Do you think there will ever come a time when business need to take account of the needs of those of us allergic to dogs?

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OK, so I don't want this to turn into one of the many threads where huge rows erupt about the number of dogs around. I accept that this seems to be the way of the world - for now anyway - but some recent experiences have made me question the implications.

I'm in the process of booking a UK touring holiday and have spent the last few weeks trying to book some medium range hotels in various places. Mainly countryside locations which might be part of the issue.

I am allergic to dogs and prone to fairly serious reactions, including asthma attacks if exposed for a prolonged period.

The problem is that I'm coming across so many places I like only to read that they are pet friendly. This is often accompanied by photos showing dogs running around the hotel interior, sitting on the beds and couches in rooms etc. If I were to stay in this room after a dog had been there it's highly likely I'd be quite poorly. When I've rung these hotels to ask if they have any designated pet free rooms, they have replied that no, they are 'pet friendly', as if this somehow makes them morally superior and those of us who have allergies are some sort of animal hater!

Given the legislation on dietary labelling that came in following some tragic incidents, I do wonder if we're going to end up in a situation where someone is likely to come to harm through inadvertent exposure. This is probably more likely to be a child as grown adults will be able to spot early warning signs.

I'm just interested in views on this as it's increasingly feeling like I'm being denied access to a service in a way that would not be acceptable in other situations.

Perhaps they will but why would they when the legislation is already there for all those that fall within the guidelines.

I’d be happy to join you in this.
I had a work related dog issue and saw a solicitor. Was told Equality Act was relevant legislation, it prioritises service - namely guide dogs. No issue at all with that but people are now misusing the service dog criteria.

Not in my experience. Tiny “handbag size” dogs do tend to get allowed (or overlooked) in places but they are literally in a bag a lot of the time. Bigger dogs tend to be not allowed.

Well when we lived in France it definitely was true. Dogs were allowed everywhere, hotels, bars, restaurants, supermarkets. When we asked a hotel if they allowed dogs they would laugh and say "of course". We noticed a stark difference when we came back to the UK.

Not sure if it has changed there but when we have had holidays there in the last 5 years there were certainly lots of dogs especially in restaurants.

It also seems to be far more common in Fraance for a dog to sit at the restaurant table whereas I have never seen that in the UK

Well 20 years ago when we lived there France was very very dog friendly and the UK certainly was not.

They were allowed everywhere no matter what size. Maybe things have changed but I don't see why they would have

I was unaware of the legislation from the pov of allergies to dogs.
I’m not in the UK anyway so it could be different.

I think Covid was a big factor in dogs being everywhere, even in malls including high end shops it’s common to see dogs now.

I don’t get this at all. There are plenty of places that are pet free. I know because I go away with my dog a lot and there are so many you have to discard as no pets allowed.
Just book some of those!

The UK has definitely gone that way too but with double the number of pet dogs in the country when compared to France and a much more indoor cafe culture due to the climate so it feels more intrusive and dirty to me. In rural France I rarely notice dogs but in the UK you're tripping over them any time you go out in public. May just be where I go in France admittedly.

I love dogs, and have lots of them. I’m not sure where you are all going where dogs are everywhere? I travel a lot and I actively look for dogs (I miss mine when I’m away!) and I can’t remember ever seeing one in a restaurant? Cafes and gastro pubs yes, but a restaurant? Almost never. That said, for various reasons I rarely take any of mine to eating establishments and pretty much never hotels. I think it’s entirely reasonable to have a clear list of non pet friendly hotels. But business will only do that if it’s viable. You cannot expect people to run a business and lose money. Who would do that?

Me too.

Then you're very lucky. Only last week we where having a pub lunch in a very nice pub/restaurant.

There was a little sausage dog at the next table who dropped a giant turd under the table, the owner scraped it off the carpet with her napkin and put it in her handbag.

The smell was horrific, as I went to inform the staff, the dog launched itself from under the table and tried to bite my ankle. The owner didn't even apologise.

The staff were very apologetic and moved us, I feel sorry for them having to clean that carpet when the woman left.

We go to the Lake District every summer because of how dog-friendly it is; however, even there, there are things we cannot do because our handbag-sized dog is not allowed, and we always have to check where we can eat if we go out for the day. There are lots he can do with us, but equally, finding a pub or cafe he wouldn't be allowed in is not hard.

I'd also love to know where in the country we could go where DDog would be allowed everywhere.

I think you are very unlucky.

There will never be anywhere that’s completely dog free because of the legal requirement for organisations/establishments to allow service dogs.

Even aeroplanes have dogs running around them on a daily basis checking for drugs/explosives

The only answer is to mitigate the impact with medication.

You clearly missed my post (just a few posts above yours) about the dog that did a huge poo next to my table when I was enjoying (until then) my hotel restaurant breakfast.

It's very interesting how dog haters always have the worst stories about awfully behaved dogs doing outrageous things in public places. I've literally never seen a dog take a crap in a restaurant or bite anybody from under the table. It's a bit like how people who don't like kids are always the ones who seem to get the worst kids bothering them or behaving badly when sat near them, etc.

Or for dog owners to respect dog free areas.

Shopping centre -no dogs allowed. I have seen several in there.

Graveyard- no dogs. Again saw an owner with his dog casually walking through

There’s a thread now in active about an owner wanting to take her dog to a pet free caravan.

Me too! I live in a very dog friendly place (by choice obviously) and I can list 20 places off the top of my head where dogs aren’t allowed. I also travel with work to a couple of very well known dog friendly towns. I can also list a LOT of places where dogs aren’t allowed there either? I’ve no issue with it, I think it should be clear either way, so people can choose, but to say dogs are allowed “everywhere”. Just not true.
Also? I’d love to meet your hand bag sized boy. I have a soft spot for the teeny ones🥰

I don’t believe that’s what I said

In my local shopping centre security ask you to leave if someone takes a dog in there (very rare) as it's picked up on security cameras.

A holiday park would soon know if someone had a dog in a pet free caravan.

Saw that thread. As a totally mad and frankly evangelical dog owner, please don’t tar us all with the same brush. I would never do that.

Thank you, I’m glad to read this. I know it’s not all dog owners.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwynly0vprpo