Then and now??

Just been thinking about our first dogs and we didn't have any 'behavioural' issues, they didn't go to puppy classes but got on well with other dogs, we (mum usually!) trained them herself, none of this dominance stuff etc was about but the dogs seemed more rounded, our dogs didn't have a fight with any other and my friends dogs all used to get on - We as kids could walk our dogs with our mates and their dogs without a skirmish, all different breeds and sizes.

Nowadays it seems half the dogs you meet have some kind problem with other dogs/people/traffic - Why is that??

What's the difference between then 30+years ago and now??

they were treated like dogs.......

Dogs haven't changed; the world around them has.

Lots of dogs still do fine without trainers and behaviourists, get along with other dogs, don't have fights etc. My mum's pup went to a puppy class but other than that it's all been training at home, socialisation down the park, and pup is well-behaved and great with other dogs.
Just like any situation, you tend to hear more complaints and problems than you do positive stuff. If someone is struggling with their dog being reactive then they'll post to ask how to deal with it, whereas someone with no issues is unlikely to start a thread to say, "I don't need any help, my dog gets along with other dogs just fine, thanks " so I think that contributes to making the "now" look a lot worse than the "then"

Because 30 years ago, we did not have all the restriction we have today , going back even further than that it wa snot unusual to see dogs roaming the streets in packs, all getting on with each other.

In today's world thats 1) not possible 2) not acceptable.

Look to the continent and the street dogs of France, Portugal Spain and so on, you dont see many squabbles and if you sit long enough (at a cafe) you will see how they interact with each other. you will see the hierarchy at play and how they all seem to understand their place.

My first dogs were naturally part of the family and the community. So they tagged along everywhere - parties, parks, the swings, shopping. I remember my first GSD happily joining the kids in the municipal paddling pool and the kids taking her on the slide in the park.
You aren`t allowed to do that now.

Following the last two...

More people, less space, more traffic, less time.

Think things are generally more uptight too.

My first dog had loads of issues and didn't get on with other dogs or people for that matter, he was a nightmare but I loved him and he taught me so much. He was the family dog but I took over responsibility for him when I was about 12 so about 1966, he went everywhere with me but all my mates knew what a b*gger he could be. He wasn't under socialised far from it but he had a screw loose and was a right handful at times, not for me but for everyone else even my very dog savvy parents. So no for me it wasn't better years ago, I've never had a dog with issues anything like the catalogue of issues he had.

This got me thinking to my 1st dog. He was a reward for passing my 11 plus 50 years ago. 7/6p from the pet shop!!. From day one I took him out to play with me all day...(no thoughts about over exercising a pup). I never came home till tea-time,wandered miles with him which children would never be allowed to do now, He came in shops with me for my penny sweets, Sunday lunchtime he went to the local for a pint with my dad. Family days out could take him anywhere. no restictions... yes. when I give it thought it was probably a lot easier owning a dog then and perhaps the easy going attitude rubbed off on them.

Looking back for me is not even 20 years (can't remember further back). I was allowed to walk the dog round town, walk her to the park, she would come to my friends house late at night to walk me home. My mum or dad would just open the door and some how she always knew where I was (probably just sniffed me out). She would play with all the other dogs, and would put a horrible Alsation in its place when it growled and chased me and my friends, it was the owner, and even as children we all knew it. She never had her annual jabs, used to walk her without a lead and take her out until she got bored of us and wondered back home. Now I wouldn't dare take Cookie out the front of the house without his collar, tag and lead on.