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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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

513 replies

BananaBum · 31/08/2025 18:51

I’ll start things off by saying I have a dog myself and normally scoff at all the people rolling their eyes over dogs in pubs and cafes. Can even forgive younger, less well behaved dogs because they have to learn and be exposed to different situations.

HOWEVER

Today I went to get in a lift in John Lewis with my DC and a woman with a pushchair and TWO massive labradors asked if I wouldn’t mind waiting because one of her dogs were nervous about being crowded.

Why are you in John Lewis then?
Is it really necessary for the dogs to come out with you?
Did they come in the car especially or do you live in town?
how does it all work logistically?

So many questions. And also just a bit annoyed I had to wait for the next lift

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PolkaDotPorridge · 31/08/2025 19:11

We were in John Lewis in Norwich today, saw about three dogs. Lots of other shops had too. All were lovely and very well behaved. We left ours at home but they would have been fine. No point people getting annoyed when the shops allow it 🤷🏼‍♀️

Buildingthefuture · 31/08/2025 19:10

I love dogs. I have had far more than any reasonable person would think was normal for 25+ years. I also shop in John Lewis. At no point over the last 25 years have I ever felt the need to take one of my dogs there. We are not all total arseholes!

BananaBum · 31/08/2025 19:06

Shessweetbutapsycho · 31/08/2025 19:03

Yes the place is always full of them, it’s so odd

I’ve never noticed it before but after this I seemed to see them all over the place and was left wondering why you need to take the dog with you to get a new toaster

OP posts:
CeciliaDuckiePond · 31/08/2025 19:05

BananaBum · 31/08/2025 18:55

Apologies if I hadn’t made that clearer!

No, my mistake.

ThisCanFuckOffToo · 31/08/2025 19:05

I can’t imagine any dog actually enjoys going in to a department store. People are fucking weird.

Dogs are wonderful.

Exhaustedonallfronts · 31/08/2025 19:05

I like dogs. I have two. They are well behaved and happy to snooze under the table in a country pub after a nice walk.

However, I am also in the club of ‘WTF, why are dogs here?!’ in many places. I went out for a colleague’s leaving do recently. A night out in a small city centre bar- dark, flashing lights, dance floor type affair, 10pm on a Saturday night. I noticed at least THREE different groups (early/mid 20 somethings) with a dog with them. Why on earth would anyone think a Saturday night in a busy city centre bar, amidst a lot of drunk revellers was a good place to bring your dog to?!

I saw an ad on SM last week celebrating that our local indoor shopping centre (so mainly clothes/shoe shop type shops) is now welcoming dogs. Why?!

You absolutely should not have had to wait for a lift because a dog didn’t want you in there. However, in the same situation I would probably have been so surprised I’d have also done as she asked.

OddBoots · 31/08/2025 19:04

I have got used to dogs everywhere and didn't really think about it but the other week I went to an event which while busy there were no dogs. It was amazing how less stressful it was to move about when not having to watch out for fluffy trip hazards and their leads, even when there were lots of people about.

Shessweetbutapsycho · 31/08/2025 19:03

RentalWoesNotFun · 31/08/2025 19:01

Are non assistance dogs even allowed in lewises?

Yes the place is always full of them, it’s so odd

RentalWoesNotFun · 31/08/2025 19:01

Are non assistance dogs even allowed in lewises?

CeciliaDuckiePond · 31/08/2025 18:58

BananaBum · 31/08/2025 18:54

Think you’ve slightly misread? She was already in but asked me not to get in

That doesn't change my opinion - she should have got out. In practice, if it were me and someone with pushchair and dogs started leaving the lift when I got in, giving that reason, I'd probably offer to get out again, but I would not take kindly to being asked not to get in.

BananaBum · 31/08/2025 18:55

Apologies if I hadn’t made that clearer!

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BananaBum · 31/08/2025 18:54

CeciliaDuckiePond · 31/08/2025 18:53

She should have waited for the next lift, not asked you to get out. Other than assistance dogs, dogs should not have priority over people in human spaces.

Think you’ve slightly misread? She was already in but asked me not to get in

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CeciliaDuckiePond · 31/08/2025 18:53

She should have waited for the next lift, not asked you to get out. Other than assistance dogs, dogs should not have priority over people in human spaces.