Page 33 | This “humanisation” of dogs has got ridiculous

Houseplantmad · 2024-02-12T20:02:17+00:00

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.

YeOldeGreyhound · 16/02/2024 20:11

Sladuf · 16/02/2024 17:57

For me what is telling and some contributors have commented along the same lines is we have dog owners who seem unable to go to public places like restaurants/shops/pubs etc without taking their dog. Why has this suddenly become an issue in the last few years? People who have owned dogs in years gone by managed to leave the dog at home. I have friends who have owned dogs for decades and they still manage to leave the dog at home when they go shopping/out for food etc.

In a vast majority of these cases the dog in question isn’t a guide dog. It’s a reflection on the owner if they can’t or won’t leave their dog at home when going to restaurants/pubs etc.

Some people end a dog walk in a pub. This is especially true of pubs out in the country or near a forest/national park.

Some people are on holiday with their dog and are not allowed to leave them in the accommodation.

Neither is a reflection on the owner, and it is really unfair to insist it is. If a dog is allowed inside a particular establishment, then no wrong doing is occurring.

SapphireSeptember · 16/02/2024 21:05

There was a woman with her dog sitting on the seat next to her when I got on the bus this morning. Asked her why it was there and she ignored me. So I asked the driver if it was allowed, he said no and asked her to move it. So she put it on her lap. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Luckily for me there are still some dog free places in my town, and the hotel I'm staying in is guide dogs only. I can tolerate guide dogs, they're doing a job. Unfortunately public transport allows all dogs, so you get the daft people who let their dogs sit on seats, bark incessantly, or leave a mess.

To the people who think others should just suck it up when everywhere they live becomes dog friendly. What animals are you scared of? Would you like it if every cafe in your town suddenly became <insert animal here> friendly and every time you went for a coffee you were confronted by that creature?

My dog owning colleague actually screamed when a moth went near her a few weeks ago (bit out of season, it's winter! But there was a big one flitting around, and I didn't get a good look at it, so I couldn't tell you what type of moth it was.) She's also terrified of spiders. I love moths and spiders. No one has died from moth attack that I'm aware of, and there's been one death from a spider bite in the UK in the last 30 years. Meanwhile there's been several deaths from dog attacks in the past year, and I've been bitten by a dog, so of course I'm scared of the buggers. Also need to stay well away from their rear ends at the moment. If I do spot a dog I freeze and avoid eye contact, and then calmly try getting away from them.

vodkaredbullgirl · 16/02/2024 21:09

God is this thread still going, roll on when it's full 😆

SapphireSeptember · 16/02/2024 21:11

https://caboodle.dog/blogs/news/dog-friendly-shops-in-the-uk

Also good list of places to avoid. I didn't know Screwfix was dog friendly when I started working there. We've had dogs peeing on the floor and wandering around the warehouse. If places are dog friendly you'd assume them being on a lead would be a stipulation? And I'd assume we wouldn't be insured if the idiots who let their dogs wander round caused us an injury, or if the dogs themselves got hurt. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Dog Friendly Shops In The UK

With more than half of UK households owning a dog, more and more public places, shops, and businesses are opening their doors to our four-legged friends to accommodate our desire to bring them everywhere with us. Here are some of our favourites.

https://caboodle.dog/blogs/news/dog-friendly-shops-in-the-uk

YeOldeGreyhound · 16/02/2024 21:59

SapphireSeptember · 16/02/2024 21:05

There was a woman with her dog sitting on the seat next to her when I got on the bus this morning. Asked her why it was there and she ignored me. So I asked the driver if it was allowed, he said no and asked her to move it. So she put it on her lap. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Luckily for me there are still some dog free places in my town, and the hotel I'm staying in is guide dogs only. I can tolerate guide dogs, they're doing a job. Unfortunately public transport allows all dogs, so you get the daft people who let their dogs sit on seats, bark incessantly, or leave a mess.

To the people who think others should just suck it up when everywhere they live becomes dog friendly. What animals are you scared of? Would you like it if every cafe in your town suddenly became <insert animal here> friendly and every time you went for a coffee you were confronted by that creature?

My dog owning colleague actually screamed when a moth went near her a few weeks ago (bit out of season, it's winter! But there was a big one flitting around, and I didn't get a good look at it, so I couldn't tell you what type of moth it was.) She's also terrified of spiders. I love moths and spiders. No one has died from moth attack that I'm aware of, and there's been one death from a spider bite in the UK in the last 30 years. Meanwhile there's been several deaths from dog attacks in the past year, and I've been bitten by a dog, so of course I'm scared of the buggers. Also need to stay well away from their rear ends at the moment. If I do spot a dog I freeze and avoid eye contact, and then calmly try getting away from them.

What is wrong with someone having their dog on their lap? I bet if the dog had been on the floor, you would have moaned that it was in the way.

And there is nothing wrong with dogs being allowed on public transport. We live in an age now where car use is discouraged. People with pets still need to get to places with their pets.

ZebraPensAreLife · 16/02/2024 23:20

What is wrong with someone having their dog on their lap?

Most train companies say they need to be on the floor, so they shouldn’t be on someone’s lap if that’s the case

canyouseemyhousefromhere · 16/02/2024 23:48

GoldEagle · 16/02/2024 18:39

Demanding a high chair for a dog is barking mad, pardon the pun. The restaurant should said no. And I speak as a dog owner.

I believe in the op the establishment did say no but the dog owners put their animals in there anyway.

Covermeinsunshine · 17/02/2024 22:45

NikkiNoo81 · 14/02/2024 20:25

i totally agree. My daughter has a huge phobia of dogs and therapy hasn’t worked before anyone suggests it. Dogs are literally everywhere! It’s so annoying when you want to go for lunch but you can’t because people take their dogs. We can’t go most places, especially when people don’t get it and say oh she’s only small or he won’t bother you!! Maybe not but she’s still terrified and will literally have a panic attack if one approaches her

So what are you suggesting, everyone lock their dogs away because your daughter has not been given access to successful therapy? “We’ve tried therapy…. Doesn’t work… don’t suggest!” Well what do you suggest?

This is where the entitled kids come from…. entitled parents. Do your daughter a favour, stop expecting the world to exist around your child. Be an actual parent and get some proper therapy for your child, otherwise she will limited in where she can go and who she can spend time with. Most of my children’s friends have at least one dog, if I left her with a phobia, she couldn’t go to any of their houses for play dates, partied, supper or sleepovers.

Covermeinsunshine · 17/02/2024 22:53

HighHeelsOnCobblestones · 16/02/2024 12:47

I came across a post on an asthma group on FB and I’ve ended up looking through the equality act lately. Obviously it prohibits discrimination against those with protected characteristics, disability being one of them.

Under the act, disability is defined as

“A person has a disability for the purposes of the Act if he or she has a physical or mental impairment and the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.”

Now there’s a very big list of impairments that result in disability but it includes…

”A disability can arise from a wide range of impairments which can be: ….

organ specific, including respiratory conditions, such as asthma, and cardiovascular diseases, including thrombosis, stroke and heart disease”

It’s the effect of the impairment that matters. So if you have asthma that affects your day to day activities that very much counts as a disability under the act (as I understand it, even if you manage to control it with medication as the act takes into account the effect the condition has on you without medication).

Many asthmatics have attacks triggered by furry animals, including attacks so severe it’s life threatening. A severe allergy can count under the act also. For example, I came across a discrimination case where a chef had an allergic reaction to nuts and his employer wouldn’t make adjustments and the court found in his favour.

Now, as far as I understand it, businesses are supposed to make reasonable adjustments and not discriminate. Are they allowed to not bother? Can they simply shrug their shoulders and say to a wheelchair user, for example, “sorry this place isn’t for you, I’m sure you understand it’s just a business decision, supply and demand, I can’t fit in lots of customers if I allow space for you. It affects my profits. Go elsewhere.”? And then when all the other businesses are the same and there isn’t an elsewhere?

The world doesn’t owe you a dog free environment. Or a peanut free environment for those allergic… just a sign that says food prepared in same area as nuts etc. So maybe a sign that says ‘dogs come here’ could be requested, but that’s about it.

Covermeinsunshine · 17/02/2024 22:55

HighHeelsOnCobblestones · 15/02/2024 19:49

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.

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So are we banning guide dogs too? Or is your son only allergic to non working dogs? Or does asthma trump blindness in your European world where dogs are banned from anywhere your son wants to go?

HighHeelsOnCobblestones · 18/02/2024 00:00

Covermeinsunshine · 17/02/2024 22:55

So are we banning guide dogs too? Or is your son only allergic to non working dogs? Or does asthma trump blindness in your European world where dogs are banned from anywhere your son wants to go?

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Ah a lovely straw man you've got there. Not once have I said I wish for any dogs to be banned from any environment. Consideration for hidden disabilities would be very welcome because, in our experience lately, they seem to be getting forgotten and it excludes people. That said, I see Hobbycraft is trying to accommodate both dogs and allergies. According to their website, people can call the store to arrange a dog free visit. They are the only shop I'm aware of that does this.

Guide dogs are obviously registered assistance dogs, covered by the equality act also. Again, straw man, no where did I say any disability trumps another. My FIL is blind and had a guide dog, he doesn't have the dog anymore as he moved out of the UK. We'd have to be more inventive in how we spent time with him if he still did, just like we now have to do with my parents who have a dog.

Lolabear38 · 18/02/2024 01:05

YANBU. We were due to go out for lunch with some friends last weekend. We have two young children, one of whom is petrified of dogs. Friends we were due to meet messaged to say they would be bringing the dog with them, when I asked if it was possible that they left the dog at home owing to my sons phobia, she refused! She said she would never ask me to leave my children at home, and I was being unreasonable to ask her to leave her dog at home. She said, and I quote, ‘my dogs are part of my family and they will be treated as such. They’re often better behaved in restaurants than most children’. We won’t be making plans to eat out with them again. Growing up, we always had dogs, and I would say I am a dog lover. It’s the owners that I am having more and more issues with.

NikkiNoo81 · 18/02/2024 01:05

Covermeinsunshine · 17/02/2024 22:45

So what are you suggesting, everyone lock their dogs away because your daughter has not been given access to successful therapy? “We’ve tried therapy…. Doesn’t work… don’t suggest!” Well what do you suggest?

This is where the entitled kids come from…. entitled parents. Do your daughter a favour, stop expecting the world to exist around your child. Be an actual parent and get some proper therapy for your child, otherwise she will limited in where she can go and who she can spend time with. Most of my children’s friends have at least one dog, if I left her with a phobia, she couldn’t go to any of their houses for play dates, partied, supper or sleepovers.

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I suggest people don’t take their dogs where they don’t need to be! Shopping and restaurants for god sake are not a place for dogs. And you know nothing about my child. My daughter is autistic so finding therapy that will work is very difficult! She would never go to parties and sleepover anyway due to her autism. How about people like you stop being so selfish and expect the world to revolve around you and your dogs. Who wants a dog slobbering over you when you go out to eat anyway. Entitled dog owners more like!

Passingthethyme · 18/02/2024 03:07

Lolabear38 · 18/02/2024 01:05

YANBU. We were due to go out for lunch with some friends last weekend. We have two young children, one of whom is petrified of dogs. Friends we were due to meet messaged to say they would be bringing the dog with them, when I asked if it was possible that they left the dog at home owing to my sons phobia, she refused! She said she would never ask me to leave my children at home, and I was being unreasonable to ask her to leave her dog at home. She said, and I quote, ‘my dogs are part of my family and they will be treated as such. They’re often better behaved in restaurants than most children’. We won’t be making plans to eat out with them again. Growing up, we always had dogs, and I would say I am a dog lover. It’s the owners that I am having more and more issues with.

Wow, what a nut job. I'm very tolerant, but I think I'd dump the friend after that.

upthehills1 · 18/02/2024 07:48

NikkiNoo81 · 18/02/2024 01:05

I suggest people don’t take their dogs where they don’t need to be! Shopping and restaurants for god sake are not a place for dogs. And you know nothing about my child. My daughter is autistic so finding therapy that will work is very difficult! She would never go to parties and sleepover anyway due to her autism. How about people like you stop being so selfish and expect the world to revolve around you and your dogs. Who wants a dog slobbering over you when you go out to eat anyway. Entitled dog owners more like!

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It’s up to the owners of the establishment if they want to allow dogs, not you I’m afraid. There are hundreds of restaurants that don’t allow them, usually high end restaurants rather than pubs etc. So you are all free to make a choice as to where to eat. people these days just want everything they don’t like to be ‘banned’. Make your own choices, open your own restaurant that is exactly as you like, no one is stopping you

upthehills1 · 18/02/2024 07:51

Lolabear38 · 18/02/2024 01:05

YANBU. We were due to go out for lunch with some friends last weekend. We have two young children, one of whom is petrified of dogs. Friends we were due to meet messaged to say they would be bringing the dog with them, when I asked if it was possible that they left the dog at home owing to my sons phobia, she refused! She said she would never ask me to leave my children at home, and I was being unreasonable to ask her to leave her dog at home. She said, and I quote, ‘my dogs are part of my family and they will be treated as such. They’re often better behaved in restaurants than most children’. We won’t be making plans to eat out with them again. Growing up, we always had dogs, and I would say I am a dog lover. It’s the owners that I am having more and more issues with.

Maybe it was her way of saying she wanted to go out for a child free lunch 😅

I hope you can find your son some good therapy fir his phobia.

Zonder · 18/02/2024 08:44

My DS was scared of dogs as a child because a large dog, off lead in a public area with lots of children, jumped up on his back legs, put his paws on DS shoulders and licked his face. He was very young and absolutely terrified but the owner wasn't watching so couldn't call the dog off. Frankly it's the owner who needs sorting out, not my son.

Lolabear38 · 18/02/2024 13:34

upthehills1 · 18/02/2024 07:51

Maybe it was her way of saying she wanted to go out for a child free lunch 😅

I hope you can find your son some good therapy fir his phobia.

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@upthehills1 if it was, what a strange way of telling me! It would have been a lot clearer had she just said it. Also we were due to go out for a pub lunch and we have young children so she would have known from the start that they would have been there!

The fact is, whether they’re part of your family or not, dogs don’t belong in restaurants. They don’t go there to order food and eat themselves and while, yes, some are very well behaved, there are very many who aren’t. And equally as many dog owners who either can’t, or don’t want to see that their pets aren’t behaving very well.

upthehills1 · 18/02/2024 13:43

Lolabear38 · 18/02/2024 13:34

@upthehills1 if it was, what a strange way of telling me! It would have been a lot clearer had she just said it. Also we were due to go out for a pub lunch and we have young children so she would have known from the start that they would have been there!

The fact is, whether they’re part of your family or not, dogs don’t belong in restaurants. They don’t go there to order food and eat themselves and while, yes, some are very well behaved, there are very many who aren’t. And equally as many dog owners who either can’t, or don’t want to see that their pets aren’t behaving very well.

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The same can be said for children in restaurants. Most don’t want to be there. As I have said in a previous comment, it’s up to the owner of said pub, no one is forcing you to go. If you don’t like it then open your own dog free pub and see how busy it is

Lolabear38 · 18/02/2024 14:41

upthehills1 · 18/02/2024 13:43

The same can be said for children in restaurants. Most don’t want to be there. As I have said in a previous comment, it’s up to the owner of said pub, no one is forcing you to go. If you don’t like it then open your own dog free pub and see how busy it is

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@upthehills1 to be honest, that argument is pretty ridiculous. The same absolutely cannot be said for children. If you go to a pub you can leave your dog at home, alone, and take reasonable precautions to make sure they’re safe. It’s illegal to leave children at home alone (under a certain age).

A human child has far more right to be in a bar or restaurant serving food for humans than a dog ever will.

I live in a town with a few dog free pubs/ cafes/ restaurants and they’re all well frequented so not sure what your point is there?

upthehills1 · 18/02/2024 15:05

Lolabear38 · 18/02/2024 14:41

@upthehills1 to be honest, that argument is pretty ridiculous. The same absolutely cannot be said for children. If you go to a pub you can leave your dog at home, alone, and take reasonable precautions to make sure they’re safe. It’s illegal to leave children at home alone (under a certain age).

A human child has far more right to be in a bar or restaurant serving food for humans than a dog ever will.

I live in a town with a few dog free pubs/ cafes/ restaurants and they’re all well frequented so not sure what your point is there?

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I’m not sure what your point is if, as you say, there are plenty of dog free establishments. All is good, we are all catered for hurrah!

Pubs, bars and restaurants have a legal right to refuse entry to under 18s, as they are also allowed to refuse entry to dogs. So you are incorrect, children do not have this ‘right’. As I said.. it’s up to the owners, not you

bringincrazyback · 18/02/2024 16:04

upthehills1 · 14/02/2024 08:57

Humans just want planet earth entirely to themselves. There is barely any space for other living beings as it is. Stay at home and drink if you don’t like it, no one is forcing you to go to the bar where the owner clearly doesn’t mind dogs. Or set up your own dog free pub business and see how it goes?

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Ordering other people to 'stay at home' if they don't like it is monumentally arrogant.

upthehills1 · 18/02/2024 16:10

bringincrazyback · 18/02/2024 16:04

Ordering other people to 'stay at home' if they don't like it is monumentally arrogant.

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Hardly ‘ordering’ 😅 They can go to the pub if they like. Just pointing out that everyone can make their own choices. Plenty dog free options, I’m hardly ever around dogs and do go out often. People here making out as if everywhere is over run by dogs attacking them

ZebraPensAreLife · 18/02/2024 16:15

upthehills1 · 18/02/2024 16:10

Hardly ‘ordering’ 😅 They can go to the pub if they like. Just pointing out that everyone can make their own choices. Plenty dog free options, I’m hardly ever around dogs and do go out often. People here making out as if everywhere is over run by dogs attacking them

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There aren’t dog free options everywhere, though - it seems very area dependent.

In an ideal world everyone would have a choice to go to somewhere dog-free or somewhere dog-friendly, depending on preference. Then no one could complain 😀

NikkiNoo81 · 18/02/2024 17:15

upthehills1 · 18/02/2024 07:48

It’s up to the owners of the establishment if they want to allow dogs, not you I’m afraid. There are hundreds of restaurants that don’t allow them, usually high end restaurants rather than pubs etc. So you are all free to make a choice as to where to eat. people these days just want everything they don’t like to be ‘banned’. Make your own choices, open your own restaurant that is exactly as you like, no one is stopping you

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there is not hundreds
of restaurants in our area to start with and I would say 90% allow dogs. It’s not just eating establishments, they’re literally everywhere. Are you funding my new restaurant?

This “humanisation” of dogs has got ridiculous

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