Is everywhere dog-friendly these days?

[2022HereWeCome]

I'm getting increasingly fed up with dogs being everywhere - in stores, in cafes, getting under my feet and nearly tripping me up. Was browsing in Waterstones Sat morning and another customer had a dog on a long lead and it jumped up at me. Owner was oblivious. I suspect I'm in a minority but I am finding this constant pandering to dog owners wearing.

I hate out of control dogs. We were having a picnic at a local lake a couple of years ago. An off lead dog came running straight through our food and snatched DS's food out of his hand. Caught him with its teeth too but luckily no injury. It scared him though. The owner didn't even apologise or offer to replace the food. It was as if I should feel honoured that their hound chose my picnic to ruin. Dogs on leads and well behaved may be ok in some places.

i certainly hope it is and stays that way !! i havent seen dogs everywhere as in shops and cafes , but if i do i will be well happy , as not having a dog myself i very much like them and all the drama about them stinking and is a wee bit dramatic . i dont have them jumping up on me and stinking when i do see them

@QuirkyTurtle

I love that dogs are allowed in a lot of places now, because I love dogs and it means I can take mine out more. But he's well behaved.

Misbehaved dogs jumping up at you are annoying but not any more annoying to me than people's misbehaved children and those are everywhere. In fact I wish we could ban those more instead of dogs.

this , when they are running about in the shop i work in screaming and fiddling with all the bloody stock whilst the parents are wondering about oblvious and then of course when they do fuck off out with the kids in tow we have to then tidy up after them , at least dogs in shops and cafes are on leads and not running about out of control making a mess

I think I live in the wrong place. Here, even places that describe themselves as dog friendly mean, as long as you stay in the outside seating area. So no way of actually ordering if you're on your own with a dog. Last year was better as so many places had table service or window hatches because of COVID.

I agree I can't stand them.

@2022HereWeCome

I'm in a city and post-pandemic dogs are everywhere all the time. So many places have gone dog friendly it is the exception for places not to allow dogs. My favourite is a shopping centre providing dog pushchairs and backpacks to carry your dog in.

They have what now??? 😲

I am a dog owner. You might meet me walking passed you, using you and everyone one else as a training opportunity. But take him into a shop?

Not on your Nelly?

I feel the same about children being everywhere. I usually find children more annoying and less well behaved than dogs though

I prefer shopping alone than with my kids or the dog. It wouldn’t occur to me to take the dog to shops. There’s a cafe at the park with a big outdoor area to sit - covered and maybe a very dog friendly pub but I’m not sure he’d enjoy it. Dogs don’t bother me, that said they should be on lead and under control - I wouldn’t allow mine to be leaping on people or being naughty. (I also don’t want people approaching him) I used to puppy walk for guide dogs and people used to kick up a fuss if I told them he was working and couldn’t be fussed - there are times you can fuss them but they need to learn not to go to people for fusses and concentrate. However I was shouted at by a lady in Tesco that he needs to be SOCIALISED don’t you know, this was the friendliest, calmest golden ever he was well socialised.

Any other class of people you want to randomly categorise alongside dogs @NorthSouthcatlady?

@BookkeeperBobby yep! People who sniff, Michael Buble fans and people who don’t like spicy food

Ok

Aside from proper service dogs, I'd prefer places to stay as dog free as possible. And I'm a dog owner! I'm just quite nervous around other people's dogs and panic if they jump up or come galloping towards me or trying to sniff/lick me. DS is the same. We can't help it.

The dogs aren't the problem though - it's the owners and their assumption that because they adore their dog, we all must as well. I don't care if 'he's only being friendly' you just don't know what allergies or fears people may have.

@BookkeeperBobby l like dogs!

Incidentally, Waterstone's - or rather many branches of Waterstone's have been dog friendly for at least the last 11 years.

*Certainly feels like it.

Dunno why we all have to be friendly to dogs either. Can't people just allow them, without being their friends?*

I feel the same way about children, @BookkeeperBobby! Wish I didn’t have to acknowledge brats that try crawl up my leg, play peekaboo, screech for my attention. If I ignore them pestering me, the parents seem to think I’m in the wrong!

I'm terrified of dogs and find their constant presence really distressing.

@Pinklimey- do you know why? My nephew is, but we can’t recall a time when a dog has done anything which warrants such fear. We’d love to help him with it because he loves to be outdoors and can’t avoid dogs. He wants to like them, but his fear is palpable.

I think retailers and pubs/cafes/hoteliers are recognising that allowing dogs in their stores brings in more money for them. It would override people who dont like dogs taking their custom elsewhere so they are still quids in

I have to say that I have noticed poorly behaved children more than I ever see poorly behaved dogs.

I'm a dog owner and lover. I don't take my dog to places like you describe. A mix of being a lockdown puppy and missing that type of socialisation during the crucial window plus a typical yappy terrier nature means she'd probably be annoying to others and not especially happy herself. If she was more sociable though I would do. I suppose it's handy for some to be able to take their dog shopping and plenty would enjoy the experience, but the problem is people not being realistic about their own dogs suitability in that environment.

I’m with you OP. I don’t think dogs should be allowed in pubs where food is served or restaurants. I’m fed up of dogs yapping and wandering around when I am trying to eat. Don’t even get me started on a B & B which we stayed at recently - dog left in room barking loudly whilst owners went to the pub.

dog left in room barking loudly whilst owners went to the pub.

That's probably because the pub wasn't dog friendly as per your preference

@Imissmoominmama I had some terrifying experiences with dogs as a child, near misses that were too near for my liking.

Poor dd really likes dogs but I can't take her to the park when it seems we're surrounded by the damn things.

@Mushypeasandchipstogo

I’m with you OP. I don’t think dogs should be allowed in pubs where food is served or restaurants. I’m fed up of dogs yapping and wandering around when I am trying to eat. Don’t even get me started on a B & B which we stayed at recently - dog left in room barking loudly whilst owners went to the pub.

But the owners of the pub or restaurant do so you either suck it up or go elsewhere

Just a thought - if dogs are allowed can I bring my cat as well? What about a hamster? Pet rabbit? Mink? Where would you draw a line?