Should dogs be allowed in more places?

[Patchworkknitter]

I'm a bit hurt today but I don't know if I'm being completely unreasonable.

A friend and I were trying to arrange to meet up. We had sorted what we were doing and then she changed her mind and wanted to change where we did something which would have added another 90 minutes onto the day.

I couldn't do that as my dog would already have been left all day (with 2 dog walks from a dog walker). Even with the dog walker, he couldn't do another 90 minutes. My friend got a bit cross and said I should just get my parents to look after him but they're already looking after him the day before so it wouldn't be fair. I don't like to ask them too often, a bit like people don't like to look after their children too often.

It just seems we always do child friendly places (I'm not a Mum but I try my best to be understanding of her childcare needs). She says she can't afford any additional childcare to that which she already needs for work but I can't afford additional dog care either (I pay £400 a month and don't have a partner to share any costs).

It got me thinking how restrictive it can be having a dog as a single person. I wouldn't change him for the world but it's incredibly difficult. If it was childcare I feel people would be much more understanding.

If I was a mum I could take my children pretty much everywhere.
As a dog owner, I can no longer go to the cinema, to most pubs, to restaurants, to the theatre, shopping, etc without paying out for extra dog care.

I feel dogs should be allowed in more places, more shops, more cafes, more pubs etc. Aibu?

[gunnersgold]

No because you can't be sure where they will poo unlike most children . Simple as that !

[Grellbunt]

It's your choice to get a dog.

Unlike human children your dog isn't necessary for the survival of our species.

[ComDummings]

No they shouldn’t be allowed in more places IMO. There are plenty of dog friendly cafes etc. I am not a fan.
“If I was a mum I could take my children pretty much everywhere” well dogs aren’t children 🤷🏻‍♀️

[SoupDragon]

I'm a dog owner and no, I don't think they should be allowed in more places.

They are an animal.

[Chasingsquirrels]

I don't think they should be (am a dog owner).

[Patchworkknitter]

@gunnersgold

No because you can't be sure where they will poo unlike most children . Simple as that !

Lots of children have accidents. The pool I swim at has regularly been closed due to child poo.

[gunnersgold]

As I said .. most children ! Dog poo is way more dangerous!

[Wolframhart]

No. For those with allergies, dogs are already hard enough to avoid as it is. Your dog doesn’t need to go to the cinema.

[Patchworkknitter]

@ComDummings

No they shouldn’t be allowed in more places IMO. There are plenty of dog friendly cafes etc. I am not a fan.
“If I was a mum I could take my children pretty much everywhere” well dogs aren’t children 🤷🏻‍♀️

There's hardly any dog friendly places near me.

[SoupDragon]

As a dog owner, I can no longer go to the cinema, to most pubs, to restaurants, to the theatre, shopping, etc without paying out for extra dog care.

Yes you can. You just don't want to. I can do all of those things provided I've walked SoupDogg beforehand.

[CatalinaCasesolver]

No

[Patchworkknitter]

@Grellbunt

It's your choice to get a dog.

Unlike human children your dog isn't necessary for the survival of our species.

Most people don't have children because of survival of the species

[Sparklingbrook]

I think they are allowed in more than enough places as it is TBH.

[megletthesecond]

Yabu. And I bloody love dogs. Am doggy sitting next week.
It would be chaos if they were allowed in more venues.

[Disfordarkchocolate]

I've had a dog and feel there are far to many dogs in shops and places to eat already. You just do dog friendly things like walks.

[Grellbunt]

That's irrelevant OP. It does however inform public policy as to the relative privileges afforded to human children vs dogs!

[Patchworkknitter]

@SoupDragon

As a dog owner, I can no longer go to the cinema, to most pubs, to restaurants, to the theatre, shopping, etc without paying out for extra dog care.

Yes you can. You just don't want to. I can do all of those things provided I've walked SoupDogg beforehand.

How can I? My dog walker doesn't walk evenings and my nearest cinema is 40 minutes away, nearest theatre 45 minutes away. That's nearly 2 hours travelling plus the show. A dog can't be left alone for that time.

[Kralia]

"Lots of children have accidents"

Only for a period of weeks or perhaps months while they are potty training - and on the whole, they don't tend to poo on the floor! Just listen to yourself - you can't seriously be comparing children to dogs

[NoSquirrels]

I’m not sure how dogs being allowed more places would change the issue with your friend, though?

Your friend changed the goalposts - she was unreasonable.

How would your dog being allowed more places help? If you’d wanted to plan a meet-up that included the dog presumably you would have done so?

[romdowa]

To be fair you can leave your dog at home alone unattended. You can't do that with small children. So parents have no other choice but to bring their children with them, you have the choice to bring your dog or not.

[Bloodypunkrockers]

YABU

dogs are allowed in too many places for my liking

[Patchworkknitter]

@ComDummings

No they shouldn’t be allowed in more places IMO. There are plenty of dog friendly cafes etc. I am not a fan.
“If I was a mum I could take my children pretty much everywhere” well dogs aren’t children 🤷🏻‍♀️

My dog is my child. The only one I'll ever have.

[LolaSmiles]

YABU and I'm a dog owner.
Getting a dog is a lifestyle choice and responsible owners accept their life needing needing factor in the dog when they sign up to owning a dog.

I do think your friend is unreasonable for expecting you to change plans because she fancied something else though.

[TheGenealogist]

No because your dog is an animal, not a person.

Your choice to have a dog. Decisions come with consequences. The consequence of your decision is that you can't go to the theatre or cinema. Tough.

[Sirzy]

Not everyone wants dogs around when in cafes/pubs etc. Some people have allergies so will avoid dog friendly places