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Dog incident at pub

41 replies

Reab8 · 07/08/2026 20:45

Have just been to sit outside our local pub.
Busy and we are sat on one half of a bench with our dog near entrance.
Our Ddog can be reactive a so I am keeping an eye out for dogs. Large party with about 4 dogs comes towards entrance. I get up and move clear out the way of path to entrance to let them pass. 2 of the dogs proceed to start yapping, going crackers, knocking our water bowl over and one dog is nearly at mines face because owner hasnt got its lead tight. My dog now also thrashing, but no noise.
DH goes 'Jesus Christ' thinking he may need to intervene.
Man in party with child on shoulders goes 'jesus christ?your dogs f**ing wired!'.DH ignores. Man proceeds to along the lines of 'turn your back big man, wanna go' etc etc. Two women in group repeatedly saying to him 'shut up' and 'dont know whats with you today' . We were nearly done so hastily finished and left.
I fully appreciate our dog is reactive - but I don't know if its because we have a dog like this we are noticing more of this behaviour - dogs just not being under control, not listening to owners, badly behaved - we always keep her on a short lead and at a distance, ours wasnt the one initiating kicking off - shall I stop taking her places because other people can't control theres?

OP posts:
timtamsarebetterthanpenguins · Yesterday 15:11

Mrsjellycats · Yesterday 15:06

Not always possible.

Of course it's possible to leave your dog at home and not take them to the pub!

Florin · Yesterday 15:14

He was an arse but equally we are sitting in a very dog friendly pub but our dog is nervous of other dogs and you never know what other owners are like so our dog has been left at home. It most likely would have been absolutely fine but we have had so many dick head owners who have let their dogs wander round off the lead and just shout he is fine every dog loves him etc so it’s safer if he stays at home.

RightOnTheEdge · Yesterday 15:23

The man was an areshole and U but I think you were also U for taking a reactive dog to a pub.

I was in a small pub garden last week and there was a couple with two dogs. The dogs were right in the middle where everyone had to walk past and one of the dogs kept snapping at people walking past their table.

My dad always takes his dog out with us for pub meals and rhe poor thing just looks bired and uncomfortable. He'd be much happier pottering about or stretched out asleep at home.

This kind of situation is exactly why dogs are banned from Wetherspoon pubs. There are so many arsey owners when they get told no dogs though and people writing whining and complaining about it 🙄

BuildbyNumbere · Yesterday 15:25

They should have their dog under proper control, but taking a reactive dog to a busy pub probably isn’t the best idea … and certainly not sitting by the entrance, at least find a seat out the way somewhere! You are both to blame by the sounds of it.

BuildbyNumbere · Yesterday 15:27

MaidOfSteel · 07/08/2026 23:14

Why why why can’t dog owners leave their animals at home? It’s not compulsory to take them everywhere. It seems to have got worse the last few years. They are animals, not children.

I don’t really care if this upsets dog owners. A bit like dog owners don’t really care if their little darling terrifies the living daylights out of me when they fail to control it. Some just even stand & laugh.

Maybe a lot of people like to walk their dog and stop for a drink mid walk …

21ZIGGY · Yesterday 15:34

I haven't read any of the other comments but you absolutely can train the reactivity out of your dog. I have absolutely been there with my dog reacting especially when on lead and not being able to take him to pubs or cafes, or whatever, and now I can take him anywhere. It's not a quick or easy win, but it absolutely is doable

Pugdogmom · Yesterday 15:59

NotRachem · 07/08/2026 22:53

Is 'reactive' just a soft word for aggressive? Imo there are plenty of dogs who aren't like this, and in my day, these aggressive dogs would be humanely put to sleep, and no one would have to be on such high alert over a pet.

No it isn't. Many dogs are reactive due to fear, often because they were attacked. I am working with a dog behaviorist at moment because of that reason. My dog is not aggressive. He is the softest sweetest boy ever. However he barks and lunges at other dogs because he wants the scary thing to go away. He loves humans, why would I need to have him pts?
Thankfully we have moved on from archaic practices and understand a lot more about dog behaviour.

Noodles1234 · Yesterday 16:15

The prolonged heat is not bringing out the best of everyone. If you have a reactive dog I suggest avoiding places with a lot of people and possibly other dogs, maybe rent a field for an hour is popular around here. The other man got wired but then he is do any annoyed with your dog, his dogs also might want to not go to places like this either as they sound a pest. The poor people who have just gone for a quiet drink and ended up in a dog creche…

tombombaclot · Yesterday 16:26

Neither party should have had their dog/s out in this situation. The other dogs shouldn’t have been out if they can’t walk past another dog without losing their shit.
My dog will happily saunter past any dog or person, minding her own business but if a dog gets in her face snarling and growling it’s hardly weird that she’ll bark back - even though she’s a soppy shite and assumes they’re just having fun.
We were in a similar kind of situation a year or so back, we were sat in a pub garden, she was on a lead sleeping under the table, when 2 off lead tiny dogs came over snapping & barking at her. She barked back maybe twice, the owner of the others came over shouting at us about having an aggressive dog. Meanwhile ours had gone back to sleep, clearly mostly unbothered by the whole thing but naturally had reacted when other dogs had got right in her face and woken her up. I know you can’t compare people to animals but if I was chilling and someone came over and yelled at me within an inch of my face id probably have yelled in reaction too.
Sadly you just can’t predict what others will do, so if your dog is reactive, for their own sake, don’t take them out unless it’s for exercise.

Squizzletwist · Yesterday 16:49

The dogs may not be badly behaved they may just have additional needs….

Rainbowpumpkin · Yesterday 17:05

I have a dog that is fear reactive when other dogs get in his space. We go to a pub garden occasionally - he loves it, as long as no dogs invade his space.

The problem as always is other people, and you were doing the best you could at the time. but personally if I cant find a quiet spot where we aren't in a thoroughfare for other dogs passing we don't stay. Setting your dog up for success is the aim of the day and unfortunately that also means taking into account other clueless dog owmers who have no idea what they are putting their dog through or other dogs through their ignorance.

Rainbowpumpkin · Yesterday 17:11

NotRachem · 07/08/2026 22:53

Is 'reactive' just a soft word for aggressive? Imo there are plenty of dogs who aren't like this, and in my day, these aggressive dogs would be humanely put to sleep, and no one would have to be on such high alert over a pet.

Wow! No reactive describes a dog that struggles to manage their emotional response to a given situation due to fear, pain , frustration....which comes out in their behaviour.

Understanding of dog behaviour has moved on ALOT in the past 10 years. A truly aggressive dog is a rare thing, and that is usually down to a neurological problem.

And they arent 'reactive' all the time, just in a given situation. My boy is 99% perfect until a dog gets in his space.

Most dogs that struggle with reactivity can be helped considerably - if the owmers are willing to be put in the work.

Oliwiaa · Yesterday 18:48

Your dog doesn't want to go to the pub.

Icecreammonster · Yesterday 19:20

NotRachem · 07/08/2026 22:53

Is 'reactive' just a soft word for aggressive? Imo there are plenty of dogs who aren't like this, and in my day, these aggressive dogs would be humanely put to sleep, and no one would have to be on such high alert over a pet.

Really ignorant comment. My old dog was reactive because he had a historical fracture and was often in pain. He was warning other dogs to stay away. In 14 years he never hurt another dog or even came close. Its not normal for dogs to be crowded in together and not show reactions, they are not bloody robot dogs!

OldieWoldie · Today 00:07

Leave your dog at home, since covid dogs seem to be everywhere, nobody can go anywhere without them. Poor thing is obviously scared else it wouldn't be reactive.

OldieWoldie · Today 00:12

Pretty sure going to the pub is nit a necessity, you'd leave the dog home if going to the doctor, what's the difference?

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