I second that Dibley

In an ideal world this would happen, but unfortunately it doesn't, so we are left with poor unruly dogs through no fault of their own, and totally out of control kids, again probably through no fault of their own! Always the owner never the dog, and always the parents for their hooligan kids, lack of time and interest in both instances in my view I like to know that I can take my dogs round anybody's house and they will behave impeccably after being told to sit down, and the same would go for my kids if I had any. I have had kids round my parent's house when i lived at home who were jumping all over the furniture - outrageous, and I've had dogs round my house running amuck too (that wasn't so much outrageous though as just plain naughty) If a dog hasn't been trained properly then it just doesn't know how to behave, whereas kids understand plain English so there's really no excuse for them is there!

Yes, sounds a bit "worrying" to me as I'm the same with my two with their "mad moments" if we meet another dog who doesn't seem to like them and they are on their leads. Happened to me only yesterday when I was walking them down the village High Street, a woman approached me with a black mongrel dog and it was giving my two grief and it took all my strength and shouting to hold on to them both and make them sit and wait until it had gone past, on the other side of the road I might add! If a policeman had seen that I think all 3 of us might have been locked up! Yet as soon as it had gone, they walked on like perfect little angels one either side, perfect!

They have also started in Spain but the problem with the Spanish they start but don´t go through with it, not hard enough anyway, because here it is a big problem because they don´t have the felds and the room even to keep dogs in the city.

Yep - I had two thoroughly spoiled little 'sweeties' to contend with in a supermarket the other day, barging around me and an elderly lady .... with proud dad looking on and saying nothing.
Grrrrrrrrr.

Very true mini, but i do think it would cut down on irresposible owners, as most just couldn't be bothered with the effort needed.

Ahhh but if the police man only had the powers to question if you had a licence, and if not then take it further, then there wouldnt be a problem because I'm sure you would have the dogs AFTER you qualified, so it wouldnt be a problem

Mo

Mmm, just because children understand plain english doesn't mean they understand the need to listen and alter their behaviour unless they are taught to

Its a wonderful ideal, but I wonder - how many dogs are kept without papers in Germany, Fred? I think it would only be taken up by those owners who are already responsible - and others would get a dog anyway; and probably dump it and get another if they were caught

Trouble is as we all know having a drivers license doesn't stop people speeding and drink driving etc and it wouldn't stop people from begrudgingly (sp!?) taking some class of a few days to obtain some sort of an animal license and it doesn't necessarily mean that they would be a good owner with one...

But I do think that much more education is needed regarding animal welfare, not just in training but in all areas.

I strongly agree with this matter. When you had to have a licence for a dog things were not so bad.
I am a firm believer in training. But it is me who has to be trained to train my dogs. I think some form of compulsorary training would be beneficial to owners and also dogs , moreso owners, as we have our dogs for life and they depend on us for water, food and love . They do not ask for anything back. This would stop a lot of attacks and possibly putting dogs in shelters . I know that there are people whose circumstances change and they cannot keep their dog but that is different. Yes I do wish they would change the law . We are dealing with living, breathing , loving creatures and if we train ourselves to train our dogs there would be less "incidents"

well said scottish mags!