Should Dogs Be Banned from the Beach?

Yes and no. During the summer in the day on beaches used by lots of people yes they should be banned. In the evenings or early morning or out of season I don't see a problem with it as long as owners are responsible and clean up any mess.

I always thought dogs were banned on the beach during the school holidays. I'm not sure if this rule had been relaxed at anytime but it is how I have known it to be for at least the last 20 or so years. I agree with them being banned during this time but would not be in favour of them being banned all year round, especially with the UK's water company allowing sewage to be discharged onto coastline waters anyway.

I live near the coast & often walk our dog on the beach. Here the rules are during May till Sept dogs are banned, i assumed it was the same across the board? There is a section of the beach dogs are allowed during those months, which we will do if it's quiet but tbh we mostly tend to avoid going during those months. I don't have a problem with it & nor do I with fining those who break it.

No if they are keep on a lead

I think it’s fair to ban them from the beach during peak times because whilst most owners are responsible, there are some who will let their dogs fowl or run up to people. As usual the small minority spoil it for everyone.

I think the best solution is what Ive seen some beaches do, have a section where dogs aren’t banned.

I often go to Weymouth in the summer and despite their rules you often see dogs on the beach and no one is policing it. I'm not against dogs on the beach anyway myself but its pointless having rules if they are ignored.

Where I am dogs have to be on leads from may to October. There's a lot that ignore the law or put them on a lead but let them run round the beach. Personally I think dogs in the summer should only be allowed on certain beaches and not all. Just cos if people don't follow the law how its meant to be as in not letting your dog run round causing havoc then we need it be stricter

I think as long as the owners are responsible and clean up after the dogs they should be allowed. But they should be kept on a lead. I had a boxer years ago and she used to get so excited trying to catch the waves i always kept her on a lead. I would never have forgiven myself if she had knocked a child over in the water. Dogs are a part of the family- but yes - it should be ’policed’.

I think if a parent caught someone not cleaning up after their dog they would approach the owner- i know i would have done. I do now if i see an irresponsible owner.

It depends on the owners as well as the dog. On the rare occasions we took our dog to the beach she was kept on her lead, we picked up after her and made sure she wasn't bothering anyone else. Perhaps there should be a small section of the beach where they are allowed and then the rest of the beach they aren't.

If you're going sunbathing, it is far too hot for dogs to be on the beach, so I say ban them.

Keep dogs and ban some humans instead.

Our dog loves the beach, so no they shouldn't be banned, the irresponsible owners who don't clean up after their dog should be banned

As someone mentioned above, if it not policed, then it is ridiculous to place a ban at all but I am not in favour of having to avoid dog poo if I want to walk along any beach and I have been to some places where we wanted to have a game of football and couldn't as there was too much dog poo around! As usual it is to the detriment of responsible dog owners that these rules are necessary.

Samgoodship thanks

I think its fair enough that some sections of the beach are marked as dog free but there should be some areas where dogs are allowed. As others have said though, if its not policed then its dont really matter anyway. But then thats probably the case with other proper crimes as well these days.

No, it's the owners responsibility to keep them under control and pick up their .

We live in a civilized society.. or used to.

YES I THINK THAT DOGS SHOULD BE BANNED FROM GOUNG TO THE BEACH, BECAUSE OF THEIR MESS COULD MAKE YOUNG BLIND.

No they shouldn’t be banned, if people cleaned up after there dog instead of burying it in the sand and think that’s ok then yes but it gives considerate dog owner a bad name