Dogs. Everywhere

[monkeysox]

Loads of shops, bars and restaurants are now allowing dogs in them.
I'm very allergic and one of my dc is too.
It's so widespread now. Such little thought for those with allergies.
Aibu

'..a world where dogs (and the owners) are more important than people.
Mr. Burmie Vet sketch A bit of Fry and Laurie

AlpineFlowers agreed. If you cannot trust your dog around children, leash and muzzle when out in public.

Funnily enough, if a child grabs your dog and your dog then bites the child, you saying that it's the child's fault is not a defence in the event of a prosecution.

HaroldsSoCalledBluetits-...leash and muzzle when out in public.

Yes especially dogs over a certain size, and dogs with large jaws

I'm fine with hair, it's actually the water vapour in their breath that I'm allergic to.

Wow, I've never heard of that! How is it different from the breath of other animals? I'd have thought that the respiratory systems of mammals were all much of a muchness.

I'm allergic to dogs (and cats, and horses) and I never even knew until I was skin tested 15 years ago, and I'd lived with dogs for more than half my life then. It's the dander in their skin that affects me, but I've only ever had noticeable symptoms from one of the dogs I've shared my home with.

Ironically, we chose his breed especially because they don't shed and we thought it would reduce my allergic reactions.

If you cannot trust your dog around children, leash and muzzle when out in public

My dog is fine with children. The traitorous bastard wags his tail and play bows for them. It's me who doesn't like them and if they grabbed him or harmed him it me they/their parents would need to concern themselves with.

I don't take kindly to tiny humans hurting or frightening my dog while their caretakers watch on with a tender smile. I tend to get shouty and preachy and yell things like "Get your offspring under control before I bite you!"

some of the above may be exaggerated for theatrical effect and to entertain myself

Thankfully out of control tiny humans are rare. Most of them are polite and well behaved around my dog and their presence and need for me to answer their relentless questions about the dog is a slight annoyance and nothing more.

Thankfully out of control tiny humans are rare.

Sadly out of control dogs are not.

It’s actually the norm not to have fleas, either on your pet, your person or in your home.

Most dogs and cats have them. Come on. Not necessarily a bad infestation but they will have them. The difference with cats is it’s not expected that they’ll share out environment so freely, they are easily avoided if you’re allergic.

Nothing offends me like the smell of dog. I’d actually rather have the smell of vomit wafting around me.

Wow.

I find it completely hilarious that the dog owners on here think their dogs don’t have fleas. Of course people are the main spreaders of fleas, of course. And of course a fleas natural environment is a carpet. It’s funny they’ve never lived in my carpets though. Could this be becasue no dogs have been in my house?

Probably not! I'm going to assume you don't have a cat. It's cat fleas that are the problem, no dog fleas, despite the "mangy, flea-ridden dog" image you are trying to project.

OP, Hobbycraft stores on retail parks are VAST. It's not really a "confined space" in the sense that a lift or small cafe might be. You may be unlucky enough to encounter a dog in one now they're allowed, but I think it vastly unlikely all the crafters who have been previously leaving their dogs at home when they shop for their hobby will be taking Fido to buy fat squares and hot glue guns now it is "allowed". And if you did spot one, you could get away from it in that big space very easily.

You asked if you were being unreasonable and I am afraid I still think you are - nothing you have said has convinced me otherwise.

It sucks that you are allergic, it does. But I still don't think a retail park superstore has much to worry you - just because dogs are now 'welcome' does not mean that Hobbycraft will be over-run. It's just unlikely.

There are also some mildly hysterical people on this thread with the disgusting-dog-germs stuff.

Most dogs and cats have them. Come on. Not necessarily a bad infestation but they will have them.

What an ignorant comment.

And FWIW, I had a flea in my house many years ago, and I didn't have any pets. I had wooden floors everywhere, but I did have deer who visited the garden. Ended up with pest control coming in because I couldn't identify wtf was biting me and worried that it was bed bugs, having travelled extensively. It was a flea. A single flea. Not from a dog, because I knew no-one with either a dog or a cat.

So, you know.... be lucky.

I've never actually seen a flea. And for most of my life I've lived in the countryside with lots of animals, including dogs and cats, around. I wouldn't know what to look for if it (literally) bit me.

Anyway, it's nice to see that MN's campaign for disability awareness has had such an impact.

Except blind people who can go fuck themselves (heaven forfend they should want to go to Hobbycraft or a restaurant) and take their disgusting smelly creatures back to their disgusting smelly homes which they should stay in so as not to inflict themselves on decent society

I wouldn't take my dog to Hobby Craft or shopping in general. I don't take him for meals out unless we're on holiday and are staying somewhere he is not allowed to be left unsupervised.

Not because I don't trust him to behave. He's pretty old now and happiest when he's chilling at my feet but the aforementioned children are a problem. I find bringing him into pubs and cafes attracts them more readily and in greater numbers than walking in the park. They genuinely do make me uncomfortable. I avoid contact with strange children at all costs. My relatives children and my own are fine because I know them but strange children, not so much.

I do suffer social anxiety and children are chatty and unpredictable much more so than adults. I don't get pissy when people dare to take them out or allow them to talk to me. It's part of life and I am the one with the issue.

Lakielady
It's also the same with cats, but cats don't pant so I only feel the effects if they lick me. Thankfully cats don't normally lick, so I hardly ever suffer from cats.

I agree with Frequency I cant understand why anyone takes their dog into a pub cafe or shop. My dog is small friendly and very well behaved but on the very rare occasions I’ve take him to a pub garden I’m constantly interrupted by strangers “oh is that an X.” Or “is that an X or Y.?” “Gosh they’re rare aren’t they?” or similiar, or just people bending over and talking to him and asking his name age or inside leg measurement. He’s friendly and I’m 99% sure wouldn’t hurt a child but it makes me nervous when parents let their small children blunder over and grab at his ears or fur and whilst the parents stand looking on smiling inanely, I then have to talk to reassure the dog it’s fine and watch the child and answer questions. Finally other dog owners also seem to feel that their dog can hasstle mine or feed mine dog treats etc or ask questions.
There’s is nothing relaxing about taking a dog out into public spaces like pubs etc so I don’t do it.

I wouldn't mind dogs if their owners didn't let them come running up to me barking and jumping up and getting disgusting slobber on me and scaring my children.
If they were on leads in public places that would be fine.

Due to my allergies being so bad I get treated in hospital with allergy therapy shots. I've been told its actually a protein in the saliva of cats and dogs I'm allergic too, and apparently majority of people with dog/cat allergy have the same trigger, so protests like 'my dog or cat doesn't have fleas' are pointless. Once they lick their hair it becomes a trigger, if they lick your skin its a trigger, if they breathe on you....trigger. For this reason despite me adoring cats I can never have one, even a hairless one, and not even a small dog which makes me sad. I find some dog owners treat those suffering allergies very trivially. Its far from trivial. An allergy attack triggers my asthma, affects my breathing, makes me cough, makes my face swell up and it can take days to recover. Why should I have to risk that in a restaurant or cafe? I was on the bus once and a man got on with his dog, usually not a prob, I'll move upstairs or get off, only the bus was packed and the next stop was a while away. The owner was holding the dog in his arms and squeezed himself next to me. So I said "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude, your dog looks lovely, but I'm allergic, do you think you could stand a bit further away? I'm getting off soon anyway" But he just smiled and said "But she's a terrier, and her hair is more like human hair, so she doesn't trigger people". So I just covered my face with my hand, till I could get off at the next stop, because I really couldn't be asked to educate him, and he actually believed what he said, he didn't mean to be rude. I've heard similar from lots of dog owners about why their particular breed is better for those with allergies etc rather than just take you at face value. Public transport, fine I move etc can't be helped. Cafes, I choose to go elsewhere, but I do get put out if I'm halfway through a meal/drink and have to move/leave. Again if its a guide dog, I'll happily move.
I do not even visit houses of friends with dogs or cats. Of course not everyone is as bad as me, but a little consideration goes a long way.

Yabu dogs are better than people.

It's.tough but.people.are.allergic to.or.frightened of.some.many things- dust nuts cats to make.a.few- just avoid those places

Hobby craft was one example. The retail park in question has 20 premises which allow dogs now.

Why are people even arguing that dogs should be allowed everywhere? Of course assistant dogs are an exception but honestly I’ve hardly ever seen one. In small numbers they are much easier to avoid and they are well trained. I don’t want your stinky pet dogs licking me or being near where I eat anymore than any of you would like my toddler coming up and licking you thanks. Is that really unreasonable? I find it a real encroachment. And people are so trivial about allergies to dogs/cats in a way they aren’t about food allergies. You can die from an asthma attack. I’m not sure people realise this.