Well we're Townies through and through, born and bred. Unfortunately our dogs would be extremly hard pushed not to see crowds We live in an extrememly busy built up area where up the road is a large industrial estate, our road is a bus route, with many many lorries from the industrial unit up and down, the only peace we have from traffic is usually between 1am and 5am 5 mins up the road and your on the main route to Birmingham City Centre.

But I think to say people taking dogs out on hot days around crowds takes the biscuit is sort of generalising everyone with the same brush. Ours don;t have any problem with heat, in fact to keep mine away from heat I'd have to shut them in, even when we;re not out the ''little monkeys'' go out in the garden and sunbathe
We take ours out all weathers, but we are responsible owners, we don;t subject them to long periods of heat and crowds, as Im sure no-one else does on here.
But I agree I do think (for my bunch) its a wonderful way to get them bomb-proof and we have the sort of job where ours are accessed (Tess has hers in September) at a centre in Bromsgrove they have a grueling 30 mins and have to be prepared for anything, if they don't pass....then Im out of a job, because I wouldn't get rid of my dog/s.
We've walked past the Blue's-ground when they are just turning out its an exercise for ours. simple as

Heres a strange one for you.

Max my Aussie shepherd x rottie was never walked through town centres or taken too huge events he was walked on lead round the housing estates near by and they are fairly quiet and the fields and the woods off lead. He was very social, outgoing, not noise phobic a good all round social confident dog.

Ollie because of his breed known to be shy need early socialisation was taken to towns, on holidays, frequently into PAH week days and weekends also walked round the same estates Max was and the same fields and woods.

He hates crowds and towns and shows of any kind is nervous of most things and is noise phobic. So socialisation isn't always the key sometimes it is the dogs personality surely.

How would you know how your dogs would react in any situation if they have never been in that situation, with regards to the pedantic 199 comment i dunno but it is a proven puppy training method but then again as you have 30 years experience then you are probably right.
If an event is not suitable for dogs then the organiser would
not allow dogs, what you see as people orientated events are too me an opportunity for my dogs to enjoy life and have a great day and when it is very hot well i find shade and make sure they take on plenty of water.
Your comment about fitting your lifestyle around your dog is strange as i would have said the opposite to be honest, whenever you go anywhere i guess your dogs stay at home which is sad in my opinion or have you never left the countryside.
Townie lol i love that term.

okies
oh defo imo.. kaos not a chance.. chikka(his mum) would take herself! lol

Well i think the answer lies in your reply as your breed is known to be shy then no amount of socialising will make them super confident but may take the edge off that nervousness, i suppose those that buy your breed know this and make allowance for that shyness, all my 3 dogs are very outgoing but my border is traffic nervous yet he was very socialised to it early on, i guess you are right no system is 100% and a dogs individual character needs to be taken into account.

I take my dog to such events. She revels in them. She LOVES people and meeting other dogs, so a place crowded with people who want to pet her and dogs to greet? Perfect for her.

I doubt I would have stayed for the laser show as the moving lights might have bothered her.

I take my dogs to crowded places, partly because of the socilisation aspect and partly because its practical to do so.
I live out in the country dso the more people they see the better. They walk close so never a problem.
My jrt tends to walk behind me as he's learned thats the best spot to be in to avoid being trodden on. Collies walk beside.
I think if you have nervy dog and do this consitently making them walk with you (as opposed to reacting) they will get lots better.

Adam

That is what I found out! I have 3 children who all want to hold my hand when out so what in itself is a nightmare Then with a child one side and 2 the other where am I supposed to put the dogs It was ok with one child, especially when still in a pram but now it is a logistical nightmare!! Shame I am not an occtopus

So I do assume that the people who take their dogs everywhere probably don't have children? Which you have to agree does make the situation easier!


Ok fair enough that is your opinion. But imo a dog enjoys life and has a great day by running around like a loon in a field, beach etc being a dog and sniffing around doing doggy things NOT being on a lead being dragged around stalls and sights at a public event but again I stress this is just my opinion and I totally respect and value your opinion I just choose to disagree

Oh and yes I very rarely do leave the countryside

But not all dogs are alike. My dog would do little in a field but lay down and enjoy the sun. Run around like a loon? Never. At an event with a lot of people? She loves it, plays the social butterfly and meets everyone, gets a lot of petting. It's perfect for her and I wish more events would allow me to take her with me.

She sounds like my Labrador. He LOVES anywhere crowded with lots of people. He is a lazy sod so loves pottering about on the lead, getting fuss and of course...scavenging crumbs off the floor. Where there are people there is always food.

He often seems bored on 'regular' walks through fields and woodland, yet totally changes when we walk in crowed places...my local village, towns, game fairs, etc. He loves it and I'm sure wishes he could live in a city.

So, it goes to show how different they all are. My girls on the other hand would much rather be in the fields chasing rabbits.