was young we always had a dog and a cat etc. and I believe they are good for everyone’s physical and mental health.

I don’t like pets being kept in cages which seems a fashionable thing these days, they aren’t toys to be shoved away. As children we were taught to leave the dog in peace when they were in their bed. I also don’t like the fact dogs are left alone for eight hours a day while their owners are working, seems very cruel and owners that don’t teach their dogs to walk to heel on a pavement or don’t teach their dogs to return in a park, I just don’t understand. They are dangerous people. .

Visiting Bailey, many years ago, there were many free dogs however, I was told they weren’t fed on meat as it was too expensive and when I lived in China, in the early 90s, pets were not allowed out in daylight hours, even in your own back garden. China didn’t have enough food for its population until later.

There are too many stray dogs in the world and I don’t understand why animal charities don’t spend enough money paying for vets to neuter male dogs free of charge, especially in those countries where charity dogs are imported. We get them imported into France

I currently live with a small spanieland the biggest year old lab I’ve ever seen. Plus my daughter’s middle sized dog, who arrives when her owner is working late…….

I hope you have a big house and garden Iam, you must have your hands full when all 3 are together.

We have a little toy poodle, and he is small and a small cockerpoo. I love all dogs whatever their size but prefer small ones so I can pick them up and cuddle them.

Iam64

I currently live with a small spanieland the biggest year old lab I’ve ever seen. Plus my daughter’s middle sized dog, who arrives when her owner is working late…….

That's funny Iam64, our daughter's dog lives here occasionally too. I think I'm seeing double and never know who is who even though hers is years older.

Skydancer

I dislike dogs intensely. I am disgusted when I see them doing their business on the beach or on grass verges. Even if the owner picks it up there is still a residue. Everywhere I go there seem to be dogs and many people aren't content with just one. The whole pet trade needs to be regulated. And I agree with whoever said there are too many people and too many dogs.

And this is precisely why I prefer dogs to people...

Germanshepherdsmum

Skydancer

I dislike dogs intensely. I am disgusted when I see them doing their business on the beach or on grass verges. Even if the owner picks it up there is still a residue. Everywhere I go there seem to be dogs and many people aren't content with just one. The whole pet trade needs to be regulated. And I agree with whoever said there are too many people and too many dogs.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion of course, but your attitude reminds me why I prefer dogs to most people.

Skydancer made some valid points. It's just that dog lovers are blind to their faults. It is horrible for the rest of us having to put up with stinking dog poo deposited everywhere, even hanging on trees. Imagine if it were human poo, outrage! But we have to accept it because it belongs to dogs. Totally unfair.
Apart from that, those of us with young children are scared to walk in the park because of dogs running loose. I was terrified my little grandchildren would be knocked over and hurt by some excited dog jumping on them. They run very fast and appear very suddenly so you are forever on the lookout and can't enjoy a trip to the park.
I know what you will say....bad owners blah blah. But it's not the owners doing the poo and leaping on toddlers, it's the dogs, and they are everywhere.

Responsible dog owners are just as annoyed by people who leave their dog's poo and don't pick it up, or who bag it and don't bin it. That doesn't mean you can tar us all with the same brush! And if you make a big fuss over dogs in a park, all you are going to do is make your children (or grandchildren) afraid of them. And it is the owners' fault - so maybe you should be taking your anger out on them and not the poor animals.

Blondiescot

Responsible dog owners are just as annoyed by people who leave their dog's poo and don't pick it up, or who bag it and don't bin it. That doesn't mean you can tar us all with the same brush! And if you make a big fuss over dogs in a park, all you are going to do is make your children (or grandchildren) afraid of them. And it is the owners' fault - so maybe you should be taking your anger out on them and not the poor animals.

I am already ware of what you say. I'm not tarring you all with the same brush, I'm pointing out the problem. I am not making a fuss over dogs in a park, but have to watch out all the time because they come racing up excitedly with no warning and jump on the child. It's horrible. So how many dog owners on this thread will admit they let their dogs run loose in the park so they go racing around chasing squirrels and toddlers?

I don’t let my dog off the lead anywhere there are other people.

I had a dog who was very excitable and jumped up when on walks. Bring him into the school playground though and he was as gentle and as calm as a lamb, and that was with shrieky 3 - 11 year olds! (I wish he had flattened a few of the parents though!)

Ridiculous post. My clear answer is NO.

Germanshepherdsmum

I don’t let my dog off the lead anywhere there are other people.

neither do I because she is a rescue and quite bonkers despite extensive training <sigh> luckily she has an owner who has some clue what she is doing but she still sometimes out smarts me! (she out smarts the men in my house all the time though)