AIBU dogs on beaches

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.

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!

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

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

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!!

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 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.

Well said Maddyone.

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

I always pretend to like them a bit.

When you see where else they lick ? do you really want them slobbering all over you !

In NZ, Auckland, dog access to the beach is restricted, short hours in the Summer and longer in the winter. At all other times dogs must be kept on their lead. It works very well, IMO.

Any poo on beaches or in any other public place is disgusting. Most dog owners pick up the poo and deposit it in public bins. The odd few just let their dogs go anywhere and don’t pick it up or alternatively pick it up in a plastic bag and then leave this on the path, in the bushes or I’ve seen these bags in trees.

I’m not a dog lover but it’s the owners, not the dogs who are at fault. There really are some disgusting people about.

Having said that I don’t like dogs, which I don’t, we will be taking care of our daughter’s dog when she goes on holiday. I’m okay with her dog, and will pat her a bit, and join my husband in taking her for a walk, on a lead, when the weather is fine. I’ll look after her, with my husband, properly and well. She’s a Labrador so has a lovely nature, but I agree to look after for my daughter, I’d be just as happy if she went into kennels, but daughter prefers her to be in a home. I’ve also offered to look after our son’s dog, but he normally asks his in laws, as they love having the dog.
I still don’t like dogs, but I put up with them because I love my children, not the dogs.
I don’t like other people’s dogs and would not touch them.

I have no interest in congregating with other dog owners. I walk my dog, sometimes with a friend, and we walk, we don't stand round chatting. It's exercise for me and for the dog. I pick up my dog's poo, and it goes in the bin. I will say good morning to other dog owners, and anyone else who makes eye-contact. I don't walk my dog when there are families in the beach, I walk her early every day in the hope of avoiding families, bikes, joggers and other dogs.
Do the instances reported here happen every day? Possibly some of them only ever happened once. However every nice weekend from Easter to October, the bins on the prom are overflowing with food, bottles, cans, pizza boxes etc and the mess is strewn all across the path because the gulls love that overflow. Who makes most mess? Who has no thought for others? Think about it.

Indeed .On just one short track into the woods this morning I collected 3 bottles ,4 cans ,several crisp packets,a fast food carton and two face masks.All picked up with a poo bag wrapped around my hand.Can't bear to leave them only to see more stuff in a few days time.

Our Devon beach is a no dog area May - September, though there is a section further along where the dogs can go. We all observe the rules.
During the past few weeks, however, we have had holiday makers with their dogs paying no notice to this, just picnicking and playing on the beach. I have captured several on video when filming the grandchildren, but not much I can do.

Oh gawd...not been on here for a while but see it is still full of grumbling grannies who have nothing better to do than complain about dogs having fun! I absolutely LOVE children AND dogs having fun on the beach.

Not grumbling ValerieF - just asking that people stick to the rules and show consideration for others.

Our “no dogs policy May-Sept” works very well too Ellianne and the regular patrols ensure that the beaches are left pristine . I walk on our beaches regularly all year round .

My dogs love a run on the beach and a paddle in the sea, they are well behaved, don't bother anyone or other dogs. I clean up after them wherever I am and either put it in a bin or take it home with me. My dogs are used to the countryside and a visit to the sea and a run on the beach is just as exciting and enjoyable as it is for a child. We enjoy walking on the beach with them. Let's concentrate on the dogless people who leave their plastic bottles and food wrappers on the beach wherever they sit. They are the culprits here.

I think dogs on leads as a compromise.

The More I Learn About People, The More I Love My Dogs

1st October tomorrow - not been allowed to walk our dogs on our beaches for an extended time this year, so from noon, 17 March until 1st October......one half of a year. We shall be there with leads, a flask and endless poo bags for a truly enjoyable walk next to the Med'. ( Dogs aren't left to run wild because of the risks of them eating rubbish left by humans.)

So looking forward to a return to a normal routine!

Doesn't matter where dogs are allowed to go - it's the owners that are responsible for picking up the poo they leave behind!

I’m a dog owner and love walking my dog on the beach but I,too have a problem with dog owners. Our dog has been attacked by other dogs several times, always when she’s on a lead which she is most of the time. People let their dogs run up to ours which sets her off (she gets over excited and wants to play with them whereas DH and I panic because it brings back the memory of the attacks: it ruins our walk because my heart will still be pounding for a long time afterwards). Their owners seem to have no comprehension that if someone’s dog is on a lead it’s because the owners don’t want it interacting with other dogs. We rarely gat an apology. The beach is clean but the dunes are full of poo (both dog and human). Dog owners should have some sort of code of conduct. It’s wrong that responsible dog owners and their dogs should suffer because of those people that don’t think of others. Don’t know if it’s just me (DH agrees with me though) but I feel the pandemic has brought out the worst in many people and the sort of people walking on our local beach post lockdown seem to have different standard to the ones that used to be there.

Ellianne

I agree that dog poo is disgusting wherever. It doesn't take a lot to bag it up quickly.
On our beaches there are designated dog areas in the summer.

That is the best idea.

Some beaches popular with tourists should be dog free but having a beach allocated for responsible dog owners with families is ideal

I know where you mean, Ellianne. Our family enjoyed time there this summer - they are responsible dog owners and the children had fun with the dog on the one beach.