Dogs in restaurants

My feelings exactly. I’ve eaten countless times at dog-friendly places and never once had cause for complaint.

@ForRealCat I feel exactly the same and my dog is my support too. I adopted her a year after my partner died when I was really unhappy and lonely. She really has saved my life and comes everywhere with me and, if I could afford it, would be with me in pubs and cafes too .

I was in a shitty relationship for 6 years, financially abusive and generally unpleasant. It was very lonely and my dog was beside me through that. When I made the decision to finally end things with my ex and told family and close friends, they were incredibly supportive and really encouraged me that I was doing the right thing.

The day my ex left however the support stopped. It was as if they went "she's done it now, well done" The thing is actually that's went things got harder. I was so lonely. Having someone around at the end of the day, someone (however shit) to talk to, or exchange a few words with). I suddenly went from having companionship to being on my own 7 days a week. I went through a stage missing being in an abusive relationship because I was so lonely.

Friends and family had said they were supportive, but it was just words. But unless I called, or asked to do something there was nothing. After a few weeks of me always being the one to reach out I felt like a burden.

I then started dating again, and it was great. But the difference is, early days you might see them once or twice a week, but I missed that daily interaction.
Through all of this my dog has been there, making me smile, being dependable, accompanying me or trips to the pub or on a day out (when all my friends are too busy).

When you see me and my dog in a pub or a cafe, yes I can leave him at home, but I don't want to; in fact I'd then probably stay at home with him. For me he is my support into the world, he isn't part of my family- he is my family. When people say I dont know why people have to take their dogs everywhere- well he's all I've got. And as I try to rebuild a life, he'll continue to support me and help me through, more so than anyone else ever has done.

If I don't go to a pub with my dog I probably don't go at all. I work from home and unless I make the effort to go out I will see my boyfriend 2 days a week, my parents or friends maybe one, the rest of the time I am alone. And it becomes a long time to be by yourself. I like to sit in a pub or a cafe and surround myself with chatter and maybe exchange a few words with people- I certainly wouldn't do it on my own. My dog allows that.

Just had a visit to a cafe. Notice up saying Assistance dogs only.
i go in, woman there with a dog, another woman with dog comes in, high volume barking and straining on leash. Goes on and on, I can’t hear my friend , people start getting up and leaving. Not relaxing at all, neither owner seems bothered, just smiling as if it’s a joke.

Going back to the original OP.... I do agree OP. Cafes and pubs are more likely to accept dogs due to their casual nature, but even more so if they are in tourist areas or dog walking areas, to attract customers. This is probably just a fact of life as they need the trade.

But restuarants, given the ambience likely shouldn't.

Having said that, I have found that they rarely do take dogs, so it's very easy to find one that doesn't take dogs. On that basis YABU....

Pretty obvious you are one of those parents who let's their kids do what they want

Blimey so much drama

If the majority don’t want dogs in pubs and cafes then the owners of the premises would act accordingly but they don’t.
Our dog is part of the family and we are usually out walking with her when we stop off in pubs and cafes. Dogs are pack animals and they would much rather be out and about with company than left alone at home by themselves.

And all the more reason for dog owners to teach their dogs to stay home alone. No excuse to bring them out to places where people eat

All the more reason for parents to try harder if they can't leave kids at home. No excuse for shitty behaviour at all.

And I could give you stories about badly behaved dogs and owners and perfectly behaved children - the difference is dogs can be left at home and kids cant

Well know that most people don’t want your dog around. Dog friendly is a marketing gimmick to get customers in because they recognise the wave of entitled owners

Seriously I always left my dogs at home. I don’t understand why people need their mutt glued to them

OK, I was sat with my DP of the time, and some kid kept getting under our table, and then was trying to take our food.
Another time, my dog was asleep under my table, and a kid approached her, and went to hit her on the head with a toy. Thankfully, kid's mum intervened.
I was a participant in a mental health group that was in a cafe... some people like to do colouring in. Despite all the staff and signs saying it was a private group, a mum thought it ok to let her kid sit at the table and do colouring in. Some service users got up and left.

Nope, sorry, she goes wherever we go when there are dog friendly places. She’s a little angel so you need to suck it up or go elsewhere. Life’s like that 🤷‍♀️

Yes I’m sure your dogs exposed arsehole is super clean. And some dogs don’t shed but most do and I don’t want someone else’s dog able landing in my coffee. Leave it at home

I love seeing dogs in pubs and cafes and they are usually much better behaved than the feral children there.
As for concerns about hygiene, that’s ridiculous. My dog is under the table, not on it and she is definitely not spreading poo or hair around. Sounds like you might be the one who needs therapy for irrational hygiene anxiety 💩🐕

You have to exist in the world with children, maybe get a grip and accept some won’t behave the exact way you want

Speak for yourself. I have had shite experience in cafes etc that have been to do with parents being entitled and feeling like their kids should just be let loose on people who don't' want to interact with them.

Speak for yourself. Can’t stand some horrible smelly mutt casting hair and getting poo everywhere and their entitled owner thinking they’ve done everyone a favour bringing it in. At least kids are human. They’re SUPPOSED to be with their parents. People who think their mutt is like a human need therapy

Access denied.

So much nicer to see dogs in a restaurant than screaming kids. Especially the sort that come with over entitled woman. This breed of women seem to think that their brat shouldn't have to sit quietly and behave and they don't seem to mind how much mess they leave behind them.

If you ask my dog to bark, he does. Will he pass the test?

Restaurants/ cafes should do a smell and bark test on the door.

This will probably descend into another dog hating thread. The hatred for dogs is so weird on mumsnet.

Shame because when disaster strikes, dogs will search through the rubble, hunt through the forest, dig through snow, run into a burning building or dive into freezing water.....track your missing children for miles, stand guard through the night to protect and even guide you if you go blind...

....and they do it even for people who hold so much hatred towards their species.

We don't deserve dogs. We really don't.

But you are misconstruing what I said, I said lots of owners of cafes and establishments don’t like having badly behaved dogs on their premises. I mean who would? It’s not rocket science and not sure why you can’t comprehend that. Not once did I say they hate dogs or it was all the cafes in the Lake District and every cafe owner . Well behaved dogs are not a problem but increasingly we are seeing lots of untrained dogs that are annoying other customers. Is that really that hard to understand?