dog walkers not in control of dogs

[returnee]

Afternoon all

So I'm canvassing opinion here ...

This morning I was having a training session with a personal trainer on Peckham common. We had all our bags, jackets, training equipment etc by our side on the pathway. Then a dog who was with a 'professional' dog walker picked up one of the training gloves (kickboxing type glove) and ran off with it. At first we assumed that the dog walker would do the decent thing and make an effort to retrieve the glove. But they didn't. After 10 minutes of the dog mauling the glove and the dog walker running very half heartedly after the dog, we gave up and left. End result is the trainer is down a glove. He doesn't earn a lot of money and gloves are expensive. This is the worst of the 'dog walker behaviour' incidents that I've experienced but, in general, dog walkers don't seem to be at all bothered about how their dogs behave. Not everybody likes dogs, some people are scared by them, some people feel harrassed by them (I do) and I don't like it when dogs stick their nose in my handbag or lick the top of my water bottle. Call me OCD, but that just doesn't do it for me. Ok, so I know none of this is the fault of any of the dogs, but really, could the human beings not just be a tiny little bit more considerate?

[uncleglen]

My sons and their friends were having a kick about in the park and had put their bags, coats etc in a pile. A dog came over and pi**ed over everything- owner nowhere to be seen

[Red01]

I exercise there often and I have to say that almost all of the dog owners I come across are very responsible and approachable people. Sure, there are the odd few who couldn't care less, but there are so few of them that it is not worth thinking about too much.

[bawdy-nan]

There are signs up in the park saying that dogs should be kept on a lead.

[nununoolio]

bawdy-nan Wrote:

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> There are signs up in the park saying that dogs

> should be kept on a lead.

Not on the common, only in the Japanese Garden and around the lake. Nonetheless, the owner should have been able to control their dog and should also have offered to pay to replace the glove.

[LadyDeliah]

That reminds me of when my dog was young, we took him to a Cornish beach and he decided to 'play' with a kid's bodyboard.

Luckily the kid wasn't freaked out but obviously wasn't happy that my dog had taken a chunk out of his body board.

I apologised profusely, bought the body board off the kid for double it's cost and still have it in my garage. Happily the dog has grown up now and hasn't done anything like that for years.

Sometimes dogs (and kids) damage other people's stuff. I think the minimum I'd expect from anyone whose dog or kid damaged my property, would be an apology and payment for the damage and I'm not a manners maketh man type either.

[returnee]

Thanks for your messages of support guys ... Thanks too to the park warden who sent me a private message ... Inconsiderate people may be in the minority, but this was one of three incidents that I've had in the last month, just this was the worst one ... And please note that I am making a distinction between dog owners and "profesional dog walkers" who seem to care a lot less than dog owners, presumbably because they feel less responsible for the dog than the actual owner ...

[JohnL]

A dog really should drop what ever it's doing and come when whistled or called - and

should especially never be off the lead if it doesn't.

As a youngster, I remember my mother spending hours with our dog teaching it this.

(and I know about dogs and beaches - we had loads of both in Gower :))

returnee Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Afternoon all

> So I'm canvassing opinion here ...

> This morning I was having a training session with

> a personal trainer on Peckham common. We had all

> our bags, jackets, training equipment etc by our

> side on the pathway. Then a dog who was with a

> 'professional' dog walker picked up one of the

> training gloves (kickboxing type glove) and ran

> off with it. At first we assumed that the dog

> walker would do the decent thing and make an

> effort to retrieve the glove. But they didn't.

> After 10 minutes of the dog mauling the glove and

> the dog walker running very half heartedly after

> the dog, we gave up and left. End result is the

> trainer is down a glove. He doesn't earn a lot of

> money and gloves are expensive. This is the worst

> of the 'dog walker behaviour' incidents that I've

> experienced but, in general, dog walkers don't

> seem to be at all bothered about how their dogs

> behave. Not everybody likes dogs, some people are

> scared by them, some people feel harrassed by them

> (I do) and I don't like it when dogs stick their

> nose in my handbag or lick the top of my water

> bottle. Call me OCD, but that just doesn't do it

> for me. Ok, so I know none of this is the fault of

> any of the dogs, but really, could the human

> beings not just be a tiny little bit more

> considerate?

[first mate]

Most of the professional dog walkers are known and easily identified. I am sure the Park Warden will be able to put you in touch with the relevant person. They will be covered by insurance for loss or damage in the course of their work- this is a requirement for professional dog walkers. I would imagine they would want to cover the cost of replacing the damaged/lost glove. Perhaps they could leave a cheque for the amount with the Park Warden who can forward it to you.

As an earlier poster stated, accidents do happen though that does not excuse the apparent negligence of the dog walker.

[the-e-dealer]

Every Park user thinks the park is for them and not anyone else. Its what most of the comments relating to the park on here are about.

[bawdy-nan]

Ah - sorry. I thought you were talking about Dulwich Park. I noticed a sign the other day and then noticed mostly dogs off the lead. I don't actually mind that and really dont mind "sharing" the park with all users but I agree with the poster who said that dogs shouldn't be off the lead if the owner can't guarantee control.

[Huggers]

dogs are allowed off the lead in Dulwich park too, except in designated areas...

[bawdy-nan]

Really? So does the sign at the court lane entrance (on the right when the big area of grass appears) relate only to that particular area?

Edited to say that I guess that's what you mean by designated areas - ie "Central area and the sports pitches" as per the byelaws. Its not very clear from the signs though.