Latest news with #dogownership
Telegraph
04-08-2025
- Telegraph
Britain's problem isn't dogs, it's their pandering, middle-class owners
My two-year-old son was scooting happily ahead of me through the park when I saw the menace approaching. A spaniel-looking thing, shaggy of coat and eager of head, sharking towards him from behind like one of the velociraptors in Jurassic Park. I started to run but not before the dog had put his paws up on the boy's shoulders and started sniffing eagerly at his face. Harmless, perhaps, but enough to spook him. I scooped him up and went to remonstrate with the dog's owner, a pathetic-looking middle-aged man trotting lamely after his charge. If you can't be bothered to train your dog, I said, possibly in some stronger language, then have it on a lead. The park was full of children. 'It's full of dogs, too, he's just a lively puppy,' the owner replied, as if they were creatures of equal value, rather than a human child and a furry lifestyle accessory. I would like to see his response if a grizzly bear or Bengal tiger placed its paws on his shoulders and slobbered over his face. We exchanged a few more sentences. Would your son like to say hello to the dog, he asked. No, I said. He would like you to train your dog. Another dad arrived, papoose strapped to his front, to tell the owner that his response was completely inadequate. I walked off. It was the third time recently that something like this has happened in a London park. The dog owner always offers the same kind of half-arsed non-apology. The standard of dog ownership in Britain has become shockingly bad. Depending on which reports you believe, the number of the dogs in the UK has risen to somewhere between 10 million and 13 million, up a fifth in little more than a decade. As my colleague Guy Kelly reported earlier this year, experts agree that lots of the newer owners are not fit for purpose. The issue is not with trained dogs, which are wonderful. Nor, strangely, is it really with the obviously terrifying attack-type dogs. At least you know to give them a wide berth, and their chain-wielding owners tend not to unleash them on playgrounds. The problem is the in-between cases: these selfish, arrogant middle-class owners who like the idea of a faithful hound gambolling off the lead but are too lazy or entitled to train them. It is unfair on children and unfair on dogs, which are not the same, as the law makes reassuringly clear. If a child bites a dog it gets a talking-to and possibly a smack. If a dog bites a child it can be summarily executed. The real Salt Path would make for a much better film The wonderful revelations about The Salt Path continue to roll in. This weekend it was the turn of local businesses featured in the book to talk about the gross misrepresentation they suffered at Raynor Winn's hands. A cafe owner in Mullion Cove, Cornwall, told The Observer that the book's depiction of a bullying cafe owner left her 'feeling sick'. There is only one cafe in the harbour, so the implication was obvious. Meanwhile the owner of the only pub in Westward Ho! that fits Winn's description of a 'dismal bar' where a pub quiz was going on says they have never had a pub quiz. And so on. The book was sold as factual, but turns out to have been a novel. Naturally it makes for a much better yarn now. Rather than earnest downtrodden self-improvers, we now know that Winn (Sally) and Moth (Timothy) were (allegedly) fleeing a fraud and their 630-mile yomp was a getaway hike. The film would be fantastic: a kind of knitwear Bonnie & Clyde. Like Lance Armstrong, Winn could have a second career turning gamekeeper, giving earnest mea culpas on chat shows and advising publishers how to spot other fraudulent nature memoirs. Call it a Winn-Winn. I'm converted: padel is just better After years of principled resistance I caved on holiday and tried padel. Our hotel had a shiny new facility next to its weed-covered tennis court. Proselytisers are always off-putting, and padel inspires bores like few other activities, so it is painful to report that the padel-pushers are right. Padel is simple, fast, energetic and less dependent on serving than its cousin. Just as many new board games, such as Settlers of Catan or Splendor, are simply better designed than the Cluedo or Monopoly we grew up with, so tennis will end up like the red squirrel; a charming native forced out by a boisterous intruder and eventually glimpsed only in rare corners. Tennis will endure for spectators, but for players the path is clear. Shocking as it sounds, the old ways are not always best.
Japan Times
07-07-2025
- General
- Japan Times
A furever friend: Tips for responsible dog ownership in Japan
Past the ticket gates, Spencer Walther emerges from the subway, lugging what looks like a large laundry bag. 'Welcome! Welcome to Tokyo!' I squeal, hopping up and down as he deposits his ticket and squeezes past the barrier. 'Is this...?' 'Yep, meet Kitsune,' Walther says. Inside the black pouch, through a mesh window, I can see a red mameshiba — the toy version of Japan's Shiba dog breed — sitting still and stoic as a garden statue. One brown eye rolls toward me imperiously. 'She's ready to be out of her travel bag now.' We put Kitsune in a harness and leash and are soon settling down at a nearby Anea Cafe, a popular restaurant chain that welcomes dogs. Here, Kitsune stretches her legs and enjoys a bowl of yam mash. 'I always knew I wanted a dog,' says Walther, 29, as he watches her scarf down her meal. 'I can't speak Japanese, and dogs also can't speak Japanese. I thought we could relate to each other and not speak Japanese together.' Originally from Wasilla, Alaska, Walther is in his third year of teaching for the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program in Matsumae, Hokkaido — a climate not too different from the one in which he grew up. In the two-and-a-half years since he adopted her, Kitsune has become a favorite companion of Walther's students, coworkers and fellow JETs. She's also become his best friend. Owning a 'fur baby' is on the wishlist of many young newcomers to Japan, particularly those who have pets at home and miss them. Unfortunately, due to the stress of acclimating to a new environment, various Japan-specific obstacles to adoption (including language barriers), animal-prohibitive rental housing and the ongoing expenses that a pet entails, few foreign residents are able to follow through with pet ownership. Yet attaining and properly caring for pets in Japan is possible and, as Walther attests, perhaps not as difficult as people think — so long as a person is well-prepared, responsible and diligent. What follows is a general guide with notes and suggestions for those who are specifically thinking about dog ownership in Japan. Acquiring an animal Japan has rescue shelters as well as some animal cafes that help to rehome pets, such as Cafe Lua and Rescue Dog Cafe Tachikawa. Tokyo-based couple Ice Elloso, 37, and Reyna Marquez, 31, who are from the Philippines and the United States, respectively, adopted their 6-year-old Chihuahua, Lume Chichi, from an 'anifare' (animal welfare) pop-up event run by Animal Refuge Kansai. Depending on where you live, however, it can be challenging to find an agency, as there seems to be less enthusiasm surrounding 'adopt, don't shop' in Japan as in other countries. Reyna Marquez and her partner adopted Lume Chichi from an "anifare" (animal welfare) event run by Animal Refuge Kansai. | Courtesy of Reyna Marquez Once a potential pet owner finds an adoption agency, they may encounter a slew of additional obstacles — especially if, like Walther, they are a foreign resident, unmarried and male. Many animal shelters flatly refuse to give animals to individuals who are neither permanent residents nor citizens of Japan, fearing they could leave the country abruptly and abandon their animals. Even Tokyo resident and Japanese citizen Atsushi Fukumori, 46, who owns a rambunctious corgi named Cai, found it impossible to adopt a rescue dog when he was searching for a pet. 'Some organizations only allow adoption by married couples,' says Fukumori. 'In some cases, the household must include at least one woman ... to be eligible. So for someone like me — a single man — it felt like the barriers were extremely high.' Whether adopting an animal at a shelter or buying one at a pet store, expect long processing times and mountains of paperwork. However, the biggest barrier to pet ownership may not come down to who you are but where you are. Finding a rental that permits animals can be a challenge, limiting your residential options. On top of that, finding a house or apartment — to rent or buy — that is spacious enough to accommodate your pet needs to be taken into consideration. The larger the breed the more you'll need to think about whether they will be comfortable or not. Elloso and Marquez kept their dog's needs in mind when apartment-hunting, while Fukumori used his desire for a pet to make good on his dream of buying a house. Out in small-town Hokkaido, Walther was lucky enough to receive a decently large house from his board of education; he was doubly lucky when the organization told him a dog would be no problem. 'Where I move next might be more risky,' he says. An owner's toolkit Besides vaccines and spaying or neutering dogs on arrival, owners in Japan should consider a list of both helpful and necessary items for their pet. One item Walther stresses for Shiba owners is a harness. Given their small heads and thick necks, collars slip easily from these breeds. Walther also makes sure his house is well-stocked with flea and tick shampoo, as ticks are a particular hazard in Hokkaido. He recounts an episode when he took Kitsune for a hike and found her covered in ticks afterward. Even while avoiding tick-infested areas, he is sure to check his dog carefully for parasites several times a week: looking inside her ears, around her eyes and between her toes. Like humans, dogs can get Lyme disease. Besides travel bags for public transport, Fukumori recommends investing in a car seat harness for keeping dogs safe when traveling by car. He's also a fan of keeping your dog well crate-trained. 'It's much safer and more secure than a dog car seat, in my opinion,' Fukumori says. 'It also becomes incredibly useful during trips or even in emergencies, like natural disasters.' Atsushi Fukumori recommends crate-training your dog for safer transport in cars and emergency situations. | Courtesy of Atsushi Fukumori Less serious but still a point of contention among pet owners in Japan is the idea of pet clothing: It's not unusual to see dachshunds paraded around a park in T-shirts and baseball caps. Marquez and Elloso keep a collection of dresses and tiaras for their Chihuahua daughter, but they point out that shoes are sometimes necessary to protect against hot asphalt or icy snow. Insulated coats can be a blessing for less hardy animals in the colder months. A final reminder, especially for those living in a Japanese city: Bring a bottle of water on walks to wash away urine as a common courtesy. Elloso also champions flushable poop bags, which can be disposed of in any toilet. Traveling with a copilot One privilege dog lovers enjoy more than cat lovers is the prospect of bringing your pet with you on your domestic travels. This has certainly been one of the greatest joys for Walther and Fukumori, who both drive. 'She's great in the car and loves going around,' Walther says. Walther and Kitsune have driven all over Hokkaido, hopped on ferries for road trips across Tohoku and explored the mountains west of Tokyo and Gunma. Two years ago, they summited Mount Fuji together ('She was a little grumpy from the cold') and, more recently, Walther and his father went cycling on the Shimanami Kaido with Kitsune ensconced, princess-like, in a little dog trailer. 'When I'm not driving, the shinkansen is my best friend; they allow dogs (up to 10 kilograms),' Walther says. 'I buy the ¥200 dog pass, but no one's ever asked to see it. Public transport, like Tokyo subways, trains and buses, are very dog-friendly if your dog is small enough and has a travel bag.' Spencer Walther has traveled all over Japan — by car, train and ferry — with Kitsune in tow. | Courtesy of Spencer Walther Though Walther and the others have dogs small enough for easy travel (Fukumori's hefty corgi pushes the upper limits), they all bemoaned the punishing task of finding dog-friendly hotels and Airbnbs. Visiting restrooms, convenience stores and restaurants with a dog leash or travel bag in hand, they agree, can also be difficult — though Elloso and Marquez have the added advantage of being able to pass Lume Chichi off to the other whenever one wants to visit the shops or facilities. Despite the costs and inconveniences, it goes without saying all four interviewees treasure their dogs more than anything. 'I used to worry that having a pet might limit my ability to travel, that it would make my world smaller, but it's the total opposite,' Fukumori says. 'I got my driver's license because of Cai. He's taken me to places I never would have gone on my own.' Walther says he has met and befriended many new people who fawn over Kitsune wherever they go. 'Animals are just the best,' he says, beaming. 'They never let you down. They'll always be there for you on your worst days, happy to see you. ... I think they're the most joyful beings out there.'
RNZ News
01-07-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Owner 'shocked' after being hit with $1400 fee to have three dogs
Owen Haring doesn't think it's justifiable to have to pay that much to have chocolate labrador Holly, dachshund Frankie and golden labrador Harry at his home. Photo: LDR/Max Frethey A Richmond resident has been blindsided by a $1400 fee to keep three dogs on his property. Owen Haring went to register his dogs before the 31 July deadline but was "really shocked" to find out that Tasman District Council requires a resource consent to keep three or more dogs on an urban property. About five minutes down the road, in Nelson City, owners of three dogs require a permit rather than a resource consent because it falls under a different council's rules. Haring has lived on his central Richmond property for seven years and had at least one dog for all that time. The third dog has only recently arrived at his home, having moved in along with his wife following their marriage, and had previously been registered at a different address. Since the three dogs have been on the property, Haring received his first noise complaint related to barking, though he said there was "nothing" in it as someone was almost always with the dogs and any periods of absence would be a "couple of hours at most". It was when dog control first visited after that complaint that Haring first heard about needing a resource consent, which has a $1400 deposit, to have three dogs on his urban property. The consent would be on top of the three charges of $90 to register each dog. "I'll register all three, but I'm not going to be paying the resource consent just because I don't think it's right. How can they justify that?" he asked. "It's a significant amount for people to cough up." Haring didn't want to be "dishonest" by registering the dogs elsewhere and would welcome an officer to conduct an inspection of their property to ensure it was suitable, "but we're not going to be paying $1,400 for red tape," he said. While the $1400 is a deposit, and some of the money could be returned, he said he talked to another resident who went through the process and only received $70 back. "I'm not someone that jumps up and down about anything, but what do you do? Do you choose who's going to go out of the three? It can be pretty stressful." Tasman District Council's group manager environmental assurance Kim Drummond said having three or more dogs on smaller urban properties could increase problems. "This opens up the potential for amenity, odour and noise issues to be more difficult to manage - particularly in the eyes of nearby residents." The resource consent process looks at the potential effects of those three issues on neighbours which is determined, in part, by a site visit from a council staff member. If the effects were low, that would be reflected in the time spent processing the consent, Drummond added. If a consent is granted, it is applied to the property indefinitely but isn't carried with the owner and dogs if they move to another location. Council had granted six of the consents over the last four years. Five of the six cost between $1200-$1700 and had approval from affected parties, while the sixth cost $3600 and didn't have approval from all affected parties. Drummond said the council hadn't had to pursue enforcement against a resident who hadn't acquired the consent, but a breach would attract a $300 fine and a requirement to obtain the resource consent. Rural properties can gain a kennel licence which "seems to be more attractive". Drummond added the issue had not surfaced during recent reviews of the dog control bylaw or its fees and charges, nor were there requests to change the rule, which was in the Tasman Resource Management Plan. Nelson residents don't need a resource consent to keep more than two dogs on an urban property and instead just need permission from the council. Nelson council's group manager environmental management Mandy Bishop said after a resident completed an application form, the council checked for past complaints and inspected the property to determine if a third or subsequent dog may cause a nuisance. "If we grant a permit, it will include the names of the specific dogs approved. If the dogs on the property change, the resident must renew the permit." The permit applies to the dogs specified rather than the property with the permit needing to be renewed if the dogs on the property change, and can be cancelled by the council at any time. If more than two dogs are kept without permission, the council can issue an infringement notice. After three notices, a resident can be barred from owning any dogs for up to five years. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Times
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Meet the real Downton hounds: the Countess of Carnarvon's dogs behaving badly
Fiona, the 8th Countess of Carnarvon, 61, who lives at Highclere Castle in Hampshire, the setting for the hit ITV drama series Downton Abbey, could teach the fictional Lord Grantham a thing or two about dog ownership. He has just one labrador to bring to heel — she has six, plus two spaniels — and they often cause chaos when the film crew's catering trucks roll in. We have six labradors and two working cocker spaniels. It all started with Percy, a yellow labrador I bought from a friend when my son, Eddie, was two years old. He was a lovely dog for Eddie to grow up with and we nicknamed him the Yellow Lion because he had this wonderful old-fashioned big head.
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The UK's most expensive dog breed that costs £16,000 to own
From mountains of dog food to unexpected trips to the vet, looking after man's best friend can often get expensive. But now, experts have revealed the UK's priciest pooch. According to experts, the Romanian Mioritic Shepherd dog is the most expensive dog to own, costing £16,250 over its lifetime. On top of an average £511 initial cost, that means this dog would set you back £104 per month for its entire 13-year life expectancy. That includes a whopping £5,789 spent on dog food alone, over nine times more than the £610 cost of feeding a Chihuahua for life. On the other end of the scale, the English Toy Spaniel proves to be the most affordable breed for British dog owners. These small dogs cost £5,163 over their 11-year lifetime, or just £39.12 per month. Tom Sadler, managing director at Pet Insurance Deals, which conducted the analysis, says: 'While cost shouldn't be the only consideration, understanding the long-term financial commitment can help prevent heartbreaking situations where owners must surrender pets they can no longer afford to care for properly.' Size is one of the biggest factors in determining a dog's cost, with seven out of the 10 most expensive breeds weighing over 36 kg (80 lbs). Following the Romanian Mioritic Shepherd dog, which can weigh up to 60 kg (130 lbs), the next most expensive dog is the 27-kilogram Hamiltonstovare, which costs £14,951 over its 15-year lifetime. This was followed by the Estrela Mountain Dog, which weighs up to 50 kg (110 lbs) and costs £14,778.13 to own for life. Smaller dogs, meanwhile, are significantly cheaper to own over their lifetime. The cheapest dog, the English Toy Spaniel, weighs no more than 6.3kg (14 lbs) at the very largest. This is followed by the Japanese Chin, which costs £5,348 over its lifetime and weighs 1.8-3.2 kg (4-7 lbs). Likewise, the Pomeranian costs as little as £5,594, or £33.30 per month, and weighs just 2 kg (4.5 lbs). However, medium breeds offer the best value for money in terms of cost relative to average lifespan. Dogs like the Border Collie and Australian Cattle Dog cost £8,676 and £9,328 respectively, but live for 13 to 14 years on average. These cost differences are largely due to the increased cost of feeding significantly larger dogs. A large dog might need to eat between 500 and 600 grams of food per day, compared to the 80 to 100 grams required for small breeds. But some breeds have different dietary requirements, and the costs of feeding can vary significantly between breeds. For example, the central Asian shepherd dog requires £37.67 while the similarly sized Belgian Malinois requires just £25.74 of food every month. Another big factor for the overall cost is grooming, with some dogs requiring frequent professional treatment. Breeds that require specialist treatments like hand-stripping, a method involving pulling dead hair from dense-coated dogs by hand, can cost over £1,740 just to groom. The Afghan Hound, the fourth most expensive breed, costs £1,925 in grooming costs over its lifetime. Insurance costs can also be a big factor in determining how much a dog costs to keep. Since certain breeds are more prone to health conditions or congenital disorders, they are expected to have higher medical costs and larger insurance premiums. For example, the Afghan Hound costs owners £2,227.68 in illness and accident insurance over its lifetime, nearly triple the amount for some smaller breeds. Likewise, the Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog costs £2,361 to insure over its lifetime compared to just £700.80 for a Kuvasz, despite both being large breeds. These total expenses often dwarf the initial cost of purchasing a dog, which typically ranges from £400 to £500 for pedigree breeds. Mr Sadler says: 'The financial aspect of pet ownership often surprises new dog owners who haven't factored in the long-term costs beyond the initial purchase. 'We recommend budgeting not just for routine expenses but setting aside emergency funds for unexpected veterinary care, which can be substantial regardless of breed.' The most expensive dogs to own in the UK Lifetime price includes initial purchase cost, insurance, food, and grooming expenses. Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog: £16,252.53 Hamiltonstovare: £14,951.24 Estrela Mountain Dog: £14,778.13 Afghan Hound: £14,275.83 German Wirehaired Pointer: £14,187.13 Central Asian Shepherd Dog: £14,171.75 Belgian Malinois: £13,795.69 Spanish Mastiff: £13,628.94 Tornjak: £13,062.47 Large Munsterlander: £13,016.76 Irish Setter: £12,974.38 Stabyhoun: £12,966.24 German Longhaired Pointer: £12,869.56 Portuguese Pointer: £12,841.66 Otterhound: £12,774.25 German Shepherd Dog: £12,721.89 Wetterhoun: £12,658.12 Wirehaired Pointing Griffon: £12,595.22 Poodle (Standard): £12,563.74 Bouvier des Flandres: £12,559.93 Small Munsterlander: £12,449.58 Boerboel: £12,304.19 Canaan Dog: £12,258.57 Azawakh: £12,245.07 Bohemian Shepherd: £12,237.15 Bloodhound: £12,227.52 Eurasier: £12,136.30 Alaskan Malamute: £12,056.87 Catahoula Leopard Dog: £12,020.81 Beauceron: £12,012.73 Wirehaired Vizsla: £11,983.01 Hokkaido: £11,959.64 Belgian Sheepdog: £11,897.88 Belgian Tervuren: £11,897.88 Saluki: £11,896.22 Australian Shepherd: £11,896.22 Borzoi: £11,875.60 Gordon Setter: £11,873.23 Kuvasz: £11,834.51 Vizsla: £11,766.61 Airedale Terrier: £11,736.68 Norwegian Elkhound: £11,731.22 Harrier: £11,711.72 Briard: £11,671.27 Samoyed: £11,656.14 Irish Red and White Setter: £11,621.79 Rottweiler: £11,618.59 Sloughi: £11,594.58 Entlebucher Mountain Dog: £11,577.47 American Bulldog: £11,547.25
