We Need More Dog Friendly Places In Australia

[seeana]

I read in the Herald Sun today that there is a call for more places to be dog friendly....it was great to see at last the media is listening to the mostly silent majority.

So many pet owners are taking their dogs on holiday with them but if you look at the paltry amount of off leash beaches that are available it is a disgrace.

More and more pet friendly accommodation are opening up yet what is the use if there is no leash free areas to take them so they can really streatch out sometimes.

These beautiful creatures have stood by our side since time begun evolving with us,being our protector, our guide,giving us unconditional love and this is how they are treated.

I truly believe this is one area that needs to be addressed and time the Councils woke up to the fact that 99% of all dog owners are very responsible and would always do the right thing.

I would love to know how other members felt about this.

[rebelsquest]

I don't believe that 99% of dog owners are responsible, unfortunately.

[Talien]

I think that one issue is that people don't realise how much a dog can bring to their lives. Since I got arty a week ago, I've had puppy play date offers and going to cafe's with him, so many things you can do with your dog, but people are afraid that their dogs wont be welcome.

I do understand that not everyone is interested in doing these things and more importantly the requirement for a dog to have good manners when out and about but this is something that if you want to take your dog out and about you usually teach them so that they are easier to take with you.

I want arty to be able to do practically everything with me and that means I need him to be listening to commands and doing what I tell him when I tell him so we both stay safe.

I think if more emphasis was put on: "Have a well trained dog and you can do heaps of awesome stuff with it" rather than "have your dog trained so it isnt a danger/destructive/menace" then some owners would be more inclined to train.

I do believe there needs to be more dog friendly places here in Ballarat, but, that said, I know I am also lucky in that we have the biggest park as an off-lead area. I just remember that when I was a kid in Perth there were so many places that you could take your dog and when we came to Victoria we felt as if we couldn't even take them out of the house for all the rules here.

[Blonde_Phoenix]

I don't believe that 99% of dog owners are responsible, unfortunately.

You took the words right out of my mouth Rebelsquest.

I'd love to see more cafes allowing dogs (I think it's still technically illegal in Qld though rarely enforced??). But after eating at a lovely dog friendly cafe in the Yarra Valley (they provided nice comfy cushions for the dogs to rest on 'under' the tables) and witnessing an owner feed their SWF at the table from their fork (yeah I didn't finish my breakfast and I like dogs), I can see why a lot of people aren't so keen.

Maybe it is only 1% but they definitely ruin it for the rest of us .

Edited December 14, 2011 by Blonde_Phoenix

[Cavstar]

I don't believe that 99% of dog owners are responsible, unfortunately.

+1

[mr.mister]

I don't believe that 99% of dog owners are responsible, unfortunately.

+1

Yep, this is really the crux of the issue. It's all well and good to have more dog-friendly places become available in Australia, but the majority of dog owners need some serious lessons in public canine etiquette first. I think why it is so successful in Europe is because their view of dog ownership is so different, and is largely very responsible.

[dee lee]

I don't believe that 99% of dog owners are responsible, unfortunately.

+1

Yep, this is really the crux of the issue. It's all well and good to have more dog-friendly places become available in Australia, but the majority of dog owners need some serious lessons in public canine etiquette first. I think why it is so successful in Europe is because their view of dog ownership is so different, and is largely very responsible.

I'm lucky, where I live is very dog friendly, I wouldn't think twice about sitting at an outdoor table at a cafe or pub with my dog. Generally staff bring a bowl of water & make a fuss over Honey when I do.

But even I find it annoying when someone brings their bad mannered dog along. Unless you can have your dog quietly relaxed at your feet & not bothering anyone else, you shouldn't take them.

As for holidays & beaches, every year we take our dog on a beach holiday with us. Each time to a different place, & it's always great, long stretching beaches for the dog to chase seagulls.

I've never had a problem finding dog friendly beaches or holiday homes. The people who own where we are going to this year have even emailed me an extensive list of dog friendly places to go!!

Look on Stayz under pet friendly, it's easy!

[persephone]

Yep, this is really the crux of the issue. It's all well and good to have more dog-friendly places become available in Australia, but the majority of dog owners need some serious lessons in public canine etiquette first. I think why it is so successful in Europe is because their view of dog ownership is so different, and is largely very responsible.

+1

[Guest lavendergirl]

I don't believe that 99% of dog owners are responsible, unfortunately.

You took the words right out of my mouth Rebelsquest.

I'd love to see more cafes allowing dogs (I think it's still technically illegal in Qld though rarely enforced??). But after eating at a lovely dog friendly cafe in the Yarra Valley (they provided nice comfy cushions for the dogs to rest on 'under' the tables) and witnessing an owner feed their SWF at the table from their fork (yeah I didn't finish my breakfast and I like dogs), I can see why a lot of people aren't so keen.

Maybe it is only 1% but they definitely ruin it for the rest of us .

I find it is becoming more strictly enforced if anything - it is very difficult to find anywhere to eat in Brisbane where you can take a dog. I have given up taking the dog out very often which is a shame. However, at one of the few places which allow dogs we went to recently a girl was there with her dog off lead and running up to my dog wanting to play and generally making a nuisance of itself around the tables. It worries me when that happens because the cafe may ban all dogs in future.

[The Spotted Devil]

We are camping in Bright with our dogs at the moment. So far we have had dinner at a local restaurant, great coffee at another cafe, dog friendly info from the tourist bureau, off leash runs and swims, beer and dinner at a pub, scenic drives through national park, picnic tea and Carols in Mt Beauty, lunch at a stunning winery, welcomed to a berry farm, dinner at a brewery.....

Our dogs are always with us. They are both very fit, busy and intense dogs so I make sure they are well exercised before I ask them to lie still for a few hours. We ring in advance if we particularly want to eat somewhere and bring the dogs. We respect the health regs (eg no dogs allowed on the al fresco decking so we stake them within easy reach). They are not allowed out of the car in national parks. They are always on lead - if there is no off leash exercise I put them on a long line so they can safely gallop and swim. If they bark they are hushed. I pick up after them. If they can play and wrestle without disturbing anyone I let them burn off energy that way. I have cool coats and warm coats and their dinner in the car so they settle no matter the conditions (we go out all day until late).

We are going back to the same winery for lunch on Friday because the food was so good and I haven't tasted the reds yet :p They have reserved a particular table on the deck so our dogs can be staked close to us on the grass with maximum shade. Kids want to pat them and have their photo taken with the Dalmatian. We also choose off peak times to travel - we prefer it and it makes it much easier on the dogs.

All in all I am overwhelmed by how welcome we are made wherever we go. Not everyone likes dogs in their face when they are eating. Just like I don't appreciate some parents who think that my dog will entertain their child, leaving me to supervise and leaving them to enjoy their meal!

Edited December 14, 2011 by The Spotted Devil

[seeana]

Thanks for your input.Your replies have some really good points....Ok maybe good ownership is not 99% I still say that there are more responsible pet owners than not.

But it doesn't solve the main problem and that is that since I moved from England in the seventies I got a real culture shock as from coming from a country that mainly had their dogs inside with them as it got so very cold in winter, over here.... a lot more lived outside and and sometimes because of that were not so much an integral part of our lives..... but now as our country has evolved our pets are part of our family and take part in all aspects of our lives as much as they are allowed to.

I have thought about this at length and maybe there you could give consideration to this idea.....we need a licence to drive a vehicle to prove we are capable of driving on the road why not extend that to responsible pet ownership.

We have to pay for a licence to keep a dog but anyone can do that ....what about taking it further and have to pass a test to prove that we can take care of our best friends.

It could consist of proving that we know what we are doing in training ,feeding, accommodating and being a responsible pet owner it would only need to be done say once every 10 yrs or so for that we should be issued with a licence that could be used to open up venues that then would allow us to take our dogs to more places that otherwise would be closed to them,also to take it further ......every time we get another dog we have to prove prove that our dogs are social creatures and are safe in all company.

If something along these lines was introduced just imagine...........so many problems would be solved as the far reaching effects would be enormous.

IN AN IDEAL WORLD........JMO

[wuffles]

All in all I am overwhelmed by how welcome we are made wherever we go. Not everyone likes dogs in their face when they are eating. Just like I don't appreciate some parents who think that my dog will entertain their child, leaving me to supervise and leaving them to enjoy their meal!

I loooove Bright, it is very dog friendly. We took our dog there with us, lots of great walks and restaurants happy to let you sit outside with your dog/s. A few even brought us a bowl of water and a dog biscuit!

We've actually had a lot of good experiences travelling with dogs. Once we stayed in a motel and went next door to a restaurant to see if they did takeaway dinner. They said they could, but why not just tie the dogs up outside, and they'd give us a window seat so we could essentially sit right next to them? And we stayed at a pub/B&B who had never let dogs inside before, but were happy to let us crate our two outside our bedroom door at night. If we have to stop at Maccas we park the car close to the eating area, tether them in the back and leave the back of the wagon open... we've had numerous people ask if they can pat the dogs and comment on how well behaved they are (they always give a happy wag for a stranger).

I've found that like you TSD, as long as you respect the rules (ours are always on leash or long line, picked up after, not allowed to make noise, kept under control in crowds, etc) people seem to be fairly accepting.

Edited December 14, 2011 by wuffles

[Aetherglow]

I don't believe that 99% of dog owners are responsible, unfortunately.

+1

Yep, this is really the crux of the issue. It's all well and good to have more dog-friendly places become available in Australia, but the majority of dog owners need some serious lessons in public canine etiquette first. I think why it is so successful in Europe is because their view of dog ownership is so different, and is largely very responsible.

I'm lucky, where I live is very dog friendly, I wouldn't think twice about sitting at an outdoor table at a cafe or pub with my dog. Generally staff bring a bowl of water & make a fuss over Honey when I do.

But even I find it annoying when someone brings their bad mannered dog along. Unless you can have your dog quietly relaxed at your feet & not bothering anyone else, you shouldn't take them.

As for holidays & beaches, every year we take our dog on a beach holiday with us. Each time to a different place, & it's always great, long stretching beaches for the dog to chase seagulls.

I've never had a problem finding dog friendly beaches or holiday homes. The people who own where we are going to this year have even emailed me an extensive list of dog friendly places to go!!

Look on Stayz under pet friendly, it's easy!

I didn't find it quite that easy when looking for a place a few months ago. Most of the places tagged pet friendly in the area we wanted to go to didn't allow dogs inside even in a crate, and the place we eventually chose had no fence at the front and only an old wire farm fence straight onto a field with cattle at the back, no dogs inside. The estate agent had said it was fenced when I rang to enquire. In the end I didn't take my dog as she was overdue to come into season and I didn't want to risk her, but if she had come with me she would have had to spend all her time while we were at the house rather than out in a crate on the verandah in the middle of winter. Not all that friendly!

[seeana]

I have used STAYZ and it was good we rented a house for a week at Callah Beach and it was great But although in off season (April) there was a curfew on the beaches and we could only go there before 9am and after 7pm.

Did our homework before we went to find off leash friendly beaches only to find the rules had changed once we got there.I find it hard as my dogs are very well trained and socialised yet often feel like a second class citizen if we want to take our dogs anywhere.

Thinking about it its a bit like Apartheid really.

[seeana]

I don't believe that 99% of dog owners are responsible, unfortunately.

+1

Yep, this is really the crux of the issue. It's all well and good to have more dog-friendly places become available in Australia, but the majority of dog owners need some serious lessons in public canine etiquette first. I think why it is so successful in Europe is because their view of dog ownership is so different, and is largely very responsible.

This is exactly what I am getting at ....we have to change our outlook.

But how to get the the message out there ....its all a matter of education and I think that a good place to start is in the school system ,because in some cases it not coming from the parents.

[seeana]

Great.... worked out how to attach a pic now how can I put one next to my profile.

[rebelsquest]

This is exactly what I am getting at ....we have to change our outlook.

But how to get the the message out there ....its all a matter of education and I think that a good place to start is in the school system ,because in some cases it not coming from the parents.

The school system should be teaching kids to be more dog accepting? I think there are many things our education system needs to improve on before pet ownership education will be considered.

[seeana]

This is exactly what I am getting at ....we have to change our outlook.

But how to get the the message out there ....its all a matter of education and I think that a good place to start is in the school system ,because in some cases it not coming from the parents.

The school system should be teaching kids to be more dog accepting? I think there are many things our education system needs to improve on before pet ownership education will be considered.

What is more important than teaching basic human kindness and responsibility, if the parents are incapable of teaching that (and some are) Surely its up to the schools to pass on that knowledge to the best of their capability .

Kindness and care for any living being is I believe the most important lesson we can learn, if it is not in us already ....surely after that everything should go hand in hand.

Some farm Schools have animals and it teaches the children how to care for them here in Aus.I have read of some schools in the USA that bring dogs into the classroom so the children can interact with them and learn about how to look after them.

Out of the mouths of babes.

But that would be the sensible thing to do wouldn't it.

[HugL]

I would love the opportunity to take my dog more places. When I ask they are accepting till they find out he's a GSD. Apparently small dogs are OK but not large aggressive ones. Guess that's descrimination

I always mention he's obedience trained and offer references if they would like. This seems to appease but still have much more restrictions than little temperamental fluffies. In the end, I don't bother.

We need to get so much info across but it's just how? Schools are already too bogged down with junk that parents should be teaching so I don't think that's the solution. The government have no idea what the truth is and advisors are very biased. Even the so-called pet experts (RSPCA, Animal Welfare, Delta to name a few) are getting too top heavy with self-professed "experts" that their messages are heading in a direction that worries me.

The only thing I can do is get out there with my "dangerous" dog and allow him to promote himself. He hasn't let me down yet. If we all do similar, maybe others will copy - it can't do any harm can it?

[elysia]

A school and parents can both take responsibility for teaching and modeling compassion and kindness to all living beings. My children attend a school which takes the teaching of human values such as love, respect, non-violence and right conduct as seriously as it does academics. As part of the philosophy of non-violence the school provides only vegetarian food at canteen and school functions, although what children bring in their own lunch boxes is totally up to their parents. They have many service activities which support both sections of the community, such as the elderly and homeless, as well as animal welfare. A story dog program, which provides support to children having difficulties with reading, sees dogs regularly in the school, along with education on the appropriate way to interact with them. All these activities have been interwoven into the standard NSW curriculum in a way in which the children are doing well, both academically and in the development of character. I guess my point is that it needn't be either/or - parents and schools can work together to achieve great outcomes for children.