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.

What would you suggest?

Mine is so severe neither antihistamines or inhalers work?

Last time k went near a dog my entire face swelled up even though l was on antihistamines. Went to a pharmacist who sent me to A and E.

It’s not that easy to just carry medication.

Are you in the UK? It’s illegal for a shopping centre to be “dog free” same as any other establishment.

Service dogs are no less likely to trigger an allergic reaction than non service animals. That was my point.

The poster who is intent on taking her dog into a dog free caravan is incredibly selfish. I hope they chuck her out and charge to her deep clean the caravan. And I bloody love dogs.

A few years ago you had to buy a book that had a list of dog friendly accommodation, since Covid it has went the other way, everywhere is mutt friendly. Like i have said a decade from now and all the Covid "fur babies" will be dead and we will go back to normal.

In your case I would ask my GP if anything else was available as that sounds awful for you and must be very limiting. 💐

I agree, I am not allergic though, I just find dog friendly accomodation generally looks a little tardy, scruffy, a corner chewed somewhere, a questionable stain somewhere prominent and personally as much as I love dogs I prefer pet free accommodation. I just don’t fancy using a pillow a dogs backside has probably sat on.

I have recently been doing the same, and all places I am coming across are pet friendly and even one of my favourite hotels has gone dog friendly, off for the smelling salts!!!!
I have a dog before anyone thinks I am anti dog.

People will buy/rescue other dogs.

I’m highly allergic to dogs and cats. But I can see how much joy they bring to most other people. I wouldn’t dream of expecting anyone to make concessions for me. It’s my problem and my responsibility to look after myself.

Or just possibly, the worse experiences you have had with dogs the more likely you are to hate them 🙄

With the obvious exception for guide dogs

He is the bottom one, the floofy one is not a dog, it is a demonic entity.

He's my special baby. He's from the litter we bred ourselves (under guidance from a show breeder). The bitch was x-rayed once and scanned once, and both times we were told she was having four puppies, so we found homes for three puppies, plus one reserve home, and the breeder was taking one.

The birth was quick and easy. We had four healthy puppies within an hour. We all sat with the bitch for another hour; she was settled and cleaning/feeding her babies. I went downstairs to eat the rest of my lunch. DD1 went to the shop. DD2, who had refused to be in the room while the bitch was birthing, stayed with mum and pups.

A couple of minutes after I went downstairs, DD2 started screaming for help. I raced back up to find DD2 desperately rubbing a fifth puppy who had popped out, not breathing or moving. She'd already cleared his nose and mouth like the breeder taught us, but it wasn't working. I did CPR/mouth-to-mouth on him, and he came round. He was "dead" for a good three minutes. We called the vet nurse who was worried about his low weight, and said to hand feed him (as well as mum feeding him) for a couple of days to see how he went. He wasn't expected to survive the night, but after three days, he'd caught up with his littermates, and is now bigger than mum (the demon in the pic with him is his half-brother from the stud's side)

DD2 asked to keep him instead of contacting the reserve home, since she helped birth him, and he's been my special baby ever since. He goes everywhere with me.

Well that’s a ridiculous comment. She can’t because it’s literally dangerous to her health.

The difference is no one can control where wasps go.

Oooof. He’s a cutie 🥰 and obviously, extra special ❤️ JRT X chi?

I wasn’t aware this was such an issue! Is it really becoming more commonplace to allow pets in hotels? I don’t go away very often so that went right over my head.
I don’t necessarily disagree with pet friendly hotels but they certainly shouldn’t be so widespread that people with allergies, fear of dogs, or just don’t like them (like me) can’t choose a place a stay. And hotels should make it absolutely clear whether they are or aren’t pet friendly.

Believe it or not (and I wouldn't if I hadn't been present at the conception and birth), he is 100% chihuahua. He's enormous for his breed.

The bitch's breeder originally bred staffies and at one point bred staffs and chis, so I think somewhere, way down the line, there was a cross, and he is a throwback from that. Mum and Dad are both KC registered.

Actually I'd add restriction on assistance dogs, specifically allowing only licensed ones. Many people pretend that their pet is providing some kind of assistance.

Personally I don't have any kind of issue with dogs or any other animals, love them and pet them at every opportunity if permitted.

HOWEVER. There are also people who are really afraid of dogs, including children. My friend's dog is fairly full-on (puppy but sizeable) and often when when we are in cafes where space is tight etc, I notice that having an excitable dog around simply isn't pleasant for people. Or people looking to sit far away from dogs as they want a chilled/ quiet/ comfortable time as not all dogs are docile.

While the cafes/ places I go don't tend to have dogs in most of the time, I can still see how it's not idea for everyone.

Pet free zones seems like a good idea.

As to the OP's problem, I'd look at larger hotels as opposed to B&Bs. Or also AirBnBs that are not pet friendly. Many AirBnbs do not allow pets, and while larger hotels technically do, I don't think I've ever seen a dog in Marriott! (I'm sure they're occasionally there but less likely that a Lake District hiking focus B&B)

Businesses have identified a need to be pet friendly. Although I sympathise with your situation. I imagine a city break is the opposite and less dog friendly places but if youre looking for countryside breaks you might not have as much choice. I was in a local rural village yesterday. Two cafes. One dog friendly which was full and we couldnt get a.table. The other one only allowed dogs on outside tables and was completely empty.

I had this exact same thought earlier today, when I was in Accessorize with my DD. We were the only 2 customers in there at 1st and then I heard the door open and the patter of dog paws/claws on the floor. The dog owner was struggling to get the dog to follow her around, so they left. I was actually glad they left because i think it's so unnecessary. And then as we made our way to another shop, we saw two women getting a pushchair out of their car for the little dog one of them was carrying!! Honestly it's ridiculous 🙄

But to answer your question OP I think the answer is sadly no.

Well it could have been because of the dogs, or because the dog-friendly cafe is a lot nicer!

Yes I think you should have to have a certificate for them. You need a blue badge to use disabled bays, so I can't really see why it's considered so taboo for a service provider to want proof that a dog is really a service dog.

I think hotels are big enough to have dog-friendly floors so that should be ok. The problem is when the dogs are allowed in bars and restaurants in the hotel - I was in the Hotel du Vin in York a few months ago and there was a massive one in their not very big bar - you had to step over it. Not acceptable in my view.

How is this discrimination? Any private establishment can choose to allow dogs if they think it is beneficial to their business. Or not. It's not their responsibility to ensure against any possible form of allergen known to humans. Are all restaurants completely nut/gluten/dairy/etc free in case of allergies?

It clearly discriminates against people who have allergies. They can’t use them.