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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Stonefaction" data-source="post: 3558167" data-attributes="member: 83980">Even having designated zones doesn't help much unless you have the manpower to police it. Riverside Nature Park here in Dundee has made half of the park "dogs in lead/stick to paths" for the breeding season to try and encourage some of the Skylarks to breed in the park. The lower half is available for dogs off the lead. So many of the local dog walkers don't even notice the signs, so many of those that do pay them no attention, some of those ignoring them do not take kindly to being told about the signs with what appears to be an upwards trend towards verbal abuse this year. Some  commercial dog walkers are in the above categories. Dundee City Council is looking to introduce a register of those services, and I believe there will be requirements to be met before those offering the service will be on the register (in effect a 'trusted trader' scheme of sorts). Not being on the register is likely to be detrimental to any commercial dog-walker in what is becoming an increasingly competitive sphere. However the majority of the doggy disturbance is from those owners who believe they have the right to walk Fido wherever they want (the same sort that believe speed limits are for others) and that "dogs are part of nature" (heard that one a few times) so nature reserves etc are a great place for them to play fetch.Personally I'd like to see fenced off areas/fields provided solely for dogs/dog walkers around the city (and even in the countryside). Outwith those dogs would have to be on a short lead in public. For those dog walkers who don't clean up after their dogs, it will be other dog walkers (and maybe themselves) who have to watch where they put their feet. I'd also ban dogs from beaches completely.Rant over.</blockquote>

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