This “humanisation” of dogs has got ridiculous

[Houseplantmad]

Had lunch in a chain restaurant yesterday. Two couples came in with smallish dogs. No problem with that as the restaurant is dog friendly however, they insisted on having high chairs for the dogs when their meal came as they had been holding the dogs on their laps until then. The waitress refused but they went and got them anyway so we had these shoved next to our table with a restless dog breathing and being uncomfortable in the high chair very close to us.
Today I get on an intercity train and a woman boards with a medium size dog and puts it on the seat next to her across from me at a table. The person who had booked that seat then turned up and the woman said what was she supposed to do with the dog as it couldn’t go on the floor! It did but was clearly distressed and couldn’t settle, poor thing.
I think putting animals in these situations is so unfair on them and also on others but it seems to be very common these days for people to treat their animal as if it is a human.

Completely agree. I used to love dogs (although I never owned one, I grew up with them all around me) but now I am so fed up of them. I'll still happily look after my friends dog when they want to go out for a nice meal or such (because they are responsible dog owners who don't presume everyone else wants to eat beside a dog) but generally really dislike dogs now.

I think the last straw was being tripped up numerous times in a huge and packed shopping centre the Saturday before Christmas - why would anyone think it's a good idea to take your dog there at that time? Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should. Can't have been any fun for the dogs. And yes, I realise there will be exceptions, but they should be just that, exceptions.

I work with someone who has a registered assistance dog for PTSD. It’s one of the worst-trained dogs I’ve ever come across. The guide dogs / assistance dog for epilepsy (I think) are no problem.

I don’t know if there’s any sort of formal assistance dog training for anything other than guide dogs?

In all seriousness, how is the beach designated "dog friendly"? Is that an official council designation or such? If you went to my local beach 10 years ago, you'd find a handful of dogs being walked. Now, on a Saturday morning, it is completely overrun. So much so it's very off-putting for families with kids to go. So I understand why people may question it if they weren't aware of the designation nor the other beaches where dogs aren't allowed.

In all seriousness, how is the beach designated "dog friendly"? Is that an official council designation or such? If you went to my local beach 10 years ago, you'd find a handful of dogs being walked. Now, on a Saturday morning, it is completely overrun. So much so it's very off-putting for families with kids to go. So I understand why people may question it if they weren't aware of the designation nor the other beaches where dogs aren't allowed
Everywhere I go beaches are for anyone unless marked otherwise.

Some beaches have a rule of no dogs l. Others have no dogs between the middle of spring and the end of summer or certain sections of the beach where no dogs are allowed. Some also say about no horses between certain dates too.

Some I've visited elsewhere have had signs saying that certain wind/kite activities can only be done at one end of the beach, away from the main public area. I assume that's to do with the risk from the cords getting caught around members of the public.

People comparing children to dogs exemplifies the problem. Children are humans. Dogs are animals. They do not have equal rights to humans in our society.

I take my dog to starbucks for a pupcup, BUT, she is a very well trained frenchie who is treated like a dog. She does exactly what she is told and just sits with me and my daughter. On the floor or on my lap. If she didn't behave then I wouldnt take her. To be honest if she didn't behave I would retrain her 🤷🏼‍♂️ I think the issue is today's society thinking you don't have to train dogs or pets etx. Coz they have "feelings" altho they dont train their kids either... kids do have feelings, yes but they also do need training/teaching how to behave. Animals don't have human feelings, Dogs are dogs. I like being able to take mine places with me but like I said, she is trained for it. Also I would not put her in a highchair. She's a dog.

I take my dog to starbucks for a pupcup

Jesus

Exactly. They should be for everyone, but now my local beach is essentially "dog-only" by default at certain times due to the sheer numbers on the beach (it's a small beach). During these times I can't imagine trying to take kids there, particularly ones who are nervous around dogs

Dogs have always been on beaches.

Unless you're taking your dog to the groomers every single day or doing what I said in my previous comment then your dog will most likely be rank and your house will most likely be unsanitary no matter how clean you think it may be. Lets be for real here.

I once had a business lunch with a high powered woman in the media. She brought her dog and let it eat off her plate.
People are rank.

It is a council designation and there are large signs saying which beaches are / aren't dog friendly.

So if Beaches are for everyone you have no objections to me taking my dog to any veach not just the ones the council have designed for dog walkers? Or should the dog owners have their 1 beach and people who don't want to be around dogs can use the 5 others?

I love, love, love my dog and do buy her presents for Christmas etc (and doggy icecream....she loves it!).

She sits on the sofa at home but we wont let her do this on buses, trains, pubs etc. When she tries I chase her off and say ''you ain't at home now, Maggie!''

No, dogs are hairy and I don't want their bare arseholes all over the bloody seats!

Amen.

I was in Zara the other day and a couple asked if their dog could come in. The manager said yes. Why?! The man should have waited outside for while the woman shopped, absolutely no need for the dog to come in at all.

Maybe they wanted to look at clothing together?
If an establishment allows dogs, then someone taking their dog in is doing nothing wrong.

Aye I’m fairly confident that my arse is cleaner than a dog’s 😆 poor waitress and shite manager!

For me it’s an animal, like a pig or goat. Walkers in the park always look at my face for me to go ahh to their dog, if it shows an interest in me. I just swerve it.

For all my life, even as a child, I never understood how picking up dog poo is sufficient to have a pavement that you can walk on without filth. You can see the smears where they attempted to pick up. Last time I checked, shit is not a solid brick, it’s a soft splat, and so the pavement, It is just layer upon layer of shit remnants. Thank god for rain.

Believe me, no one is looking at your face to see if you show interest in their dog. Any decent dog owner will be watching their dog... and for me, looking a stranger in the face is like trying to look into the sun.

I attend a few Festivals every year - mainly older people, I’m 69 so not being ageist! - Rock, Prog, Blues, that type of thing. Most of these are now dog friendly.
Some people leave them in their camper vans but some take their dogs into the arena and right up towards the stage. I can’t believe this is good for the animals or that they get any enjoyment out of it.
I don’t like it, I’m wary around dogs, but I either have to put up with it or no longer attend something that I love and have attended for years - and at my age I don’t know for how much longer. Last year a dog ran into my tent, off lead in the campsite, and it’s owner seemed to find it hilarious.
A Festival is a human activity, not one for dogs.

Haha, I got lambasted recently by a friend for forgetting my dog's birthday. I found it hilarious that I was meant to feel guilty about that (and I say that as very much a dog person, who adores my dog).

I love dogs and thankfully don't see too much of what people are describing here. Somehow my town isn't quite as dog friendly as other places have become lately. I can see the upside to places being more dog friendly too and don't necessarily share the concerns about hygiene generally, (but dog in a baby's highchair is obviously a step too far).

But I swear to god if I see another joker on SM say she "gave birth to" her dog 🤦‍♀️. It was maybe funny the first time...now, just give over please. Also reminds me too much of The Omen but in reverse...

I know two people who have pushchairs for their old little dogs. It's not hurting you if it's outside.