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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to take my dog everywhere I go

187 replies

Loopylouloves · 16/05/2025 12:35

After several posts recently about dogs in public spaces I wanted to add another angle. For context I wasnt a dog lover and never thought I would own one. However I am now the owner of one but with a difference. I have a serious medical condition which causes me to become very unwell quickly and my dog is being trained to detect when this is about to happen so I can take action promptly and get help. She goes everywhere with me including supermarkets, cafes, friends houses etc.

The issue is that shes a puppy (12 months) and is very much in the training phase so sometimes she doesnt behave when we go out. But its so important that she lives my life with me so she learns to alert me even when we are out and about. Once fully trained she is going to change my life and give me so much freedom and peace of mind.

Because she doesnt always behave like a service dog should, aibu to think that people should be more understanding and tolerant of her.

OP posts:
ttcat37 · 17/05/2025 00:49

No issue with it being a medical alert dog. Completely different to the knobheads who take their pet dogs into M&S or wherever, utterly selfish like their dog enjoys walking around the shops as much as they do.

Original poster
Loopylouloves · 17/05/2025 00:46

Dangermoo · 17/05/2025 00:37

Don't take the pup into John Lewis. According to MN, it's always rammed with dogs. I hope you won't be too disappointed 🤗

One more badly behaved dog won't hurt then. I've never seen a dog in ours, I must rectify that at once.

OP posts:
Anotherparkingthread · 17/05/2025 00:45

Loopylouloves · 17/05/2025 00:32

Wow, sorry but your intelligence and reasoning is way over my head. What you should do is let these charities and the scientists who work with them know that they are completely wasting their time. Who cares if your dog can detect your blood glucose level is dropping better then any machine available, who cares if your dog can detect your heart rythmn is out of sync and you're about to arrest. Attention seekers the lot of them.

Side note - are you a fan of Trump?

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You know what I'm glad you have a fake service dog because it advertised what type of person you arem without it I'd have to waste my time waiting for you to open your mouth before I realised you weren't worth engaging with.

The scientists, charities and their CEOs and other 'experts' all want jobs. Shit like this makes jobs. No charity is no profit they all have paid staff. It's just a gimmick to funnel money away from where it's needed. Fast food companies have in house scientists who are health experts and are paid to promote very specific ideals, they do so because it keeps them in a well paid job.

But yeah go take your badly trained dog that literally would not save your life in any situations any where ever you like, I honestly don't care, I bring my dog all kinds of plsces and say it's a service dog and nobody questions it. I like dogs

Original poster
Loopylouloves · 17/05/2025 00:43

Thankyou. I'm not sure if all charities train owners dogs, but this one does and it seemed a good option for me. Most of her work will be scent based so it helps that she's already bonded with me. I'm almost afraid to say her breed as I know how it will go done so I will whisper it, she's a cockerpoo. The breed was recommended because of their excellent noses, high intelligence and ability to work. Bonus that they don't shed too. I'll quietly await my judgement now.

OP posts:
Dangermoo · 17/05/2025 00:37

Don't take the pup into John Lewis. According to MN, it's always rammed with dogs. I hope you won't be too disappointed 🤗

Original poster
Loopylouloves · 17/05/2025 00:33

Dangermoo · 17/05/2025 00:26

Is he really 'insanely' allergic to nuts or is he just making it up..you know for attention.

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More importantly, does he wear a vest?

OP posts:
Original poster
Loopylouloves · 17/05/2025 00:32

Anotherparkingthread · 17/05/2025 00:24

My partner is insanely allergic to nuts. He doesn't need to bring a dog everywhere with him and he hasn't died yet.

I think people who need made up service animals are desperate for attention.

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Wow, sorry but your intelligence and reasoning is way over my head. What you should do is let these charities and the scientists who work with them know that they are completely wasting their time. Who cares if your dog can detect your blood glucose level is dropping better then any machine available, who cares if your dog can detect your heart rythmn is out of sync and you're about to arrest. Attention seekers the lot of them.

Side note - are you a fan of Trump?

OP posts:
midlandsmummy123 · 17/05/2025 00:28

Its just a slightly unusual situation in that guide dogs / hearing dogs / medical alerts are usually trained and then go to their new owner/partner, that said just because things have always been done a certain way in the past doesn't mean it should always be that way - i'm sorry if you've been made to feel uncomfortable, personally I wouldn't have a problem with a trainee service dog in tesco - can i ask what breed of dog is it?

Dangermoo · 17/05/2025 00:26

Anotherparkingthread · 17/05/2025 00:24

My partner is insanely allergic to nuts. He doesn't need to bring a dog everywhere with him and he hasn't died yet.

I think people who need made up service animals are desperate for attention.

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Is he really 'insanely' allergic to nuts or is he just making it up..you know for attention.

Anotherparkingthread · 17/05/2025 00:24

Loopylouloves · 17/05/2025 00:20

Oh absolutely 💯. It's a complete joke to have this lame medical inconvenience. Just like it must be really inconvenient to be so ignorant but well done you for not letting it hold you back.

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My partner is insanely allergic to nuts. He doesn't need to bring a dog everywhere with him and he hasn't died yet.

I think people who need made up service animals are desperate for attention.

Original poster
Loopylouloves · 17/05/2025 00:20

Anotherparkingthread · 17/05/2025 00:13

Lol what a lame excuse and a joke. Also the whole "accredited service dog" thing is horse shit.

I take my dog everywhere and she isn't trained to do anything. At least I own it and don't make my dog wear a stupid vest and pretend I have a medical need it for it to be present.

I feel bad for blind people who will no doubt he victims of every man and his dog deciding it's okay to invade any public place with even the most passive of medical inconveniences.

Edited

Oh absolutely 💯. It's a complete joke to have this lame medical inconvenience. Just like it must be really inconvenient to be so ignorant but well done you for not letting it hold you back.

OP posts:
Dangermoo · 17/05/2025 00:16

Loopylouloves · 17/05/2025 00:14

Actually I'm finding all the stupidity entertaining 😆. If my eyes roll anymore they are going to fall out, (and obviously be eaten by my untrained fake service dog).

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😆 🤣 😂 😹 the bingo card will fill up quickly 😜

Original poster
Loopylouloves · 17/05/2025 00:14

Dangermoo · 17/05/2025 00:07

Oh OP, what have you let yourself in for, in starting this thread x

Actually I'm finding all the stupidity entertaining 😆. If my eyes roll anymore they are going to fall out, (and obviously be eaten by my untrained fake service dog).

OP posts:
Anotherparkingthread · 17/05/2025 00:13

Lol what a lame excuse and a joke. Also the whole "accredited service dog" thing is horse shit.

I take my dog everywhere and she isn't trained to do anything. At least I own it and don't make my dog wear a stupid vest and pretend I have a medical need it for it to be present.

I feel bad for blind people who will no doubt he victims of every man and his dog deciding it's okay to invade any public place with even the most passive of medical inconveniences.

Original poster
Loopylouloves · 17/05/2025 00:10

AnneLovesGilbert · 16/05/2025 23:55

Were you not aware people had allergies before today?

To save you actually reading the full thread so you could comment without looking stupid, I only carry epipens as fun accessories along with my fake service dogs. Hope that helps 👌

OP posts:
Dangermoo · 17/05/2025 00:07

Oh OP, what have you let yourself in for, in starting this thread x

Original poster
Loopylouloves · 17/05/2025 00:06

fiveIsNewOne · 16/05/2025 23:35

If you were blind, you would have a proper trained guide dog. Not a puppy you are partially self-training.

For example this sounds very like being nonchalant about your dog bothering people
I couldn't promise she wouldn't nick a pork pie at a picnic tbh but she has never wrecked havoc anywhere yet.
I know you've said lately it was a joke, but your communication is just too similar to communication of the entitled owners, some of them are even trying to pretend their pets are kind of service animals when they are not.

If my friends were not impressed by needing her to be with me then I would question the sort of person they were. - shouldn't this go both ways? Understanding that some people wish you the best, but want to keep their home a dog free place. You can still be friends when meeting outside or in other places, but questioning "what sort of people they are" just because they are not comfortable with having a half trained dog at their homes doesn't sound mindful of others.

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Again where in my posts have I mentioned my dog bothering anyone? Or that my dog is half trained?

My dog is being trained to detect when I'm about to become very unwell, the waiting list and amount of medical evidence needed to have this charity train a dog is huge. I'm sorry you don't like the way I 'communicate' but I couldn't have been clearer in my posts but still I'm misquoted and accused of pretending my pet is a service dog.

As for my friends, well let me ask you. If you had a very close friend that you had to resuscitate several times, lived in fear of her not surviving, holding her hand in intensive care, watching the drs try to save her, would you refuse to let her very well behaved assistant dog be with her in your house? Or would you feel reassured that this dog will be able to alert you to an oncoming episode so that you don't have to do cpr on her in your livingroom?

OP posts:
AnneLovesGilbert · 16/05/2025 23:55

Were you not aware people had allergies before today?

Original poster
Loopylouloves · 16/05/2025 23:51

blythet · 16/05/2025 23:28

I’m a bit confused about why you posted. FWIW I read the first few posts earlier and voted YANBU, and I’m also a massive dog lover.

however having returned to the post and read the updates, it now sounds like you’ve already decided you should take your dog everywhere and don’t want to hear any other views?

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It's not that I don't want to hear other views, I've thanked some posters for their advice and will take it on board. It's been helpful to hear how some people are allergic to dogs or fearful and what I can do to respect that. Not sure where I've said I will take dog everywhere except in title, and the only views I'm interested in is intelligent, well thought out ones, whether that's for or against.

OP posts:
Dangermoo · 16/05/2025 23:42

stclementine · 16/05/2025 21:54

i agree. For some reason MN is vehement in its hatred of dogs to the extent that, as a dog owner, is unrecognisable in the real world.
just carry on working with the charity and follow their guidance - if it’s the one I’m thinking of them they have many years of experience of training assistance dogs.
good luck and maybe avoid the nuts on here.

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Totally agree with this. I've never known such a weird stance regarding dogs, than on here.

fiveIsNewOne · 16/05/2025 23:35

Loopylouloves · 16/05/2025 22:15

Actually I understood her reaction in some ways. Ideally I wouldn't want to take a dog in a supermarket, I wonder though if she would have reacted the same if I was blind and had a guide dog 🤔. I also except that some people are going to feel uncomfortable around a dog, or even afraid of dogs. Like you said that's the reality. My reality is living with a condition that can and does frequently try to unalive me, I'm sure most people's day would be made more uncomfortable by them having to do cpr on me.

Also I'd like to ask where in any of my posts I've said that my dog bothers people or jumps at them, or where have I given the impression that I'm not mindful of people around me? Maybe I gave the impression I let her tear around tescos snaffling pork pies whilst some poor innocent women cowers in the corner 🙄.

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If you were blind, you would have a proper trained guide dog. Not a puppy you are partially self-training.

For example this sounds very like being nonchalant about your dog bothering people
I couldn't promise she wouldn't nick a pork pie at a picnic tbh but she has never wrecked havoc anywhere yet.
I know you've said lately it was a joke, but your communication is just too similar to communication of the entitled owners, some of them are even trying to pretend their pets are kind of service animals when they are not.

If my friends were not impressed by needing her to be with me then I would question the sort of person they were. - shouldn't this go both ways? Understanding that some people wish you the best, but want to keep their home a dog free place. You can still be friends when meeting outside or in other places, but questioning "what sort of people they are" just because they are not comfortable with having a half trained dog at their homes doesn't sound mindful of others.

blythet · 16/05/2025 23:28

Loopylouloves · 16/05/2025 21:00

I just want to clarify once more as it seems it's impossible for some to grasp that my trainee ASSISTANCE dog sometimes...sometimes doesn't behave in a way that the average person would expect a ASSISTANCE dog to behave because shes TRAINING. HOWEVER she is fully trained to behave well in public. She DOESNT jump up at people, or approach them, she DOESN'T create havoc and mayhem wherever she goes, and has never savaged a cat. She's extremely well behaved generally, I've NEVER had to remove her from a public place or been asked to leave one.

She has regular training by professional trainers, and they are impressed by her progress. She is well on her way to being a accredited assistance dog and always has her harness and vest that clearly says she's training.

I’m a bit confused about why you posted. FWIW I read the first few posts earlier and voted YANBU, and I’m also a massive dog lover.

however having returned to the post and read the updates, it now sounds like you’ve already decided you should take your dog everywhere and don’t want to hear any other views?

Original poster
Loopylouloves · 16/05/2025 23:14

Lougle · 16/05/2025 23:05

@Loopylouloves dogs are often very keen to please their owners and they will mask stress. Stress signs are often very subtle and can be mistaken for happiness, tiredness, etc. Food shops are challenging environments for dogs because of the smells, close encounters with people, lights, noises, etc.

The difficulty is that dogs can store stress and then they often react later. It's known as trigger stacking (or 'filling the bucket') which means that their handlers don't recognise what it was that pushed them over the edge.

Thankyou so much for this. I will stop taking her there for now just in case. It's not essential she goes atm and we can try once she's older.

OP posts:
Lougle · 16/05/2025 23:05

@Loopylouloves dogs are often very keen to please their owners and they will mask stress. Stress signs are often very subtle and can be mistaken for happiness, tiredness, etc. Food shops are challenging environments for dogs because of the smells, close encounters with people, lights, noises, etc.

The difficulty is that dogs can store stress and then they often react later. It's known as trigger stacking (or 'filling the bucket') which means that their handlers don't recognise what it was that pushed them over the edge.

Original poster
Loopylouloves · 16/05/2025 23:01

GravyBoatWars · 16/05/2025 22:38

Also, you mentioned friends' houses.

I do not automatically take my working dog to other people's homes. He's welcome in many, but I always ask first (and for every visit unless he has been explicitly given a permanent-invite) while making it extremely clear that there is no obligation to say yes. And when visiting homes with dogs I default to leaving him at home unless I know the dog and trust he'll be welcomed in their space. When he does accompany me I offer to keep him on lead in his work-mode or in specific areas rather than defaulting to letting him go into normal dog mode. I have a right to take my assistance dog out in public where others need to make reasonable accomodations but other people and dogs have an overriding right to comfort and security in their own homes. Always being respectful of that means that he's rather beloved by my friends and family and they're more likely to be supportive and accomodating, not resentful.

I always ask first and would understand if they didn't want her there. Thankfully my friends are really supportive and are totally in love with her. I would hate it if anyone resented her so will make extra sure they don't feel pressured to say yes. Thankyou

OP posts:
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