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Original poster

To think that dogs shouldn't be in toilets?

710 replies

LittlePearDrop · 13/07/2024 08:28

I'm currently camping.

There's signs on the toilet / shower block door clearly indicating "No Dogs". Not small signs. Very obvious.

Went for a shower first thing this morning and a woman brought a dog into the toilet next to me. It poked its head under the gap and had a sniff. I just ignored it.

Took my daughter an hour later and whilst I'm waiting for her, another woman brings another dog in. This time, thinking maybe she has missed the sign, I said, very politely and calmly "Oh it's no dogs in here".

She immediately became defensive, saying there's no one else to look after him (there's a fence outside she could have tied him to) and that he would "cry" if left outside. Errm, so what? Dogs whine. It's not the end of the world.

AIBU to think that if the signs say "no dogs" then it means "no dogs" and not, "Well ok your dog can come in because it might whine if left alone for a minute"?

OP posts:
ricecrispiecakes · 13/07/2024 10:54

Misthios · 13/07/2024 10:50

I really sympathise with people who can't leave their dogs

Can't or won't?

Both?

My dog can be left for short periods without an issue, but I still wouldn't leave him tied up alone in a strange place. I don't trust other people and I'd worry about him getting hurt or escaping.

CormorantStrikesBack · 13/07/2024 10:52

Misthios · 13/07/2024 10:41

The temperature can rise from 24C to 38C within 10 minutes, let alone if it’s been sitting in the sun at a campsite all day.

Hardly a problem in the UK at the moment.

It would have been only 2 weeks ago when I was camping and it was 26 degrees all week.

Anotherones · 13/07/2024 10:50

I’d rather a dog than a man.

Willmafrockfit · 13/07/2024 10:50

i walk my dog
i need to use the public toilet
thus i take the dog in with me

i dont do solo camping - but if i did i would again have to take the dog with me and would be unimpressed with the campsite rules

Misthios · 13/07/2024 10:50

I really sympathise with people who can't leave their dogs

Can't or won't?

Abc1weabc1 · 13/07/2024 10:50

Okay so dog is tied up outside toilets and kids come along and tease it. Dog bites kid.

Better to have a dog in the toilets than the above scenario.

I camp solo with 2 dogs and usually leave them secure at my pitch.

dottiedodah · 13/07/2024 10:49

So many people are anti dog now .More well trained well cared for dogs please!. I never leave mine anywhere ,No idea whos around!

ricecrispiecakes · 13/07/2024 10:47

I really sympathise with people who can't leave their dogs - my own hates being left - but equally I don't think that means you get to just take them with you anyway, regardless of any rules in place.

Either travel with someone so your dog never needs to be left, or book accommodation that suits your needs. It's not really fair that other people have to deal with your dog in places that don't allow them.

Wideskye · 13/07/2024 10:45

To clarify, I go to dog free cafes in my town and leave the dog at home.

Wideskye · 13/07/2024 10:43

HiCandles · 13/07/2024 08:45

Agree. Just tie it up outside. Campsite toilets have enough grass and mud being walked in without dogs adding to the dirt. It's also pretty unusual to camp alone so people could leave dogs back with their companions.
The dog craze has got out of hand. I actively avoid known dog friendly cafes in my town now.

I now go to the cafes that are dog free and I have a dog.

ThisNoisyTealLurker · 13/07/2024 10:42

I wouldn’t like it but for the amount of time spent in the bathroom I wouldn’t say it’s worth getting cross about. Also dogs get stolen all the time, it’s not worth leaving them tied up alone if there’s no other option.

Iheartmysmart · 13/07/2024 10:42

I always used to check before booking up to make sure it was okay to take my dog in the shower and toilet block. A couple of times the reception staff looked after him for me which was kind of them. He would have got very distressed being left alone in the car or tent. The smaller, back to basics sites were always very accommodating with solo campers.

Misthios · 13/07/2024 10:41

The temperature can rise from 24C to 38C within 10 minutes, let alone if it’s been sitting in the sun at a campsite all day.

Hardly a problem in the UK at the moment.

SouIs · 13/07/2024 10:39

Flossflower · 13/07/2024 10:05

I would report it to the office at the campsite. It is so easy to pop your dog in the car for 10 minutes and for that amount of time wouldn’t need the windows open. People seem to want to take their dogs everywhere with them. This is probably why we have so many dogs that are nervous and can’t be left.
A couple of years ago I confronted a woman who had brought her dog into a children’s playground even though the sign on the gate said no dogs. Her reply was that he wasn’t doing any harm. I told her that either she would be removing the dog on I would. In the end she left her child alone in the playground and took her dog out. Clearly the dog was more important than her child!

Terrible advice. Never leave a dog inside a car.

Cars can get incredibly hot in summer. The temperature can rise from 24C to 38C within 10 minutes, let alone if it’s been sitting in the sun at a campsite all day.

Mrsttcno1 · 13/07/2024 10:38

I’ve always found while in the lakes camping especially that the same camp sites which have the “no dogs” sign on toilets also have the “dogs must be on lead and supervised at all times” rule, so if you’re a solo camper with a dog you just wouldn’t be able to use the toilet, most of our solo camping with dogs friends say when they have asked the site have been told to just take the dog in and be quick because they would rather have a dog with it’s owner supervised rather than tied up outside unsupervised incase something was to happen

Willmafrockfit · 13/07/2024 10:37

i guess if it said no dogs, i would have to leave the dog with someone else
i use public toilets and they never say no dogs.

Mrsttcno1 · 13/07/2024 10:35

We have never taken our dog into toilet blocks while camping but that’s because we always go as a family so there would never be a time where somebody can’t watch the dog while the other goes to the toilet/for a shower. If I was to go on my own I would probably do the same and take him with me or take a toilet bucker😂 far too many dogs are stolen and there’s no way I’d be leaving him tied up outside totally unsupervised while I go in.

Misthios · 13/07/2024 10:23

Willmafrockfit · 13/07/2024 09:55

my dog comes into to the toilets with me, not the cubicle, but tied up to the handle.
i am only quick

And another one - no dogs means no dogs. Not "dogs only if you're quick" or "dogs carried are fine" or "your dog is exempt it just means all the other dogs".

Entitled.

Original poster
LittlePearDrop · 13/07/2024 10:20

It's the entitlement that bothers me. Imagine if everyone decided the rules don't apply to their special circumstances.

I don't think that behaviour is limited to dog owners unfortunately. Seems to be society in general at the moment.

OP posts:
Luio · 13/07/2024 10:20

The problem is that some owners completely take the piss. They would let the dogs wander into people’s showers and jump up on people coming out in towels. They wouldn’t see the issue with them wandering under loo cubicle doors or chasing other dogs around the sinks. It isn’t the calm, well behaved dogs with good owners that are the issue. It is the fact that you have to let them all in. The ones that ignore the signs think the rules don’t apply to them are probably also the ones that think picking up after their dog is an optional extra.

GreenWheat · 13/07/2024 10:17

2dogsandabudgie · 13/07/2024 08:41

I would rather this than dogs being allowed in cafes.

It's not an either/or though is it? I would rather dogs not be allowed in both.

Misthios · 13/07/2024 10:15

Topseyt123 · 13/07/2024 08:50

I was the same when I had dogs. I would take them into public toilets with me.

Believe it or not, dog theft is rife. No way would I ever have left them just tied up outside if I didn't have family or a friend with me to mind them for a few minutes. I can imagine this being a problem on campsites too.

I couldn't give a shit what anyone else thought/thinks of me for that.

Show quote history

Case in point "I don't give a shit what anyone else thinks", my dog is more important than you. 🙄

InTheWindow · 13/07/2024 10:15

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I know the difference between my daughter and dog fine thanks. No way I would leave my dog tied up outside as he may be stolen or teased into defending himself by someone and unlike DD is daft enough to just go with anyone who offers him a biscuit. DD would say no, shout and scream.

I don’t take him camping as I am a single parent (obviously a totally inadequate human being by your standards, how dare I expect not to be abused by my ex) and want to be able to focus on DD on holiday.

I did take them both into a public loo at the end of a long walk yesterday. DD went in a cubicle on her own DDog came in with me and sat nicely by the door, then stood beside me while I washed my hands.

We then went to a dog friendly cafe for lunch where they gave us a table that had space for him to lay on the floor without being near anyone else. He had a drink and some biscuits while we ate. DD ate nicely at the table.

On the way home DDog made an elderly lady very happy when I asked if she would like me to bring him over for a stroke after I noticed her smiling at him lots. He was very well behaved and I had a nice chat with her about dogs she had owned. She wasn’t interested in DD at all. On the bus Ddog laid at my feet bothering no one. DD and I chatted about our plans for the rest of the day.

Misthios · 13/07/2024 10:11

Tophelleborine · 13/07/2024 08:37

People have become utterly ridiculous about dogs. Just tie the fucker up outside and let it whine for a few minutes.

Exactly this.

And get it through your entitled dog-owning heads that nobody cares two hoots about your animal.

Doesn't surprise me to be honest, too many people who think the rules don't apply to them.

Simplepink · 13/07/2024 10:09

Ok unless you have cycled to the campsite you tend to be in a car. Leave the dog in the bloody boot when you go to the loo!
honestly I say this as the owner of 2 large dogs but people really have become mental with their fur babies 🙄