To dare to think that the Cult of Dog has gone too far?

It's a strange sort of social blindness.

I completely agree with you and I am a dog owner. My dog is NEVER off the lead if there is anyone in sight.
I never take her into restaurants etc, one because I don’t like animals being close by in restaurants when I’m trying to eat and two, she’s a dog, it’s not her thing!!!
I also agree so many dog owners are entitled asses.

Many dog owners just see the way they live as "normal" and don't realise how other people might not like dogs or want to be around them.

The staff are not mind readers. If you would prefer not to be seated near dogs then you need to state that... especially if you are somewhere that welcomes dogs.

We went to a dog friendly restaurant on holiday and were seated next to a table where 2 dogs were. 2 of my kids are autistic and hate dogs. I got round it by sitting them as far away from the dogs as possible. Moving forwards I have to always request not to be seated near dogs ffs

I get this with my sons. They're autistic and hate dogs so I won't tolerate the owners thinking it's OK for their dogs to jump up at my kids ",because they're friendly ". My stepdad recently got a huge lurcher who he won't leave at home ever. He doesn't comecround anymore because we won't allow his dog round

Rude! I’m not a cow or miserable.

Not worshipping dogs is a common thing.

I just think dog owners need much tighter controls. Even you.

If they are allowed somewhere, then no wrong doing is occurring. A lot of beaches have a dog bit on them. Yes, it is shite when do owners ignore signs about no dogs on other parts of the beach. But they are doing nothing wrong by going on dog friendly parts of the beach.
And most dogs fucking love beaches. My dog loses her mind once she feels the sand between her toes.

YANBU. They shouldn’t be in cafes, libraries or on beaches in summer. It’s infuriating.

They’re dogs: not children.

As a responsible dog owner, I completely agree with you, OP. I equate the kind of behaviour you’re talking about with people who sit in trains and buses playing music on their phone speakers. Rude, entitled and, frankly, soft of brain.

My dog being on my furniture is not going to bother you. You don't even know about it.

Well you're the one that brought it up in the first place, I was replying to your post saying it's 'absolute bollocks' when it clearly isn't 🙄

It isn't completely irrelevant unless you think the sun shines out of your child and they can do no wrong. Guess what, it doesn't and they can. You might not think that some little brat hurting a dog or any other animal is important but the child needs to learn they can't go around hurting them. No wonder I've been reading about yobs attacking animals and wildlife with people like you around letting kids think animals don't matter.

Oh and where did I say my dog should be treated as a human? I just expect any animal to be treated with respect, especially when they aren't doing anyone any harm.

I don't know why you think protecting your personal comfort makes you entitled to traumatise a child. I have no idea why you think this.

As to using children's emotions to manipulate adults goes, I understand that you think it is effective. You are probably correct. But I can't understand why you think it is reasonable.

I’m not saying it never happens. I’m saying that it’s very rare and, to be frank, completely irrelevant anyway.

Dogs are just ‘things’, property, chattels, stuff, whatever. Children are people.

I really don’t care about children misbehaving around dogs, except when the dog reacts and harms the child. Then the dog owner’s in the frame.

And TBH it just doesn’t matter that your dog got smacked by a child any more than if your car had got smacked by the child. If you have a claim for property damage, go for it.

Otherwise accept that your dog cannot be treated as a human.

I have to say I’m more concerned about the amount of human waste in the sea than whatever dogs do

Are you the person that had a go at me a few years back for letting my dog pee in the sea?
The sea.... fucking hell.

Sounds like it’s time for her to win a Darwin Award.

We are all responsible for our own behaviour. Two wrongs don't make a right. People can be maddening, irresponsible and annoying but we owe it to ourselves and others to respond appropriately.

Worth remembering that the catch-phrase of abusive men everywhere is "she made me do it".

They have dog friendly screenings at the cinema now.

I am not a dog person, so agree with you, if I'm going to eat somewhere, I don't want to share it with dogs that smell (as I don't have them, it's very noticeable when they do) or are rude - I don't want to stroke Fido thanks

If its one of the what used to be fairly exclusive to pubs, dog friendly establishment, it isn't quite so bad, if the dog in question is curled up nicely under the table but having to navigate around them. Plus if it's a food place, what about potential germs, will the dog be titbitted using the cutlery etc

More and more places seem to be bowing to being dog friendly, it puts me off places if I see they are

We love to visit the coast but have to stay away the six months of the year that dogs are allowed on beaches as my children are scared of them. I find it so unhygienic that they are allowed there in the sea.

Yup! 100%. What else works? Do you have any other words for me that would be as effective in getting a dog to stop scoffing our picnic / knocking over our toddler, crapping nearvus? If so please share it.

Why can nobody here have a moderate opinion on anything? Why do people have to either hate dogs and call for their deaths, or think their welfare is more important than that of humans?

Can't anyone just quite like them, as I do? Or quite dislike them? Just to a normal, sane extent?

All these extremes of emotions are exhausting!

You feel entitled to manipulate the emotions of a child because you are angry at their parents? Really? And you feel this makes you the adult in the room?