Where can we visit that is definitely dog free?

[loubielou31]

Sorry this is a bit of a thread about a thread. My mum has quite a bad dog phobia, and it is becoming more difficult to think of places to visit with her because more and more places are dog friendly. I don't need to discuss the merits of this just suggestions of places that will definitely be dog free please. Visit to the beach in summer is spoilt for her (and consequently us) because even when there are no dogs allowed on the main beach, owners don't stick to the dog friendly areas.
We live in Bristol if people have specific places they know but general suggestions would also be great.
The zoo is one place we often visit.
Thanks

Has she ever thought about therapy? It’s going to be pretty limiting and difficult to have a dog phobia. I had a fear of flying which is harder to overcome as you can’t get the regular exposure. With dogs there’s no such barrier and there will be programmes.

Any beach that is exclusively dog free (ie no dog friendly part) should be ok - dog owners will aim for the half and half type

RHS gardens only allow dogs on special days I believe.

most national trust type places only allow dogs on lead and in the grounds (not gardens/inside usually) if it’s the over friendly dogs that get too close that upset her, they should be ok as easy to keep your distance

I agree with the therapy. Near me (Essex) there is a very good Cynophobia charity who runs courses to help. I’m sure others are available around the country

We have found with beaches that if dogs are banned completely they will be dog free but if they are half and half there will be dogs on both halves. E.g Croyde beach has a dog ban but Woolacombe is only partly dog free so you end up with dogs all over it.

Wetherspoons

I feel your pain, my DD has a phobia which seems to be getting worse ☹️ At least you can avoid flying, dogs are bloody everywhere. We are looking into therapy for her, but in the meantime....

Some national trust places are dog free, the guidebook has symbols for the ones that are dog friendly, so look for the ones that don't have that. There's a reservoir near us that you can walk around which is dog free, I can't remember the reason why but something to do with water treatment perhaps?

It's a bit of a trek but Kew Gardens is dog free and is a lovely day out. Also Hampton Court Palace.

I think it's the unpredictability of dogs and them coming close and into her space that has made it worse recently. Working dogs and service dogs are absolutely not a trigger.

I just want to be able to relax whilst we're out together and be able, for example, to enjoy a cup of coffee without being on "dog watch", (a family term not one she uses herself, I don't think she knows she does it but I can see her tense up when dogs are around and it makes it very hard work for whoever is with her)

Literally any museum or gallery? Most restaurants? Kew. Botanic Gardens. Loads of places. Assistance dogs are allowed by law anywhere though so she can't avoid them.

How does she cope when she passes one on the street?

Everywhere allows dogs nowadays.
Even places that are supposedly dog free are not, owners will ignore signs.

It’s very very difficult and as you say ruins a day out.
Im on high alert the whole time I’m out.
Those not on leads that run free, those that claim the dog is “just being friendly “ as it jumps up and slathers all over you as you are frozen petrified to move and too terrified to speak.
I even cross over the road to avoid, walk deliberately at a wide angle away from a dog in the path. I actually stop breathing and can’t feel my hands as I pass. There was one on the train the other day just wandering around the carriage with the owner looking adoringly on.

You will not get anywhere as dog owners are dog lovers who adore their pets.☺️ They just don’t get the fear at all.
I do wish I didn’t feel this way as I can see that dogs bring so much joy and love to a person, but I do feel this utter utter terror at any dog, big or small in my vicinity.

The moon.

NThouses a d most gardens but not grounds although mainly onlead in grounds in my experience. NT restaurants usually have outdoor or separate cafe for dogs and owners. Tyntesfield in Bristol have map showing dog free areas your mum could be reassured by hopefully.

In south Devon there are several beaches with dogs banned May to September and everyone sticks to it as far as Ive ever known.

It must be so hard for her as dogs are everywhere now.

I totally empathise as I have a serious allergy to so many dogs and despite every man and his dog (literally) claiming their beloved pet is hypo allergenic I'm afraid I can still react and I don't want it coming over to me and slevering all over me.
It's become virtually impossible to go out for a coffee or for lunch these days!

Wagamamas.

My house.

Thanks for the suggestion of fully dog free beaches rather than dog free zones, I will definitely look at that for next summer.
Yes, museums! Bristol has a few free ones so a coffee there will be a win.

A day out to Kew gardens would be a lovely treat so I will keep that in mind.
These are helpful.

No dogs in the Maldives......

Tropical bird land Leicestershire - totally dog free

Bit far to go for a day out from Bristol.

Museums and their cafes are a good shout.

I wish there was an easier way to find places that don’t accept dogs. I was looking on the National Trust website and you can filter for various levels of dog-friendliness but not for “no dogs”.

I'm not sure if it's already been suggested but Westonbirt has a part that is dog free and I imagine better enforced than many places. I can sympathise with her, I try and avoid places because of it.

I’m in Bristol too, we visit Slimbridge regularly. Nice cafe, good walk, adventure playground if you have kids with you. They definitely don’t allow dogs.

Whilst Westonbirt has a part that is dog free, dogs are allowed everywhere else. The outside cafes / eateries, the shop, the car park. This would be the very last place I would go to avoid dogs. They’re everywhere.

The trail is quite nice if I remember correctly though and not a bad distance around. I forgot about the car park and I didn't use the cafe. Sadly, they do seem to be everywhere!

Botanical gardens don't allow dogs

Slimbridge is a great suggestion that I hadn't thought of at all.
I wonder if there is any mileage in a no dogs directory? (Assistance dogs excepted)