Dogs in Vienna, Austria

[kimbersmom]

DH and I just returned from a fantastic trip to Vienna, Austria. Talk about a dog-friendly city! There were dogs in the restaurants, on the subway, on the trams. Dogs have to be muzzled on public transportation but every one we saw very calmly sat for his or her muzzling before boarding the car. Stores that don't allow dogs had 'hitching posts' outside to leash up your dog (although we agreed that we'd be super nervous to leave Kimber out there.) We saw many, many dogs, and they all seemed to be well behaved. We heard barking 3 times, total, and the owners were quick to shush the dogs. In the parks, dogs would walk off leash, in perfect heel, not bothering anyone or any of the other dogs. The owners seemed well behaved too- in all our wandering, we saw unpicked up dog poop ONCE.

Our favorite? The lab trotting to the subway, carrying his muzzle in his mouth.

It's so interesting to see how other cultures handle dog ownership.

[barry581]

Europe in general is much more dog friendly than the US. I think I'd be pretty nervous leaving my dog at a hitching post to go into a store. Other than that I wish we'd allow dogs more places. Sometimes I hate leaving Sophie home, and would like to take her with me if I was able to.

[SunDance]

I used to see dogs leashed to posts or whatever outside of stores etc. quite often...not so much anymore. I'd never do it....I don't trust anyone sight unseen around my dogs.

[Java]

During one dinner in France, a few tables away was a family with kids. Seated on a chair among them was their standard poodle. He was calm & quiet the entire long meal, looked like he belonged there and ate his meal from a plate. I've always thought if we could take our dogs everywhere, we'd have much calmer dogs. In Italy, dogs of all kinds were out in public everywhere - in quiet streets or the most crowded touristy places. Even young energetic breeds trotted calmly by their people's side. The only behaviour I saw corrected (with a very light hand) was a swiveled head & momentary inattention to the heel from a young pit bull terrier.

[Annette47]

I’ve noticed that the dogs I see in NYC on my way to work (I go through Washington Square Park) tend to be MUCH better behaved than the ones that live near us in the suburbs. I think when the dogs are out (often by necessity) in public that frequently there is more incentive to teach them to behave properly, and they also become much more desensitized to distracting crowds.

[smartrock]

Heck, the dogs I've seen with homeless people seem better mannered than my two often do. The homeless dogs just lie with their owners and ignore passerby . We did take ours to NYC at Christmas and they walked calmly on their leashes and peed and pooped like professional city dogs. I think they were too shocked by their surroundings to act up.

[POPTOP]

Seems like it is a totally different mind set in those countries. How great it would be if it was like that here.

[MontananDakota]

omg a Lab carrying his own muzzle.

That's the place for me-where dogs are welcome everywhere!!

[Labradorks]

I’ve noticed that the dogs I see in NYC on my way to work (I go through Washington Square Park) tend to be MUCH better behaved than the ones that live near us in the suburbs. I think when the dogs are out (often by necessity) in public that frequently there is more incentive to teach them to behave properly, and they also become much more desensitized to distracting crowds.

When I did rescue, 90% of the Labs we took in were from the suburbs (with fenced yards, no less) and our best adoptive homes were in the cities.