Nation of dog lovers? I'm not so sure!

[ganesh]

For instance..In California they have 'doggy parks' where you can take your dog to walk and play with other dogs, In France you're allowed to take your dog in cafes and shops. There are so many places here where dogs are not allowed,and places where they must be on a lead,and owners pull their dogs away from other dogs as if they're poisonous, and mis-behaving if they just want to say hello to each other! We recoil in horror if we see some dog-**** even though the countryside is full of it from wild and farm animals.I've also seen some pretty horrific RSPCA stories. Aren't the British just deluding themselves as usual?

[jules77]

Doggy Parks are commonplace all over America, just wish we had something like it over here, as they are enclosed spaces where you can let even your dog off without danger of it running away and getting lost, or at worst, into the road.

[fredpuli47]

ganesh, you may be as surprised as I was, living in France as well as Britain, to know that it is against the law there to take a dog into a restaurant, and has been so for years ! I only found oui when a record and book shop in Cannes opened a restaurant on the top floor. An official notice, setting out the law and warning visitors , appeared in the shop window.
Within a month or so, the notice 'mysteriously 'disappeared, never to reappear! That's typically French. Laws are passed but, if the French don't approve of them in practice, these are ignored and nobody bothers to enforce them! If nobody likes the law, there's no point in keeping the notice up: it's bad for business !
Something else which is French is a rent-a-dog scheme, of a sort.The dog charity in Antibes allows people to 'adopt' a dog.The donor pays and, in return, is allowed to take the dog out for walks and play but is not expected or required to keep the dog at their home.
Sadly though, there are lots of puppy farms there, which advertise legally, listing the various breeds they have.The breeds are invariably whatever is fashionable at the time.

[jenniprice]

Have you noticed that France is a lot hotter than Britain, so therefore have alot of outdoor seating areas!??

I've been to france many times and always see people with dogs in restaurant, however like say it's outside so dont get that doggy smell that would get if let it do it in Britain.
Can you imagine eating in a restaurant in England and getting a wet dog sit next to you!? I have a dog and I wouldn't want that.

Britain has alot more "dangerous" dogs such as pitbulls and bull terriors. Dont see many of them in USA.
It's just safety and regard for your own pet not to let them get to close.
However when I take my dog out, I let her play with other dogs, I just check with the owner fist if it's ok.

I think Britain is a dog loving country, and you will always get the horrible people who abuse them.
The RSPCA say that cruelty has gone up 3 times as much than 10 years ago, but maybe creulty hasn't gone up, its the amount of people who care for animals so ring them as we don't stand for it anymore, as in the past perhaps people turned a blind eye!?

[ganesh]

Just to sound like 'the dog whisperer,'jules, I agree with you,and fewer dogs would have 'issues' if they were all socialised more in the doggy parks from puppyhood,so people might not be so wary of each others dogs like they are here.
I have found,though ,that a lot of countries seem to be more dog friendly and relaxed than we are, and it proves my point if the majority of french people flout the law. I don't think it's just because it is hotter there either, I have seen dogs sitting next to me in hotel restaurants just as in the countryside here we do get a few dog-friendly pubs which allow them inside.
And, by the way ,there are pit-bulls and bull terriers in the USA , I have seen some.