...to be annoyed at people bringing their dogs to a barbecue

[grrrrrowler]

Have NC'd for this ...

Disclaimer: I like dogs. Really I do. But today I was blimmin annoyed.

I was a guest at a barbecue. Four different people brought dogs, which were utter pests [not their fault: lots of lovely meaty smells, crisps to snaffle etc] We had dogs bumping into barbecues, licking tongs, scarfing down a whole bowl of tortilla chips, drooling on people's legs, sniffing at the buns and cheese slices set out, licking plates that people might or might not be coming back to, and so on.

I felt like Cruella de Ville, warding these dogs away from the food all the time. Their owners did b*** all to stop them. I would occasionally ask someone if they could keep the dog away from the food, or sometimes draw attention to whatever hideous slobbery thing it was about to do, but it had no effect beyond the dog being removed for 2 seconds and then let go again to resume its slobbering. Lots of kids around really keen on the doggies and the doggies really keen on the food they were holding.

Hostess not at all bothered. For all I know the dogs' owners may have asked if they could bring them.

But even if they did - why can people not see that bringing their dog to a BBQ is an unhygienic thing to do (unless it is stunningly well behaved and can stay away from the food prep area).

Nobody else seemed at all bothered. What is wrong with meeeeeeee?

What if the dogs were the host's own? Would you be saying they shouldn't be there either?

It sounds like the dogs were either specifically included in the invitation or at the very least it was known that the host is a dog-lover and would be happy for guests to bring Rover along. So you were all equal, all guests, no one having greater right to be there than another. DC can be just as much an issue as dogs at a BBQ (hygiene, noise levels, dangerous play around fire, screaming, interrupting adults' conversation, tantrums). Can you not see that bringing your baby wearing a dirty nappy or your snotty toddler with grasping hands to a BBQ is an unhygienic thing to do?

About hygiene - people own dogs. Dogs sleep, sit, walk and eat in kitchens in many homes. Is that any less unhygienic than a dog at a BBQ? Would you complain about your friends dogs being in her kitchen?

People on here have some really odd ways of thinking about dogs and hygiene sometimes.

Trying but failing to come up with a line about hot dogs.

even less helpful than Rosie

This sounds like my kind of party. How fun!

Hi all and thanks for the replies.

I name-changed because I didn't want to be outed in case anyone at the same BBQ thought 'ooh I think I'll go and read all her other postings'. I like my anonymity!

Yes the hostess was a dog-lover and was clearly OK with them being there, which is what made me think she had invited them or agreed to them coming.

For me it was mostly a hygiene and safety - worried that the dogs would knock over the barbecue (they didn't) or that I would have dog slobber on my/ DCs' food (OK, probably wouldn't kill me, but yuk!)

I was annoyed at how strongly I felt and how it spoilt the event for me. Given that I "like" dogs I couldn't work out if I was over-reacting.

I didn't really consider leaving the event, because I had my DH and DCs there, we had travelled a long way and I am very fond of the hostess. I am quite friendly towards pooches when I'm not eating - but I want them to keep their noses and saliva away from my food and I realise that is a big ask! There is no way I would have allowed my DCs to eat anything that a dog had touched. (Maybe that comes across as a bit "precious" to dog owners?) That's principally why I was trying so hard to keep the dogs away from the food, but also for everyone's sake, and it didn't occur to me that others might not mind.

But next time I will ask whether any dogs are going to be there, it just wasn't worth the angst.

If you're a dog owner rather than just a dog lover I suspect that the standard approach is,

"Your burger has dog hair on it sweetie? Give it here, I'll give it a wipe." and

"You have one half darling and give Rover the other half. Bite a piece off dear. Oh, Rover bit into it first and then you ate your half? Oh well."

I'm another who actually quite likes to see dogs at events, but then as a general rule I much prefer dogs to people anyway . Dogs are ok so long as they're behaved and kept under control, which is down to the owner to ensure. Any owner who brings their dog but then doesn't take responsibility for it and manage its behaviour is being very unreasonable and shouldn't be taking their pooch to the event.

A doggy free for all at a BBQ would put me off immensely.

I like dogs, but I don't like having them around when I am trying to eat, unless they are lying down quietly.