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.

Most well looked after dogs don't have horrible breath, my two young uns don't, the old chap does but he is too old for a dental (nor would I sit him so close to someone you could smell it)..

Dogs arseholes are well designed on the whole and don't tend to need wiping and few dogs sit directly on their naked arsehole, they tend to sit on their tails, mine certainly do and the only dogs I notice who do not are those with docked tails, or very tightly curled tails.

Babies on the other hand tend to leak a lot of shit and piss, regularly up the back and out the legs of a nappy and spread a fair bit of filth around- I trust that antibac spray and wipes does the trick with them as I trust it does with dogs.

I wouldn't take a dog to a restaurant out of choice, I might use a cafe if we're passing on a walk. I do sometimes take my assistance dog, because he tells me about blood sugar levels, and if I am on a day out with friends this is something I am likely to lose track of/not notice particularly when struggling with all the other sensory input. But then I have to spend time focused on him, ensuring people do not stand on him, ensuring he's put his tail away properly so its not stepped on etc etc.

Would not give them Pawsecco, they get enough of my icecream they don't need doggy icecream. I'd use a sling or dog carry bag if I had such a dog that needed one, I'd use a dog pram if that helped the old fella.

Would not take them to see santa, I do wrap presents, but they love ripping paper, they also get treats wrapped up and boxes to shred on a weekly basis.

I did used to sit my dog (small breed) on the seat beside me (on a blanket) on trains as I found commuters were not in 'listening' mode nor using their eyes, and would stand on him and then react in shock that there was a dog under the table/seat, despite me saying clearly before they sat 'theres a dog under the seat' - I'd offer to move the dog if they wanted the seat though. I found this saved people sitting down and then leaping up and moving because they didn't want to sit near a dog. Not an issue now as I travel in a wheelchair space, so there is no seat to put current dog on nor table to hide his presence.

Well an aging population and a low birth rate is a very worrying trend in society. Unless dogs are going to be working in care homes taking care of us in our old age

Total straw man/deliberate point-missing. Assistance dogs are impeccably behaved; they've been thoroughly trained and socialised. I would bet my house that I'll never see an assistance dog in a high chair. Or, for that matter, running up to people in the park or sticking its nose in their picnic food or all the other shite dog owners let their dogs get away with.

YANBU I have two friends who took their dogs to have a photo with a ‘Santa Paws’ this year… literally a Santa’s grotto for dogs with a gift and everything

Dogs are not to blame for the low birth rate.

I have a dog, and no kids. If I didn't have a dog, I would still have no kids as I have never wanted them.

@RamblingAroundTheInternet
RSPCA recommend not leaving dogs at home alone for more than 4 hours - and whilst some dogs are happy to stretch a couple more hours once or twice a week, if you are regularly out of the house 8-10 hours day, it isn't fair on your dog - hence the point of the Doggy Day care .

I noticed a couple of posters mentioned dogs in slings and I wondered if they were puppies? All the information we had about puppy training recommended that you should take your young puppy out and about in a sling as they shouldn't be put down on the floor out of their own garden until their vaccinations have taken effect - but it's important for them to get early socialisation and experiences of busy places , people etc

I am aware dogs aren't to blame.

But I'm making the point that a lot of people are using them as a substitute

Why does it matter to you though? I love having dogs. I have children as well.

Lots of things don't actually affect my life but I have an opinion

There is nothing wrong with that.

Are we still talking about dogs, or children? 🫠

Why would they want a substitute for babies? Your comments don’t make sense. If someone wants a child they’ll have one (if possible). If someone wants a dog, the same. If someone wants both… they can have both. It’s not a substitution or an either or situation

this is actively encouraged by the pet industry, they know people will spend more on pets if they think of them as human

Slings are great for small breeds, puppies and small breed oldies who can't walk so far but still enjoy going out. Better than just carrying them, much more comfy for them and unlike being carried, I don't see an increase in reluctance to being picked up where puppy owners use a sling. I see it very often when they just pick up the pup, I suspect fingers dig in, sensitive parts poked, fur caught/pulled to tight etc.

My friends assistance dog sometimes sits on a chair (not a kids high chair) or her lap. If on a chair she asks permission and uses a blanket that has a fluffy side one side, wipe clean the other so theres no transfer of hair/dander.

This is because the best fit for her was a small breed, but the dog needs to indicate to bleeds anywhere on her body. At floor level this means the dog indicates by standing on her hind legs and barking if she can't reach the bleed site. Fine at home and out walking, but not great in a restaurant! It is unusual though, yes!

@frozendaisy my fur baby loves a chilled glass of pawsecco whilst lying on his sniffany &co cushion and sporting a chewy Vuitton collar.

The dog in the high chair is a no from me though.

The urge to nurture is not just about children. A single older friend has never been interested in children but loves nurturing plants.

AI might take care of that to us.

@Comedycook I knew it! You think we all should all be having children.

@MyFirstLittlePony

secretly I think there is a difference between owners of large dogs and small dogs. People with Labradors or retriever or greyhounds tend to treat their dogs like dogs

Nope!!! Not where I am. They let their large Dogs roll in mud and shit then take them into Sweaty Betty to wipe their arses on the £300 coats.
people work hard to buy nice things and have a treat. It’s like bore off with your huge dog lady.

I couldn't give a dam really but i can think it's sad if people really do want children but choose not to due to finances, state of planet etc.

I agree. Since covid it seems to be acceptable to treat dogs like children. I can't stand them now and avoid them like the plague. They are dogs not babies.

No people don't have children for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it's taken out of their hands due to infertility or unable to find a decent partner. Other times they choose not to have a child for various reasons but our innate biological urge means we often want things to care for.

My mother does this. If we go anywhere, even a nice hotel, she sits her dog on her lap. I have afternoon tea booked next week for her birthday and have already accepted I will be mortified. She won’t go if she can’t take the dog.

Puppacino anyone ?

Totally right - I dont mind eating at a pub if a dog is in a seperate area (lying by the fire in the bar area of a country pub), but there is no way dogs should be sat at tables in highchairs or very close to other customers. I’ve never heard anything so ridiculous (plus a baby/toddler will then have to sit in that chair).