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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that a dog in a pub where there is food being served is not on?

104 replies

Butternutsquash22 · 17/02/2011 22:27

went to our local for a wee bar supper, and there was this massive dog wandering around, and kept on coming over to us. he wasnt making a massive effort to get our food, but his head was level to our table which was a bit closer than I would have liked.

I could see the owner of said dog sitting at the bar watching the dog, but not doing anything to stop him, desite the fact that I was clearly not happy with this. In the end I moved a chair to stop the dog from coming near our table. (which owner saw me do, without any effort to call dog away or even apologise.

I didnt say anything to the staff (although I wish I had now!) becuase they seemed to be chatting to this guy, so I got paranoid that I as being the unreasonable one.

was I??

OP posts:
seeker · 18/02/2011 00:00

But, i repeat, why should the op have to shoo it away?

Why is it anti-dog to not to want one gaxing at your steak as you eat it?

It's the dog owner's responsibility to make sure the dog isn't bothering people. And saying "Oh, is he bothering you?" isn;t good enough - most people would say "Oh, no, of course not" even if they didn't mean t for the sake of politeness.

Vallhala · 18/02/2011 00:02

Why shoo him away seeker?

He's surely better company than the surrounding people... :o

Original poster
Butternutsquash22 · 18/02/2011 00:02

oh and I didnt start another anti dog thread. in fact I have never started an anti dog thread. but the second one was that I thought this had ben pulled because I couldnt see it, but then discovered that I had accidently hidden it...Blush

I have asked MN to delete the other one.

OP posts:
BeerTricksPotter · 18/02/2011 00:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GrimmaTheNome · 18/02/2011 00:08

"horses for courses".

A pony with the starter working up to a nice hunter with the mains ... oh, maybe not what you meant but I read very recently of a pub that's allowing a regular horse in for a drinkGrin

Anyway, dog in pub fine; dog wandering around other peoples tables not fine.

Same goes for teashops. If you're a walker you need a boots, dog, pubs and teashops. Only the boots should wait by the door.

ohnoshedittant · 18/02/2011 00:10

YANBU I love dogs, but not where food is being served!

We went to our local for Sunday roast a couple of months ago and there was a couple there with a big dog. It was on a lead, but the tables are very close together so it was very close to the plate of the woman on the next table. After she appeared to be finished (knife and fork down) the guy with the dog asked her 'are you finished?' she said 'yes' and he reached over, plunged his hand into her plate and took a bit of meat she'd left and fed it to the dog! I was Shock and the poor woman looked like she was going to be sick.

BeerTricksPotter · 18/02/2011 00:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OliveMalay · 18/02/2011 00:26

YANBU. Dogs are fine but I wouldn't want someone else's dog coming up to me when I was eating.

lesley33 · 18/02/2011 07:56

I think dogs are fine in pubs where food is being served. After all, lots of places don't allow this, so it just provides choice for those with dogs.

But yes the owner should control their dog better. But I do think, contrary to 1 poster, that if someone asks you if you mind their dog going up to them, be honest if you don't. Please don't just say you don't mind when you do.

When I have looked after elderly people's dogs, I find lots of people will approach a friendly looking dog. If my dog is next to you I don't know if you have encouraged him to approach you or if you don't like him. So I would ask this question and want an honest reply.

lesley33 · 18/02/2011 07:56

But agree a dog shouldn't approach you when you are eating.

DrNortherner · 18/02/2011 07:59

YABU but then I love dogs and have one of my own so maybe coming at it from a different angle.

Just curious as to what you were so scared of? Being bitten? A dog hair/flea landing in your dinner?

MmeLindt · 18/02/2011 08:08

YANBU to be cross at the dog wandering about the pub and not being called to heel by it's owner.

We take our dog everywhere - in fact I find it really difficult to find places in UK where we can take her, being so used to her allowed in every restaurant and bar here. Never thought of trying pubs.

I want to drink in a pub where sheep and horses come in. Would frighten the life out of my wee doggy though.

TyraG · 18/02/2011 08:18

Personally I don't think it's sanitary to have any animals in a place that serves food. I can only imagine how many health codes they were breaking having the dog in there.

They could have ticks, fleas, earmites, worms not to mention when they decide to lick themselves. Sorry but that's not something I want included with my meal.

lesley33 · 18/02/2011 08:18

In the case of some dogs I have known I guess the issues could be:

  1. A drooling dog as you eat your steak.
  2. A dog begging for food.
  3. A dog trying to snatch food.
lesley33 · 18/02/2011 08:20

TyraG you wouldn't have any of those included in your meal. The dog wouldn't be going into the kitchen. It si no more unsanitary than people coming into a pub with dirty shoes or children with sticky hands.

seeker · 18/02/2011 08:31

"Just curious as to what you were so scared of? Being bitten? A dog hair/flea landing in your dinner?"

She didn't say she was scared of anything - she just didn't want a dog around while she was eating her lunch. Why is this even remotely unreasonable?

GwendolineMaryLacey · 18/02/2011 08:41

I'm not a great dog fan but wouldn't mind if it was behaving itself. Wouldn't be impressed if it kept coming up to the table and the owner didn't call it back.

lesley33 · 18/02/2011 08:43

She was happy for the dog to be in the pub. She didn't want the dog wandering around.

Ephiny · 18/02/2011 08:53

YABU, I love doggy pubs. Sometimes there's a pub dog who belongs to the owners and wanders round, which I think is lovely.

I don't think dogs should be allowed to bother people and beg for or try to steal food, obviously. But if this poor dog's only offence was that 'his head was level with the table' as he walked by, then you're being very unreasonable, it's not the dog's fault he happens to be the same height as the tables!

lesley33 · 18/02/2011 09:00

I also love doggy pubs where dogs wander around. But it does obviously depend on the dog. One cross lab I looked after would drool copiously if near food like steaks. That would be very off putting if he was next to you!

ipredicttrouble · 18/02/2011 09:04

YANBU - can't stand dogs. However, if I knew that it was a particularly dog friendly pub then I probably wouldn't bother going in to eat.

Similarly, before I had DD, DH and I would avoid child friendly pubs Smile

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 18/02/2011 09:13

OP - the reason people are thinking you are annoyed about dogs in pubs full stop, is because the title is "AIBU to think that a dog in a pub where food is being served is not on?". Since almost all pubs serve food, that sounds like "no dogs in pubs".

I think YABU, I don't blame you for being annoyed with the dog owner, but the existence of a dog near people eating food (from plates, on tables, presumably, rather than scraping off the floor) is not of itself anything to worry about. How do you think the millions of families in this country who own dogs manage to survive?

ullainga · 18/02/2011 09:15

YANBU to dislike drooling dogs begging for food.
YABU to think that dogs should not be in the room where food is served. Most people at home allow their dogs into the kitchen I would guess? We live in France, dogs are welcome in most restaurants as well. And I really don't see how my dogs, sleeping under my table, can contaminate someone elses food. They are not allowed to wander around though.

Ephiny · 18/02/2011 09:19

Yes the drooling can be quite offputting, I agree!

brimfull · 18/02/2011 09:29

YANBU
I hate the type of dog owner who assumes everyone should love their pet and not mind the dog sniffing around them
I like dogs , had one for 14 yrs.
Unfortunately I am also allergic to dogs ,and yes I did live with it for 14 yrs.My son is also allergic and loves dogs.
It is a pita when a dog is allowed to come up and lick us or bother us.We both get itchy swollen eyes and weals-very unattractive and uncomfortable.
Irresponsible owners

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