to think it’s time to ban dogs from shops and cafes?

I can fully understand you not being happy at dogs coming up to you when you are sitting and wanting a bit of peace.

Sadly not all dog owners are responsible and as a responsible owner myself it annoys me. Why do people not pick up their dog mess? Why do people let dogs run around offlead when they have no recall?

We can't let our dog run offlead except in enclosed places as he has such a high prey drive and no recall. It annoys me when offlead dogs run up to him and then start hassling him. He doesn't like it at all and who can blame him and I have had rudeness from some of the owners when I ask them to get their dog.

It's really not that easy these days.

Most eating and shopping places in my area (Cotswolds) must have done the calculations and it seems they must attract more profit if they allow in dogs (so fair enough). There's a brand-new shopping outlet/village nearby, for example, that announces proudly at the entrance 'THIS IS A DOG-FRIENDLY SITE THROUGHOUT!'

This is great if you ARE a dog-owner and for some reason you like to take them even to a coffee-shop or clothes-shopping, but not so great for those of us who don't want them everywhere we go.

I'm not a dog-hater and have fond memories of the three family dogs I've owned and loved over my lifetime, but I still don't want them in my way when I'm shopping and I can't see it's to the dogs' advantage either.

I'd hope that they majority are. Like any conversation the extremes often are the things that stick out in our heads.

Most people that don't like dogs remain perfectly reasonable. Most dog owners understand reasonable rules.

For what it's worth badly behaved dogs are usually far more annoying for dog owners then passers by. I have a good old mutter about a dog barking in a cafe, greeting everyone that goes past, kicking off, pinballing around off lead with no control because they are harder to manage with a dog in tow.

It annoys us too, and I don't think anyone would argue that dogs should be under control at all times and shouldn't be a nuisance to others.

The difficulty is that a dog like mine that's quietly under a table, on lead at all the right places etc is pretty forgettable as is the majority of owners going out for dinner without their dogs.

Something like half the population has a dog and there certainly isn't that level in cafes or restaurants. Most dogs are at home, some are tucked under a table and then there's one knobhead dog drawing all the attention

We were sitting on a bench minding our own business during a recent walk when a labrador type dog made their way to us and left drool on my partner's trousers. We made a noise of disgust and the owner looked at us and then just walked silently on.

Although the vast marjority of dogs are no problem we have nonetheless been approached by many dogs whilst having a rest on a bench because my partner cannot walk long distances without a breather. When we have asked the owners to take their dogs away the responses are literally never 'oh sorry' but a range of filthy looks, comments that their dog is 'friendly' or, on rarer occasions absolute hostility telling us that we are 'mental' or 'sad' for not wanting to interact with their dogs. Once upon a time I quite liked dogs but now I find myself avoiding some parks or open spaces because they have so many dogs running around.

A wee bit of understanding from dog owners would be nice now and again.

I would always be looking at the floor as there is likely to be a case or rucksack etc there. Also I have seen people sitting with their feet in the aisle

I'm sorry but I have to take issue with your comment

'(not sure what sort of idiot would stand on a dog but there you go).'

I recently boarded a train. I was, as I suspect a lot of people are, looking ahead to see what seating was available. I tripped over a large dog lying in the aisle.

I had no idea there was a dog there and I wasn't looking at the floor.

Paved with gold.

By dingbat! I think you’ve got it finally. It is up to us!

You seem to think you are some kind of dog expert.

My "poor dog" as you insist he is likes going to cafes, pubs etc. You can tell by your dog's body language whether they are happy or not but maybe you can't?

Crowds and noise don't bother my dog in the slightest as long as he is with me and/or my DH. We have taken him to far noisier places than a coffee shop and he wasn't bothered at all.

If someone is in a coffee shop without a dog and is that bothered seeing dogs in there then I would suggest they find somewhere else next time they want coffee and cake. Not quite sure why the shock and horror of seeing a dog at the next table would bother them but some folks are strange. My dog lays quietly under the table so they likely would not even know he was there.

That’s handy you don’t enjoy grasping still warm turds, the world really doesn’t need you procreating and caring for small children in nappies.

I'm going to engage with you in good faith because this always comes up and I never know why.

I would 99 times out of ten prefer to walk past a dog with an owner

Ignoring all the risk to the dog themselves of people stealing them or causing them harm.....

I don't remember the good old days of dog ownership that fondly. As a kid there was far more poo on paths etc, and lots of my friends were chased etc by escaped dogs or dogs allowed to roam.

I could probably still tell you some houses on my school walk that use to have dogs that would throw themselves against the fence/wall because they were left in gardens all day

Then (and still now) dogs outside shops had zero supervision, were often barking for owners etc, would go to greet you with no idea if they are friendly are not, and often you needed to go past them to leave or get in the door.

I far prefer a dog under control

What a strange little way of looking at life you have.

Several tourists in our town got a hefty fine after missing the (prominent) No Dogs sign. The resultant kerfuffle in the press was one of the factors that lead to part of the beach being opened for dogs.

The pavement isn’t a blank canvas for piss; if your hobby is painting the village with urine, that’s up to you.

The dog beach ban is a funny one. Last year we were on a very sign posted think huge banner dog free between X and Y times of the year beach.

But owners were still bringing their dogs on. Annoying for those who had selected it for being dog free.

Not the dogs fault shitty owners.

"A man's conscience and his judgement is the same thing: and as the judgement so also the conscience may be erroneous."

Thomas Hobbes.

The daily posts about this are so boring! I don't even take my dogs anywhere but I feel like doing it out of spite! Might bring my neighbours dogs, some street dogs and rescue dogs along, too!

It's like someone has been paid to brainwash us all with repetitive postings!

There you go, @Gloriia

So brushing past random dogs makes you nervous when they’re restrained outside (eg infinite space to escape) but not when they’re unrestrained in an enclosed interior space ?

Because it’s that latter experience which bothers those of us who dislike the ubiquity of canines in shared spaces.

I suggested the clips be located away from the entrance, eg with the smokers for that exact reason - being free to come and go without having something antisocial and unpleasant forced upon you.

.

I never understand the obsession that always arises from wanting dogs tied up outside shops etc

As a dog lover, dogs tied outside shops make me nervous! You always have to brush past them, and they are the worst of all things which is an unknown un attended dog.

Even without the fear for the safety aspects of the dog being stolen or harmed, I think its a big risk for people and don't remember the dogs tied in the 90s fondly!

My hobbies thankfully do not involve putting a genetically engineered frankenstein-creature on the end of a chain and using it to distribute smelly squirts of piss on various bits of public infrastructure. Nor does it involve grasping still-warm turds. That’s a really weird hobby.

My conscience is clear.

My dog loves crowded noisy places thanks. 👍. I will continue to do what the owner of the coffee shop allows me to do, if that means dogs are allowed in then that’s fine. It’s up to the establishment owner not other hypothetical customers.

Some owners do make their lives (and others) very difficult because their dogs must come everywhere with them, true.

A well trained and well exercised dog is fine to be left at home while their owner sees friends etc. There are so many dog sitters that taking a dog on holiday with other non dog owners is not necessary and absolutely selfish for others in the holiday group who probably daren't complain. We've seen the vitriol and entitlement from some dog owners on here so easy to see how many go along with it.

Our dog is lovely she does not come everywhere with us though. She likes a bit of quiet time as do all dogs.

It is. Doing their utmost to try and offend when they could just get a dog and be happy.