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

Dogs 🐕 Are all the rage now. In more ways than one. People need to stop ✋ cease treating dogs like humans.

Yes, absolutely. All the dogs I have seen in shops have been fine being there.
I have never seen a dog unhappy to be in a shop/cafe etc.

Given that a dog's sense of smell is tens of thousands of times more sensitive than ours, taking it to a hairdressing salon seems cruel.
I don't think its faux concern at all.
Wouldn't take mine anywhere near, she'd hate it. She'd rather be out on the moors.

@YeOldeGreyhound
That's a very good point. It really does come down to the individual dog and an owner who understands their limits. The example you gave is perfect—that dog was acclimated from a young age and is clearly comfortable. That's responsible ownership. My original thought was more about the owners who don't recognize or ignore clear signs of stress in their dog, like a tucked tail or anxious panting in a crowded shop. It's that distinction between a confident dog and a stressed one that matters most.

Aw, I got the breed wrong but it does not matter. All that matters is your dog is happy now. Many rescues dogs have an awful start in life. It is not unusual for the rescue taking them on to know about their history, so I have no idea why the previous poster was questioning you about it.

If the dog was happily just chilling on the floor then it was not distressed. Why the faux concern?

Again, most dog owners know what upsets their dog, and wont take them somewhere where they would be distressed.

A few weeks ago the woman next to me in the hairdressers had a dog with her. To be fair it was well behaved, it lay down quietly and at no point was I sniffed, licked, or came away with dog snot on my clothes. But why, with all the smells & noises of a salon, would you bring a dog whilst you get a haircut.

Thank you so much for this @YeOldeGreyhound 💜
The poster that has replied to me has really upset me.
She is a Fox Terrier and I we love her dearly x
Ps. This is horrific to read they are tortued then killed. It makes me want to throw up.

Is your dog a Galgo?
If so, then I can totally understand what you are on about. They are used then dumped, if they are lucky. Some are tortured then killed.
I could be wrong, but whatever breed your dog is, she is very lucky to have you and now be living the sweet life.

You must be new to London then. The seats on the underground are rank, and not due to dogs.

I'm not answerable to you. How dare you assume and judge me for what I posted.
I know all about the history of my dog from my professional reputed french rescuer and the people in Spain who originally rescued her. The place that she was originally rescued from is well known for abusing their dogs that are bred and used for hunting. By the way, it is a particular breed of Dog.
I would like to say a lot more to you but I can't or it will be deleted. Go and take your judgy way over the top agressive anger elsewhere.

Interesting you mention the 90s @Sladuf1 - I was a teenager then and families just had dogs and weren’t carting them around everywhere. There also wasn’t the hysteria over breeds and trying to get the little ‘fur babies’ to behave impeccably by human standards. All too often I see people wanting to ‘get a behaviourist in’ because their dog is behaving like a dog!

Lots of breeds will be protective and bark at the door, others will not sit still in a restaurant for hours - this is often instinct that we can’t really change. Not saying we shouldn’t train our dogs well, but I do think - they are animals and will often behave like animals, not lifestyle accessories! There’s way too much silliness around.

I popped into London last week and there was a very smartly dressed lady who thought nothing of letting her lively spaniel sit on a seat on the jubilee line. I don't get why people think this is acceptable and I definitely didn't want to sit on that seat when the owner and dog got off.

From @Izzywizzyletsgetbizy ‘s post (great user name by the way!)

“Too many people consider their dogs as an accessory/surrogate baby/ some other selfish need or whim and have little understanding of what the poor dog is feeling or requires to lead a fulfilled life. If their comeback to this is to say ' well I can't leave it shut in the house all day' then my answer to that is, pity you didn't think dog ownership through fully before you took on the responsibility.”

Amen! I remember quite a few people who owned/had owned dogs saying to me when I was growing up in the 90s that dog ownership wasn’t a light commitment and did carry lifestyle adaptations, which could be inconvenient. In fact one or two went further and said they wouldn’t have a dog again because of this. It was eye opening and helped me realise dog ownership wasn’t for me.

Very irresponsible of the owner to have a reactive dog in the restaurant then. I don't blame you for leaving, but the staff should have got them to leave. It sounds like they were losing business due to it.

Growled when we opened to the door to the restaurant. It was literally the first table so by the door. Dd refused to go in and she very used to dogs.

How on earth do you know the dog was both taken at 4 weeks old and hit and used for hunting? Did the rescue tell you that to excuse a spooky dog with a nice sob story? If you rescued it privately from said hunter that removed it at 4 weeks they wouldn't tell you they hit it, if you rescued it from a rescue group they'd never know it was removed at 4 weeks, if you rescued it from someone who rescued it from the hunter they'd still have very little chance of knowing it was removed at 4 weeks. Maybe she's jumpy because she should be out hunting and she's a house pet with no substitute for her real outlet that a walk or lure coursing or gundog training can't itch.

How was the dog being aggressive?

Dh, dd and I didn't go into a restaurant today due a huge aggressive dog by the door stopping access. I waiter seemed shocked when I said sorry we go somewhere else. Just one man and this dog in the restaurant the rest of it was empty. Yanbu. I dog sit for a poodle mix dog and he hate shopping so we don't take him.

Yes, no one should be dragging around a stressed dog. But some dogs are fine with going into shops.
A PP mentioned about seeing dogs at an air show. I know a couple who are into re-enactment (I can't remember the era but there are cannons and weapons using gunpowder, so lots of bangs). They take their dog (the events are usually over a weekend) and have done so since he was a puppy. He is fine with all the bangs.
People tend to know their dogs and what stresses them out.

Couldn’t agree more with this 👏. Dogs are amazing — the loyalty and love they give is honestly unmatched. But dragging them round crowded shops where they’re clearly stressed just feels cruel. It’s like people forget they’re not handbags. Mine’s happiest tearing around the park or flopping on the sofa after a long walk — definitely not dodging shopping trolleys in John Lewis 😅.

Oh god yes, the lift thing drives me mad. It’s always the “my dog’s nervous” excuse. Like… if your dog can’t handle a John Lewis lift, maybe don’t bring it shopping 😅

😂😂😂Oh this is so bloody wonderful!!!
Thanks @Paganpentacle for making me laugh so much!!

So does mine! 😂 I can't imagine taking my dog though!

Haven’t read the full thread, but I have a dog and I agree. Dogs belong in your own house and garden, parks, woods etc. They don’t belong in shops, restaurants (bar relaxed pubs), entertainment venues etc.

Also think it’s nuts when people are invited places and automatically expect the dog to come with. They should be capable of staying at home for a few hours! They’re not small kids ffs.