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.

I am allergic to dogs. Today I’m on a train. Another passenger has a dog. It’s causing me to get tight chested and my eyes are watering so I am (mildly) affected. It was walking down the aisle and I shifted in my seat to avoid dog brushing against me. Cue a dirty look. I smile and say I’m allergic and she says the dog is hypoallergenic.

NO IT FUCKING ISNT. I don’t know where this myth came from that certain breeds are miraculously allergen free, but it’s bollocks.

Yes @HermioneWeasley
.
A 2024 study concluded
“To date, there is no scientific evidence for the existence of a hypoallergenic dog.”

But as we've seen on this thread, that isn't enough, because even if there's a dog sat in the pet friendly area right over the other end of the pub, it's still going to trigger allergy symptoms. And even where there are dog free businesses, that isn't enough either. So essentially, the only thing that will make people happy is people either not taking their dogs to places where they're allowed, out of consideration for them, or for all businesses to ban dogs.

And even where there are dog free businesses, that isn't enough either.

Not sure what you mean by this?
If there were sufficient dog free businesses everywhere there wouldn’t be much of a problem. People are left out when all the cafes in their town are dog friendly, not when half of them are.

So what is a "sufficient" number?

Two cafes in my nearest village. One allows dogs, one only allows dogs outside and not inside. There's also one on a wee industrial complex a bit out of the village that's dogs outside only.

3 pubs, all dog friendly to a degree. One has a dog free dining area, dogs in bar only, and no dogs on Tuesday evenings because there's a board games club and a lot of kids there. The other two don't serve food and have heated outdoor spaces if being indoors with dogs is a problem.

Most shops are no dogs except the pet shop.

Post office - no dogs

Bakery that has a few tables outside - no dogs

Garage - no dogs

Beauty salon - no dogs

Hairdresser in the village owns a poodle and it's always there with her. Horrid, snappy thing. But most people go to the nearest town for hair and beauty stuff, because it tends to be men and older ladies go to her, and I've never seen dogs in salons in town apart from service dogs.

Bear in mind this is a rural community, where a lot of people not only own pet dogs, but have working dogs. It's also not unusual to see horses or ponies "parked" outside one of the pubs, which is rider friendly, they provide hay and water. I've even walked goats there a few times when I was lead training the wee ones and getting them used to people. This is absolutely not the place people would come and live if they or someone in their family had serious animal allergies, and it would be very unreasonable to move here and demand that businesses cater to their needs and not those of the local community.

Animals, very much inc dogs, both working and pets are very much a part of country life. Going for a walk and popping into the pub with your dog or into the cafe to get a coffee and cake is very much part of country life. I’d say if you have an aversion to dogs it’s maybe easier to stay in a city. If I had severe lung issues or a fear of crowds I wouldn’t go into a city and expect crowd free areas and no pollution.

I would say that even where animals aren’t present in the country it’s likely people will have pet hair on them so that might be an issue

Round here the beaches are currently full of dogs yet come summer they are banned from a lot of the best beaches. Beaches that are then emptier in the summer than winter and over crowded dog beaches. Business owners on the no dogs in summer beaches are pressing to get the dog bans lifted or relaxed to only small parts of the beach. The pooch pound is strong in rural and beach economies

For your information I am not entitled dog owner but not allowing dogs in a large pub garden when the dog would lay quietly under the table is ridiculous.

Go to any pub garden in the summer and there will be children running around screeching, banging into people and generally being a pain and yet a quiet dog is not allowed!

If people have such a bad reaction to dogs that they can't be in a large garden with one how on earth do they cope walking along the street every day!

It doesn't bother me that Wetherspoons are so petty. There are many many far nice pubs and they also serve much better food than the food served in Wetherspoons

Buy most hotels dont allow dogs so choose one of those.

I don't expect places to stop selling/providing dairy in which my kids are allergic

Exactly, but the dog haters won't acknowledge that.

When I was looking for a holiday last year with my dog I struggled to find places that allowed dogs. That was hotels, cottages and Airbnb. This was an area where a lot of people holiday (so likely a lot of dog owners)

Reminds of the time a mner complained there were no dog free places in her town. Within minutes someone compiled a list. The response was too cheap, too expensive, not close enough to the car park, didn’t like that place and so on. Don’t want help, don’t want to try and instigate change, just want to complain.

For those saying animals are part of rural life…I know?
I live rurally, always have.
I now have theee children. They all have dog allergies unfortunately, one fairly severe. Allergic to other animals too, pollen, various foods.
I love dogs. They love dogs. One dreamt of being a vet when he grew up…I think he’s realising now that’s impossible. It’s sad to see. Allergies just make life more difficult.

I don’t know why people are saying things like … stay in the city if you don’t like animals? It’s not that easy. Our families and life are in the countryside, always have been. I’m sure there are many more in similar situations. We’re not aliens. This is where we’re from.

Regarding allergies, we have no problems at all with dogs being outside (as long as they stay with their owners and don’t come close). Inside is the issue. I don’t think the problem on beaches is to do with allergies…maybe more to do with fouling?

I’m allergic as well OP, it triggers my asthma and I could have an attack, landing me in hospital.
I believe that if an establishment is ‘dog friendly’ then they need to make it super clear. Clear signs on their doors as you enter, needs to state on their socials, and clearly on their websites. Not hidden away on FAQ or some other area. If you eat something the labels have to be clear what they contain because of food allergies.
Yes, of course assistance/guide dogs have rights of access, BUT they are exceptionally rare (around 7000 in UK according to ADUK) so the likelihood of running into one is incredibly low.
I’m in Edinburgh and it’s soooo difficult to find anywhere I can now go (apart for Wetherspoons 😅). I honestly feel like such a burden to friends, family and my partner because I can’t be around dogs. I wish there was a healthy balance or places, but there really isn’t anymore and a lot of places don’t advertise they are dog friendly till you’re in the building and see dogs everywhere, or they say there aren’t dog friendly but then let one or two small dogs in.

Then go to one of the many pubs that do allow dogs.

Dog owners tell people who don’t like / are allergic to dogs to go to places that don’t allow them. Yet when there are places that don’t allow them, you think it’s ridiculous.

As I said, entitled dog owners giving other dog owners a bad name.

AS I ALREEADY SAID I do go to other pubs, all of which are far far nicer than Wetherspoons and don't have a pathetic rule that dogs are not allowed in A GARDEN!

It is ridiculous to not allow them in outside spaces unless it is a space the size of a postage stamp. Yet they allow rowdy children. I know which I prefer.

When I become as entitled a dog owner as most parents are I will worry about it until then enjoy your greasy Wetherspoons food

Then why are you getting so annoyed and describing rules as “pathetic”.

Don’t you agree that people who don’t want to be around dogs should have an outdoor dog-free space? Or are you one of those entitled dog owners who think dogs should be allowed everywhere and everyone else should put up and shut up?

I disagree. I spend a lot of my job travelling and have to book hotels every couple of weeks in various places around the UK. Not once have I come across a dog in a single one of those hotels. I wasnt even aware this was a common thing so it cant be that prevelant.

I agree with the PP- most hotels do not allow pets in.

Phones are a thing. Email is a thing. Call or email ahead and ask the managers of places you want to go and ensure you ask specific questions. This is what people with food allergies or intolerances have to do to ensure their dietary needs can be catered for when they're out.

I've also never seen any place that says no dogs allow dogs, unless they belong to the owner or something.

Yes, you’re totally right, I do email ahead of time and call, sometimes I’m able to get hold of someone, sometimes it’s completely ignored. Which I understand as people and business get very busy.
I was just saying it would be good if places advertised that they are dog friendly in a clear way, be it on their doors or on their website. I wasn’t trying to cause offence or upset anyone.

I have been in a few places that have no dogs allowed on the signs, but will let small dogs in (shops as well as places to eat). The staff will say the rule is about big dogs, not small dogs. I will say that it need to be made clear then. Or on occasion they get pressured by customers to let them in, or the customer just brings them in and the staff don’t do anything. It does happen, more often than not. I was saying it’s a frustrating thing.

Again, I wasn’t trying to cause offence, I was just giving my opinion. I’m sorry.

I think the answer to that is pretty clear, AA ;)

Also, aside from the dog allergy issue, some owners are irresponsible and don't make sure their dogs are free of ticks and fleas - there was a thread on here a few months ago about it. It would be just lovely to sit on a train when a dog gets on and a flea bites you (and yes I know in theory fleas prefer dogs and cats to humans but in practice I get bitten if they are around!)

I think a lot of the time the staff either don't care/actively like dogs themselves, and/or they don't want the confrontation, so they don't say anything unless there's a problem.

My mum goes to a very small cafe where someone tried to bring in two large dogs and the owner did say please don't as this is a small space, but it is rare.

I've just had this exact issue. Trying to find an accessible hotel with wheelchair accessible rooms in three rural counties (think nice country house hotel) only to find ALL of them double up their accessible rooms as dog friendly rooms. I am extremely allergic to dogs - severe asthma triggered very quickly by contact with dogs. I might get away with it in a large dining room of a hotel but a bedroom? No thanks. They do clean between guests but ............... not a complete allergy clean! It has been hugely disappointing - the only place I could find was in a big city and we wanted to stay in the countryside.

This seems to be a fairly new thing - in the past I remember most hotels didn't accept dogs. So it's business but it's wrong.