Councils are obsessed about dogs, signs everywere, can't do this, can't go there, it is ridiculus. I've had my dog off lead, just wandering behind, having a sniff and people have yelled out from 100 meters away "put your dog on a lead". Any dog owner can tell you that dogs are more agressive on a lead, they hackle up at other dogs etc. If off the lead there is no problem. Go to horseshoe beach, there can be 40 dogs running around, and as soon as one on a lead comes through the hackles are up. Lake Macquarie council last year putout it's annual report with a whole page dedicated to the amount of dog crap counted by rangers at Redhead, it was down on the previous year, the idiots even had a graph. So the rate payers are employing rangers to count dog crap. I pick up my dogs crap, if i think it's in an inappropriate spot, if they go off into a bush, i don't follow them in with a plastic bag. For all those perpetual complainers too council about dogs, get a life, and leave my furry children alone!

The reason councils are obsessed with dogs on leads is simple. If there's an incident, victims sue the council. Who pays for this? Ratepayers, so keep 'em on leads. I take mine out every day on the lead, and it's never a problem. When i take him to Horseshoe beach he's on the lead till we get to a spot to put our stuff then he can run around all he likes. Following a couple of basic rules is no big deal in my experience. Each to their own i guess.

I am a dog lover, and have owned dogs all my life - but can entirely see why council's are so obsessed. My partner was attacked about 12 months ago whilst on a jog around our neighbourhood. Luckily for her a bricky in a truck was passing and he got out and fended it off with a shovel from his truck whilst she cowered in a tree to escape - she was injured, but had she not been helped who knows how bad her injuries could have been. My girlfriend now cannot go out by herself for fear of being attacked again. You see, whilst you see your animal as 'furry children' having fun (a sentiment I can entirely understand as a dog owner myself) to everybody else they are unpredictable. How do I know whether your dog is going to have a go at me or not? Why should I have to endure not being able to walk up certain streets because of your 'children'? I am not at all surprised at the amount of people who 'bait' dogs in the neighbourhood and have consdered it myself simply because the COucnil do nothing (my girlfriend could have been killed and that dog still sits on the footpath with no lead and no control every day)! If I was to ride my motorbike around your neighbourhood all night, take a dump on your lawn on beat up your kids with a stick, you would certainly have something to say, but some people allow their dogs to bark all night, sh*t all over my driveway and attack my family, but I'm being unreasonable???? I hve no problem with well behaved dogs under control, I have no problem with off leash areas or people who keep their dogs quiet, but these days there are too many idiots out there with animals that do whatever they like!

Jeff, we are totally over regulated, I spent some time in Thailand last year. I stayed at the Elephant Nature Park, at this park there were 42 dogs, none with collars or on leads or chains. There were approximately 20 volunteers, 10 overnight guests, staff plus 30 Elephants, and regular bus trips during the day with hundreds of tourists. The dogs ran around, slept and followed you around. No incidents, no-one bitten no food stolen and they went off away from the huts to crap. We are obsessed with regulation, the guys you are trying to make out as macho with big dogs off lead are just giving their dog and themselves a walk. We all have rights, you squeal incessantly about bike riders rights, but are very happy to have dog owners and their dogs rights under council fist. My dogs are Registered, desexed and microchipped, your bike does not have any ID, so when you break the law you just ride off, but you are a bike rider and your rights are paramount. I might also point out that pet ownership puts millions into the Australian economy. I might also point out too councilors who haunt this blog under seuto names, dog owners are getting sick of your stupid over regulation. And for any dog owners who think the same as me, check out the web site "Barking Mad".

Jeff, i believe they are, it was evident before the last council elections, that councilors and would be councilors were using your site. I agree with king idiot, that if a dog is barking all night, sitting outside his owners property unchecked and aggressive the council should do something, but they don't, too busy counting dog crap, and listening to habitual complainers about the bad dog situation. There is no place in society for an aggressive dog, and idiot dog owners, but society should recognise that people take dogs in as part of their family.

Buell, cyclists complain when motorists flout the law. Similarly, non-dog owners complain when their owners flout the law. Do you see the connection? Keep your dog on a leash when required, pick up its poo ALL the time - don't ignore it when it is in the bushes as rain will eventually have it out in our waterways. Obey the laws, which are there for everyone’s' safety and amenity and you will be fine (instead of fined). On a final note please don't take your dogs into National Parks under any circumstances, as unfortunately happens in the Glenrock State Conservation Area constantly, and often off leash to boot.

As a former dog owner (they died of old age), I loved the leash free area's and horeshoe beach. However out of those areas I kept my dogs on the leash and yes they were more aggressive with hackles raised to other dogs. However, I was very conscious that strangers don't know that my dogs were harmless. And people should be able to walk streets and parks etc. without wondering whether a dog wandering free is friendly or not. And absolutely I picked up my dogs poop - gross but again I thought how angry I would be if I stepped in dog poop. It's about being responsible for ones own decisions. It was my decision to own a dog, therefore my responsibility to care for them. Now if only I could catch the rotten dog that keeps crapping right outside my front gate and next to my car.

Jeff how did the bike ride go ?It sounded very challenging.

There must be many more off leash areas. Newcastle Council does not have one beach where dogs can run. What about making all beached off leash areas during winter? Stockton north of the last pathway could also be leash free. Owners also need to take more control of their dogs. Their is no way my dog would wee or poo on horseshoe beach. When I see other dog owners letting their dog do it I ask them if their dog also craps in their lounge room!!!!

For a start Mr corbett, you are factually incorrect in your column today. You could be using your journalistic prowress and foi to really compare whether these complaince officers have been fining people , what for, and at what time . They are around, I have a $330 fine to prove it. Council re advertised the position again over the w-end . This would be because the job sucks, the laws over the top and NCC over zealous.