I Have Never Been So Embarrassed By My Dog Options

[Mezzo1974]

I really like dogs and am not scared of them a bit (sorry rosfrog, I still love cats though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)), still the unreasonable behaviour of our neighbours made me steam. I had started a thread on this a while back:

http://www.abrsm.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=38425&hl=

If you own a dog, you have a responsibility - for both the dog's and the people around you sakes. If we find dog p'oo acceptable in a bin or under a bush is not so much the question - if we insist on not telling dog owners how to live their lives, then the reverse should also be the case: I find in unacceptable if the neighbours' dog fouls our communal garden because they are too lazy or busy to walk it. They are then also forcing their way of life on me. If the dog howls all day because it suffers (!) from separation anxiety, they also force their way of life on me.
It's not 'love me, love my dog'. I don't have to love the dog or the neighbours (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

The problem is sort of solved now - all neighbours told them off one Sunday morning (you should have seen their faces when 6 or so people were standing in front of their door) - at least the 'crappy business' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

The howling is a bit better because the dog seems to adjust a bit now, and they probably also made an effort to take it out a bit more often. Shame is just that one person saying it has done nothing - they had to feel slightly intimidated (no, we didn't beat them up (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) ) by half of the block first, and that's really annoying. One opinion doesn't count, it's exactly this: "Don't tell me how to live my life"-thing again.

I think a bit of mutual respect always helps, but it obviously doesn't just work one way. Again: This is no rant towards the responsible dog owners out there, but there are sadly also a lot who are not responsible. And that's, first of all, a problem for the dog, which evetually turns into a problem for other people ...

[rosfrog]

.....don't appreciate haughty comments such as 'dogs should be kept outside' - my usual response to that is 'I don't recall asking you for your opinion on how to run my home'. I don't know why some non dog-lovers think it's ok to give their opnion constantly to dog owners - but it's not.

My comment which you've picked up on here was certainly not intended to be "haughty". I wouldn't dream of telling anyone how to run their home. In context it was intended to point out how unhygienic I found it when some people we know keep their dog in the kitchen. I've done several parasitology courses as part of my degree, and I was speaking from the hygiene point of view.

I wasn't picking up on your comment Susie - which I didn't find haughty actually as you didn't direct it at anyone in particular - just relating my own experience !

I have to say that a dog on the floor in the kitchen doesn't appear less hygienic to me than a dirty handed child touching things on the counter top, though. Especially if said dog is cared for properly by his owners.

[Banjogirl]

I think it's the (sadly) quite high proportion of irresponsible or love-blinded dog owners which can make non-dog owners so anti-dog. I have to say that I have rarely seen a dog which when called by its owner actually responded. I know there are lots of responsible dog owners but the ones who come to people's attention are the ones with howling dogs (a friend's dogs did this all day and her response was to wonder what her neighbours expected when the dogs were confined to their small garden! The lack of space being unfair to the dogs, and it being her fault, didn't seem to occur to her), the ones who leave dog muck everywhere (and it really isn't reasonable to expect children, or anyone in the dark, to see dog muck or even have to always look at the ground when walking in case there is some) and the ones with disobedient dogs who tell you their dog won't hurt you (how do they know it's not going to be the first time?) when it's already scared your toddler and won't come when its called.

I do actually like dogs but I'm saddened by the way a lot are treated and there are a lot of owners who think everyone should like their pet as much as they do. I'm delighted that people enjoy having dogs as long as the dog has a proper doggy life, but I'm not delighted to have to watch my every step and for my child to be afraid to go to his friend's house because of the big, barking, neglected dog he has to pass on the way.

I agree a child's dirty hands are just as bad as a dog, but I can't see that a person has to choose between one or the other! And I know dog owners think I'm a bit weird for not wanting THEIR dog's bare bottom on MY carpet, and I don't like being thought weird for not wanting muck and parasites on my carpet.

Why do my posts always turn into rants?! I like dogs. But I don't want them spoiling my life and unfortunately there are lots of dog owners who aren't responsible. And then people feel understandably cross and probably unreasonable.