What we’re about
Your Local Dog Friendly Community Network
Canine Conundrum UK was founded in 2017 as a friendship community network for adults with a love of dogs and a willingness to share the madness and joy with other like-minded individuals. We meet up in all sorts of places for dog friendly social events, training practice and exercise. Canine Conundrum UK is now part of the Friends Haven Community Network and we are open to all dog lovers, including those if us without a dog at present.
The main aim of Canine Conundrum UK is to host safe face-to-face group events to facilitate supportive friendships between dog lovers in each local area. For us it's not about large group walks and social events (although these are fun). Our members experience the usual range of 'canine conundrums', from not having car transport or struggling to find dog friendly rented accommodation, to health and disability related issues, anxious dogs and the need for friendly assistance with practical dog training and socialisation. Our Community network therefore aims to be inclusive by facilitating a range of accessible local hub member meetups across the region and aims to support the growth of an active canine community support network in your local area. If you're limited by an elderly mutt or have limited mobility yourself for any reason, please don't let it put you off from joining our network. Please get in touch to connect with others and share your ideas for social events near you.
Do you ever find it hard to fit in adult social time and human exercise with life’s responsibilities, like the daily dog walk? Are you someone who suffers from loneliness and isolation or are you just ready to make some new friends? Maybe you’ve taken on the responsibilities of dog ownership and found yourself in a conundrum such as personal ill health, or difficulties with dog training and socialisation, where you could do with some help and support? Although we can't help you with the household chores, we can offer you a chance to be part of our Community Network and to join other Members for group walks, dog friendly social events, education and training events, cafe & pub meet ups, beach barbecues, camping holidays and more.
Our network is also open to dog lovers without a dog. Perhaps your accommodation doesn't allow pets or you've recently lost your buddy. Maybe you want to know more about different types of dogs and what's involved in having one in your family before you commit. You're welcome to join us, but don't be surprised if you find yourself covered in hairs and mud, and end up carrying a dog poo bag.
This is primarily a community network for adults, although supervised teenagers are welcome as guests at many events. For safety, mixed family groups with young children will only be invited to special events suitable for their age range. If you have ideas for dog friendly social events in your area then please contact us online or at one of our face-to-face networking and planning socials.
Volunteering
Canine Conundrum UK is simply a community network spread across a wide area. We are self-funded and are not a service provider; everything we do is currently driven and funded by our Members. As a Member there are lots of ways to get involved socially and as a volunteer within the Community. Please get in touch if you’d like to start a local meet-up hub in your area, initiate or host an event, volunteer at one of our summer fair networking booths; or support the Central Organising Committee as one of our professional advisers and trainers.
If you'd like to meet us to find out more, please come along to one of our networking events or get in touch via the Meetup app.
Always Follow Local Bye-Laws and The Countryside Code
When participating in our Community events, please be aware of the local government bye-laws and dog codes for the area visited. For information on the countryside code, please refer to https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code/the-countryside-code-advice-for-countryside-visitors. The New Forest Code is available at https://www.newforestdog.org.uk/the-dog-walking-code.
Safe Introductions
To ensure everyone's health and safety (including that of our furry friends), please be aware of good practice when bringing a dog into a group environment or an enclosed space. These situations can be stressful for dogs, their handlers and other people present. Unplanned interactions with other adults and children are likely in public spaces, so please be prepared. Members should always aim to meet first in an open public space that is safe for an initial meet and greet between people and dogs.
You can read up on safe behaviour around dogs and how to meet and greet an unknown dog by referring to the Dogs Trust 'Be Dog Smart' education pages at https://www.learnwithdogstrust.org.uk and the Bestfriends.org resources. A useful guide for adults on introducing dogs to each other can be found at https://resources.bestfriends.org/article/how-to-introduce-dogs-each-other. The guide found at https://resources.bestfriends.org/article/how-to-socialize-dog may also be useful for dog socialisation training and events.
Understanding the body language of our dogs is important to manage their health and everyone's safety at an event. The Dogs Trust guide at https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/understanding-your-dog/body-language provides a helpful overview. A suitable guide for use with your children is available from https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/staying-safe-around-dogs.
Please don't worry if any of this sounds a bit overwhelming, but do talk to one of our Community Organisers or your Event Host before meeting up if you feel unsure of how to handle your dog at an event. For all our events you'll find it helpful to remember our 'Safe SPACE' guidance below.
Safe SPACE Guide
S = Start with a good space between you/your dog and the other members, with your dog on a relaxed but short lead. This will help to reduce the stress levels in the people and dogs present and maintains a safe distance if either dog barks, lunges or tries to move away.
P = Focus your attention on the other people taking part in the introduction. At this stage ignore their dog(s) and only give eye contact to the person you're talking to. If you have a dog with you then this is the time to encourage it to sit, wait and stay calm (with lots of reward as appropriate).
A = Ask the other person about their dog and if it is OK to approach. If they would prefer to maintain the distance for longer while they work with their own dog, then please respectfully maintain the distance. This is a good time to get to know the other person without our dogs getting over excited or stressed. Continuing to focus on the other person rather than their dog helps any dogs present to relax, because you'll be relaxing too.
C = For the next stage of the introduction, communicate and co-ordinate with the other person present while maintaining control of your dog at all times, as you walk your dogs past each other for a first sniff. Be ready to break off the interaction by walking your dog further away if the dogs or people present become more anxious and/or reactive.
If the body language of the dogs present suggests that they are comfortable around each other, then continue walking and talking together. However, maintain a safe comfortable space between the dogs as you walk. If in a safe off-lead area then it may be appropriate to let them play off-lead, while you continue to control your dog through training commands, treat rewards and play.
Please remember that even 'friendly' dogs may become a nuisance, can cause injuries or trigger an anxiety response in others. Therefore, never assume it is OK to let your dog approach others without checking first, and always be watchful of when it is time to take a calming break.
E = Enjoy your meetup.
Personal Responsibilities
Canine Conundrum UK is a community network organised by volunteers. We are not a professional service provider and everything we do is currently arranged and funded by our Members. While Event Organisers and Hosts will take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of participants and their dogs, everyone taking part in our Community events does so at their own risk.
At our Community events, dog owners always remain responsible for their dogs and are expected to follow the local bye-laws and countryside codes. All dogs should wear a suitable collar with appropriate ID, be vaccinated and on regular flea treatment, and be covered by a minimum of third-party dog insurance. Dogs should remain on-lead where required for safety and local by-laws. In designated off-lead spaces, dogs should remain on-lead until agreed by the event participants (i.e., following the Safe SPACE guide above), or where a dog has poor recall and is causing a disturbance to others.
Some noisy posturing may be normal as dogs say hello and test each other out for play. It’s also OK for a dog to signal "No thanks I don't want to play or be jumped on". However, dangerous aggression is not acceptable, so know how to handle your dog in case it does become over anxious or aggressive. If your dog is known to be reactive towards people or other dogs and is likely to bite, then please warn the event host before the event, ensure your dog wears a muzzle at the event, and maintain a good relaxed safe space between your dog and others throughout the event to help you and your dog remain calm and minimise any reactivity.
Members should ensure they wear appropriate clothing/shoes for the event and come equipped with water and dog waste bags for care of their dog. If a Member or their dog has health or disability issues, they should discuss these with the event organiser/host to ensure that they can be accommodated safely; special arrangements may be possible to ensure the event is accessible to all levels of fitness and ability.
Our Community Organisers, Event Organisers, Event Hosts and other volunteers assume no responsibility for anyone attending one of our events. The Community Organisers, Event Organisers, Event Hosts and other volunteers will not be held responsible for any accident, injury or loss occurring as a result of any Community event or in connection with travel to and from an event. Canine Conundrum UK accepts no responsibility for any harm, loss or damage caused by the actions of the general public, Community Members and their dogs.
When you join an event, you are confirming that you accept these conditions and that no legal liability is accepted by the Community’s organisers and other volunteers.