how are dogs percieved???
 

hi all - we're off to canada soon and taking our two boxers with us (avatar pic) i know bout dog parks an keepin them on leads, an dog licences in some provinces etc
anyway due to bad experiences here in greece made me wonder how are dogs in general percieved in canada?
thanks in advance :thumbsup:

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

We were in Vancouver in the summer and I have to say its one of the things that surprised us about the place. They have signs for the owners reminding you to clean up/keep on lead etc and are also converted into doggy language(wuff wuff..grr grr)...which is a nice touch!! Now, I dont live there (yet) but it did seem that dogs are tolerated well as long as they are on leads as far as I could see anyway, but I'm sure some of those who actually live there will give a better appraisal of how they are percieved.
Where are you headed?
lns

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

depends where you live. I live in rural Newfoundland and dogs wander the streets in much the same way they did in 1970s England. Dogs are a commodity - if one gets run over it gets run over. You can always get another one. We don't have a vet in town and people don't drive to the nearest town if their dog's injured. I've lived in Ontario where dogs are treated much the same way we treat them back home and rural Nova Scotia where it's a mixed bag - some treat them like they do here, some treat them like they did back home. Whereabouts are you heading?

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

How very BC - more crazy than the Brits!

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

Well-behaved dogs are tolerated well. Probably why I get a bit stressed with my two then!

Every third house seems to have dogs in them.

Small dogs are popular - never seen so many fluffy bundles on legs (I can't talk though 'cos I've got two small/medium sized woofers now too).

On-leash areas are in the majority and very by-law regulated. Off-leash areas are very specific and are very by-law regulated.

There is no open land to just go walking with the dogs, like crown land or parks in the UK, and I wouldn't got trekking across someone's farm here either. Land is privately owned. You could head out to the Provincial Parks though, and municipally run off-leash areas.

Find a house with as big a garden as you can to let them run around, and if you are going suburban, check out the dog walking areas close by. It's a pain the bum to have to load up cars and specifically drive somewhere to take the dogs for a walk, as pretty as that place might be.

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

Where I am, people love dogs (including the people who don't own one, but most people around here have at least one).

Many locals just let their dogs roam freely during the day and most members of the local community allow this to happen without complaint.

Some of these dogs, though, are of the "coyote" breed and have no owners. But I'm sure, for the most part, they are just perceived to be part of the local community.

Today we took our dog to a local beach. Almost every person we saw just went over to her and started playing with her. No one asked if she was vicious. No one asked for permission to touch her and certainly no one asked if she was rabid; or if she was a coyote.

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

I wanted to take my dog on a bus and was refused. They are not welcome on the train either.:frown:

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

where was that?
lns

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

Where we are in Halifax everyone seems to own dogs. We own an American Bulldog & an English Bull Terrier (potentially scary to some) & they are both very well tolerated. It would be wise to check the asinine breed specific laws in the province you plan to live in as they vary vastly across the country..

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

In Ontario. I don't think dogs should be treated that way. They are beautiful dignified animals a lot nicer than some people.

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

Oh craps, thats rubbish! In Van people seemed to adore the wee doggies. Shame about Ontario.
lns

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

Almost every other household seems to have a dog or dogs around here. No problem anywhere outdoors (except children's play areas) as long as they are well behaved and on a leash.

There are a few off-leash parks, the beach on the reservation, and lots of other trails where off-leash dogs are OK as long as they are under control.

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

Pretty much agree with this quote (probably as I live in the same town!).

Bichons seem very popular but there also seems to be a lot of Huskies and Labs too.

Most owners seem responsible but there's always the exception of course. Plenty of bins and poop bags provided by the Town but doesn't prevent you coming across little parcels that haven't been scooped up. Everyone seems very tolerant towards dogs. I take my two little furry friends to the local dog off-leash area every day and it seems like half the people I meet down there know my dogs by name now! :thumbsup:

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

There are tons of dog owners around here too. Lots of people have little yappers as they don't think they need to be walked and then there are loads that have big dogs - rotties/boxers/labs etc and also don't think they need to be walked which is why the damn things bark all the time:curse:

There is a local of leash dog park - soon to be two and as there are also loads of trail systems in Red Deer there is always somewhere different to go as well. One thing I really like about winter is the fact that most dog owneres don't think their dog requires exercise in the winter so Henry and I have the trails and lakes mainly to ourselves, mind it is nice to be able to stop and chat with the local dog owners that actually walk their dogs in the warmer weather.

I'm not surprised to not be able to allow dogs on public transit, just because you love your dog it doesn't mean other people should have to put up with it.

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

I love everybody's dog and I would like to see them treated like the intelligent creatures they are.

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

The TTC allow dogs, except during peak times. From the all important By Law Number 1:

20. (a) hours
No person shall bring any animal onto any vehicle or premises of the Commission during the hours of 0630
to 0930 hours and 1530 hours to 1830 hours, Monday to Friday inclusive, during any emergency, or at any other time that vehicles are heavily loaded.
dogs
(b) At all other times no person shall bring any animal onto any vehicle or premises of the Commission except (a)
while on a leash, (b) small animals when carried without danger or offence to passengers.
(c) Persons using either seeing eye or hearing dogs for
guide
purposes shall be exempt from the provisions of subsections (a) and (b).

I have frequently seen dogs on the subway and buses. Having said this there are some routes that I think would be inappropriate to try and take a dog on.

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

Similar rules in Calgary

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

Ok. Thats enough factual information on the thread. Let's return to wild anecdotal ranting....

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

I have nothing against dogs, but in peak hours times on crowded Toronto transit you are literally forced to stay very close to someone you don't know...I can only imagine how difficult that would be with a pet thrown in the mix.

Actually come to think of it even on non peak hour time the TTC can be very crowded.

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

Only pets in carriers on BC / Van transit - so that stuffs me - I have a dobie / ridge cross!!!

I did giggle other day, I saw a girl on the sky train with one of those soft sac gym bag things that has a pull uo handle and wheels - like a long weekend size bag - I looked again and there was the head of an English Bull terrier poking out - all snuggled up - happy as larry!!

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

I have taken a dog on the Queen and Gerrard cars countless times without incident. I wouldn't try it at rush hour though.

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

a real dog or just a ruff looking woman ;)

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

Was this the gay one?

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

Ah, I was thinking of the real dog. No one notices another rough looking woman on the Gerrard car.

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

That one, and a few times, cruikshank's half-blind incontinent one. The latter is definitely not for rush hour.

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

:thumbsup:

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

The point I was trying to make is:
You may love everybody's dog, but not everybody is a dog lover, why should people who don't like/are afraid of dogs have to be in close quarters with them, because someone brings them on public transit?

I wouldn't dream of taking my beautiful, intelligent, people loving dog on public transit, when we are on the trails, I make him heal and we move across to the side when someone comes in the opposite direction - in case they are afraid or don't like dogs. It annoys the hell out of me when other dog owners let their dogs come barreling towards us - often unleashed, where they are supposed to be leashed, without any control.

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

Thanks to all for, as usual some excellent advice there, we're heading for new brunswick, so i think the general opinion is they'll def be accepted by most then, as they're boxers they do look slightly mennacing tho they're not -i do appreciate not everyone likes dogs for whatever reason. I have been looking into dog parks etc where we'll hopefully be going and certainly dont mind and have, got the dogs in the car an travelled with them to somewhere different/suitable.

we see ourselves as responsible dog owners they're well behaved, oh can walk them off lead anywhere an they stay by his side tho i'm not so confident to do that so wouldn't but nice to know i wont be threatened with them being shot while walkin with them just down the street on lead or cacking myself they gonna get poisoned!

pp - agree with you on this one - not forgettin a lot of people do like them but could have allergies.

[QUOTE=Piff Poff;8521349]The point I was trying to make is:
You may love everybody's dog, but not everybody is a dog lover, why should people who don't like/are afraid of dogs have to be in close quarters with them, because someone brings them on public transit?
QUOTE]

Joe - i will check the breed laws now - thanks for that, an i love the american bulls and see me gettin one when my lil'uns go, though have a few years yet they're only 5 but that'll give me plenty of time to research the breed.

thanks again everyone x

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

Really important on the preflight - check for dogs! This one gets to ride up front.

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

oh god no :rofl:

mind you save some money on the crate!

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

Sorry, totally forgot! Some airlines refuse to take "flat faced" dogs. We had nightmares with Canadian Affair initially & I had to ask the woman on the 'phone to Google "English Bull Terrier" to prove he had a long muzzle as opposed to a short one, ironic considering the whole breed was developed to lengthen the muzzle of bulldogs!
I have no idea what the situation is now as this was 18 months ago but I doubt it's changed much. The reasoning is that they supposedly have trouble breathing during the flight & the airlines don't want to be sued. I have doubts about this but I would imagine that Boxers (beautiful as they are) would be in this group..

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

hi Joe an thanks for that .. jus had a look at there website and found this;

Animals

Canadian Affair DO NOT allow the carriage of live animals as cargo on Thomas Cook Airlines or Air Transat flights.

I have flown mine before with thomson an they jus insisted due to the short snout they must have ventilation both ends of the crate but then it was only a 4 hour flight
i have emailed canadian affair for more info. i know a lot of airlines dont like flying british bulldogs an the like, just covering themselves as it is a long flight and knowing the breathin probs they can have fair enough

so knowin the english bulls are lil solid muscle machines how much did yours cost to get out there, our boxers are pretty lightweight at 28 and 32 kilo's so i'm expectin in the region of about £2000

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

We just had the EBT & 2 cats when we flew out. We took in the AmBull as a rescue about a year ago. We paid £1,400 at the time and used TransFur, they were really great to deal with (I've never used anyone else though so can't really compare)..

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

ok excellent thank you for that info - hopefully will be goin in about 3 months so best crack on!

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

Where I live in Ontario they have leash-free zones. Although there are bad cases, I always considered Canada one of the more civilised countries when it comes to animal welfare. The local Humane societies are run by dedicated volunteers and animals are generally part of the family.

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

Access to countryside, and the necessity use a leash depends very much where you live. All the city public parks/greenspace here require dogs to be on a leash, though specific dog exercise park spaces do not. This area is blessed with crown land directly off many people's property, or within a short drive, where space and freedom for dogs to run around is pretty much unlimited.

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

all good to hear thanks everyone - poor dogs have been having a bit of a raw deal here an sounds like they'll be in their element - mind you just being on grass they'll be in heaven - only olive groves here!

tho i keep threatenin i'm gonna sneak them onto the 18th hole down at the blue palace before we leave!!!

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

Having worked for an airline, yes snub nosed dogs have more issues, while the belly is heated and pressurized it gets very stuffy, poor circulation of air, combine this with an animal with a snub nose and the altitude pressures not a good mix for snub nosed dogs.

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

If someone doesn't like dogs that is their problem not the dogs a bus is big enough for them to move away. Where I live dogs are not allowed on the bus at any time anyway.

There would have to be seriously something mentally wrong with a person to object to a dog on a bus, allergies are rare, so don't bring that up. I have never heard of anyone having an anaphylactic reaction to a dog. sneezing doesn't count.

You are putting the rights of someone objecting, a stranger on a bus over the rights of your dog. That's not right!

I don't think you should be making the dog heel on a trail either, if he's well behaved what is the problem? To me thats over controlling. I don't like to see pets or kids being over controlled.

Re: how are dogs percieved???
 

I didn't mention ANYTHING to do with allergies at all so don't slate me for something I didn't say.

And as for the rest of your rant, I really think you have a screw loose, I don't have personal exclusive rights to a trail, I use a 20ft long leash for my dog - not a retractable one, I heal him so he is close and away from someone that may fear him or from someone elses dog that may attack him, and yes that has happened. It's called protecting my dog from other peoples stupid behaviours and respecting other peoples views. As for dogs on buses, I have seen people allow their dog to pee up the fixtures in petsmart and petland, I wouldn't want to sit on a dog pee'd on seat on a bus.

You come across as a very single minded person who feels that her views are the only ones that should be listened to, I just hope you don't move down my street with your dogs running riot all over the place:eek: