I’ve joined the “why are there dogs everywhere” Club

Well I haven't been in an eaterie since 1976 so it's not my dog you need to worry about. I'm not comfortable sharing seats with people. I always have to change my clothes if I've sat anywhere that people have been.

I've never had dealings with ear mites either. But it's people not washing their hands that puts me off shopping or eating out.

I was basically making a general point about why I think animals and eateries are not a good combo and why I’m not comfortable with sharing seats etc with them.

I have seen some sights, you’re right! And I haven’t even mentioned the ear mites…I know some people can cope with this kind of thing but I can’t and don’t want it when I’m eating out.🫣

I'm not entirely sure why you're replying to me specifically @CoffeeCantata
My dogs have never been to cafes or shops because I don't go to those places myself. I'm very germ phobic around people so I never eat out.

I've had dogs for 48 years, lived with 9 of them in total and I've never ever seen a tapeworm, so you've been incredibly unlucky.

Personally I never like the combination of food/eating and any animals. I speak as someone who grew up with both cats and dogs in the house but I've reacted against that and we haven’t had house pets.

I’ve seen (in other people’s houses) tapeworm segments drop from pets’ backsides, dogs and cats slobbering on furniture and the shower of skin flakes sent flying when a dog or cat shakes itself.

I don’t want any of this in my home and I don’t want it in a cafe where I’m eating. People are animals too but none of my friends do any of the above!

It doesn't feel like that at all to me. I know where my dog has been but I don't know where people have been.

Yes and I also have a no shoes policy at home - can’t understand having a dog and asking people to remove their shoes though, feels like locking the door after the horse has bolted!

Do you feel the same when you see people put their feet on train seats etc?

I have a dog and I worry far more about people coming into my house with outdoor shoes on than I ever do about my dogs bum.

I completely agree - up to you if you want poo particles over your own upholstery but you don’t get to do it to public furniture

Poor sheep.

Yes but I’d rather sit on a chair used for coats than one a dog has been on.

How could he think that was OK? If he lets the dog sit on his chairs at home, that’s up to him, but cafe chairs? Selfish and lacking imagination.

Putting coats and bags on a spare chair is normal behaviour.

Me removing them and giving away the chair does rather suggest that I didn’t believe my coats needed the chair doesn’t it. Mind blowing it may be but sometimes in life people just place their belongings down in a convenient spot without too much thought.

Honestly, the things people on here find to make snarky irrelevant comments about 🙄

Well yes, when you put them on a chair. 🧐

Another dog owner and lover who thinks this is ridiculous. Any sensible person knows where dogs fit in and where they don’t - quiet country pub after a long walk? Yes - especially if outside. Quaint little cafe in the middle of a national park? Yes. John Fucking Lewis? No!!
It makes no sense and I really hope the owners don’t count that as their walk for the day.

Did I suggest they did? 🙄

Try visiting the Lake District..
There are dogs and dog shit everywhere

I don’t think your coats need their own chair either tbh.

A man in a cafe once asked if he could take the empty chair from our table if we weren’t using it. I politely took all our coats off it and handed it to him only for him to offer it to his dog! In what world is it appropriate for a dog to be sat up on a chair in a cafe 🤯

I just walked past a Costa Coffee with tables outside. I was shopping in two or three of the shops opposite and I could hear barking from more than one dog and just what sounded like very unpleasant canine interaction. When I went out, there was a couple at a table with a large shaggy black dog. No idea what breed sorry. It was going berserk at every single other dog that passed. I can't believe it's just decided to act like that today. These are the owners who really should leave the dog at home.

Unsurprising result to any of us who have lived with (and loved) dogs for a long time.

the poll results says it all.
just keep you dog at home sometimes

I do live next to a very well-used water park and I see (minor) issues several times a week. But it depends on your perspective. I love waterfowl and you get off-lead dogs chasing and scaring them - which I think is awful, especially when they have young. But from the amused reactions I’ve seen from owners, this is OK! I once saw an altercation between a man with 3 off-lead terriers and an elderly gentleman who was standing near a swan (which was also quietly standing on the shore minding its own business. The dogs went way ahead of the owner, tried to attack the swan, nearly knocked the old chap over and all the owner had to say when he caught up was “Why are you encouraging dangerous birds?” He then accused this man of feeding the swan (which I knew he hadn’t) and telling him feeding wasn’t allowed (it is).

I saw this in detail and I got involved in defence of the elderly man, who was clearly frightened both by the dogs and the owner! I challenged his assertions and later found that a) there was no restriction on feeding waterfowl and b) all dogs should be on a lead.

i know - it’s the owners, not the dogs, but I guess this incident wouldn’t even register on some people’s radar for annoyingness.

I’m not so sure. There are still the ones who think a dog should never be off lead (even in a park and even if under control and well trained), that dogs should never be in pubs or cafes or shops etc.

For many it is nothing to do with behaviour or training.

Maybe it’s where I live but I just don’t recognise all these tales of people being accosted by dogs. It’s never happened to me and I’ve never seen it happen to others. Not saying it doesn’t happen - there are of course dogs with poor behaviour and owners unable to control them. I just don’t see it as being nearly as common as is made out here.

And yet we have hundreds of posts complaining about too many places becoming dog friendly. But whatever brings you comfort.

There’s nothing wrong with a well-trained, well-supervised dog in the right place (usually outdoors). But oh, the ones off leads which I’ve seen run up to people and jump, or actually trip them (saw this with a jogger who crashed on to his knees when a Bichon Frisee ran at him - he was rightly furious with the owner, who couldn’t understand his anger because her dog was ‘just being friendly). I’ve had a big do run at me on a walk, jump, knock me over and leave mud all over my clothes. The owner laughed and tried to make out I was weird to be put out!

The key to happiness all round is for dog owners to keep them under close control around other people and to grasp the fact that not everyone is a dog-lover. This would solve 80% of the issues.