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Where can we visit that is definitely dog free?

137 replies

loubielou31 · 12/11/2024 22:33

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

OP posts:
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6
Isthisreasonable · 13/11/2024 07:57

Went to a Uni open day and lots of people had brought their pet dogs and were wandering round with them. Inside and out.

sharpclawedkitten · 13/11/2024 07:59

It's a difficult one OP because they really are allowed everywhere these days. My view is that if you have a dog, it's your choice and you run your life accordingly, not expect everyone to make allowances for you. But everyone seems to think it's the other way round - see the suggestions of getting therapy. I don't want therapy, I just want people who have a pet to be responsible and keep a close eye on them. I am not really scared of them anyway, I just don't want them around me.

Cafes are difficult. Although dog-free cafes do exist - or maybe allow them outside and not inside, that sort of thing.

As a pp has said National Trust places often have dog-free areas but you need to do your research. One example is Claremont, but that's at Esher so quite a distance from you. Not sure about the ones around the Bristol area.

Restaurants are often easier but if you just want tea and cake it's not necessarily a solution.

Don't go to garden centres. I can't think why a dog would find one interesting but people take them because they can.

Swimming pools are one option other than the Lidos on their last day but that's not an issue this time of year.

Agree a no dogs directory would be really good but probably change all the time as people back down on hassle from dog owners and allow them in. Occasionally it goes the other way when a dog poos somewhere and so the owner decides they are not letting them in anymore. My mum said a local cafe has just decided to stop them coming in again for that reason.

Wildlife areas seem like a good suggestion but even then they usually allow "well behaved dogs on short leads" which is fine until someone lets their non-well behaved dog off-lead.

sharpclawedkitten · 13/11/2024 08:01

Isthisreasonable · 13/11/2024 07:57

Went to a Uni open day and lots of people had brought their pet dogs and were wandering round with them. Inside and out.

It's astonishing isn't it. I saw one in a really expensive clothes shop the other day as well. I thought I wouldn't spend £££ on clothes which might have been peed on by a dog! It was a really ugly dog too. I know prettier dogs poo as well but I can't understand why you'd want a dog like that. Cuteness is really in the eye of the beholder...

I'm slightly digressing now but back in the day if you sold things on eBay it was a selling point that they came from a smoke and pet-free home. Not sure that many people can make the latter claim now.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 13/11/2024 08:08

MugPlate · 12/11/2024 22:55

The moon.

No, unfortunately not. She may bump into Gromit there...

Where can we visit that is definitely dog free?
Gymmum82 · 13/11/2024 08:13

MixedCouple2 · 13/11/2024 07:00

I would pike to know to. Not scared of dogs just fed up of them being EVERYWHERE. The beach situation is getting on my last nerves. Massive signs saying no dogs and what do you see dogs.

I went to a deer park and National Trust castle says no dogs and there was many people with dogs!!! They have to force them everywhere it is sick. Obey the rules and go away.

It has gotten so bad that we won't be holidaying in the UK any more. Beach holidays are always ruined. Next summer we will be going to Turkey or Morocco.

I’d avoid Morocco. Dogs absolutely everywhere. Stray ones, on the beaches. In the towns. In many of the resorts.

Turkey is better but you’ll still find stray dogs on a lot of the beaches and in the towns

Deathraystare · 13/11/2024 08:14

I don't have a phobia I just don't think they should go everywhere!

Saucery · 13/11/2024 08:16

None of these are close to you but may be worth bearing in mind if you are ever travelling northwards (or if others on the thread also need dog free sites):
Alnwick Castle and gardens
Hulne Park
Chillingham Castle
Durham Botanical Gardens
Vindolana Roman Museum
Binchester Roman Museum
Bodnant Gardens N Wales has some days where no dogs are allowed on site.
North Wales beaches enforce the No Dogs rule ime. Agree to look for whole beaches with the rule rather than 'split' beaches as too many people ignore the No Dogs half. St Anne's beach on the Fylde does have patrols during the split beach months and I've seen dog owners told to vacate the prohibited bit.

Sympathies, OP. I love dogs and always abide by rules where they aren't allowed. It must be awful to have to limit days out because of severe allergies or phobias, but that's just the way it is for some people so we all need to be mindful of it. I can say my dog is never given the chance to make a nuisance of herself but I've seen too many dog owners not do the right thing and it's very frustrating!

Mxflamingnoravera · 13/11/2024 08:17

The bag of Nails Pub on Jacob's Wells Road. Dogs are banned. But they have 10 cats!

GlassHeart1 · 13/11/2024 08:31

Mxflamingnoravera · 13/11/2024 08:17

The bag of Nails Pub on Jacob's Wells Road. Dogs are banned. But they have 10 cats!

Oooh, putting it on my list, thank u 😺

ThePinkFrenchFancyPlease · 13/11/2024 08:47

mitogoshigg · 13/11/2024 07:39

No dogs in Wetherspoons but it means you need to be in Wetherspoons. You won't find dogs in Indian restaurants generally as they tend to be Muslim owned so don't generally have dogs. Never seen dogs in any proper restaurant in Bristol and it's not exactly overrun with them in the city centre

Yes, I thought Bristol had escaped the curse of the ubiquitous dog, but was disappointed when I had to smartly sidestep to avoid a pile of dog poo which had been left on Castle Bridge yesterday.

OP, I’d agree with Slimbridge as a good choice, but do avoid Westonbirt Arboretum. Suitable museums in the city will include the city museum and art gallery at the top of Park Street, which has a good cafe. I’ve never seen a dog in the Watershed cafe either, but that might have been luck - perhaps because it’s upstairs.

ScrummyDiva2 · 13/11/2024 09:10

Wolfridge Alpaca is totally dog free. Nice cafe that does afternoon tea.

ScrummyDiva2 · 13/11/2024 09:15

Also Berwick Lodge for afternoon tea- no dogs allowed either.

kiraric · 13/11/2024 09:22

I am not phobic but not a fan and I agree that it's impossible these days.

Lots of places claim to be dog free but it's not enforced at all

Saw a couple of dogs in the science museum at half term, definitely not assistance dogs.

rainbowduplo · 13/11/2024 09:47

Can see someone has already mentioned Tortworth Arboretum!

They have walks and workshops which are designated dog free (wreath making coming up) and have definitely run dog free visitor days in the past so definitely worth getting in touch with them OP to see if they'd do any more. Otherwise I'd also recommend hiring them. We went for the evening mid week in the summer, cooked over the fire, had a gorgeous walk with the whole place to ourselves, kids splashed in the stream. Was bliss!!

There is a public footpath, which I don't think can be policed/kept dog free, but it's easily avoided and you still have the full run of the rest of the arboretum. I think it was less than £50. Hoping to go back next year :)

Noidea2024 · 13/11/2024 10:35

Some National Trusts are dog-free, and some offer dog-free times. Sorry, I can't help with specifics as I live in a different area.

aphrodites · 13/11/2024 10:48

Rocksaltrita · 13/11/2024 07:44

I really don’t understand the need for dogs to be allowed everywhere. It ruins things for so many people. Assistance dogs excepted, obviously.

We live in a country that considers them on par with humans, many get dreadfully upset if their 'furbabies' can't go everywhere. Fun fact, the RSCA was set up 60 years before the NSPCC.

Hedonism · 13/11/2024 10:59

aphrodites · 13/11/2024 10:48

We live in a country that considers them on par with humans, many get dreadfully upset if their 'furbabies' can't go everywhere. Fun fact, the RSCA was set up 60 years before the NSPCC.

It's ridiculous. I don't like dogs, some people do. Fair enough. But why doesn't that work the other way around? Why don't the dog lovers understand that some people don't want to be near their dog?

And why are some dog owners convinced that if they manage to force my dd to stroke their dog that she will be 'cured' of her fear? Urgh. It makes me really cross!

Fakinguntilyoumakeit · 13/11/2024 11:00

I think the issue is the unpredictability of dogs and their owners. I don't agree with owners miles away, while they let their dogs bound up to you. My dc is ND and hates when this happens. He was just building his confidence walking past dogs on leads, then we encounter a large dog not on the lead running up to us, while we were sitting on the beach. It wouldn't leave us alone, I was looking around for the owner while trying to comfort ds. Eventually they slowly walked past, and to put it politely weren't bothered.

This has knocked dc's confidence again. He is 7, and the dog seemed huge to him. It also annoys me when the owners say "oh it's friendly, don't be scared, you can stroke etc." I get they are trying to help but that isn't going to cure a genuine phobia, and should be left for the experts. Imagine saying that to somebody with a needle or spider phobia, as if you can cure it in a couple of minutes. I think dog phobia needs to be respected more, like other phobias.
I don't think it helps with all of the dog attacks in the news. There are so many lovely dogs, I grew up with one, but even then the unpredictability to a ND child is huge.
He also has a phobia of button, hand dryers, escalators, and competitions where the outcome is uncertain. Some people have allergies as well, or simply dont want a dog they don't know running up to them while they're going about their day, or just aren't interested. I think certain dog owners should be more mindful of these things.

Penguinsn · 13/11/2024 11:08

Not local to Bristol but places we know that are dog free, wish it was a category you could tick, are

RHS wisley
Anglesey Abbey by Cambridge
Sezincote

Try Historic Houses Association website search by region then can tick pet friendly and know to avoid them.

sleepwouldbenice · 13/11/2024 18:06

Hedonism · 13/11/2024 10:59

It's ridiculous. I don't like dogs, some people do. Fair enough. But why doesn't that work the other way around? Why don't the dog lovers understand that some people don't want to be near their dog?

And why are some dog owners convinced that if they manage to force my dd to stroke their dog that she will be 'cured' of her fear? Urgh. It makes me really cross!

It is down to the owners, ie not all dog owners
I really don't allow my dog to go where he isn't allowed and I make sure he gives any nervous passer bys a wide berth if I notice their concerns

Hedonism · 13/11/2024 18:26

sleepwouldbenice · 13/11/2024 18:06

It is down to the owners, ie not all dog owners
I really don't allow my dog to go where he isn't allowed and I make sure he gives any nervous passer bys a wide berth if I notice their concerns

This is true, and the reason I said 'some' dog owners in my second paragraph. I'm just frustrated. Thank you for being one of the considerate ones 😊

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 13/11/2024 18:31

Are Cat cafes not a thing in your area?

BillPurchase · 13/11/2024 18:32

Not a Chinese restaurant.

ginasevern · 13/11/2024 18:42

Dyrham Park isn't too far from us (I live in Bristol too) and is dog free except for assistance dogs. The suspension bridge museum as well as MShed and the city museum. Red Lodge, Georgian House too. Obviously you know about the Wild Place. The thing is, you're going to encounter dogs somewhere en route to wherever you go.

Soma · 13/11/2024 18:59

KenAdams · 12/11/2024 22:50

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.

Not the V&A, they allow all sorts of dogs in, not just assistance dogs.