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

Many nature reserves, eg Slimbridge WWT is easy to get to from Bristol,

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.

Agree. I'm not afraid of dogs. I quite like the well-behaved ones, but strange dogs out and about are a nuisance. I'm very fed up with constantly having dog noses prodding at me in coffee ships or dogs jumping up at me on the beach while some proud owner beams at me with a "He's so friendly".
Dog friendly is one thing, but we're moving to a dog-entitled culture which is something else. There are a lot of people who are scared of dogs. My DS and my little niece were both terrified of dogs when they were little: both from big 'friendly' dogs jumping up at them.
I find the people suggesting therapy for your mother to be doing so in very bad taste. We need to move to a much stronger culture of responsible dog ownership.
I'm near Bristol and can't think of many places that are dog free, but wishing you and your mum some peaceful days out.

John Lewis even allow dogs these days! I wouldn't dare take mine in - what if they lifted their legs and peed on the soft furnishings?!!

Westonbirt has a dog free area but unfortunately it doesn't include the cafe 😞. The botanical gardens are dog free, as are slimbridge and the rspb reserves in Newport and Glastonbury. Its really hard my nephew is allergic to dogs to the extent he carries an epi pen. He lives overseas but I just don't think he would be safe on a visit to the UK. Even supposedly dog free places like playgrounds and beaches often have dogs in them.

That should be standard.
It isn't.

No one has suggested a firework display yet!

Sorry OP I don't know Bristol. We go to RSPB sites to appreciate animals which haven't been anthropomorphicised.

The obsession with dogs has got out of hand. I stayed in a hotel last weekend and my room had a dog bed in the corner with a bowl and treats. Nowhere on my booking had it stated a dog friendly room.

I would also love to see a no dogs directory, but you just know some would take it as a challenge. The way things are now you'd think dog owners were in the majority, but thankfully not (yet). Doesn't make sense that businesses alienate the majority to pander to the minority, bit like the trans rights stuff I suppose.

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

Not the point of the thread I know but most garden centres I know are full of expensive breakable tat that you need to negotiate before you get anywhere near the actual plants, within easy reach of nose/tail level.

I don't get why dogs are allowed, all it takes is Tyson catching little Pickles looking at him funny and bang goes 5 grands worth of Capo di Monte.

RHS Gardens if there's one near you

Slimbridge WW T is about 40 mins away by car from Bristol.

Minehead beach and the beach at Burnham on Sea are dog free but only from May to September. This time of year you may be better off in one of Bristol's many art galleries and museums. Bath also has some good ones. One of my favourite Bristol museums is The Tudor House in Clifton. The Red Lodge is worth a look.

Haven't been to Wake The Tiger yet but it looks superb.

I wish my beach was dog-free.
We have two big beaches, and only one seems to be used for everything.

I’d like the council to make the less used one the “dog beach” and make the one the swimmers prefer a “dog-free beach”.

Not holding my breath though. 😕

I don’t understand why so many people are suggesting therapy. I assume this woman has gone her whole life with this fear and it has only now started to affect her life.
It isn’t her that needs to change it is selfish dog owners who think the world revolves around their pet.

The theatres are dog free - save for working dogs of course.
Aerospace
ssGB
Wild Place

Ooh, Wild Place Project at Cribbs Causeway is fantastic place. I love the meerkat house especially!

@loubielou31 I imagine Noah's Ark Farm and Zoo (Wraxall area) is dog free still, but it's donkeys years (no pun intended, heehaw!) Since I've been.

If she can reason herself out of fear once she sees somebody with a dog wearing a hi-vis jacket - or no jacket but is busy herding sheep/sniffing for drugs in a crowded area/wearing wellies and searching for people trapped in rubble or on moorland, that makes it more likely that therapy could help her get over it.

I’m a dog owner but having a parent with a severe phobia I’m always extra cautious that my dog is fully under control because I know plenty of people don’t like them!

I am grateful for dog friendly pubs and cafes so we can stop on a walk but I’m cautious as to which ones I use because some of them just aren’t set up with enough space for dogs not to be too close to the table next to them! I wouldn’t ever see the need to take my dog in shops such as John Lewis, although he’s far better behaved than my toddler! I think people are probably recommending therapy because any selfish dog owners aren’t going to change and the dog friendly culture isn’t likely to either. Therapy can absolutely change a dog phobia.

When I got my dog 3.5 years ago there was a bit of upset that my Mum wouldn’t feel able to come to my house. Amazingly with a lot of exposure she now walks straight in and even looks after and walk my sisters dog. For the first 30 + years of my life she’d not have ventured anywhere with a dog. It really was a severe phobia I’d seen her in tears because a dog had gotten too close. Over coming this fear has meant she can do much more, walks places she would have avoided such as canals/narrow paths and will now stroke them on walks.

The Mall at Cribbs Causeway.
Brackenwood Garden Centre at Abbots Leigh - they have a cafe.
Bristol Botanic Garden.
Minehead beach in the summer and Blenheim Road park in the town (has a bandstand and frequent bands playing).
Butlins, Minehead.
Browns, The Ivy, Nandos, Bella Italia in fact most restaurants.
Most cinemas and theatres most of the time.
Barley Wood Walled Garden.
Bowood House and Gardens.
Sudeley Castle.
Berkeley Castle.
Swimming pools - Portishead Lido.
Chalice Well Garden, Glastonbury.
Sports centres and gyms.

Absolutely loads of places to go where there are no dogs.

Yes it should be

It is like that! Saying you don't like dogs isn't considered far off being trans"phobic".

There are two things I wouldn't share with work colleagues: one that I believe in single sex spaces and two that I am not a dog person.

Saw a dog on the Tube in London yesterday - in a crowded rush hour train. Why would you do that? It's hardly fair on the dog, never mind people who have to use the Tube.

It's impossible to get away from dogs these days. They are absolutely everywhere.

I have no idea what goes through their minds. I'm nd and very sensitive to sensory issues, but it's not just the noise, smell or hair...I don't really want something that spends all day licking its butt and privates licking me or my clothes to be honest. You'd think it'd be self explanatory but the sense of entitlement doesn't allow that. They think their pet is something we need to manage, rather than they need to keep under control. I genuinely think many of them can't comprehend it, it's a very bizarre mentality indeed.

If you don't like dogs don't go to Turkey! There are packs of stray dogs everywhere.

Weston super mare museum. Brilliant cafe too.