All Dog owners should be aware of these upcoming changes in the law

Person_one

kathrynha wrote: »

I have over the years worked on dealing with my phobia, and I am now ok with well trained dogs that don't run up to strangers barking and jumping up at them.

As a young child I wasn't scared of dogs, but having been attacked by a dog aged 9, while just walking past it, that the owner claimed wouldn't hurt a flea, despite me having a chunk missing from my leg, I developed the phobia, which is a rational one based on my experience.

It isn't something you can treat, and suggesting it is, is blaming the phobia suffering, rather the cause of the phobia, which is irresponsible dog owners.

Phobias can definitely be treated, there are lots of tried and tested approaches. Have you been to see your GP or asked any professionals for advice?

Tygermoth

Quick question. The hound goes into doggy daycare three times a week where he is walked on Natural Trust land with a group of other dogs (off lead free ranging)

How would the law apply here? lets say my dog a happy chappy runs up to a lady with a phobia who is unhappy with this and states 'out of control and fear of being injured'... (no bite or aggressive behaviour)

as i have agreed to off lead walking who would have to take on the ladies claim under the new law? me as the owner or my absolutely fab daycare lady own insurance?

(it should be noted that where they go is actually rather remote so happy free ranging should not be an issue, but just in case...)

seven-day-weekend

Person_one wrote: »

Do you think its fair to expect dogs to go their whole lives never or hardly ever being able to run at full speed? To play unhindered with their owners or with other dogs? To explore and sniff the world around them? Personally, I think that borders on cruelty, unless its necessary for health or safety reasons.

Many many dogs up and down this country go for off lead walks every single day with no harm caused, with hardly any dog-averse people even realising! Dogs have been living alongside us for tens of thousands of years, why have so many turned against them in the last few decades?

Personally I think that if you can't find a place to exercise your dog off-lead without it bothering others or imposing on their space, then that is your problem, no-one else's. Maybe you shouldn't have a dog if this is the case.

Some of the dogs we look after we don't even have to walk in public as they have their own land, or access to fields. The others that live in built-up areas are always walked on-lead unless they can walk to heel without being distracted (this only applies to one nice old lady lurcher).

ali-t

Tygermoth wrote: »

Quick question. The hound goes into doggy daycare three times a week where he is walked on Natural Trust land with a group of other dogs (off lead free ranging)

How would the law apply here? lets say my dog a happy chappy runs up to a lady with a phobia who is unhappy with this and states 'out of control and fear of being injured'... (no bite or aggressive behaviour)

as i have agreed to off lead walking who would have to take on the ladies claim under the new law? me as the owner or my absolutely fab daycare lady own insurance?

(it should be noted that where they go is actually rather remote so happy free ranging should not be an issue, but just in case...)

You are the owner so you would be responsible. If you look back at dog attack reports, most of them are when the dog isn't with its owner. The dog has been left with a relative or someone is looking after the dog in the house. From the high profile cases I am aware of the dog is either left with someone else or there is someone 'different' in the family home. The owner is still held the one responsible.

I would guess that the situation you have outlined would be considered mitigating circumstances but there would still be an outcome for you e.g. Dog training, muzzling, microchipping and the suggestion of a different dog walker.

Person_one

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Personally I think that if you can't find a place to exercise your dog off-lead without it bothering others or imposing on their space, then that is your problem

Eh? Who said anything about them bothering people? What exactly is your definition of 'their space'?

~_Aridjis_~

gettingready wrote: »

So should parents - understand public spaces are for everyone as are buses/tubes etc and not let their screeming/out of control kids bother other people.

Yet we do not say kids can only get on public transport (for example) between 10am and 4pm...

Well, 1) it's not a competition between parents and pet-owners and 2) children, as a general rule, don't get fur everywhere, claw the seats, foul the pathway or bite people

seven-day-weekend

I think it might be a good idea to have designated 'dog-friendly' spaces in parks where the dogs can run free without bothering others who don't want their company. Then everyone is happy.

kwmlondon

ripplyuk wrote: »

Clearly the irresponsible dog owners have ruined it for everyone else. Some people seem to think its fine for their dog to run up to other people because 'They're friendly'. It's not. But this law will likely only punish the responsible dog owners. It will be ignored by the others as I cannot see many people ending up with prison sentences for it considering how the system can't cope as it is.

Should anyone be allowed to keep dogs as pets? If 95% of dog owners are responsible that leaves thousands of potential killers out there. If we think it's okay to give people the option of keeping a dangerous animal that has the potential (often realised) to kill then how come we ban drugs? With illegal drug use it's the individual that runs the risk, yet with dog ownership it is often society that suffers when people are mauled and children killed.

Before anyone gets really angry with me: I'm not actually saying we should ban dog ownership, or even that we should just legalise all drugs.

BUT

Surely we ought to be more consistent in the way we think about what risks society faces versus individual freedom of choice.

Just a thought.

**professor~yaffle**

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I think it might be a good idea to have designated 'dog-friendly' spaces in parks where the dogs can run free without bothering others who don't want their company. Then everyone is happy.

Sounds fair enough. Where I live people can take their dogs on the beach from October till May, but not in the tourist season, presumably because some thoughtless owners don't clear up after their dogs or don't supervise them very well.

kwmlondon

**professor~yaffle** wrote: »

Sounds fair enough. Where I live people can take their dogs on the beach from October till May, but not in the tourist season, presumably because some thoughtless owners don't clear up after their dogs or don't supervise them very well.

I'm not a dog person, but it's rather lovely to see a dogs running like hell-for-leather on an overcast windy day at the beach. They look so happy! It's not fair when you've got a beach full of toddlers and kids to have a lab pelting at full tilt across the sand though so good idea to keep them out when the season's on!