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.

Totally agree. Dogs shouldn’t be treated like humans and put under the stress of being in environments that are unsuitable. I will caveat that with most dogs are considerably better behaved than a lot of children In restaurants. Loudly watching iPads, shouting, running around and generally getting in the way of other diners and waiting staff. Entitlement from both sides.

Dog theft is a thing. I would never leave my dog outside a shop.

I have seen dogs tied up even now, and hang around until the owner returns.

If dogs are socialised to be in pubs they are perfectly happy there.
And there is no way anyone sensible would tie up a dog outside a shop. I used to do it years ago, but so many dogs are stolen these days.

You make a very good point there. Dog theft (and that of cats too) is a growing problem and to some degree justifies dog owners keeping them as close to them as possible in public places.

@herewegoagainy I agree that dogs can be very happy in pubs, it’s just a case of balancing their needs with human needs.

I’ve been in pubs with many well-behaved dogs, although I’ve occasionally encountered space problem. For example, DD and I went to a pub on a Saturday night and a couple with two large dogs were taking up an entire corner, preventing other humans from sitting/standing there! Not to mention the other dogs up at the bar. 😂

It’s the landlord’s choice though if they want more space on a busy Saturday.

Then those with dog allergies and asthma triggered by dogs won’t be able to go in and get one or two things. You can take your dog home; a minor annoyance. Last time my son was in the same room as a dog, I had to call him an ambulance.

It is pretty entitled of you to expect dog owners to accommodate your son's allergy. Is they are allowed in a shop, they are doing nothing wrong.
As selfish as it sounds, his allergy is not other people's responsibility.

Owning a dog isn’t a protected characteristic under the equality act.

I never said it was. But if an establishment allows dogs, then someone taking their dog in there is doing nothing wrong.

It is pretty entitled of you to expect dog owners to accommodate your son's allergy. Is they are allowed in a shop, they are doing nothing wrong.
As selfish as it sounds, his allergy is not other people's responsibility

Why is a dog allergy not other peoples' responsibility but a nut or dairy allergy is?

How are nut and dairy allergies other people's business?
If someone is buying food from an establishment, then yes, stuff should be labelled so the allergy sufferer can make the appropriate choices.
But other customers are not held to those same standards, are they.

I thought she was expecting shop owners to accommodate allergies by not allowing dogs? Agree that dog owners are fine to take dogs in shops if they’re allowed to be there (just wish some were better behaved, but that’s a different issue)

But then she would expect the same for everywhere, not just shops. Public transport for one.... when dogs absolutely should be allowed on it as not everyone has a car.

And if someone is severely allergic, then it doesn't even take a dog to be there to set them off. Just hair/dander on an owner's clothing.

My friend has two large downstairs rooms in her house for her cat. One for all his toys and towers and beds and stuff and one for his food, litter tray etc.
In an expensive area of London.

Over the years we’ve found more and more establishments allowing dogs without a thought given to the people they exclude. It restricts the places we can go things we can do. I’d love to go for a walk with my kids and stop by a cafe for a cake and a hot chocolate. A walk in the woods and a lunch in a pub. Lovely! When every one allows dogs and there’s no ability for us to sit in a sufficiently dog free area, we just have to go
home.

I’m expressing my wish that more places don’t follow the trend and start allowing them. I’m allowed to wish for this just as much as a dog owner is allowed to express a wish that more do.

That sounds amazing, to be fair... and I am not a fan of cats.

I agree OP and I have a dog. I don't take my dog to restaurants but don't object to well behaved dogs under their owner's tables being there. No dog should be in a highchair ever. I don't mind the dog on my sofa but I don't allow her on any other seats. You can love dogs without inflicting them on everyone else I think.

Dog ice cream? I thought South Korea had banned that sort of thing.

I’m completely with you there. As an allergy sufferer myself, it’s becoming more and more tricky to navigate ordinary life with the extraordinary lengths that some establishments go to accommodate dogs/pets, to the extent that it excludes more & more people with allergies. Not just pubs & shops, but also offices, hairdressers, hotels, trains…

There should be as many pet-free places as there’re pet-friendly ones; and a clear set of guidelines to govern this - similar to public health approach to managing nuts allergies.

The entitlement that some pet owners have come to expect should never trump the basic right of others to protect their health.

There has been the odd occasion I wish I could have taken my dog in a shop but wasn't practical to tie her up as I didn't have the right lead ( I use a round neck type) and also as she's a rottie I wouldn't be happy leaving her on own. Quite a few shops do take dogs but not usually grocery unless service dogs understandably, A local dpt shop to me (which Is a chain) have 2 or 3 times now had to ban dogs due to unruly dogs/ owners and accidents (after a,while they have lifted ban) I tended to leave mine in car anyway as always cost me when it came to the dog section 🤣 I do agree on the whole should leave your dog at home as not fair on them to take shopping,

I’m now a disliker because of this humanisation shite and owners being unable to leave the damn dogs at home and/or exercise any control over them.
It was never as bad as it has been in the last few years. I don’t want to interact with dogs full stop.

Our town seems to be run by dogs. In the past week two people have been chased by dogs in the park intended for kids and sports. The sign says dogs allowed if under control. After someone complained on Facebook after the second incident lots of dog owners responded their dogs are controlled and they're not putting them on leads, they've a right to run around the park. Despite the fact there is a country park three minutes away they could use that has less kids etc.

In addition the cafe near me always has dogs in it. It's really put me off as last time one was just roaming around and another was sat there cleaning itself. I just don't find it hygienic having dogs where food is being served.

The highchair thing is ridiculous!!!

I think this post is one of the best examples where live and let live should be applied.

Is the highchair thing silly? Yeah, a bit, not going to get angry about it though. If a restaurant doesn't properly sanitise their highchairs after any use, that's the issue there.

The story with the seat on the train, also silly. However, I have known examples where rescue dogs have had an aversion to stepping or sleeping on a type of flooring because of the abuse they suffered. The lady might not drive so the train was the only option, but then she should have booked the seat if she had the means. No different to if she was sitting in the seat herself. If someone else booked it, off you pop.

Neither story seemed to actually affect OP.

I'm sorry that people have or have perceived to have had bad experiences, but the thing is we all live in a world with other people and other creatures and all the nuances that come with them. Best not to get so wound up about it, especially if it doesn't actually impact your life in any way.

The story with the seat on the train, also silly. However, I have known examples where rescue dogs have had an aversion to stepping or sleeping on a type of flooring because of the abuse they suffered. The lady might not drive so the train was the only option, but then she should have booked the seat if she had the means. No different to if she was sitting in the seat herself. If someone else booked it, off you pop

Except that most train companies’ T&Cs that I’ve seen say that dogs aren’t allowed on seats, so therefore they shouldn’t be on there - booking a seat makes no difference.

See rest of previous post 😊and have a great day!