Heard On The Radio Today ...

[Souff]

Souff was driving along happily today and voila, there was the sound of Dr Peter Higgins from Dogs NSW coming through Souff's car radio speakers.

Talking about how Australia is behind the times, well behind Europe anyway, and that more restaurants should let dogs eat in their restaurants. Being fed food by hand from their owners.

Yo go boy Pete, this is good stuff, says Souff.

Next thing Souff hears him say "Dogs dont use utensils" !!!

After almost running into the boot of another car because of laughter, Souff suddenly realised the seriousness of the matter.

You know what, once people said that dogs didnt wear pyjamas. And they said that dogs didnt wear nail polish and jewellery. Well all that has changed hasnt it now .....

Hey Dr Pete, watch this space, there will be somebody out there dreaming up what sort of doggy cutlery they can make their dogs use soon.

No kiddin'. This is a very real prediction!

There is another small problem. Souff has a dog that would go from table to table, begging to be hand fed by the other diners. He is very good at it, is well practiced and has big brown bootiful pleading eyes that just make any person who is eating feel like a criminal.

Souff

Edited July 26, 2010 by Souff

[Lyla]

Ooooohh, a market niche yet to be explored!

You'll have some minds ticking...

[Greytmate]

Coconut uses her long white legs as cutlery when she eats a bone. I have to wash her legs very time she eats one, as they end up all meaty and sticky from top to bottom.

Maybe somebody could invent a bone holding device so that Coco can recline in her bed with her bone, without having to use her front legs to grip hold of it. Without opposable thumbs, dogs could do with a utensil like that to help them out.

[Frostypaws]

Doggy-friendly cafes are a brilliant idea, especially ones bordering on open parklands and dog beaches. It would add a new dimension to socialising, and I would imagine that there exists a very fertile market for well-run businesses.

[Souff]

Coconut uses her long white legs as cutlery when she eats a bone. I have to wash her legs very time she eats one, as they end up all meaty and sticky from top to bottom.

Maybe somebody could invent a bone holding device so that Coco can recline in her bed with her bone, without having to use her front legs to grip hold of it. Without opposable thumbs, dogs could do with a utensil like that to help them out.

uh huh .... sort of like connected to a colourful sweat band, or something with velcro for easy zip-on zip off access. Adjustable for any size bone .....

Cant have b one holding utensils cluttering up their legs when they are running.

Ye Gods, this is scarier than I thought, too easy ..... bet ole Shonkypaws will be on to this one too!

[minxy]

Doggy-friendly cafes are a brilliant idea, especially ones bordering on open parklands and dog beaches. It would add a new dimension to socialising, and I would imagine that there exists a very fertile market for well-run businesses.

Definitely. I would love to be able to take the dog for a walk along the beach, or to the dog off-leash park and then have a coffee afterward. I think it'd be great to meet with a few people, let the dogs have a play together and then have a drink together. As long as cafes are placed in the right areas, I reckon they'd do really well.

[Souff]

Doggy-friendly cafes are a brilliant idea, especially ones bordering on open parklands and dog beaches. It would add a new dimension to socialising, and I would imagine that there exists a very fertile market for well-run businesses.

Definitely. I would love to be able to take the dog for a walk along the beach, or to the dog off-leash park and then have a coffee afterward. I think it'd be great to meet with a few people, let the dogs have a play together and then have a drink together. As long as cafes are placed in the right areas, I reckon they'd do really well.

Doggy friendly cafes are already around and they do do really well, specially if they are situated near a park.

Problems are that people who cant stand dogs also frequent cafes and the other great problem is those doggy owners who think that their dogs poo can be cleaned up by somebody else. And then there are those really naughty little dogs that lift their leg on the table leg

Souff

[Angelina]

Having just come back from Europe, I was delighted to see how many people have their dogs out in these major cities ie Rome and Paris, they are everywhere .... shops, restaurants, walking around the city.

I was there for 4 weeks, and I never saw dog droppings on the street...

It can be done...

I know some people don't like dog friendly cafe's, so they don't have to go to them...

it will sort itself out, but Australia, will make another bloody useless law

[Souff]

Having just come back from Europe, I was delighted to see how many people have their dogs out in these major cities ie Rome and Paris, they are everywhere .... shops, restaurants, walking around the city.

I was there for 4 weeks, and I never saw dog droppings on the street...

You were very lucky not to see any. Souff has walked through doggy minefields in the 2 cities you mention, though sometimes it drops into the gaps between the cobblestones. The worst places in Italian cities are in the smaller side streets where there are a lot of outdoor cafes at night .....

and at night you don't see it until you step in it .....

I wish more people could be responsible about their poo duties but they are not and some non-doggy people get really ticked off when they have to clean it off their shoes.

Souff

[anniek]

He was on TV last night - and there were pics showing people feeding their dogs with the restaurant forks

The tv person was disgusted and said things like "oh no, people would hand feed their dog then touch the salt and pepper and the doggy mouth germs would get everywhere"

We use those tacky garden wine glass holders (unwanted present) for our pooches to eat their ice cream cones - stops the dribbles - so we are one step ahead

[CBL]

He was on TV last night - and there were pics showing people feeding their dogs with the restaurant forks

The tv person was disgusted and said things like "oh no, people would hand feed their dog then touch the salt and pepper and the doggy mouth germs would get everywhere"

We use those tacky garden wine glass holders (unwanted present) for our pooches to eat their ice cream cones - stops the dribbles - so we are one step ahead

OMG that is wonderful! :D

Greytmate - if ever you find a bone holding utensil give me a heads up - both Patch and Lilly need one

[Angelina]

Having just come back from Europe, I was delighted to see how many people have their dogs out in these major cities ie Rome and Paris, they are everywhere .... shops, restaurants, walking around the city.

I was there for 4 weeks, and I never saw dog droppings on the street...

You were very lucky not to see any. Souff has walked through doggy minefields in the 2 cities you mention, though sometimes it drops into the gaps between the cobblestones. The worst places in Italian cities are in the smaller side streets where there are a lot of outdoor cafes at night .....

and at night you don't see it until you step in it .....

I wish more people could be responsible about their poo duties but they are not and some non-doggy people get really ticked off when they have to clean it off their shoes.

Souff

We must have been then

Because hubby and I were so impressed, thinking, wow, all these dogs, and no dog poo anywhere, what a great advertisement for it.

I actually saw heaps of them picking up the dog poo,

We were there for 4 weeks as well, so lots of walking the streets, and seriously, didn't see it....

[anniek]

if ever you find a bone holding utensil give me a heads up - both Patch and Lilly need one ;)

Could possibly use the wine glass holders for bones - mine are having piggy tails for tea tonight - would you like me to give it a go??

[CBL]

if ever you find a bone holding utensil give me a heads up - both Patch and Lilly need one ;)

Could possibly use the wine glass holders for bones - mine are having piggy tails for tea tonight - would you like me to give it a go??

You know I do ;)

[minxy]

He was on TV last night - and there were pics showing people feeding their dogs with the restaurant forks

The tv person was disgusted and said things like "oh no, people would hand feed their dog then touch the salt and pepper and the doggy mouth germs would get everywhere" ;)

We use those tacky garden wine glass holders (unwanted present) for our pooches to eat their ice cream cones - stops the dribbles - so we are one step ahead ;)

Wow, that is an awesome idea! I'll have to have a look for some of these somewhere.

[Kajtek]

Maybe somebody could invent a bone holding device

I'd buy one today!

KI's bite makes it difficult for him to get the full joy of gnawing lamb or turkey necks. Poor "darlink" tries his best... alas without much success. His momma Anna has to hold the "bone" thingo for him. We do it on a weekly basis. Although it keeps his pearly whites in top condition it is somewhat unpleasant for vego Anna ;)

Edited July 27, 2010 by Anna

[Brennan's Mum]

I have a friend who lives in Switzerland and he takes his dog on the train to work ( and no it's not a service dog)...could you imagine catching the train to work with your dog?

[Souff]

Having just come back from Europe, I was delighted to see how many people have their dogs out in these major cities ie Rome and Paris, they are everywhere .... shops, restaurants, walking around the city.

I was there for 4 weeks, and I never saw dog droppings on the street...

You were very lucky not to see any. Souff has walked through doggy minefields in the 2 cities you mention, though sometimes it drops into the gaps between the cobblestones. The worst places in Italian cities are in the smaller side streets where there are a lot of outdoor cafes at night .....

and at night you don't see it until you step in it .....

I wish more people could be responsible about their poo duties but they are not and some non-doggy people get really ticked off when they have to clean it off their shoes.

Souff

We must have been then

Because hubby and I were so impressed, thinking, wow, all these dogs, and no dog poo anywhere, what a great advertisement for it.

I actually saw heaps of them picking up the dog poo,

We were there for 4 weeks as well, so lots of walking the streets, and seriously, didn't see it....

One of the worst areas we saw for dog poo was, believe it or not, in the chic Garibaldi district of Milan.

On a lovely tree lined laneway leading to an apartment block (in the evening twilight) sonny boy thought they were mounds of small pinecones .... until he stepped on one!

Souff

[whiskedaway]

I wish more people could be responsible about their poo duties but they are not and some non-doggy people get really ticked off when they have to clean it off their shoes.

Souff

Some doggy peoplle get ticked off when they have to clean it off their shoes too - I'm one of them. I clean up after my dog (luckily for me, she almost never does a poo when we're out, she'll hold on until we get home) but it ticks me off when others don't do the same and I step in it. Some of us wander around with our eyes closed.

[Loving my Oldies]

We use those tacky garden wine glass holders (unwanted present) for our pooches to eat their ice cream cones - stops the dribbles - so we are one step ahead

I've never seen them - they look fantastic...... for a wine glass as well

I wouldn't use one for holding a bone though; dogs like to get down and dirty with bones.

I have a friend who lives in Switzerland and he takes his dog on the train to work ( and no it's not a service dog)...could you imagine catching the train to work with your dog?

No, you'd have people screaming and running and carrying on as though Jack the Ripper and Hanibal Lector had boarded the train hand in hand.