Nuisance dogs

[Stellen]

This thread was the most interesting and amusing thread in ages and it's a pity the best posts get deleted.

But I suppose we must all remember that this is Portugal where the sun always shines, the sky is blue, locals are incredible friendly, dogs never bark, strikes never happen and Portuguese bonds are all rated AAA.

[Maggy Crawford]

To Stellen, I am glad you are enjoying it. You forget to mention in your list where the GNR are always smiling. Yesterday we went to Sintra for a concert in which a friend was singing only to find that the city was swarming with GNR because there was a huge UNESCO conference going on. It was hilarious to see them without the obligatory menacing sunglasses and jackboots. We asked one for directions and he probably thought we were delegates. He smiled, spoke impeccable English and gave us very full directions for where we were going. Later in the evening while waiting for the lights to cross on a zebra two GNR jumped out from behind trees and stopped the traffic to let us cross, again smiling. It was a joy to behold. The concert was pretty good too and Sintra is lovely.

[Waterdog]

Am I missing something, what have the last 2 posts got to do with us dogs?

Why not start a new thread on whinges I would like to have?

Sure it would be very busy & could be fun!

[Waterdog]

From comments on this thread it would appear that nuisance equates to barking (isn't much else a dog can do) so I thought I would ask experts what is the law.

I now understand that no action can be taken between the hours of 7am & 11pm but outside these hours, the law can be summoned.

Unfortunately if, by the time the law arrives, the barking has stopped - no further action will be contemplated!

My contact also commented that, even if there was the will (which there is not) as the law stands, it is virtually impossible to enforce. They offered that the authorities could find a number of better ways of spending their on-duty time.

A mobile-home may be the only answer!

Siobhan, been a Boxer fan/owner all of my life & in my experience the seldom bark, but there again Boxers don't really think they are dogs like wot the rest are.

[siobhanwf]

Originally Posted by Waterdog

From comments on this thread it would appear that nuisance equates to barking (isn't much else a dog can do) so I thought I would ask experts what is the law.

I now understand that no action can be taken between the hours of 7am & 11pm but outside these hours, the law can be summoned.

Unfortunately if, by the time the law arrives, the barking has stopped - no further action will be contemplated!

My contact also commented that, even if there was the will (which there is not) as the law stands, it is virtually impossible to enforce. They offered that the authorities could find a number of better ways of spending their on-duty time.

A mobile-home may be the only answer!

Siobhan, been a Boxer fan/owner all of my life & in my experience the seldom bark, but there again Boxers don't really think they are dogs like wot the rest are.

Special breed!!!! The two we have are fantastic and now just over a year oly....unfortunatley one barks at his own shadow (Haakon) which makes up for Freya who hasn't found her woice
Not suprising Haakon is scared when I know the background!!!!

We thought that the local dogs barking would really bother us when we first arrived but it didn't take very long to get used to it. The worst is the small yappy ones.

[Waterdog]

Once, we had a barker (not a Boxer) so we took it along to dog classes where they taught us how to control barking.

As dogs don't bark when they are lying down, the trick was to first use verbal commands to get the dog to lie down, followed by a verbal command not to bark.

Once this had been mastered, the verbal commands were backed up with hand signals.

In the end we were able to use the no bark and signal in isolation.

Became quite a party piece; unfortunately you have to know the dog well & don't know the Portuguese for, "No bark". so wouldn't work out here.

[dannyb]

Originally Posted by Maggy Crawford

Forgive me if this matter has been dealt with before but I wonder if anyone has some useful advice. Our Portuguese neighbours have a new dog, not a puppy anymore, who is left to wander around the street and barks at anyone coming towards it. (The Portuguese seem to use dogs instead of doorbells). I have tried talking to the neighbours, explaining that the noise is a nuisance and totally unnecessary and their reply is some nonsense like "talk to the dog not us". They seem to be totally oblivious of the noise. I have suggested they keep the dog within the property so it does not see people but to no avail. Any help would be appreciated (short of running the bloody thing over).

/////SNIP/////
It is obvious to me that in general around Portugal the dogs are much happier and are treated much better than dogs in the UK, especially the strays.
The people here are much happier too, probably because they're not worrying their heads about minor issues such as these!!
It is a part of the culture to let the dogs be free and to SHARE responsibility for them... something that may be alien to you.
The street dogs keep are a part of the community in Portugal and we all could be too if we choose to intergrate.
Finally, dogs that are free to roam are good for security and to keep pests at bay.
Please don't delete this Siobhan, people need to hear the truth and should know that although their opinions may be popular amongst expats, that they can be offensive and ignorant.
Too many people move here to do nothing but complain and it irritates the decent few of us!!

[Waterdog]

dannyb - agree your sentiments but of a bit harsh judgement of your fellow expats. Dogs barking at night can be a real pain but normally they are not the strays!

Woof

[Ingles]

To a great extent I have to agree to "dannyb" post .
One of my neighbours has a Harley bike with the distinct bubbling exhaust sound & every night & I do mean everynight 21 -22.00 you hear him going off & some time later coming back.
He goe's around & feeds all the street dogs using his own money to buy the food.
He knows where there going to be because he has set up feed points hidden away & the Dogs are nearby waiting for him.
Great bloke with a good heart

[dannyb]

Originally Posted by Waterdog

dannyb - agree your sentiments but of a bit harsh judgement of your fellow expats. Dogs barking at night can be a real pain but normally they are not the strays!

Woof

True enough... a bit, but it's something that can't be helped. Would you move next to a farm and complain about the smell?!
Some people would!
Sorry... just had to say something....