Should we have Dog Licences?

thecolourbox

monquixote said:

As a runner I've had numerous occasions where I've been tripped up by dogs randomly scything back and forth by people who think holding the fully extended lead while looking at their phone counts as being in control.

In the park by us where we run, it's more the parents of kids at football training that cause greater obstruction. Usually smoking as well, stood in the middle of the path in the section known as the running track

phil_b

If you need a dog licence I would probably get a dalmation.

Apparently a blzvk and white license costs less

Iamnobody

monquixote said:

I think they need to stop selling those stupid 50ft long stretchy lead things.

There was a bloke of about 80 walking a big dog through the park the other day which was going nuts knocking down children, tripping people over and barking at other dogs. He was totally oblivious.

I don't think a dog should count as being on a lead if it's over 6ft long.

This - ours is kept on a 1.2m leather lead and is under close control at all times.

EricTheWeary

digitalscream said:

EricTheWeary said:

I have a vague memory that the dog licence was scrapped when someone worked out it cost more to administrate than it brought in. 
Google says the licence was stopped in 1987, more recent than I would have guessed. 

It shouldn't be about making money, it's a public service.

I'd say "yes", and it shouldn't just be about paying money. People should have to prove that they know how to look after a dog and be a responsible owner - if that means bringing real trainers and behaviourists in for a session, then so be it. Lump it in with the cost, and do group sessions.

These are the checks that rescues do with potential adopters. Strikes me that extending that to the population in general would be a very, very good thing.

I don’t think the original licence did anything other than raise revenue so at the point it was failing to do that it was scrapped. We had a rescue dog when I was about ten years old and I remember my father reluctantly going to the post office to get a licence. 

The infrastructure to set up training, etc, would be huge and seems unlikley. But a legal enforcement of micro chipping might be feasible I guess and it means if a dog caused damage it's owners could be traced and held accountable. Vets routinely scan animals going in now so stolen dogs ought to be picked up as well. 

 

ICBM

Personally I think that owners would be more inclined to keep their dogs properly under control if they were prosecuted for any harm the dog does, the same as if it was the owner who did it - ie if a dog bites someone the owner is charged with assault, ABH or GBH, and if it kills someone then manslaughter. It’s the owner's fault not the dog’s.

If that means that a licence would need to be introduced to prove ownership, then that would be OK.

digitalscream

ICBM said:

Personally I think that owners would be more inclined to keep their dogs properly under control if they were prosecuted for any harm the dog does, the same as if it was the owner who did it - ie if a dog bites someone the owner is charged with assault, ABH or GBH, and if it kills someone then manslaughter. It’s the owner's fault not the dog’s.

If that means that a licence would need to be introduced to prove ownership, then that would be OK.

This is it in a nutshell for me.

There will be a few people prosecuted as examples, and most should probably fall in line after that.

guitartango

ICBM said:

Personally I think that owners would be more inclined to keep their dogs properly under control if they were prosecuted for any harm the dog does, the same as if it was the owner who did it - ie if a dog bites someone the owner is charged with assault, ABH or GBH, and if it kills someone then manslaughter. It’s the owner's fault not the dog’s.

If that means that a licence would need to be introduced to prove ownership, then that would be OK.

So you would put the Chav owner down ? Good plan.

Get my vote

russpm

I don’t believe a licence would help as the dick heads would still persist and not change their behaviour.
Something needs doing though.

I have been attacked, chased and bitten by dogs off leads whilst running all in the last 12 months. The owners just say ‘he never normally does that’......well that doesn’t help me or the other people injured or worse by dogs off leads and not under control.

My wife’s family have a farm and several sheep have been attacked and killed by dogs not under control.  The owners get quite quite upset when their dogs get shot.

As others have mentioned accountability and prosecution seems a good way forward.

WiresDreamDisasters

Dog licenses!?! What next!?! Vaccination passports!?!

BigMonka

Iamnobody said:

monquixote said:

I think they need to stop selling those stupid 50ft long stretchy lead things.

There was a bloke of about 80 walking a big dog through the park the other day which was going nuts knocking down children, tripping people over and barking at other dogs. He was totally oblivious.

I don't think a dog should count as being on a lead if it's over 6ft long.

This - ours is kept on a 1.2m leather lead and is under close control at all times.

@Iamnobody are there any occasions that you let it off its lead? Leads being mandatory would be another way of getting round lots of issues (other than owners leaving poo bags hanging on trees), but is it unfair on the dog? (honest question as I've never owned a dog) 

digitalscream

BigMonka said:

Iamnobody said:

monquixote said:

I think they need to stop selling those stupid 50ft long stretchy lead things.

There was a bloke of about 80 walking a big dog through the park the other day which was going nuts knocking down children, tripping people over and barking at other dogs. He was totally oblivious.

I don't think a dog should count as being on a lead if it's over 6ft long.

This - ours is kept on a 1.2m leather lead and is under close control at all times.

@Iamnobody are there any occasions that you let it off its lead? Leads being mandatory would be another way of getting round lots of issues (other than owners leaving poo bags hanging on trees), but is it unfair on the dog? (honest question as I've never owned a dog) 

Dogs don't really need to be off-lead, if they've got sufficient freedom where appropriate (eg the run of their gardens, a long lead when nobody else is around etc).

If they do, then there are secure, enclosed areas pretty much everywhere that can be hired - almost everywhere there's a dog training school, there's a field that's not being used in off-hours. We hire one for £10/hr just outside town when we want to let the girls have a good run.

Dogs being off-leash cause all sorts of problems for responsible owners too - an unruly, poorly-socialised dog barrelling up to your dog without manners is basically a recipe for creating a reactive, nervous dog and can set back the rehabilitation of a rescue dog by months if not years. It drives me mad.

monquixote

russpm said:

I have been attacked, chased and bitten by dogs off leads whilst running all in the last 12 months. The owners just say ‘he never normally does that’......well that doesn’t help me or the other people injured or worse by dogs off leads and not under control.

What gets me is when a dog attacks you and the owner says "He doesn't mean it"

I had it when a completely out of control dog scrabbled muddy gashes down my legs when I was running. I said "I don't care about his motivation!"

I also had to stop one time because a fat chavs dog was jumping up trying to bite me and he yelled "Well don't stop you idiot" so I took off at a sprint with the dog still chasing and he had to waddle a mile huffing and puffing to get his dog back from the other side of the park. Childish but it amused me.

notanon

I've seen what are effectively killing machines taken for a walk by ppl that no way are capable of controlling the dog and off lead.

License the dogs & chip them with massive fines for those that ignore the law. Alternatively legalise guns!

This has been going on for years FFS!

Iamnobody

BigMonka said:

Iamnobody said:

monquixote said:

I think they need to stop selling those stupid 50ft long stretchy lead things.

There was a bloke of about 80 walking a big dog through the park the other day which was going nuts knocking down children, tripping people over and barking at other dogs. He was totally oblivious.

I don't think a dog should count as being on a lead if it's over 6ft long.

This - ours is kept on a 1.2m leather lead and is under close control at all times.

@Iamnobody are there any occasions that you let it off its lead? Leads being mandatory would be another way of getting round lots of issues (other than owners leaving poo bags hanging on trees), but is it unfair on the dog? (honest question as I've never owned a dog) 

Not currently in public places as he’s very new to us. He gets a run round the garden, and we have an enclosed dog agility course within a local park where he sometimes goes off lead if it’s not full of other dogs. 

I’ll see how his training progresses; there will be certain times and places where he will be let off we have a couple of other options for enclosed areas where he can have a run as well. 

He is actually better being off lead if other dogs are, if he’s on the lead and other dogs run up to him then he does sometimes react defensively.

I share your frustrations about poo bags. It does my head in. A few of our regular walks are littered with them...

chillidoggy

Dog owners always seem to think that everyone else loves their dogs like they do. Whereas in reality a lot of people are scared shitless of them, whether they’re friendly or not. And I’ve lost count of the times I’ve had a dog jumping up at me with the owner saying, “It’s OK, he won’t hurt you.” No, maybe not but I don’t want dog slobber and muddy paw marks all over my clothes, thank you.

I like dogs but only when the owner keeps them under control. And I think they should be microchipped, a licence is a waste of time.

SteveRobinson

EricTheWeary said:

I have a vague memory that the dog licence was scrapped when someone worked out it cost more to administrate than it brought in. 
Google says the licence was stopped in 1987, more recent than I would have guessed. 

I think it was 7s/6d if memory serves. 37 1/2p in new money.

Funkfingers

notanon said:

I've seen what are effectively killing machines taken for a walk by ppl that no way are capable of controlling the dog and off lead.

License the dogs & chip them with massive fines for those that ignore the law. Alternatively legalise guns!

This has been going on for years FFS!

I agree with those who say that dog owners should be legally responsible for the behaviour of their animals.

Where a dog is endangering people, pets or livestock, it should be permissible to intervene with lethal force and WITH IMPUNITY. Block the windpipe for long enough. The dog will never misbehave again.

Iamnobody

Funkfingers said:

notanon said:

I've seen what are effectively killing machines taken for a walk by ppl that no way are capable of controlling the dog and off lead.

License the dogs & chip them with massive fines for those that ignore the law. Alternatively legalise guns!

This has been going on for years FFS!

I agree with those who say that dog owners should be legally responsible for the behaviour of their animals.

Where a dog is endangering people, pets or livestock, it should be permissible to intervene with lethal force and WITH IMPUNITY. Block the windpipe for long enough. The dog will never misbehave again.

It already is permissible if they are worrying livestock. I’m not sure the average person on the street has the capability of killing a dog with just force. A farmer can blast one with a shot gun...