AIBU dogs on beaches

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Dogs don't belong on beaches! We never take ours to a beach (apartfrom the fact there is no beach close to us. But dogs often just go mad on the beach with the infinite space and water!

There is usually a designated part of the beach, for people with dogs and I must say the majority of dog owners are very responsible, they keep control of their dogs and clear up after them. They take their dogs on holiday with them because they are part of their family. Our dog loved going in the sea and we have lots of happy memories of those times. Why ban them? It's unreasonable.

'whilst I agree the mess left can be horrendous, you can’t catch toxocariasis from it'.
Maybe not, but what about used syringe needles and other such 'delicacies'?

We often go to an all year round dog freindly beach, looks like mostly locals use it as it's not particularly pretty or commercialized, and all the ones I've chatted to say they very much want it to stay dog friendly. There are other nearby beaches which are no dogs. I think it's a fair compromise. I have never seen dog poo left on this particular beach, everyone is very careful to clear up. If it was a busy family beach I guess restrictions like a limit to part of the beach is fair enough, or time of day restrictions, but poo could still remain on the beach above the tide line if it's not cleared away. Unfortunately there are always a few people who will spoil a reasonable arrangement though, not train or supervise their dogs properly. I'd support large fines for not clearing up after dogs and other antisocial behaviour. I worry that many people have purchased dogs and little puppies during lockdown and will now have to think about how to manage them once back to their jobs and long hours out of the house. Perhaps owning dogs could be made more difficult, not by banning them but by making more effort to ensure they are cared for responsibly and dog licencing.

The village we go to has a blue flag beach. The central area -where most people congregate - is dog free in the summer season. But a short walk in either direction and there are areas where dogs are allowed. Tbh we prefer those quieter areas anyway and have not seen dog poo but are only walking along and not digging!!

Where I live dogs are only allowed on a certain part of the beach and nearly everyone keeps to this so it works well , also they have quite a few dog poo bins along that stretch

If you are responsible they is no reason for dogs not been on the beach.My dog is part of my family.We always go to dog friendly beaches always clear up any mess and take a windbreaker for shade and water.I don't see why my dog shouldn't enjoy the sea as well

If only all dog owners took any notice of bans! There are rules in this respect at my local beaches but from what I see, many dog owners don't take a blind bit of notice. If beaches aren't patrolled and rules enforced, I fear there will always be some fouling.

Exactly Jess20. My favourite beach is a dog beach. I like it because it's very remote. This is also why it's a dog beach, so far away from most beach goers. I've never seen any poo despite the fact that professional dog walkers with 4 or 5 dogs ? use it.

Froglady

At Sandown on the Isle of Wight there is a ban on dogs on the beach during certain months - I was on the beach there last year and saw this large dog being sent onto the beach by woman with it. After it had done a large pile of poo she called and it trotted off the beach to her. I was too far away to ask the woman to clean up the poo; disgusting and I think it was a regular insurance.

That was supposed to read occurrence not insurance! Predictive text, I hate it.

Hi all it’s not the dogs that are a problem it’s the irresponsible owners and Generally irresponsible people it’s not dogs that leave broken glass, nappies, face masks and their rubbish every were because they are to lazy, stupid or both to dispose of properly.
Yes I am a dog owner but a responsible one who has the health of my dog and our environment and my fellow humans at the foremost. I would never dream of taking my dog to a packed beach especially in hot weather he would hate it. But all of our dogs have loved the beach and the sea and it is fabulous for them to be able to run around and for us to enjoy that environment with them. I have many many happy memories of time on beaches with our dogs. It’s not fair to punish the majority of us because of the stupidity of some.
I hate littering of any kind and on many occasions I’ve challenged people about this and that includes irresponsible dog owners.
It’s a shame that commonsense has gone out of the window. At some beaches in the UK they are big enough that there are areas where dogs are not allowed and then areas that they are.
I can’t wait to take our new rescue dog onto the beach but I will wait until the weather is cooler and there are less idiots on the beach, give me a sensible dog owner and well-trained dog rather than stupid people on the beach any day!

I am in no way suggesting that people that have commented on this thread are stupid. I completely agree dog poo on beaches is not acceptable.
Have a great day everybody

I live next to a beach which allows dogs all year round. Most people clear up but a significant minority don’t despite the notices and lots of dog bins. Funnily enough it is much worse in the winter and was dreadful during the lockdown - clearly some people only have a social conscience if there are others about. Someone flung a bag over the hedge into our garden last week despite there being a bin directly opposite. My other pet hate is trying to play ball games with my grandchildren on the beach with dogs rushing over and taking the ball. The dogs won’t go back to their owners who keep shouting “he won’t hurt them”. My daughter was bitten by a dog on the beach as she went for a run!

I read IOM to mean Isle of Man

With you there oopsminty... give me dogs on a beach any day... humans leave more crap than dogs do..ps I clean up after my dog ?

We have designated places on our beaches where we can walk our dogs. You go onto it a lot further down than where families normally go. We all should be allowed on them as long as dog owners clear up the dogs mess, disgusting leaving it anywhere never mind the beach, and families clear up their plastic rubbish left from picnics etc that go into our seas.

I agree with your post 100%. To own a dog you should have to buy a licence. Older people and those with impairments could be exempt.
If the laws were tightened it would only take a few to be heavily fined and that might stop irresponsible dog owners.
I can see that a dog is a great companion and I can admire a lovely dog but I don't want poo to spoil my day or others.

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.

I think YABU for well behaved dog owners but entirely reasonable towards the irresponsible owners. Unfortunately, even a curfew doesn't remove dog poo. I am a dog owner and I get really mad about people not clearing up after themselves, not controlling their animals and thinking everybody else should automatically love their dogs. I feel the same way about horse owners who are allowed to exercise their horses on our local beach but feel they don't need to clear up their droppings. It is disgusting.

Dogs are not allowed on the beach near(ish) the town at any time in summer which is ridiculous. There's no reason why dogs shouldn't be there eg 8pm-8am. Many seaside towns have an older demographic than inland, and having to walk half a mile along the front (and half a mile back) before the dog can be taken off the lead is very tiring for some of us older folk.
We walk our dogs every day, fair weather or foul. In normal times, we pick up holiday-maker rubbish off the beach. We pick up glass and cans off the prom. In 4+ years of walking the beach, I don't remember seeing dog poo on the actual beach.
When the tide is high, there are few places to let the dog have a run. Local parks are really just a small green space. Alternatively I can get in my car, and drive a few miles... (not environmentally friendly)

I am a dog lover and owner. We have miles and miles of beautiful empty sandy beach in the North East. There are a few beaches where dogs shouldnt be between May and Sept which I don’t have a problem with. However this year dogs aside it has dreadful with human poo!! It is disgusting in the dunes and on the beach. No effort to cover it over also masses of used toilet paper strewn everywhere. Broken glass, used bbq, tinfoil, plastic containers. I despair sometimes.

Oldbat1

I am a dog lover and owner. We have miles and miles of beautiful empty sandy beach in the North East. There are a few beaches where dogs shouldnt be between May and Sept which I don’t have a problem with. However this year dogs aside it has dreadful with human poo!! It is disgusting in the dunes and on the beach. No effort to cover it over also masses of used toilet paper strewn everywhere. Broken glass, used bbq, tinfoil, plastic containers. I despair sometimes.

Same here in the NW.

We have scores of volunteers every evening as a they've had to deal with many a human poo. Sometimes in a cardboard box Other times wrapped in baby wrap. Lots of litter of all sorts.

So give me a beach filled with lovely dogs please

Aberdeen beach has a clearly designated dog free area. You can take dogs on the remainder of the beach. It is well used by dog walkers most of which are responsible for picking up poo.

A lot more broken glass than I've ever seen before

I live in Devon. We pay the highest water rates in the country to maintain the excellent water quality of our coast, and extremely high council tax towards keeping the beaches clean for the benefit of the tourist industry. All well and good. We welcome our summer visitors. I do feel it is a bit unfair then, that local people who have dogs are excluded from the beaches we pay to keep clean. All mess should be cleared up, obviously, whatever species makes it.