I'm afraid the pine martens aren't keeping the greys at bay. We've recently had a programme of introducing more in certain areas up here, and it isn't working. The greys are too quick at breeding and are just staying a step ahead all the time.
Personally I'd like something done about the amount of out of control dogs round here that I encounter. Yesterday was the 2nd time in ten days that I had one go for me [and that wasn't the first time it's happened either]. The guy yesterday thought it was funny. The woman last week tried to blame me for one of her four animals doing it, because when it got within ten feet of me [still snarling and barking] I waved my arms at it to chase it away. I wasn't waving my arms at it when it started running at me from 100 feet away. I'm now going to take a walking pole with me. I'm not easily scared of very much, but I'm now terrified of any dog I see.Â
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I'm not sure I'd want an unfriendly dog getting that close to me, but it's a good tip to know if one does. I like @Fairygirl 's walking pole idea and would use it if I needed to. Luckily we don't seem to be too badly plagued by dog owners who can't (or can't be bothered) to keep them under control.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Just varnished the stair bannisters with quick dry 20 minute water based varnish, run out before I finished so had to buy some more. Can I get 20 minute quick dry again locally, no! its 60 minute dry only. What's the world coming to when you cant get 3 coats on in an hour. Bah.. Humbug.....
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
Having owned large dogs for many years - at least one of which looked terrifying - I can see what the woman was trying to say. Saying it to someone who has just been confronted by your snarling dog is not helpful, of course. But as a general principle, making yourself interesting by waving and shouting will hold a dog's attention and keep them focused on you. I understand what you're saying about it not having started that way. Carrying a stick may make you feel safer but waving it at a dog will likely encourage it. Standing still and not making eye contact is the best defence, but not easy to do when you're scared. Very few dogs will bite a stranger on neutral ground, unless severely provoked, and any that does is legally 'out of control' and will be destroyed if reported. A bit late, at that point, for both the dog and the person attacked.
We've been threatened and verbally abused (with police involved) many years ago by someone who did exactly the wrong thing when one of our dogs approached them. Fortunately the policeman was familiar with dogs and nothing came of it. But we, as a result, now don't let our dogs off the lead in public areas. Whilst we know they have no harmful intent, some people don't know how to act and we have to protect our dogs from the kind of over-reaction that threatens their lives. Our dogs' lives are poorer as a result but at least they have one.
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”Â
I get really angry about people failing to control dogs sensibly, partly because our (onlead) dogs tend to be the prime target of off lead dogs' enthusiasm but mostly because every person who feels threatened, as fairygirl was, is another advocate for restrictions on all dogs. It shouldn't be necessary for councils to spend money policing dogs. My dogs, my responsibility. If children are running around screaming, keep the heck away from there - it's bound to end badly for someone. Don't let your dogs run on the moors where there are ground nesting birds. Don't FFS let your dog into a field of sheep. I mean, who does that? Who cares so little about the safety of their dog, let alone the livestock, to do that? And yet dozens do. Every day. Makes my blood boil
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”Â
I get really angry about people failing to control dogs sensibly, partly because our (onlead) dogs tend to be the prime target of off lead dogs' enthusiasm but mostly because every person who feels threatened, as fairygirl was, is another advocate for restrictions on all dogs. It shouldn't be necessary for councils to spend money policing dogs. My dogs, my responsibility. If children are running around screaming, keep the heck away from there - it's bound to end badly for someone. Don't let your dogs run on the moors where there are ground nesting birds. Don't FFS let your dog into a field of sheep. I mean, who does that? Who cares so little about the safety of their dog, let alone the livestock, to do that? And yet dozens do. Every day. Makes my blood boil
I'm afraid it's another example of " I want this pet, and YOU HAVE to put up with it "Â Dogs barking endlessly, dogs jumping up on strangers ( at least ) cats crapping and killing anything they feel like, etc etc
I kept dogs until my late fifties. They were always on leads .As one of you (sorry I have a form of dyslexia,my memory isn’t too good either )  said my dogs my responsibility .I didn’t want my dogs to disturb other animals or people .I didn’t want them to get hurt either .I now have three cats . I was concerned about them making a mess in other peoples gardens .I was also concerned about overzealous people hurting them while they were trying to evict them from their gardens . We had a a large cat run built in the garden that is accessed directly out of the back door .My cats are happy .I am sure my neighbours are happy .
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Personally I'd like something done about the amount of out of control dogs round here that I encounter. Yesterday was the 2nd time in ten days that I had one go for me [and that wasn't the first time it's happened either]. The guy yesterday thought it was funny. The woman last week tried to blame me for one of her four animals doing it, because when it got within ten feet of me [still snarling and barking] I waved my arms at it to chase it away. I wasn't waving my arms at it when it started running at me from 100 feet away.
I'm now going to take a walking pole with me. I'm not easily scared of very much, but I'm now terrified of any dog I see.Â
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55817385
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw'
We've been threatened and verbally abused (with police involved) many years ago by someone who did exactly the wrong thing when one of our dogs approached them. Fortunately the policeman was familiar with dogs and nothing came of it. But we, as a result, now don't let our dogs off the lead in public areas. Whilst we know they have no harmful intent, some people don't know how to act and we have to protect our dogs from the kind of over-reaction that threatens their lives. Our dogs' lives are poorer as a result but at least they have one.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”Â
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”Â
Dogs barking endlessly, dogs jumping up on strangers ( at least ) cats crapping and killing anything they feel like, etc etc
I was concerned about them making a mess in other peoples gardens .I was also concerned about overzealous people hurting them while they were trying to evict them from their gardens .
We had a a large cat run built in the garden that is accessed directly out of the back door .My cats are happy .I am sure my neighbours are happy .