Would you consider that large and medium-sized dogs should be phased out?

It would help if people were more responsible, researched before buying a fluffy puppy. You need to be prepared to train, immunise, exercise etc for 15 years
The number of posts on Facebook dog groups where owners describe their tiny pups as aggressive or stubborn is awful

I wonder if the old requirement for a dog licence had any effect on the numbers of dogs? There is terrible cruelty to dogs and other animals throughout the world and unlicensed puppy farms which keep breeding bitches in appalling conditions cater to the seemingly insatiable demand for cute puppies, many of which quickly grow into unwanted and untrained dogs.

I’d like cruelty sorted out. In China dogs are kept in cages, inhumanly killed, skinned and eaten. A neighbour has an Old English Shepdog rescued from there. Others have dogs rescued from the streets of Greece etc. In this country dogs (and other pets) are mistreated and in a terrible state. Perhaps rather than restrict the size of dog we should restrict who can have a dog?

No, but I think there should be regulations around the breeds and numbers of dogs people should be allowed keep in built up areas and apartment blocks. Out of consideration for the dogs, and the unfortunate neighbours.

I think there should be much tighter controls on all dog breeding and sales. Unfortunately this would probably create a black market which would be worse. Sterilisation of pets should be encouraged, our vet has an amnesty every year where she offers this service at a much reduced rate.

We could ban meat altogether in commercial dog food. They'd be quite happy as vegetarians. Cats are true carnivores, though.

What on earth for? Where would this end? Other animals, people? Stupid idea.

Phew! My dogs ok as she's only little ! No, I think that we should stop all leisure air travel. That should help the planet, packed honeypots, Venice from sinking etc.

Blondiescot Of course a dog will reflect the owner, so kind loving owner = kind loving dog. We all get that. The problem is the nasty dogs are with nasty owners so how do you get them out of their hands and into the hands of a nice owner? In most cases you can't, the dog will stay with the nasty owner and may end up killing a child or another dog in the park.

Blondiescot

Chestnut - but once again, it all comes down to the owners. Who's to say that those dogs, in the hands of a loving and, more importantly, responsible, owner would not have been completely different. I've seen dogs which were traumatised and terrified - and probably appeared to be vicious because of that - transformed into loving family pets through long hard work and determination.

Exactly. We have all seen irresponsible owners and the way they treat their dogs. No bad dogs just idiots who can’t be bothered to train their dogs properly.

I have been absolutely amazed at the number of dogs I now see compared to before lockdown. The good thing about this explosion in dog ownership is that they are almost all small breeds, Pugs, Terriers, Springers.

Would this then be extended to Humans??

Sorry, that was to EV’s post re cars.

It’s not either or though, is it? We’ve all surely got to look for ways to get our own carbon footprint down, and consider any suggestions, not dismiss them out of hand or scoff. If anyone suggested that motorists should choose smaller vehicles there’d be uproar about that as well.

I don't always like to compare with other countries but in Europe actually Romania, Poland, Germany and others have a higher % of dog ownership than we do in the UK. And big dogs at that! USA probably has the most.

Taking things a bit far now, seeing that vehicles are getting bigger----campervans, range-rovers etc.

Chestnut - but once again, it all comes down to the owners. Who's to say that those dogs, in the hands of a loving and, more importantly, responsible, owner would not have been completely different. I've seen dogs which were traumatised and terrified - and probably appeared to be vicious because of that - transformed into loving family pets through long hard work and determination.

Mark Howell………would you take seriously anything this man has to say because I wouldn’t.

Gwyneth

NO it’s humans who are bad for the environment and are destroying the planet.

But too many humans are keeping too many dogs. The two go together.

Blondiescot

Msida

I watched a you tube video yesterday which went beyond terrafing

Two bulldog type dogs running after a Mum and her two little girls

Those kind if digs should be put down and tgat kind of breed should not be allowed to be breeded or kept as pers

But the government any government takes ages to act and only do so after someone has been malled by one if these horrid horrid vicious dogs!!

It's unfair to blame any particular breed. There are no bad dogs, only bad owners. Blame the deed, not the breed!

There are no bad dogs, only bad owners
But it's not the owners who tear little children to shreds, it's their dogs!

Another No from me. We have rescued 2 JRT but our last 2 have been Border Collies, so have had small and large. Both were badly treated by previous owners. As Blondie said its the humans not the dogs who determine how the animal turns out.
Loving all the photos by the way.
All sizes of dogs, all breeds, are fine as far as I'm concerned.
We are the ones at fault for the environment and shouldn't be looking to blame defenceless animals.

Phased out - what awful nonsense is this? I don't have any dogs, but the thought of 'phasing out' any pet is abhorrent to me.

You’re so right Blondie. It’s the way a dog is brought up, trained and looked after that determines the way it behaves.

?*Jax*. Yes she needs at least one small dog a day, big appetite!

Msida

I watched a you tube video yesterday which went beyond terrafing

Two bulldog type dogs running after a Mum and her two little girls

Those kind if digs should be put down and tgat kind of breed should not be allowed to be breeded or kept as pers

But the government any government takes ages to act and only do so after someone has been malled by one if these horrid horrid vicious dogs!!

It's unfair to blame any particular breed. There are no bad dogs, only bad owners. Blame the deed, not the breed!

NO it’s humans who are bad for the environment and are destroying the planet.