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Hi folks,

I also have a Jack Russell,he's 4 and a "typical" Jack, PLUS he's a rescue case with a few unusual quirks (v v frightened of men with white hair and black trousers..)

So as a responsible dog owner, we don't take him camping as we know he's not going to take to all the noises, movement, etc etc.  He stops with "his grandma's" (my mom and MIL) while we are away. (and is spoilt rotten!!)

I have to say I agree with parts of what all have you have said, but the overall thing is knowing your pet well and being considerate to others. 

Quote: Originally posted by rexgrant on 15/3/2008

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Hi fran.
Do I get the impression that you like dogs,
Rex

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Best things in the world, Rex, especially my two.

I love all animals (even birds, although I'm phobic about them), but dogs are very special imo. They're good for your health you know.

I think it's a shame that the small proportion of dog owners who behave irresponsibly can generate such a huge swell of anti-dog feeling.

Quote: Originally posted by msty29368 on 15/3/2008

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The trouble is in my opinion that some people forget that dogs are just animals , nothing more , nothing less. When you start saying ' should they be only allowed on certain sites, kept tethered etc' they take it as personally as someone saying to me that my children should be tethered.  I believe there is a place for everything on a campsite BUT everything has to know its place.

We can all get along but please dont give me the argument that if my children have the right to play where they want then your dog can walk freely where it wants ( as someone did on a site last year) because it cant, we are the humans, they are animals . Yes I know some owners love their pets like children etc etc but they aint children.

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I think the problems caused by both children and dogs are very similar though.

People object to dogs barking, especially late at night/early morning. Children (especially very young ones) often cry a lot at those times and disturb other campers.

Some people let their dogs roam free and pester other campers. Some people let their children do just the same (and they pester other campers' dogs too!). Some parents and dog owners will occasionally let their respective charges be totally out of control, cause damage and endanger themselves and others.

Some people allow their dogs to foul campsites. Some people allow their children to leave showers, toilets etc in a disgusting state and drop litter everywhere.

I think there are a lot of parallels and the effects of inadequate supervision and control of both dogs and children on other campers are very similar. It's just a lot easier to control dogs!

 

The problem I have with dogs on campsites is that I am scared stiff of them. Has not made life as  a GP easy but I manage. However coming across Alsatians on a campsite unexpectedly is less easy to deal with. I would from choice pick a site where dogs aren't allowed purely because of my phobia.

If you are expected to pay for a dog on a site then there should be facilities for the dog - poop scoop bins, places for them to walk, water around the site and there should be rules for dog and owner to follow - if a dog is too noisy or not under control then the family should have to leave. Same with kids - too noisy, not under control - off you go. I don't think people should have to suffer too much from my children and I don't think they should from dogs either. I don't think dog owners should suffer for having dogs on site but an area without dogs and kids sounds like a good idea. When my kids are older I would love to be able to get away from screaming fighting kids and dogs too!

On a different note the thing I find really difficult with dog owners is when I am bounced by a dog and people tell me he is just being friendly and make no attempt to move the dog away - I am stuck frozen with fear and no matter what you tell me the dog doesn't seem unthreatening at all. They all have big sharp pointy teeth from where I'm standing!

We chose to go camping so that we cant take our dog with us, he to needs a holiday, however we are very strict when it comes down to responsiblty looking after our dog on campsite. Our dog is also tied back behind our wind breaks not 50 yards away for our unit.He is a very very friendly dog and plays with anyone !!!

Quote: Originally posted by Portia Hussey on 17/3/2008

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On a different note the thing I find really difficult with dog owners is when I am bounced by a dog and people tell me he is just being friendly and make no attempt to move the dog away - I am stuck frozen with fear and no matter what you tell me the dog doesn't seem unthreatening at all. They all have big sharp pointy teeth from where I'm standing!

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As a phobic, I fully empathise with this. If I see someone who is obviously scared of dogs (there's a family down our road where the dad and 2 youngest kids are very scared, even of my little ones), I always keep the dogs on a very short lead and give them the widest possible berth, even if it means walking in the road. When this man is at the bus stop, we actually cross over and back again so we don't have to walk past him.

My sister-in-law is very scared of dogs, and she is a district nurse in a rural area where patients often have dogs running free. She was once trapped in her car by a giant schnauzer, and had to ring a colleague to come and rescue her.  The trust are paying for her to have therapy for her fear, perhaps you should refer yourself!

I'm secretly hoping hers won't work, mind, she'll only start visiting once she's not scared of the dogs and I don't want that!