Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Dogs in restaurants

383 replies

MealDealDreamz · 21/07/2024 10:50

Informal dining and cafes, fine. Pubs, fine. But only if dogs are on the floor and reasonably well behaved (by that I mean not barking all the time).Restaurant not fine. Am I alone in this?
If I am paying to go somewhere specifically to enjoy the food and pay extra for it and want to enjoy a special evening (birthday) why do I have to put up with a dog lying on the floor at the table next to me?. I just don't think this is necessary or acceptable. Am I totally alone in this?

OP posts:
Philandbill · 21/07/2024 13:02

Startingagainandagain · 21/07/2024 12:55

Some serious nonsense on this thread...

  • having to check in advance: so what? I am vegetarian and I always double check the menu if we are booking somewhere. No difference than having to check if the restaurant is dog friendly or not. Places will also have notices on their door/window that tell you if the place is dog friendly or not.
  • hygiene: for goodness sake the dog won't be sitting on your table/plate/knees so this make no difference to your meal whatsoever....

Most of dogs I have seen in restaurants/coffee shops are in fact better behaved and quieter than most kids and humans on the premises.

If you hate dogs that is your issue to deal with.

The dogs in the cafe I was in yesterday weren't well behaved. I'd just started my lunch when two different people came in with their dogs. Lots of barking and pathetic owners saying "be good Billy" etc which dogs ignored. No sign on the door to say it was dog friendly. Dog owners like you @Startingagainandagain come across as incredibly entitled...

SurferDog · 21/07/2024 13:01

MealDealDreamz · 21/07/2024 11:26

@User016529 I don't live in a huge place. There aren't that many restaurants and this one is especially renowned for its excellent food. I wanted to eat there. I did not think to check ahead if they allow dogs? Why would I?

Because you're bothered by it so the onus is on you to check.

Hasbean2 · 21/07/2024 13:00

Genuinely question people that outright never take their dogs places to eat
Do you not take them away with you ever?
I'm not sure how we would work eating on 90% of our uk holidays if we didn't take our dogs into eateries

Do you sit in the tent and eat?

According to a quick Google 40% of people at holiday parks, campsites etc have dogs and its a type of accommodation where you'd be breaking rules to leave them

Ginmonkeyagain · 21/07/2024 12:59

Not in my house. No dogs on carpet or soft furnishings.

Same as when I was growing up.

SurferDog · 21/07/2024 12:58

Ginmonkeyagain · 21/07/2024 12:43

Ha ha. Once you have seen a dog dig a rotting sheep placenta out of a bin, eat it with evident relish, throw it up and then eat the vomit you can never unsee it - or allow a dog near food prep areas or soft furnishing again. y

I've seen worse. Dogs are still allowed in sofas etc.

Livelovebehappy · 21/07/2024 12:56

Goldusty · 21/07/2024 12:33

Shouldn't have to check ...there you go

Why? Just a couple of seconds checking on Google or phone call....not too difficult? If you're making a booking you do it online or call anyway, so can check at the same time.

Startingagainandagain · 21/07/2024 12:55

Some serious nonsense on this thread...

  • having to check in advance: so what? I am vegetarian and I always double check the menu if we are booking somewhere. No difference than having to check if the restaurant is dog friendly or not. Places will also have notices on their door/window that tell you if the place is dog friendly or not.
  • hygiene: for goodness sake the dog won't be sitting on your table/plate/knees so this make no difference to your meal whatsoever....

Most of dogs I have seen in restaurants/coffee shops are in fact better behaved and quieter than most kids and humans on the premises.

If you hate dogs that is your issue to deal with.

Sunnydiary · 21/07/2024 12:55

MealDealDreamz · 21/07/2024 11:26

@User016529 I don't live in a huge place. There aren't that many restaurants and this one is especially renowned for its excellent food. I wanted to eat there. I did not think to check ahead if they allow dogs? Why would I?

Why would you?

Well obviously because it’s a problem for you.

Goldusty · 21/07/2024 12:55

Well I even think people who take their non working fur babies with them 'everywhere' show themselves as 'uneducated' 'inconsiderate' and 'entitled'. That's my opinion.

Livelovebehappy · 21/07/2024 12:53

MealDealDreamz · 21/07/2024 10:50

Informal dining and cafes, fine. Pubs, fine. But only if dogs are on the floor and reasonably well behaved (by that I mean not barking all the time).Restaurant not fine. Am I alone in this?
If I am paying to go somewhere specifically to enjoy the food and pay extra for it and want to enjoy a special evening (birthday) why do I have to put up with a dog lying on the floor at the table next to me?. I just don't think this is necessary or acceptable. Am I totally alone in this?

But there's lots of restaurants that don't allow dogs. Pick one of them. I do this with restaurants and hotels which allow children. I just pick one which doesn't facillitate them. Problem solved.

Starlingexpress · 21/07/2024 12:52

PixieLaLar · 21/07/2024 12:47

Oh look another anti-dog thread.

Personally I have never had an experience spoilt by someone’s dog, I have however come across many badly behaved kids running around or coming up to table or just being loud and annoying in general. We all just have to learn to tolerate others in shared spaces and not let to ‘ruin’ the whole outing.

Love dogs. Have my own dogs ( and kids) Still don’t think the current trend of dogs everywhere is ok.

Dearg · 21/07/2024 12:50

I adore my dogs. They are part of the family ( but never ‘fur-babies’ or even ‘doggies’ 🤮)
I will never take them to a restaurant. Even the cafes we go to are outside only. They do not belong in a restaurant with other people, human food, waiters etc. So no, YANBU.

Starlingexpress · 21/07/2024 12:50

No need for it at all but I think now the floodgates have opened, businesses feel under pressure to bow to having dogs in every corner. I refuse to book any type of hotel or accommodation that allows dogs. I deal with enough fog hair and slobber at home 😁

dropoutin · 21/07/2024 12:47

I really don't see why anybody would have a problem with people wiping their arses in the middle of a restaurant. I mean, all you have to do is check that the restuarant has a No Arse Wiping policy and if it doesn't, don't go there.

There you go.

Problem solved.

End of story.

PixieLaLar · 21/07/2024 12:47

Oh look another anti-dog thread.

Personally I have never had an experience spoilt by someone’s dog, I have however come across many badly behaved kids running around or coming up to table or just being loud and annoying in general. We all just have to learn to tolerate others in shared spaces and not let to ‘ruin’ the whole outing.

PaleSunshineOfHope · 21/07/2024 12:44

MealDealDreamz · 21/07/2024 10:50

Informal dining and cafes, fine. Pubs, fine. But only if dogs are on the floor and reasonably well behaved (by that I mean not barking all the time).Restaurant not fine. Am I alone in this?
If I am paying to go somewhere specifically to enjoy the food and pay extra for it and want to enjoy a special evening (birthday) why do I have to put up with a dog lying on the floor at the table next to me?. I just don't think this is necessary or acceptable. Am I totally alone in this?

I don't see any reason for them to be in cafes or pubs.

ThursdayTomorrow · 21/07/2024 12:44

Startingagainandagain · 21/07/2024 12:32

These anti-dogs threads are really getting boring...

There are restaurants and coffee shops that don't allow dogs, so just use those.

End of story.

They aren’t boring to many many people, hence lots of threads about it.
Why bother to post if you find it so boring? Lots of people don’t want dogs in eating establishments. Just leave the dog at home. Or better still, don’t get one in the first place - they are terrible for the environment/climate emergency.

Ginmonkeyagain · 21/07/2024 12:43

Ha ha. Once you have seen a dog dig a rotting sheep placenta out of a bin, eat it with evident relish, throw it up and then eat the vomit you can never unsee it - or allow a dog near food prep areas or soft furnishing again. y

SurferDog · 21/07/2024 12:43

Just go somewhere which doesn't allow dogs or stay at home if you're bothered. Our friends have a couple of restaurants, they allow dogs. Occasionally they got customers moaning about it and they're politely told to go elsewhere if they don't like it.

Happyinarcon · 21/07/2024 12:42

I like dogs, seeing them makes me happy. If there were dog friendly hospitals I’d go to them.

DinnaeFashYersel · 21/07/2024 12:42

Grim. 🤢

I wouldn't eat somewhere that allows dogs.

(Assistance dogs exception)

Brendabigbaps · 21/07/2024 12:41

AllyCart · 21/07/2024 12:40

How fucking entitled?!

Yes it is isn’t it. Now as you were!

dropoutin · 21/07/2024 12:41

@K0OLA1D
Should I phone ahead to check that they don't allow rats too?

Ginmonkeyagain · 21/07/2024 12:40

Hygiene.

I grew with working dogs (farming family), I love dogs. But no way do I allow dogs anywhere where I eat or sleep because dogs are fundamentally disgusting animals. They lick other dog's arses and they eat vomit, shit and worse.

AllyCart · 21/07/2024 12:40

Brendabigbaps · 21/07/2024 12:37

I hate this too, I tend to book an extra seat and then apologise when we get there and say they couldn’t make it at the last minute

How fucking entitled?!