Now I am a dog lover and have had many dogs, akways well trained and good natured as I think they should be. However in our local village there is a dog who is always tied up, usually outside a pub and when you walk past he growls and when children pat him, which you cant stop kids doing, he bares his teeth. I have a problem with this as I dont think a dog with that nature should be left on its own for a time

I was always told not to go near a dog that isn't with it's owner as you don't know what it is like, that has stuck with me since childhood. Maybe if other parents did the same children wouldn't think it's okay to go around patting random dogs that they don't know.

When you next see it outside the pub go in and ask if it's anyone's dog and then maybe speak to the owner. But some animals don't like strangers just like some people don't like strangers.

Any dog tied up outside a pub, shop or whatever that is likely to bite should be muzzled.

I have a big problem with lazy parents allowing their children to approach unknown dogs especially ones on leads or tied up. Control children we were taught and we teach children not to touch dogs without asking permission, shear laziness in your parenting to not do that.

Muzzles are fine but not on tied dogs as it leaves them completely vulnerable to attack.

If a muzzled dog is tied up outside a shop if someone (or another dog) wants to attack it they will muzzled or not.
Hopefully in a public area there shouldn't be stray dogs or dogs without owners having them on a lead.

A re-homed Westie I had was very cautious with strangers and did not like a strangers hand approaching her. On the rare occasions when I had to leave her outside a shop a muzzle was used for the safety of the public (especially children as she looked very cute) and my peace of mind

You cant be with them all the time, these are children who are passing going to school and of course they will pat it

I was always taught not to touch a dogs unless I knew it or their owner said it was ok. Parents teach kids about crossing the road and not going off with strangers they can easily still teach them as most of us were taught dont touch dogs you dont know.

Equally if a dog is snappy or unpredictable its owner should not really go off and leave it tied up in a public place.

There is responsibility on both sides.

This^^^

Sadly people are stupid, they don't always think of others or of possible dangers/situations. So as a dog owner you need to presume people HAVEN'T taught their kids not to approach dogs, and so muzzle them if at all nessisary (or don't leave them unattended) but equally as a parent you need to presume that not all dog owners muzzle their dogs hen required, so you teach your child not to go up to them.

If the children have not been taught to be safe on their own they should not be out of their parents sight and a child not taught to leave other people's dogs alone is not responsible enough to walk to school alone.

I wasn't thinking of other dogs attacking them, it's people we have to look out for these days who do the worst damage to dogs.

Years ago I muzzled one of mine while I went into a couple of shops, not because he was vicious but because he was nervous and had barked at a couple of people. Never again, you wouldn't believe how many people can't resist tormenting a helpless animal, adults and children alike stamping their feet next to him or looming over him making growling noises and then laughing at his distress. It served as nothing more than an invitation to abuse him.

Unattended tethered and muzzled dogs are totally helpless and very aware of that, it causes terrible stress. They're vunerable to teasing, defenseless against attack from other dogs (lots of irresponsible teenagers with bull breeds in London) and theft. NEVER leave a dog alone and muzzled. Leaving a muzzle hanging loose around its neck as a visual warning is as far as I'd go with mine.

Why does anyone think that it is "OK" to leave a dog, of any description, tied up, alone, outside a shop/pub?
I would never, ever leave mine alone for fear of attack from both humans and other dogs; I personally feel it is irresponsible on the owners part and would question whether they actually should be caring for a dog!

I think it depends on the dog, the area & how long you are going to be.

I would leave my mums older dog outside a shop for a few mons (and have done - popping in for a pint of milk etc), as he's a relaxed, friendly dog that's fine with being left. However my pup is incredibly nervous around people, so I'd never do it to him, it'd upset him. I'd also never leave them outside whilst I was gone for a long time (ie having a beer in the pub or doing a big supermarket shop) I'd be too worried about them!

It also needs some common sense, I went to the garage the other day and a guy was tying up his little (youngish) yorkie. He chose a post that was not only right in front of the door (so people came out and nearly tripped over the dog and lead) but the lead was also long enough that the dog could walk onto the forecourt in front of the cars pulling out of pump 1. Idiot didn't think to check either factor before leaving the dog