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

A start would be to go in cafes which advertize as dog friendly and tell the manager that you look forward to visiting when the "no dogs allowed" signs are put up.

Was just eating my lunch outside in an urban environment with many others doing the same at a polite distance from each other. A couple with a dog came and sat down 2m away and released their dog to...shit in the grass verge, presumably?

Cue dog coming straight over to put its nose on my food. It didn't do any harm but I'm just tired of it. Also trying to be outside with my child without being jumped on.

We went out for lunch last weekend to a pop up food truck at a micro brewery
it was dog friendly , being mainly outside , which was fine . A guy drives up, gets dog out of car on a flexi lead, walks over to restaurant area where dog cocks leg against a pergola post and does a massive wee all over the concrete , and he tells waitress sorry, but it had been a long drive .
ffs, walk the dog before taking it into a restaurant area, he truely gave not a flying fig , and that’s the issue. Not the dogs fault .

Not quite as bad where I am but just this morning went into a cafe, sat down and the owners (large) dog came bounding up. Lovely, friendly dog. But it's only after the dog has a good sniff were we asked if we 'were okay with dogs'. I had a 3 year old with me. The dog spent our entire breakfast next to us, sniffing and watching our food. Now it was a very well behaved dog and wasn't begging... But surely this isn't okay?

Also spent a 60 minute train journey yesterday listening to a dog whimper constantly the entire way home!!

And oh how I love it when visiting family members (both sides) bring their multiple dogs and don't even pretend to wipe them when they come in from the rain/snow. Or when the fuckers dig up or stand all over my flower beds.

Actually, I think teaching children how to recognise dog behaviour is hugely important. Yes, dog owners should always be in control etc, but teaching children how to behave around animals is also important.

I used to tie my dog to a tree well off the path that led to school. I did that as I had to take DS into school and dog couldn't come with me, and I didn't want her close to the path as I knew she could get frightened when I wasn't with her.

Never ceased to amaze me how many parents didn't seem to think it as a problem that their children were approaching a dog that was alone, tied up, and very obviously placed in a spot OFF the main path....

You're right - it's kind of funny watching the haters lose their marbles but actually I feel sorry for those that hate dogs so much.

I mean I never had a dog till I was in my forties and I can't believe I wasted the first 40 years of my life chasing careers, money, 'stuff'

The unconditional love of an animal and the bond between him/her and their human is just quite frankly amazing.

As a dog owner I agree that far too many people have dogs these days that don't know how to control them, however I live in an extremely dog friendly v- and popular tourist - village and not once have I witnessed dog owners telling someone to go fuck themselves or telling a person they got in the way if a dog knocks them over?!?! Where the hell do you live?!

I do agree with what you have said about the prevalence of dogs everywhere. But I think a lot of dog owners agree about this too - the sensible ones who absolutely adore their pets, but are capable of leaving them at home rather than trail them out to shop at Next or have coffee in the middle of a busy shopping centre.

When I mentioned on a previous thread that there wasn’t a single coffee shop in my small town that didn’t allow dogs, I was sarcastically asked where this slice of heaven was. As if I was making it up. I don’t mind dogs in general and there are a few in my extended family that I really love, but unfortunately I’m allergic to them. My eyes swell up like golf balls, bulging with fluid. Also blocked nose, sneezing, itchy throat, occasional hives. My eldest is exactly the same. DP gets breathing difficulties due to his asthma. We sound like the world’s most afflicted family😆 But it really is crap now, not being able to confidently walk into cafes without wondering if we’ll have to make a quick exit.

There are also a lot more poorly trained dogs around now, whose owners don’t have a clue. SIL’s dogs have never been properly trained. They are unpredictable in public and SIL does that laughing ‘oops, they’re just a bit nosey’ thing if anyone is uncomfortable with their behaviour. She took them to a dog friendly cafe once and was told to sit outside with them because they wouldn’t stop barking. When they went to the outside area, one of the dogs knocked the table over, complete with coffee and sandwich😬

You are supposed to work this out before you get a dog. Where you will walk it, how you will train it and socialise it, how long you need to be able to leave it at home. Your dog does not become other people’s problem.

You could always rescue one...

Yes.

I have gone from being a dog lover (or obsessive, tbf!) to REALLY not liking them anymore over the span of the last few years. I’m just sick of them everywhere. Can’t stand big dogs at all.

I have a dog. I love dogs. NOTHING annoys me more than the fact that they are everywhere. I don't take my dog into shops and restaurants. Because she doesn't like it. Becuase she bothers other people. Becuase some people are allergic to dogs and have every right to expect spacse that are completely dog free.

Drives me mad.

Our local shopping centre isbeing overrun these days by people with their dogs. I just don't get it.

You sound upset OP so I'll give you this nugget. At the GP surgery for a blood test this lunchtime, woman comes in with her friend carrying a dog. A few minutes later she was politely asked to leave as the dog could not be in the surgery.

You are not being unreasonable & I have 2 dogs. If I want lunch in a cafe, I leave them behind.

That’s probably mine, although he doesn’t really bark.

You can go to the park/woods with a well behaved, well trained dog, which is on a lead when necessary and isn't allowed to jump at people or terrorise other dogs.

I fully agree. DS5 is utterly terrified of dogs as he’s had a few taller than him jumping up at him, and even one who fully went for him snarling and snapping. On all occasions, he was minding his own business and hadn’t even so much as looked at the dog.

He cowers behind me if we are out and see a dog. He cries if one gets too close to him. And I can’t even reassure him that “it’s ok, they won’t hurt you” because how on earth can I know that? Instead I’m trying to teach him the signs as to whether a dog is friendly (tail wagging, ears up, tongue out) or not friendly (ears back, teeth bared, snarling). But it makes me angry that I’m having to train my small child in recognising dog behaviours and keeping himself safe just because fully grown adults CBA to control or manage their own dogs.

It is quite funny watching them lose their minds though. 😂 🐕

Oh dear the irony is just lost on you isn't it.

This whole thread is about people who 'aren't mature enough to cope with an opinion' that some prefer dogs to children.

I refer you back to your first post on the thread! Enough said.

I might not have noticed your dog but I would know I was near an animal as my eyes would be itchy, sore and weeping! I’m very allergic to most animals and am affected just by sitting next to someone who owns a cat, dog or a horse! I have to take antihistamines and carry eye drops with me whenever I go to a meeting or public indoor space. It’s really annoying for me but by planning ahead, I usually cope.

My daughter has two house cats, a dog and two horses so I rarely go to her house!

I used to go to a regular cafe meet-up in our local church………..until someone started taking their dog and me being highly sensitive to dog fur/dander I had to stop going.

Those dog owners who think it is acceptable for their bloody dog to jump up at every human being it sees really piss me off too! And they go so defensive when I object……….NO I DO NOT WANT MUDDY PAW MARKS ON MY CLOTHES,

Where are you allowed to go with your dog then? Not cafes obviously because how dare they sit outside with a dog and buy a sandwich, and now according to you not a park or woods ? Wtf?

My absolute hate is those idiots to have their dogs on an extended lead while walking them on a pavement. No, you keep your dog under control on a short leash when on a pavement where there are other people who don’t want to be tripped up or sniffed at. That extendable leash is for when your dog, who you haven’t managed to train enough to have consistent recall, can have a little run around in a park.

I agree OP. The annoying creatures are everywhere. Shops, pubs, cafes, beaches.

On the plus side it saves us a fortune. On our last visit to a popular UK area we stayed in a gorgeous dog free cottage, and apart from the rental cost didn't spend another penny. Not a single tea shop, cafe or pub was dog free. We did all our own catering and took flasks.

I find carrying a metal walking pole dissuades most dogs and their owners.

Agree, OP. Out for a walk last Sunday, loads of new lambs in fields, many signs asking dog owners to keep their dogs on a lead. All but one completely ignoring the signs.

And don't get me started on retractable leads. Just because you can extend them to 30 feet, doesn't mean you should be doing it in crowded places.

Having seen a dog pissing on an art installation in a gallery and the owner laughing, I think there should be a sharp roll back on places where dogs are welcome, and would seriously like to see the return of the dog license at a hefty rate - if you can't afford a dog licence of £100 per year, you can't afford a dog.