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AIBU?

Aibu - dog in the pub

27 replies

TwentyCupsOfTea · 20/03/2016 12:34

So last night in the pub with the rugby on, a couple came in with their dog. It was a beautiful, well behaved lab. The pub allows dogs but they must be kept on a lead. For an hour or two dog sat quietly, was given water by the staff, and was no trouble. The owners were drinking heavily but were causing no trouble.

After an two hours the dog started to get restless, and the couple stopped paying attention to it. The pub was very very busy. On three seperate occasions the dog was let off it's lead and wandered off alone into other rooms, and at one point wandered behind the bar. The owners were told to keep hold of the dog each time. Eventually the couple were refused service by the staff and told to take their dog home. Rather than do this, they sent another friend to the bar to buy them more drinks. They were in the pub for around 4 1/2 hours and left after midnight.
Aibu to think they were bad dog owners? How long would most dog owners feel it was appropriate to keep a dog in a pub for? And how much would you drink in charge of your pet in a pub?

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Outfoxed · 20/03/2016 12:48

My hounds will sit in the pub for one drink before they get restless and then it's time to scoot before the yelping starts. It sucks to force them to hang around if they're not ok with their surroundings anymore

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TwentyCupsOfTea · 20/03/2016 13:07

Thanks, I agree about the surroundings upsetting them, the poor thing looked miserable!

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pigsDOfly · 20/03/2016 13:12

Not sure I could sit still in a pub for 4 1/2 hours let alone expect my dog to. Very unfair to the dog and the other pub users.

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CreepingDogFart · 20/03/2016 13:28

Mine was fine in there as a young pup for socialisation with different types of people but now he's a very bouncy teenager, I don't take him in. Until he's calmed down, he won't be going in. If and when I do decide to take him, I'd probably have one drink and then go.

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Godstopper · 20/03/2016 13:31

Not on. Sometimes, we take our dog to the local, but only after a walk. We also take her stag bar, and a blanket, so she lies under the table chewing happily. About 2-ish hours max, and she'll get taken out to see if she needs a wee in between. 4 is a bit out of order to ignore your dog, letting it wander off etc.

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TooOldForGlitter · 20/03/2016 13:48

Very unfair on the poor dog and equally unfair on the other customers and the staff.

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RhodaBull · 20/03/2016 14:34

I take my dog in pubs... but not for four hours! Most pubs are very dog friendly, if the dog is friendly, that is.

Took dog out for a pub lunch last year and he was snoozing under the table. There was this poncey couple at the next table and boy, did they glare. All the time. Much tutting, passive aggressive loud comments about hygiene etc etc. The pub actually has a sign outside saying, "Most dog friendly pub in England!" so I can't imagine why they had picked this pub if they were canine haters.

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Gileswithachainsaw · 20/03/2016 14:41

Poor dog. sounds like he was really well behaved and did really well. owners are just selfish

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TwentyCupsOfTea · 20/03/2016 15:02

I'm with you on that rhoda bull - you can't be irritated by a dog simply being in a dog friendly pub!
I don't have a dog so was wondering whether other owners saw this as acceptable behaviour. I think time spent there, time of day/night and generally how busy the pub is should really be factored in when deciding whether to bring a dog out or not

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CosyNook · 20/03/2016 16:16

I suppose the good thing is that it wasn't left alone at home for all that time.

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TwentyCupsOfTea · 20/03/2016 16:20

Granted cosy, but at least it might have had some food there

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OzzieFem · 20/03/2016 18:57

The dog probably wanted a pee.

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fluffypenguinbelly · 20/03/2016 19:00

Dogs get left for hours and hours alone at home. They don't have access to food or the outside when at home. I don't see how this is any different.

It's not something I would do with my dog but 4.5 hours is not a huge amount of time. They should have let it go for a wee perhaps but perhaps it went on the way in.

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TwentyCupsOfTea · 20/03/2016 19:34

Fluffy it was more the fact that the pub was packed and dog was not being looked after, as mentioned in the op, left to wander around and going behind the bar.

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TwentyCupsOfTea · 20/03/2016 19:35

However as I don't own a dog, it's good to know that length of time without food isn't a problem for them.

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WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 20/03/2016 19:45

I think my dog would be quite happy in the pub for 4.5hours, she would lie down under the table and go to sleep. I wouldn't let her wander and if she got restless/unhappy I would take her out.

She often comes into a cafe for lunch with me and people don't know she's there and are suprised if they spot her.

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WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 20/03/2016 19:47

I went out with my dog earlier and got back home at 2pm and she hasn't stirred off the sofa since. Hasn't had a wee or drink or food even though her bowls are full and she could of she wanted to. She's just zonked out, so if a dog is happy it's not too long a time.

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hookiewookie29 · 20/03/2016 19:59

We were in a pub in Cornwall last summer which was dog friendly. Yes, I knew that before we went in but it was the nearest pub we could walk to. It was raining. We ordered a meal.....then the whole of the local dog walking community seemed to come in. The smell of wet dog was overwhelming.....it actually made me feel sick. Most of the dogs decided to shake themselves while they were standing by us with their owners......over my food.......and one was allowed off it's lead(despite notices saying otherwise) and was constantly round our feet, trying to get food!
We did complain to the pub owner and were told ''well we are a dog friendly pub! '' Which is fine, but they shouldn't be around people that are eating. They should stay in the bar area . You're not allowed to take them in restaurants or supermarkets where there is food, so they shouldn't be allowed in the eating area of a pub.

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sparechange · 20/03/2016 20:03

Hookie
Restaurants can and do allow dogs in. Plenty around my way, including one owned by Gordon Ramsay (one of his restaurants, not pubs)

Of course dogs shouldn't be off the lead and annoying you at your table, but there is nothing inherently unhygienic or harmful about a dog being nearby while you eat.

why didn't you ask the owners to control the dog rather than moaning to the owner?

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WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 20/03/2016 20:07

You can definitely take dogs in restaurants, cafes and shops selling food if the shop owner allows it. I'm on holiday at the minute and it's only Costa and Greggs which don't allow dogs in. Every cafe and shop in town do including national chains like Joules.

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jeremyisahunt · 20/03/2016 20:08

Poor dog Sad

It sounds like he needed the toilet.

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ADishBestEatenCold · 20/03/2016 20:32

On the infrequent occasions that we go, we will usually take our dogs with us to the pub, including when we go for a meal (we are lucky enough to have both pubs and other establishments in the area, that allow dogs into some of the areas in which they serve food).

The dogs sit/lie close at hand, don't wander, and the longest we would stay is around 2 hours (usually less).

Would certainly "drink in charge of your pet (our dogs) in a pub", but I would only have one or two drinks, anyway.

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iago · 20/03/2016 20:34

I socialise Hearing Dog puppies and part of their training is to go to cafes and pubs and learn to settle and be ignored for an hour or so. I don't think my trainer would be impressed if I did that for 4 1/2 hours!! In fact, we would be sacked if we did that!

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hookiewookie29 · 20/03/2016 20:42

well, I live in walking distance of at least eight restaurants, and none of them allow dogs, except guide dogs.!!
And I complained to the owner as it was his establishment, he managed it and maybe he would've had more clout with customers than me.
And if a wet dog standing right next to your table and shaking itself while you are eating is not unhygenic, then I'm obviously a bit precious....who wouldn't want that sprayed over them while they were eating??

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WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 20/03/2016 20:55

I wouldnt take a wet dog into a restaurant, might into a pub though.

Cafes here would go out of business if they didn't let dogs in. I'm amazed Costa hasnt folded.

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