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

I was walking along a residential road near my house yesterday and a couple with a dog waited to the side with the dog as I walked along (there was plenty of room - they were just waiting a second to make more room), as I went past she sarcastically said 'thanks' in an eyerolly kind of way and I couldn't help thinking 'fuck you! - the pavements were built for PEOPLE to walk along - I'm got going to thank you for letting me go in place of your dog'.
I didn't say it though.

I really hate all the streaks of piss all over the pavements where dogs piss constantly. In some places there are like dozens of dog wee's against every corner/lamp post/signpost. It's rank and it stinks.

It annoys me that public grassy areas are now ALL just giant dog toilets. And dog owners EXPECT it - like every bit of grass can be pissed on. Sod the wildlife, other members of the public, kids or fresh air/clean grass. Dog toilets, everywhere.

grrrrrrrrr

Of course. But most dogs are happy to chill at home after a decent walk for a few hours and/or there is more than one person that can care for dog in house so more flexibility. I got a dog cos I wanted my life to be different. It's just very limiting it you have a dog with separation anxiety. Like I say I'm ok with it, I made the commitment to get the dog, but doesn't mean I wont take the opportunity to nip into a shop with her her if I can to pick something up.

I agree. You used to see them tied up outside shops, now they're in Clark's while the owner tries on shoes. It's very strange.

It has to be different if you have a dog, though.
It's not a human.

Dogs are wonderful I agree (I have one) but since the start of Covid a massive amount of people own them who really shouldn't. They don't have a clue about how to look after them. Poor Dogs. They're not a fucking fashion accessory.

This is what I’ve long thought to be the case. When I was growing up (90s) I remember several adults who either owned or had owned dogs saying to me, “having a dog is a big commitment” and pointing out about restrictions on lifestyles.
There are obvious reasons why it hasn’t been a decades-long thing for dogs to be taken to department stores, shopping centres, bars/nightclubs, cinemas etc.
Similarly why it seems many people who have owned dogs for decades aren’t the owners you see taking their dogs to places like that now.

Yep. It's not necessarily ideal but we are just doing what we can to look after the dogs whilst also living as well, there's so much that I can't do at all while have this issue (and I accept that it's always possible with any dog and have made that commitment so am ok with it) but it does mean if a shop/cafe etc says they allow dogs ill utilise it just so I can get out of bloody house, as other than dog walks which I love my world is very small currently!

YANBU.

That dog owner in John Lewis earlier is an idiot. She can’t have just realised today that the one dog doesn’t like being overcrowded. Taking the dog to a department store on a weekend day when the shops have shorter opening hours and thus are likelier to have more people in is a thick as shit thing to do.
It’s a prime example of what@ComtesseDeSpair put: “the fur baby trend, which ignores animals’ needs in favour of owners’ wants.”

Some of the examples on this thread illustrate that some owners are taking dogs to absurd places. A bar with flashing lights and loud music on a Saturday night?

As for dogs in cinemas, @Laiste The Guardian had an article about the rise of dog-friendly cinema screenings just today. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/aug/31/the-rise-of-dog-friendly-cinema-screenings-tim-dowling
I had the same thoughts as you and this is what the article said about dogs being sat on seats: “Some cinemas restrict dogs to the floor, but the Picturehouse chain allows them on the seats, as long as you use one of the fleece blankets provided.”🙄

I have no faith in the fleece blankets making a difference; I can guarantee those blankets will have dog fur from previous dogs on them, so it’ll be transferred to the seats when a blanket is put down on them. Bet it’s not being enforced routinely either.
Cinema screens are given a very quick once over between showings, so there will always be fur, dander, you name it present.
I saw someone had commented in the Guardian’s comments section that these cinemas ought to be displaying allergy warning notices, so people who are affected can make an informed choice. Seems very sensible to me if this practice is how things are going.

That’s the same for us too. Ours is definitely not treated like a baby. He’s a dog and does lots of dog things. But for whatever reason, he hates being alone and it causes him massive distress so if appropriate he comes with us. If not, someone stays at home with him

I'm an annoying person that has taken their dog into shops etc with them. I realise it's not ideal for everyone. I'm in a tricky situation with a rescue dog who can't currently be left for longer than an hour, so broadly am tied to the house as on my own, although I pay for dog sitting/walking etc when I can that mostly just covers times when I need to be in work/appointments rather than an ad hoc me realising last minute I need to pick up something up. I'm doing my best to work on her anxiety so that hopefully this will pass, and i try to avoid treating her like a baby but there's not a quick fix unfortunately

She also does a lot of normal dog activities. Long walks, playing in rivers, sniffing in woods , dog training classes, sleeping so I'm not neglecting her trying to manage a difficult situation.

I’m with you. Near me, there are 4 piles of dog shit next to the swings in a park that specifically says dogs aren’t permitted in it. And if you tell people it’s a dog free park, they hurl abuse at you.

I like dogs but it's gone too far. A few weeks ago I was in a charity shop and a woman came in with 2 small dogs on fairly long leads. She was browsing and the dogs were running around with the leads becoming trip hazards.

The dogs were in the way of another lady who asked the owner to move them, lady then looked down and said excuse me, your dog has done something. Indeed, the dog had taken a dump on the shop floor. Lady scooped the poop up and made a sharp exit, leaving a streak of shit on the floor. Gross 🤢.

This is so British. Jolly well done for apologising so well, both of you.

Yes, I that's a good point. People carry on with regular human activities, not considering if it's good to always have the dog with them. They do require a commitment.

@CancelTheTableAlan
It depends on the dog. Some can be left for a few hours but others can't. But really they need far more commitment than that. There is no point having a dog if your lifestyle is not conducive to it and you aren't going to spend much time with it.

I don't know why anyone would think that's acceptable, really.

I was looking at a woman in John Lewis, thinking why have you come to try jackets on and brought your dog? It's just a bit odd, really.
There was one in Starbucks sitting on one of the sofas, which I thought was a bit much. Under the table is ok.
It's a bit of a furbaby phenomenon, as pp have said.

I don't mind dogs, grew up with one and I often used to pet sit my sisters dogs, I also often spend time with my friend- when she's walking her dogs. They love their dogs and even they don't get why the dogs are allowed everywhere.

I'm in awe at how dog friendly the world seems to be becoming It's easy, when I'm with the dogs, but on the other hand, I can't stand seeing dogs in food places and certain shops i.e. shoe shops, clothes shops. They're not service dogs- just regular dogs and I think we're creating anxiety in the dogs and their owners too. With no consideration for those with allergies or phobias or those who just don't want to eat their food- near to a dog.

We had my dad's funeral a couple of days ago which was a beautiful service at the crematorium in a lovely room. I started sneezing but couldn't think why. We had a family 'receiving line' afterwards to greet/thank those who had come - and someone had a dog with them! (I am allergic but it didn't occur to me that there would be a dog in a funeral room!) Not a service dog, just a pet spaniel that goes everywhere with them apparently.

@BananaCaramel i don’t think my dog’s separation anxiety should be anyone else’s problem at all. I don’t want to leave my dog at home alone barking and howling and annoying the neighbours. So we take him with us if we can, he’s very quiet and well behaved and we keep him on the lead in places where he has to be on the lead. Or one of us stays at home with him if he can’t come with us. He’s happy in a dog friendly cafe or restaurant and just flops under the table.

As someone who totally doesn't know anything about dogs can I ask a naive question? If I got a dog, (assuming a suitable breed for that lifestyle) could I get up, take it for a walk for an hour or so, be in the house for like 2 hours, let it out for a wee, then go out and leave it for say 5 hours, then come back and walk it again? Or be pottering round the house,walk the dog at 6pm then go out till midnight?

I mean what does "you can't leave them for long" really mean? I wouldn't want to be constrained more than about that much, I reckon.

I recently went to Disneyworld and noticed more dogs there than usual. It was baking hot and seemed unnecessarily cruel to have a dog out in that heat.

At least it’s not cats everywhere. That would be far worse

Why do you think that your dog’s “separation anxiety” should be anyone else’s problem?

@Bluevelvetsofa have been to an NT property recently where people wilfully ignored the signs for having your dog on a lead and to an air show where people gleefully walked past the “no dogs” signs on parts of the beach and settled themselves down with their dogs.

I don’t know what it is about dog owners but they seem to think that having a dog makes them above common sense and clear rules and guidelines - I guess “their dog is different”

There would have been two answers to this for her, and if I was feeling polite I wouldn't use the option that ends in 'off' 😂