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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wish this country was more dog friendly?

358 replies

lesley33 · 01/11/2011 09:35

I know some dogs are badly behaved, but surely not all dogs should be tarred with the same brush? My dog is a very well behaved labrador. On the continent dogs are allowed into lots of pubs and cafes and in places like Paris dogs are regularly walked along City streets. But in the UK, lots of people do not seem happy to let dogs share their space anywhere, which I think is vvu.

OP posts:
TandB · 01/11/2011 14:33

We used to live very close to an extremely nice pub - it was in London but on commons land so it was like being in a rural pub. It was dog-friendly to the extent of having bowls out for water. It was slightly more guarded about being child-friendly - it had a sign saying that children were welcome but after 9pm they must be taken out if they were noisy or disruptive.

To be honest, the children tended to be more of a nuisance than the dogs - most of the doggy "regulars" just lay and snoozed under the tables. But DP and I had one fun dinner there where we played host to three young children who crawled under our table and asked us question after question while their parents had a nice, quiet meal at the other end of the pub. I did eventually say to the eldest 'can you go back to your parents please - we are trying to eat". This was of course reported to the parents who glared at us for the rest of the night.

On the dog side of things, there was a couple who used to come in very regularly with their two big german shepherds - lovely dogs but the owners left a bit to be desired. They seemed to think that they owned the place because they were regulars. They generally managed to position their dogs somewhere where people had to step over them to get to the toilet or bar, and then they would glare or snap "mind the dog" when anyone passed. They also had their preferred tables and would insist on sharing with people rather than sitting at an empty table, which led to quite a few huffy diners who didn't particularly want two large dogs lying on their feet. They did this to us once - oh you don't mind if you sit here do you? This is our usual table - to which I replied that yes we did mind as DP is allergic to dogs which they clearly took as a huge, personal insult and sat nearby making audible comments about rude people who don't like dogs.

The dogs weren't the problem - the owners were the ones who were creating the issue.

TheScaryJessie · 01/11/2011 14:36

Labradors are the Floppy Parent-cum-Dog-Owner's dog of choice. Just sayin'.

DooinMeCleanin · 01/11/2011 14:37

Which bit are we upto now Deja? I've been at work and can't be bothered to skim through the same old posts again. Have we had all dogs should be banned yet or is that one that is reserved only for the summer threads?

Original poster
lesley33 · 01/11/2011 14:41

I am not a floppy parent at all with my DCs - but with my labrador, thats a different matter! Seriously though, he rarely does anything wrong and is very eager to please.

OP posts:
Original poster
lesley33 · 01/11/2011 14:42

dooingmecleaning - we have had dogs compared to poisonous snakes and all dogs should always be on a lead, everywhere.

OP posts:
DooinMeCleanin · 01/11/2011 14:44

Comparing a Greyhound fart to a poisonous snake might not be far from the truth, to be fair Grin

Kladdkaka · 01/11/2011 14:48

Dog shenanigans can be quite funny to watch. While in the Lake District recently we spend too much time a few moments in the pub in the village. It was full of furry beasties happily sleeping under tables. Apart from 2 occasions.

  1. The incident of the dropped chip. Dropped by the waitress in the middle of the floor. They all saw it. They all wanted it. My killer westie was closest and staked his claim. He doesn't even like chips, but there was no way he was giving it up. He guarded it all night. It was like that kids game where you have to sneak up but freeze when spotted. I think the men at the bar were placing bets on which one would win.
  1. The little spaniel. All the other dogs seemed to instantly hate him. Every time he walked in, full on woofathon. Every time the dogs kicked off everyone was looking around to see where the spaniel was.
EsmeWeatherwax · 01/11/2011 14:51

Just to set my credentials out before I start, I loathe dogs, but otoh, I can't stand people who behave as if they are the reincarnation of satan himself. As long as you pick up their shit, and keep them under control, they should be able to go pretty much anywhere they want. Which is similar to the way I feel about kids.

DunRovin · 01/11/2011 14:55

Hmmm.
Having been now told on several occasions that we should not celebrate bonfire night because of the terror it causes to dogs and cats, and how if we MUST let off fireworks they should be noise-free ones (yes - there are pet-friendly silent fireworks) I do wonder why I am expected to put up with dog and cat shit, dogs barking all night, dogs slavering all over me and jumping up ('he's only being friendly') leaving ripped tights or muddy clothing, just WHY I am expected now to go all dog-bloody-friendly and not have fireworks!

Bakelitebelle · 01/11/2011 14:56

I feel that dogs are more loved in this country than children. I don't mind dogs, I just can't bear dog owners who think their dogs are more important than human beings. They 'love' you because you give them food. That's as deep as the relationship goes.

HazleNutt · 01/11/2011 14:58

Where do people who don't like dogs meet all those slobbering jumping and clothes destroying dogs? Daily? I have 2 and I actually do meet several others every day when walking mine, but all that never happens.

DooinMeCleanin · 01/11/2011 15:00

'They 'love' you because you give them food' in that case why do some dogs mourn when their owner dies despite a new owner giving them food?

Why do some dogs lay down their life for their owners? Surely they'd just go and find a new, less endangered food source?

Kladdkaka · 01/11/2011 15:00

They don't love you because you give them food. They love you because you are their pack leaders. Your dog will love you and be loyal to you even if you don't feed it. Same if you abuse and mistreat it. A cat on the other hand will fuck off at the first opportunity.

DogsBestFriend · 01/11/2011 15:00

Bakelite, you can't bear me then. :o Ho hum, never mind.

The dogs I work with in rescue don't love me because I give them food. I am not their food-provider, it's one of the very, very few things I don't do very often whilst working with them.

And dogs more loved in this country than children? Don't make me laugh. Since when did your council tax fees get used to kill thousands of healthy children per year? Hmm

DejaWho · 01/11/2011 15:08

I've lost track of which of the usual gross overgeneralisation we're up to now doomecleanin - think we're on variations on the "a dog is not a person" one still which we're behind schedule with since I think that was delegated to page 3.

Oh and the old "food dispenser on legs" one... it's 3pm now. By 4pm both of mine will be sat on the sofa in the bay window, peering out like the two old gits from the Muppet Show balcony (is it Steiner and Waldorf?) watching and waiting for my husband getting home. He doesn't feed them regularly (I tend to since he's first one out on a morning), doesn't do many of the walkies (again my work patterns fit better) - but by heck, they absolutely adore him - it's not cupboard love, it's pure and simple adoration (and it gives him one hell of a fucking ego when they do it -grrrr).

Haka · 01/11/2011 15:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SpringHeeledJack · 01/11/2011 15:09

aww, purlease, Bakelite

I too thought we were a nation of dog lovers. Till I got a dog, that is

I habitually walk em down the middle of the road, now, because of people making exaggeratedly huuuuuge circles round us on the pavement. As I get off the pavement, I always apologise. Hell, if I'd a forelock, I'd tug it as I shifted into the gutter Grin

if you think we like dogs here, go to the Netherlands. There's poo everywhere, and they're all over the place

DooinMeCleanin · 01/11/2011 15:10

A dog is not a person, okay, fair enough. Is my dog allowed to be a Meerkat though? He does a great impression of one.

DejaWho · 01/11/2011 15:10

Only if it's Sergei - Sergei is cool!

Kladdkaka · 01/11/2011 15:15

Is my dog allowed to be a footstool? He's the perfect height, although somewhat wriggly.

DunRovin · 01/11/2011 15:34

HazelNutt - maybe you escape the leaping jumping dogs because when you meet them they are too preoccupied shoving their noses up each other's bottoms instead?

DejaWho - can dogs' revolting habits have a stage in the debate, as well?
Poking noses up people's skirts
Licking each others arses (then licking me - nice)
Farting terrible farts
Licking their balls (and then licking me)
Eating shit of all kinds (ditto)
Masturbating against people's legs
and so on.

OhBuggerandArse · 01/11/2011 15:40

79 separate dog shits left along our road this week. I've counted them.

OhBuggerandArse · 01/11/2011 15:42

(am very fond of dogs though - just not their shits left where kids scoot their scooters through them and tread in them and mums push pushchair wheels through them...)

Avantia · 01/11/2011 15:57

Just be grateful that God created dogs - otherwise it could be us humans that great each other by sniffing each others arses !

Grin
Pudding2be · 01/11/2011 16:01

Op - yanbu

For all of those who have issues with dogs / children with dog issues. Why should dogs avoid park / outdoor areas were there is a possibilty of somebody who may have a fear of them? Surely they way to deal with it is not ban dogs from park areas for simply being in existence? It's not their fault you or your child has the problem. There are plenty of places that are dog free, and you want to stop the one place they can exercise freely so you can bury your head in the sand instead of dealing with your fear? Unbelievable.

DBF - I have a springer who pulls like mad on a lead. I have a harness from PAH which does help a bit, but if theres something better it would be a massive help. Where do you get them from?