Problem with dogs in CVO

[Janet O]

Having just come back from Carvoeiro I have to say that I noticed
an increase in dogs running around the square. Ok they did have collars on but that
is not the point,when I am having a drink or a meal I don't want a dog
(and a large one at that) begging at my feet. Sitting in Matabixo last week looking across
the road it was more like a scene from the Butchers Choice advert on television.
Also when they progress to the beach these dogs cause a nuisance
especially with young children playing in the sand. I dare say that these
dogs just want to play but it can really scare these young children when a big dog approaches them
and may frighten them for life.
That's my take on it !!
Janet O

[Michael Crane]

Where is this ? , We have not seen any incidents as described.

Nor have we on our stay there last week. In fact I made a remark that there wasn't any packs roaming around!

....So next time you complain about dogs barking in their own gardens, you might like to consider why they do so - possibly as a result of the actions of these mastermind candidates

On ADM, Chico's villa, his dogs bark at everything thing that passes by their garden even on the far side of the road! They have been heard to bark all day and all night without any provocation at all.

[maccasa]

In july we had a very large, old alsatian wander into the garden when I left the gate open - he had a collar on and a piece of string tied to it. Seemed ok and was quite friendly - he enjoyed his two bowls of water and the remains of a pork chop off the BBQ - then he proceeded to lay by the pool and snore his head off. We got quite concerned after several hours and was wondering what to do when we heard someone whistle and shout "rix" - he perked up and wandered off . We found out the next day that he was a local dog who regularly has a walk round on his own!

Certainly it could have been a bit of a shock if you were uncertain around dogs, but it does seem that its the Portuguese habit.

He now pops round every time we are there! might try to get him to stay in the garden at night!

[kteee]

Where is this ? , We have not seen any incidents as described.

Nor have we on our stay there last week. In fact I made a remark that there wasn't any packs roaming around!

....So next time you complain about dogs barking in their own gardens, you might like to consider why they do so - possibly as a result of the actions of these mastermind candidates

On ADM, Chico's villa, his dogs bark at everything thing that passes by their garden even on the far side of the road! They have been heard to bark all day and all night without any provocation at all.

I am relating my experience, if that's ok, I have no knowledge of Chico's dogs

[Michael Crane]

....I am relating my experience, if that's ok, I have no knowledge of Chico's dogs

You're very lucky.

[Ellie]

Its not the dogs fault but often careless owners.

When we stayed at a place past Prima Veira (cant spell it), we had a dog(bitch) that used to come and howl near our place. Don't know if I did right but I fed her titbits. I followed her one day to a derelict piece of ground and found that she was feeding pups. I felt sad for her.

Living in Lagoa we had an apartment block close by where 3 dogs were tied up all the time on the roof. They were making such a din one night that I couldn't sleep.....so I yelled out the window....
trouble was, those dogs 'disappeared' after that....and boy did I have a troubled conscience!

I like dogs (having had 3 Boxers)...but don't blame the dogs. The owners should be more responsible.
As Lesley says, the Portuguese have a different attitude to animals...
I used to work for an elderly lady in Carvoeiro, on her garden....and she used to say, the Portuguese spoilt their children and were not so nice to their animals...
and in the UK it was often the other way around!
Bom dia

[Bristle Si]

"The owners should be more responsible."

And this was the main thrust of my two contributions on here; the owners are letting their dogs constantly disturb the peace.

As for the packs of dogs some have mentioned, we thought it wasn't as bad as in previous years' visits to CVO. In fact, we were in CVO for 11 days/11 nights recentlyand we saw very few wandering dogs. Also would add, that we've never viewed the dogs on beach or in street as threatening. They seem quite placid to be fair.

[blue]

Dogs that bark all the time are not an effective deterrant, dogs that only bark when someone approaches the property are certainly a far more effective alarm system. A lot of the Portuguese let their dogs bark all the time & totally ignore it, the dog could be barking at an axe wielding murderer or a plastic bag, the owners are so used to them barking they don't take any notice. We have lots of farms & cottages around us where the dogs bark incessantly at night, it drove us mad at first now 2 years down the line we don't even hear them we're so used to it. What we do hear though is our dogs kicking off as soon as anyone approaches our property but our dogs don't bark at any other time.

We are used to the regular strays in Carvoeiro, I was sitting outside of Hemmi's the other night & a stray known locally as Radar lay down beside me with his head resting on my foot, some of the local expats put collars on the regular strays so they aren't taken by the dog warden as they know the dogs won't be claimed & it will only end one way, I wish I could give them all a home but it's just not possible. People have tried to home some of the dogs but the dogs being so used to living freely can't adapt to the constraints & just wander away given the opportunity.

When you drive through Algoz in the morning there are lots of dogs gathering in groups, they've all just been kicked out of their owners house whilst the owner goes to work & they seem to have regular meeting spots (just like the old boys you see hanging around in groups) unfortunately they often get injured, or worse, by traffic, the Portuguese don't seem to expect their dogs to last very long & in fact if the animal does survive into old age they often just abandon them in favour of a new pup. Education is the key & the animal charities here do a lot to try & raise public awareness, how much of it is taken on board by the Portuguese I don't know but things have definitely improved over the many years we have been coming to the Algarve.

[miramyra]

dogs we saw, 3 in fact, chased after a guy on a push bike passed Hemmingways. Don't care what you dod lovers say, they shouldn't be doing it full stop and need to be controlled. Not acceptable and I have had dogs, worked and trained them. One day some one WILL get bitten, end of subject.

[kteee]

There have been dogs wandering round carvoeiro for more than twenty years, to my knowledge, and I guess for much longer but I don't recall any cases of people being bitten

I would rather there weren't any loose dogs, but as has been said previously, it's a cultural difference here and I expect it will change over time - the situation is certainly much better than it was in the mid 80s

[miramyra]

I hope it stays that way Ktee but what concerns me is more than two you have a pack basically, then basic instinct could kicks in.
anyway have a good evening all, been back a week and planning another.
MiraM

[pato]

The biggest concerns are dog's fouling the streets, a crime punishable by a large fine in the UK. Hence owners not allowing dogs out on their own.
I've just returned after three weeks holiday and I've been visiting Cvo for 25 years, I must agree that there does seem to be a prolification of dogs of all makes and sizes roaming the streets at present.
They do attack the wheels of vehicles usually, not the humans, the problems arise when they get into a hyped up pack-attack mode which can, eventually, turn them into a very different proposition for innocent bystanders.

Pato, News at Ten, Chester Zoo.

[joanne]

I have just got back and did not see any packs of Dogs. Maccasa that dog lives at thoses flats next to you, it comes in our Garden if we leave the gate open, but did not see it this week at all.