Running At Off Lead Dog Beach

[tobie]

I have had someone comment about my dogs wearing muzzle's also. Telling their children to keep away as my dogs must be vicious. They were wearing halti's not muzzles. I just think some people have no idea.

[Starkehre]

We took our 3 rotts down go our local leash free dog beach last week. We do not go there very often, so would not be considered regulars.

There were no other dogs there, but it was full of people swimming and sunbaking, families etc all doing their usually lovely beach visit thing.

I only trust one of mine explicitly with her distance recall (the others being a puppy and a young male entire that has selective deafness) so I do not let any of them off lead.

OH wears his bathers and leads them into the water up to his hips and swims them this way, whilst I stand on the shore playing with and training the puppy.

Well, it was literally no more than 5 minutes after we arrived this particular day, that we totally cleared the beach of all people.

It was really funny. No one said anything. They all just stared in shock, then packed up and left.

At no time were we closer than about 25 metres from any person and the dogs were quiet and very well behaved.

My guess is that they did not even realise it was a dog beach.

Sort of a bit sad I guess, as it would have been nicer had a few people come over to have a chat and pat the dogs as we do try to show people how friendly they are, but it was not to be this time

I am sorry your OH had that negative experience with the lady not liking Nala playing nicely at the beach.

But I gotta say, not surprising. Being a fellow owner of a large breed, we often notice this sort of attitude from members of the public that are not dog savvy.

OH and I are very big on trying to protect our breed. They get enough bad publicity as it is and the last we want is for BSL to get hold of them. So, we do try to avoid people feeling this way. We do not have to as long as we stay within the laws, but we choose to go out of our way sometimes to ensure the public are comfortable for the sake of our breed.

But sometimes it does not matter how hard you try to make your dog appear cutesy and friendly, some people are fearful and you cannot change them, sadly. I make every effort to understand and appreciate that.

[Adnil444]

Dyzney - I can appreciate what you experienced. In fact i look for parks/beaches that have large breed dogs. I would much prefer my dogs to play and socialise with the larger breeds than the swfs. One of mine is rottiexdobe and she can look formidable, however she is so sweet and just loves people and other dogs - especially dogs roughly her own size where she can really have a great romp and play. I love rotties, dobes, danes etc - I grew up with danes and they were wonderful dogs - we never got that sort of reaction though - generally people were very accepting of our danes. I think with rotties though, they have an image - they have been in movies as devil dogs, are used as guard dogs, they are black - which obviously makes them horrible dogs - not. All the rotties I have met over the past few years have been nothing but wonderful dogs - it is a credit to the ethical breeders out there who have turned the image around (though by the reaction at your beach trip, obviously not). I've come across more and more people with rotties (mostly families with kids) and not only are the dogs a credit to them, but the owners have all been very responsible. There is a lady that goes to one of the dog parks that I sometimes go to - she has just had her third child and her gorgeous girl is one of the nicest girls I've come across - she loves people, especially children, loves other dogs and has had basic obedience training.

It's strange that people think like this and I understand that no matter how hard you try, some people will always have that perception of certain breeds, but if they really had a close look, it generally is the smaller breeds that cause many of the issues not the larger breeds. Give me a park full of large breed dogs any day!!

[chran]

1. Can't tell the difference between halti & muzzle
   
2. Can't tell she's on dog beach
   
3. Can't tell that she's not on the dog's menu
   

She's lucky it's you I would probably muzzle her if I was there Stupidity is everywhere & spreading.

[Starkehre]

Dyzney - I can appreciate what you experienced. In fact i look for parks/beaches that have large breed dogs. I would much prefer my dogs to play and socialise with the larger breeds than the swfs. One of mine is rottiexdobe and she can look formidable, however she is so sweet and just loves people and other dogs - especially dogs roughly her own size where she can really have a great romp and play. I love rotties, dobes, danes etc - I grew up with danes and they were wonderful dogs - we never got that sort of reaction though - generally people were very accepting of our danes. I think with rotties though, they have an image - they have been in movies as devil dogs, are used as guard dogs, they are black - which obviously makes them horrible dogs - not. All the rotties I have met over the past few years have been nothing but wonderful dogs - it is a credit to the ethical breeders out there who have turned the image around (though by the reaction at your beach trip, obviously not). I've come across more and more people with rotties (mostly families with kids) and not only are the dogs a credit to them, but the owners have all been very responsible. There is a lady that goes to one of the dog parks that I sometimes go to - she has just had her third child and her gorgeous girl is one of the nicest girls I've come across - she loves people, especially children, loves other dogs and has had basic obedience training.

It's strange that people think like this and I understand that no matter how hard you try, some people will always have that perception of certain breeds, but if they really had a close look, it generally is the smaller breeds that cause many of the issues not the larger breeds. Give me a park full of large breed dogs any day!!

Totally agreed Adnil.

Look, honestly our dogs are normally very well received with the general public when we take them out, so we are usually very lucky. We gets lots of people wanting hugs, sloppy kisses, pats etc and it is always really lovely... so I guess this is why this particular beach trip really stood out to me.

But, yeh, I hear you.

[jacqui835]

I wouldn't take it personally. Some people have some funny ideas of what sharing a beach means. Thankfully, I've never had anyone behave like that towards me or my dogs, but if I did I would just put them on leash and keep walking. It's not worth getting upset about.

What you're saying is all true, but that said, I really sympathise with the OP. I have had the same sorts of things said about my dog, and it kind of irks you and especially if you have a dog who is not aggressive, well it's just a false, undeserved accusation that can leave you a bit shocked. It's quite confronting to have someone attack you verbally, shout at you and fire these accusations and I know myself that it can just play on replay in your head for hours afterward.

But honestly, don't worry. My experience has been that if the person seems crazy to you and everyone around you, the authorities will reach the same conclusion. I have had a man in a park attempt to assualt my partner (because he thought he looked Jewish - ironically and sadly really, the guy turned out to be Jewish himself) and when we called the police, he told them he was defending himself because my dog had attacked him. I was gob smacked, my dog was a puppy at the time for one, and secondly, well, he hadn't done anything of the sort. The police took one look at the dog who was wagging his tail and desperate for pats, and decided they believed our version of events.

[jacqui835]

Dyzney - I can appreciate what you experienced. In fact i look for parks/beaches that have large breed dogs. I would much prefer my dogs to play and socialise with the larger breeds than the swfs. One of mine is rottiexdobe and she can look formidable, however she is so sweet and just loves people and other dogs - especially dogs roughly her own size where she can really have a great romp and play. I love rotties, dobes, danes etc - I grew up with danes and they were wonderful dogs - we never got that sort of reaction though - generally people were very accepting of our danes. I think with rotties though, they have an image - they have been in movies as devil dogs, are used as guard dogs, they are black - which obviously makes them horrible dogs - not. All the rotties I have met over the past few years have been nothing but wonderful dogs - it is a credit to the ethical breeders out there who have turned the image around (though by the reaction at your beach trip, obviously not). I've come across more and more people with rotties (mostly families with kids) and not only are the dogs a credit to them, but the owners have all been very responsible. There is a lady that goes to one of the dog parks that I sometimes go to - she has just had her third child and her gorgeous girl is one of the nicest girls I've come across - she loves people, especially children, loves other dogs and has had basic obedience training.

It's strange that people think like this and I understand that no matter how hard you try, some people will always have that perception of certain breeds, but if they really had a close look, it generally is the smaller breeds that cause many of the issues not the larger breeds. Give me a park full of large breed dogs any day!!

Totally agreed Adnil.

Look, honestly our dogs are normally very well received with the general public when we take them out, so we are usually very lucky. We gets lots of people wanting hugs, sloppy kisses, pats etc and it is always really lovely... so I guess this is why this particular beach trip really stood out to me.

But, yeh, I hear you.

Oh gosh just this morning, I was out the front with the dog and a small pug cross something ugly walked past on the other side of the road. Saw my dog, went absolutely ballistic, pulling on the lead, snarling etc etc and the owners started yelling at me because they were worried my dog would come and attack theirs. Of course he ignored the display completely - living in the eastern suburbs of Sydney I think teaches a dog to ignore all the small spoiled ones because anyone who has walked down Queen st Woollahra will have noticed that several will try and attack any dog every day. Once they were confident my dog was going to remain at my side, they started laughing, and saying, oh I don't think our dog likes yours, he always tries to protect us from the dangerous breeds. I say nothing these days, just smile and nod. People do just have a completely different attitude towards smaller dogs, and as a bigger dog lover, well it's just something I've resigned myself to living with.

[Adnil444]

Dyzney - I can appreciate what you experienced. In fact i look for parks/beaches that have large breed dogs. I would much prefer my dogs to play and socialise with the larger breeds than the swfs. One of mine is rottiexdobe and she can look formidable, however she is so sweet and just loves people and other dogs - especially dogs roughly her own size where she can really have a great romp and play. I love rotties, dobes, danes etc - I grew up with danes and they were wonderful dogs - we never got that sort of reaction though - generally people were very accepting of our danes. I think with rotties though, they have an image - they have been in movies as devil dogs, are used as guard dogs, they are black - which obviously makes them horrible dogs - not. All the rotties I have met over the past few years have been nothing but wonderful dogs - it is a credit to the ethical breeders out there who have turned the image around (though by the reaction at your beach trip, obviously not). I've come across more and more people with rotties (mostly families with kids) and not only are the dogs a credit to them, but the owners have all been very responsible. There is a lady that goes to one of the dog parks that I sometimes go to - she has just had her third child and her gorgeous girl is one of the nicest girls I've come across - she loves people, especially children, loves other dogs and has had basic obedience training.

It's strange that people think like this and I understand that no matter how hard you try, some people will always have that perception of certain breeds, but if they really had a close look, it generally is the smaller breeds that cause many of the issues not the larger breeds. Give me a park full of large breed dogs any day!!

Totally agreed Adnil.

Look, honestly our dogs are normally very well received with the general public when we take them out, so we are usually very lucky. We gets lots of people wanting hugs, sloppy kisses, pats etc and it is always really lovely... so I guess this is why this particular beach trip really stood out to me.

But, yeh, I hear you.

Oh gosh just this morning, I was out the front with the dog and a small pug cross something ugly walked past on the other side of the road. Saw my dog, went absolutely ballistic, pulling on the lead, snarling etc etc and the owners started yelling at me because they were worried my dog would come and attack theirs. Of course he ignored the display completely - living in the eastern suburbs of Sydney I think teaches a dog to ignore all the small spoiled ones because anyone who has walked down Queen st Woollahra will have noticed that several will try and attack any dog every day. Once they were confident my dog was going to remain at my side, they started laughing, and saying, oh I don't think our dog likes yours, he always tries to protect us from the dangerous breeds. I say nothing these days, just smile and nod. People do just have a completely different attitude towards smaller dogs, and as a bigger dog lover, well it's just something I've resigned myself to living with.

I hear you too Jaqui835 - I can't walk down my own street with 9 of these horrible ghastly little dogs fence rushing, snarling, attacking etc. The owners do absolutely nothing. I've trained mine to ignore and praise and treat them when they do and we can walk past them without any issues. I'm sure there must be some nice well behaved swfs out there, but not around where I live. They rush and snarl when they are on lead, when in restaurants sitting on their owners laps when I walk past - I often take mine for walks past the outside cafes/restaurants along Dee Why beach and the big dogs sit their nicely (or lie down under the table), the little dogs though will rush, snarl etc and the owners laugh. I just don't get it. I also have a lovely old mini schnauzer and she would never do that - she was trained with the same rules as a big dog - there is no set of rules for big dogs and a set of rules for small dogs (and when I'm speaking about small dogs I mean those shitzu/maltese type dogs). So many are sold in pet shops but you rarely see one at an obedience class - makes you wonder. I'm not knocking the smaller dogs as it is their owners that are the problem. There are many small breeds that are lovely dogs - e.g pugs and cavs have never snarled or rushed at us. I can walk past their homes without any issues.

[Snout Girl]

I was at the ONE off lead park we have in our suburb a few weeks back, having a lovely old time throwing the ball for sally and watching bert toddle around.

There was a man running laps, but no one else in the park.

A family of mum, dad, and 2 kids arrived with blanket, picnic etc. They were up one end of a fairly large park, we were down the other (probably 300-400m apart).

Mum walked all the way over to where we were minding our own business, and asked (politely, I must admit) if I would put my dogs on a lead so they could have a picnic

Mind you, my dogs still hadnt shown the slightest interest in the family, I am proud to say that the older my 2 get, the more obedient they are

I was slightly gobsmacked and opened and closed my mouth like a fish for a few seconds ;)

It was hard because she was so polite.

I replied that I will make sure my 2 dont bother them, but as it is the only off leash dog park out of 20 or so in the suburb, unless my dogs are misbehaving I would like them to remain off leash.

She said her kids are scared of dogs. and this is the closest park to them (not so politely this time).

I simply repeated that I would ensure my dogs didnt bother the family and wished her a good day and walked off.

She walked off slighly in a huff, they did set up their picnic and my 2 didnt go anywhere near them for the 45 mins or so we remained there

So I too have experienced non dog people in dog areas pushing their own demands on us

[BMAK]

that lady sounds crazy! this beach sounds very familiar to one i know of caves beach haha

so many idiots there, i would have told her off too

i take brandy to the beach and she is obsessed at those chuck it sticks mine is yellow and she will constantly harrass anyone with a blue/purplish stick i have no clue why? as i bring my own and she demands the OP then to give her stick containing no ball the way she carries on like a bouncy kangaroo barking loudly she looks mean (totally harmless) but if you saw a poodle doing it it would look cute. :S

i wonder what i would have recieved if i had macca with a proper muzzle on around kids she would have had a heart attack! ahhh some people in this world

[W Sibs]

She sounds nuts!

I take my 2 to the beach sometimes and we just hang out. One time, there was this man with a GSD and a Rotti than came to the beach, and he saw us and quickly clipped his dogs on the beach. I didn't think anything by it, neither Charlie or Emmy cared about the 2 big dogs - Charlie was busy digging his way to China and Emmy was busy finding dead fish to roll all over. They saw the dogs and then went back to their important business. His dog showed no interest in my 2 either.

About 20 minutes later, the guy walked over to me and asked if I mind if he take his dogs off leash and was trying to assure me that his dogs aren't scary. I was really shocked about this. I told him that I didn't mind at all, it is a dog friendly beach. He told me that he has been told off a few times because owners with small dogs at the beach because he has 2 big dogs. He didn't want to cause trouble so he came and ask me (I was more impressed that he left his dog in a drop/stay position and came over to me chat and none of his dogs moved! - i'm still working with the drop/stay with my 2... lol).

Both his dogs were beautiful, well trained and lovely. The man and his dogs were busy swimming and chasing balls, while I was busy taking photos and keeping an eye on my 2. As we were leaving, the man called out Bye and gave me a wave. I did the same.

Edited January 28, 2011 by CW EW

[sas]

1. Can't tell that she's not on the dog's menu
   

[kazads]

I must say that the beach this happened at is usually fantastic and we have never really had a problem before with any of our dogs or other people using the beach. I have a 12 month old Boxer that just loovveesss the beach and is a maniac for the first few minutes - most people laugh and think she is adorable. Most people also think Nala is adorable and we constantly have people coming up to us on the beach asking about her and giving her a pat. She loves the attention.

But come tourist season and it all goes down hill. I have heard stories of people kicking dogs because the dog comes within metres of their precious child, when in fact the dog was sniffing the ground and paying no attention to the child. All this on the same off-leash beach.

Yes, big dogs do have a reputation but I have encountered more aggressive SWF's then larger dogs in my 33 years on the planet. Nala has had SWF's snap at her for no reason and she pays them no attention but rest assured, Nala would get the blame if she retaliated because of her size.

[MsKatie]

I have a kelpie that I muzzle due to her fear aggression and she gets a mixed reaction from people when we are at the beach - some avoid her - others will ask about the muzzle

[kelpiekaye]

The world is full of dick heads! Dont let them ruin your day. Theres lots of good people around too.

[DerRottweiler]

Some dog owners are funny.

I was at the local dog beach a few months back.

This lady had 2 poorly bred boxers. The male attacked my mates Amstaff for no reason.

Then she said 'Control your dogs'....and I said 'but your dog attacked?'

She believed that:

The beach was her dogs territory.

Bringing entire males to the beach disturbs the balance.

Even though it was a neutral area and her neutered dog was causing trouble lulz.

[daisygirl]

We were at Southport Spit on the Gold Coast on Australia day. The surf beach was really busy with heaps and heaps of people and dogs. There are signs up stating that is a dog beach and basically warning the public that you will encounter dogs off lead so I dont see how anyone can complain.

We then got stuck in the carpark for 2 hours waiting for the traffic to move and when I had a chat to the police he said"Why would anyone want to come here?". Well um, have a look around, because we all have dogs and only one of a very few beaches we can use. He said that the road in should have been closed off at 1pm because there were too many people there. Well maybe they should have banned the hoons that were only there to drink and play loud music and only let in people with a dog would have been a better idea!

[dianed]

I dont walk on our big dog beach any longer,to many hassles with tourists and holiday house owners. Especially the yogi's!

[helen]

One of the townships here hate the tourists. For so many years they took their horses and dogs to the beach for exercise etc, tourists came and complained, locals cannot use the beach any more for what they had been doing for so many years.

Anyway, went to a dog beach in Melbourne last summer with a friend. We were commenting on how good all the dogs were. There was a Rottie cross which had been playing with our dogs and very friendly. 10 minutes later some people had come onto the beach with their dogs and started yelling at the top of their voice at the rottie cross, and telling the owners to get their vicious dog away, just made themselves look silly I think

[dogfan]

That's horrible Hopefully things go better next time.