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.

If that poster lives somewhere like I do, pretty much every cafe and restaurant allows dogs. I can think of one place that has a dog-free section, but even there people have their dogs in the dog-free section and won’t move when asked.

I definitely don’t think dogs should go nowhere, but why do they have to be everywhere?

I’m not saying they can’t go anywhere, but maybe stick to things dogs are supposed to do like walking and running in the outdoors smelling all the scents around them. Not sitting in a restaurant watching while everyone eats or taking them round the shops while their owners look for new clothes. Ridiculous

Are you sure you're not seeing chairs meant for dogs with megaesophagus?? Because that's a medical condition, and the "chairs" look like highchairs, and they will die if they can't be fed upright in that way.

Completely agree, - fur babies- what the heck is that all about? It tells me the owner is a fool and should not have a dog. I love dogs they deserve a lot better and to be acknowledged for what they are - terrific companions and actual dogs, not some sort of alternative baby or substitute children.

I've had an arthritic dog. Do you know what arthritis does to a dog?
It literally kills.
Because once they start to lose their mobility (and it's not like humans, mind you) everything else starts to slide. Happy to go into lots more detail if you like- how the weight gain is a vicious cycle, how the kidneys fail with the pain meds etc etc. Conservative management involves mobility aids amongst other thinhs so that there is less stress on the joints.
The more basic point is- don't judge unless you know for a fact that the dog has no health or mobility issues.

Everyone I have ever seen using a pram for a dog is taking the dog to a park and the dog has mobility issues. I used to have a dog so did know the local dogs.

I use dog friendly eating places a lot. But I have two very small dogs and a special blanket they know they have to sit on when we’re out. Any sign of bad behaviour and they’re out the door for a timeout. Trains are difficult, though. I need to use the train as can’t drive long distances. There’s really no space for dogs as the seats are so close together these days. They hate being on the floor under the table amongst everyone’s feet. Maybe the train companies could remove the odd seat, and make these spaces bootable for dog owners?

I mean both those scenarios are completely wrong, but I’ve never known a dog owner like this. Most people I know love their dogs completely, but still treat them as dogs.

I own a dog and YANBU like a dog in a high chair is bat shit crazy and a train is far too much stress to put a dog through with all the noise and strangers poor thing

You do know not everyone has a car? Some people can not take their dog to a vet or other ordinary places without going by public transport.

Apparently the average spend by dog owners on their pet for Valentines day is 56 quid.

We had a dog who became old and immobile. Our vet said " when a dog can no longer be a dog it's far kinder to let them go". Today there were dogs in push chairs, a dog in a sling and a dog in a handbag. Sad and weird.Last time we went to St Ives there were more dogs being pushed around in push chairs than children.

Or perhaps it's because we have formed relationships with people and realise how God awful they can be most of the time that we have turned to dogs for solace!!! After a long day at work dealing with nastiness and backstabbing and politics it's a joy to come home to my dogs who instantly put a smile on my face and make all those pent up feelings go away.

@AngelinaFibres I do not think a dog who can walk around the park should be put down, just because they can not walk to and from the park as well. That is very different from being immobile.

Yes I know that and no that's not what I'm seeing

I believe there already is such a thing, mainly for dogs with health issues. There's also sanitary pads for dogs.

They wouldn't have those kind of chairs in a restaurant. They were obviously high chairs meant for children. The staff should have thrown them out.

Dogs could not sit in an ordinary high chair.

With due respect, your vet has rather a didactic view on this.
Sparing a dog's joints till they reach sniff and wee zones in the field is not the death's door situation you suggest he thinks it is.
Non slip mats, slings, pram/wheelie things - these are all pain management and deterioration staving off tools.

A small one could easily.

I was replying specifically to someone who said they saw dog highchairs online for sale.
Not to the instance of seeing dogs being sat on highchairs at a café.

Exactly this. We get to choose from the culinary delights of fast food and a pizza chain restaurant! All the pubs allow dogs. Cafes same.

There's no dog free garden centres in the area so if you like your gardening but have a dog allergy, tough luck. I tried to buy walking boots for my son but there's dogs in Go Outdoors off lead and wandering around us as he's trying to try shoes on. Now have a Mountain Warehouse nearby, not been there because it's the same, dogs allowed. Could drive 15 miles to the nearest Cotswold Outdoor but it's no different, dogs allowed. Seems only dog walkers get to try on suitable outdoor footwear in peace. That's if we dare go walking anyway. I've lost count of the times off lead dogs have been running around us as we try to walk in the park or woods. "Oh don't worry! He's friendly" they say. So? I'm sure the dog is lovely but I am very much going to worry when it could put my son in hospital.

I wish there were dog friendly and dog free options but that just isn't the case for many things. When our options are limited to dog friendly or go home, we have to go home. We normally go on holiday in the UK but I've given up trying to book anywhere this year. I'd sooner find a needle in a haystack than find a holiday cottage that's never had a dog in it.

Huh. Ok... Just had a Google. They're all Bailey chairs for megaesophagus...

You can get this on Amazon, which the seller says could be used for feeding. It looks pretty uncomfortable for the poor dog, though, particularly if they’re strapped in

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rocking-Removable-Washable-Fighting-Outdoors/dp/B09JWZD5HQ/ref=sr_1_1

Many people spend their money extravagantly on all sorts of things so why not spend some on dogs?