I think that it is safe to say that summer has finally arrived.
Fortunately for the next few months the sunshine is here and reports say it is going to be a warmer and sunnier summer than usual. I say bring it!Having a dog to share long summer months with really does make the season that much more enjoyable. Whether it's lounging under the shade of a maple tree at a park, hiking local mountain trails or taking in the sunset at the beach, a dog just makes it. .. right.
But given our rapid population growth and the high-density living that seems to be taking over the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, it is becoming harder to find places to hang out with our beloved canines without feeling the crowds encroaching as more people move into the area. Parks are getting busier, streets are getting busier and many dog people are ending up in areas that are considered "No dogs allowed" simply because there seems to be less space.When this happens, it's only a matter of time before something - or someone - snaps under the pressure of their space being encroached on. Dogs are no exception. If you find yourself in areas designated "No dogs allowed" please be accountable for your pet's behaviour in these areas. Clean up after it, don't let it run amok off-leash, and for goodness sake, respect the people who are using the area.
Now, I get that is a bit hard on the ego for some dog owners and they may get a big chip on their shoulder, but my words of advice to them is: "Grow up." Dog ownership is a privilege, not a right. Respect the bylaws and if you can't do that, then at least respect yourself by being polite and sharing the area responsibly.
A friend of mine went to England recently and sent back photos of herself and her black Lab sitting in a pub together having a pint. I love that! The U.K. is so much more progressive than North America regarding dogs in restaurants and pubs.
Back here in B.C. we seem to be a bunch of germaphobes. Although many dog owners, including myself, regularly bring their dogs with them to coffee shops and outdoor patios, it is against health regulations for dogs to go inside. Some establishments will bend the rules a little and allow a dog on the patio with its person, but most simply allow the dog to be tethered to the fencing that surrounds the patio with its person on the other side.
Although I understand the reasoning (health regulations), for dog owners who choose to bring their dogs out with them, it places the dog in a compromising situation. Even the most well-behaved, tolerant and socialized dog can get startled, frightened and threatened when tethered in an unfamiliar area. Even if the dog is familiar with the local coffee shop, all it would take is a child walking by and dragging his or her feet along the pavement in front of the dog for the dog to get freaked out. Not having a place to retreat to, since it is tethered and its owner can't help, it could protect itself the only way it knows how - by biting.
I do think that in these situations everyone needs to be aware of the potential for danger - not only the dog owners, by having forethought about placing a dog in a situation like this, but also the non-dog people who are walking by. I think we are equally responsible for keeping our dogs and our children safe. Remember: dogs do silly things - they are dogs! But so do children, because they are children! Neighbourhoods are getting busier with people and dogs. As dog owners, it is our duty to represent ourselves in a way that can educate those who don't have dogs, but are subjected to them daily due to the growing and mixing of communities. If not, it will be just a matter of time before the privileges we do have are taken away!
Joan Klucha has been working with dogs for more than 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation. Contact her via her website k9kinship.com.
