Dogs are everywhere?!

[LadyMonicaBaddingham]

I took DS to a university open day today. Two separate families had brought their dog with them! Is this someone I've missed?! Why is this necessary?!

I honestly can’t understand how you’ve worked that one out? Can you ‘age’ a dog just by looking at it? When you’re out and about for example and you see a dog out walking, can you tell from looking at it whether it’s 3, 5, 7 etc years old? Because I can’t, and I’ve had dogs most of my life, so I can’t see how you could differentiate between a lockdown dog, an older dog or one that’s been born post covid to base your assumption on.

There were far fewer dogs then. I am old and I just don’t remember loads of dog poo about. What I do remember is lying down and rolling down hills. You couldn’t do that now. You would get covered in dog poo. In my youth people didn’t have such large or aggressive dogs.

I went to 8 university visits with DS1 last year and 6 so far with DS2 this year and at every single visit people had brought their dogs. They definitely weren’t service dogs. Yorkshire terriers, Jack Russell, spaniels, cockerpoos. Doesn’t bother me but I thought it was silly

Ultimately businesses allow dogs to attract more costumers. I doubt they will be changing their decision anytime soon.

I’ve never known it be as bad as it currently is. I’m not a dog fan but also not a hater (except for Chihuahuas - yeah they can fuck right off). As the name states - cat lady but was raised with dogs and it’s all in the training.
Out for a meal last night, dogs everywhere in there, rubbing on peoples coats, some bar staff petting them (not washing their hands) and one taking a piss on a chair someone was sat in (who was not its owner and not even on the same table). Proceeding to escape the poorly secured lead to annoy the hell out of everyone in the vicinity owner oblivious until smashing glass and the idiot owner went “oh watch her paws she’s just curious”. No she’s just knocked over a table of drinks and eaten the fucking empty crisp packets on the table. Go to a vet you fuckwit. We gave up and went home.
Does no one actually think about people having allergies to dogs anymore? Or frankly being fucking terrified of some of them? To be brutally honest, do none of these idiots actually think about the dog? Not everywhere is suitable for them!
Its not the dogs fault most of the time, its the fuckwit “owner” who has failed to train the animal or understand what is or is not acceptable.

Yes - pretty sure I've seen research which found many businesses report an increase in sales after becoming dog friendly

I went to a pub with my friend a few weeks ago, for what we hoped was to be a lovely catch up and lunch…WRONG!!!

So many kids just simply being allowed to run around, climbing on seats, babies crawling under the tables and wiping their sticky fingers all over the chairs, dropping food on the floor. Honestly we were disgusted! Then, to shut them up, the worst offending family took out the iPad and put on a film. You’d have thought they’d have put it on quietly, but no! Right next to our table too. There were kids actually crawling under our table whilst their entitled parents did nothing. Kids need keeping under better control, never mind dogs

I had a shoe thrown at me when I told a woman she needed to take her dog outside after she’d brought it in to the shop I managed.
She argued that loads of other shops let him in. Fine, but he wasn’t coming in my shop.

A lot of businesses though, such as cafes, can see how allowing dogs in benefits their business. We have a large reservoir walk on our doorstep. Lovely walk, with woodlands too, with a couple of cafes on route. Before they had a ‘no dogs allowed rule’, they barely had custom. A lot of families three decades ago might have used the cafes whilst walking, but most children now prefer to be on their devices at home - hence I guess why we have such an increase in obesity in children (a whole new thread!) Now, most of these walking routes are frequented by dog walkers, who now pop into the cafes whilst walking their dogs. If a rule was introduced banning dogs, they would go out of business within weeks.

@AuntieJoyce

• should say, no one can make a noise and upset the dog, but the dog can howl and upset the neighbours.

I have been tempted to comment 😆
The nerve though 🙄

I think the problem is more in some areas there is literally no option other than dog-friendly shops and cafes. I live in a medium-sized town and dogs are allowed in every cafe (even Costa, which is not meant to be the case) and 90% of the shops.

If there was a bit of balance, then perhaps people wouldn’t complain so much. But if anyone dares say anything they get abuse from a certain type of dog owner.

Not all.

I don’t mind dogs, don’t dislike them, but wouldn’t own one. I find stuff like this bizarre. None of the dog owners I know would do this and it just seems odd.

People are so worried about the cost of living crisis but they’ve all got a dog or 2. Food, vets bills, vaccinations, pet insurance, grooming, toys etc. Kennels whenever you want to go away. What will happen when the vast majority of dog owners are summoned back to the office a few days a week and the permanent WFH of Covid is over?

My dog comes with me to the hairdressers. He is happily welcomed.

This!! As a person who works in retail the amount of people trying to bring thier dogs shopping has defo doubled the last couple of years. And then you get hurled abuse because you refuse to let them in. the minute you refuse to let them in they then turn around and use the ‘it’s a service dog’ we hear that 20 times a day. Which is totally unfair to those who really do have a service dog. One, it’s not fair to the dog, 2 it’s not fair to those allergic or afraid. I love my dog, we go for walks, she’s a member of the family… but she’s still a dog. I don’t feel the need to take her shopping or for food.

there are still a good few towns and cities which don’t have loads of dog friendly cafes and (particularly) restaurants. I live in a Northern area which is on the fringe of a national park, and some tourist villages which do cater more for dog owners, although definitely not every cafe. But when visiting towns outside tourist areas, there are definitely more that don’t allow dogs, than those that do. So I think the reality is that many places don’t allow dogs, so is a compromise that should keep the majority of us happy.

Sample size of 1. Team dog here I'm afraid - the world needs more dogs.

Good for you. Were you selling shoes or did she take one of her own off?

Neurotic dogs and neurotic children.. is there something in the water, OR has parenting gone downhill as far as boundaries and discipline has gone?

Dogs allowed to yap at cafes are so annoying.

{I own a very well behaved dog} she can give me the side-eye if I do something she doesn't like, {Like cut her nails} but does as she's asked.

A lot of dog do not like being left alone and personally I don't see why the shouldn't be allowed everywhere, animals are more loyal than a lot of people x

I’m not in a tourist village - it’s just dog central around here!

The surrounding towns are as bad. Even where the garden centres try and have dog-free areas these are ignored and the (mainly young, almost certainly underpaid) staff get a mouthful from entitled dog owners if asked to move.