To dislike the increase in dogs in shops/cafes

Excellent post and I really feel for you @WonderingAboutBabies

I don't mind them in cafes/pubs , as you could be on a dog walk and fancy a pint or latte and there's usually adequate room, but not in a proper restaurant for a full meal, or in shops. Why do you have to take your dog to the local shopping centre? My tolerance for the shops is a couple of hours plus maybe a coffee/snack and then back home so 4 hours maximum!
My DH had a dog growing up and he said they left him for a big part of the day if they all went out (MIL didnt' work so I expect this wasn't that often) and he was fine. Lived to a good dog age.

It is absolutely frustrating for me. I have an Assistance Dog (Hearing Dog for the Deaf) who is an absolute star. I have to take him with me to shops and appointments as he'll alert me to fire alarms, emergencies etc.

The issue for me is, most of his training has taken place in shopping centers and supermarkets, where there are no dogs (normally). And now all of a sudden, these places are letting dogs in, and it is having a big effect on my dog. He has started to sniff at corners and lose focus on his task at hand because there's dog piss/smells, and sometimes other dogs lunging or barking at him - it's particularly confusing for him as he's used to his working environment to being dog-free.

I am part of a forum for other Hearing Dog owners and many feel the same. A lot of other dog owners allow their dogs to approach ours in shops even when asked them not to.

It's also frustrating that I've spent years being challenged for taking my dog into shops - whether by random members of the public, security guards, or shop owners - and I've had to advocate for myself and the dog.

Some strange posts on this thread! When did people become so intolerant and mean spirited? The owner offered to pay for another, what’s with wanting someone to be “cowering with embarrassment”?! Get over yourself.

Also telling dog owners their houses smell is SO rude - and true in some cases, not in others no doubt.

I think you shouldn’t be allowed to enjoy public spaces if you have an intolerant, rude attitude toward others. If I eat in a public cafe, I know that I can’t control the general population around me so that may include children, loud eaters, teens making too much noise, large groups of pensioners who hog tables, people working on laptops, dog owners, people with prams, people who take telephone calls… it’s not my home and I have to accept the doors are open to all.

It really depends on area. I don’t know where pp lives, but in my local town there’s M&S and a couple of (expensive) restaurants that aren’t dog-friendly and that’s it.

If you live in an area where there’s more choice, I understand why you don’t see it as an issue.

Calling bullshit. There are plenty of places not dog friendly and it's not hard to find them. Much harder to avoid horrific and strong perfumes and aftershaves.

Fenwicks being dog friendly is interesting though, I've never seen a dog in one.

How is it a fact? My dog doesn’t moult and literally doesn’t smell! I accept some dogs do smell and I know that smell!

and yours probably smells of BO and feet.

See it's all relative. I couldn't be in the same room as you for more than 5 minutes without getting migraine from your scented products that are laden with chemicals.

My dog never gets bathed either. Bathing them too much strips the oils from their coat and affects the weatherproofing properties. If they are brushed regularly that is enough to keep them clean.

I imagine you, your clothes, your house and your car all probably stink of some migraine inducing perfume. So I would hate your life just as much as you'd hate mine 😁

So your puppy didn't stink today. Well done.

And tomorrow?

Imagine sharing a cubicle with someone with hygiene problems. And having to have your sandwich there, because there's no other option.

Now imagine paying for lunch somewhere, and the next thing you know, there's that smell.

I get seriously tucked officially i take my kids out to dinner and we get sat near a bloody dog, my youngest son hates dogs so it ruins the experience

My dog never gets bathed

You, your clothes, your house and your car smell delightful, I'm sure.

Neither.

Neither should be permitted to disturb others.

Dogs in shops and restaurants = revolting.

Don’t give these businesses your custom!

There was absolutely nothing to indicate your post was ironic. 🫣

It’s ridiculous the sheer number of dogs permitted in shops and restaurants.

People are anthropomorphising animals - evidently many people are soft in the head.

The ‘happiest’ dogs I see are gun dogs, out in the field - doing what they are bred to do.

I notice that Costa Coffee now allow dogs.
I was in one yesterday and although I do love dogs and generally wouldn’t mind being near one at all, there was a big stocky bulldog type dog (not sure of breed, looked like an XL bully to be honest) in there and it was jumping up on the fabric sofas slobbering. Getting giddy whenever anyone walked past and jumping up.

I did think that was a bit much. Sometimes when they’re
just sat calmly under the table I don’t even notice but that made me think it’s not a great idea.

I’m not sure they should be allowed inside all (especially smaller and cramped) cafes but they seem to be allowed anywhere now. Even seen them walking round the shopping mall. I do wonder where they do their business when walking round an indoor mall??

The tide is turning. A couple of cafes/restaurants by me have now banned dogs. One because they had them doing their business and other customers had walked out.

I'm a dog owner. I choose dog free places.

I think some would be upset if they no longer saw dog about as they’ve made hating them their whole personality, here at least.

Can you all start petitions and campaigns in your local areas? Go to the businesses in question (so, alllll pubs, supermarkets, restaurants, shops and cafes local to your house) and talk to the manager, get discussions going on your local fb pages, write to the council. Could use the time you spend on here typing “you smell” to actually try and achieve what you want.

But there aren’t “plenty of places”. Dogs are allowed everywhere now, almost without exception. That’s the whole point of this thread.

Not wanting dogs everywhere is a perfectly acceptable view.

I do get the impression some people delight in fixating on their hatred eg. of dogs or cats because spouting racist abuse or targeting disabled people is no longer socially acceptable.

They just seem to take such vicious pleasure in the actual hating.

That went straight over your head didn't it?
Yes, I made a 'sweeping generalisation' about children to demonstrate how pathetic the sweeping generalisations mae by other posters are (e.g. all dogs smell, all dog owners sayvtheir dog is friendly, etc)
So no, not all dogs smell, not all mothers think their children are the centre of the universe

All dogs smell.
You made a sweeping generalisation about children, who are also humans.
Dogs are not 'more likely' to be well behaved, and are animals.
There is no comparision.