Well everybody you have gone off on one. Poor loanerwhelk. I feel really sorry for them. I too prefer to have my dog with me. After all that is why we have them surely. For our companionship. Not every one likes to be pestered by other peoples dogs. I have nearly taken home other peoples dogs with me because they have followed me everywhere. Not until I see or hear the person that supposedly owns said dog coming at 90 miles an hour behind me do I realise that the dog was not a stray. We all do prefer our personal space where ever we are so please respect others and try to be more helpful when you see someone trying to train their dog. :-) After all we have all been there and very frustrating and stressful it can be. No matter how many other dogs we have trained in the past.

>After all that is why we have them surely. For our companionship. Not every one likes to be pestered by other peoples dogs.

Surely there's a major element of dog ownership dedicated to what the dog prefers, not us? Training, yes of course, very important. Mixing with their own kind in a totally relaxed way is equally so. Even dogs need to let their hair down! :)

Thankfully these sort of gatherings are still very much the norm here in my favourite walking places in Bristol, and the ownres and dogfs are very relaxed in general. :D