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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Dogs. Everywhere

556 replies

monkeysox · 10/04/2018 20:51

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
FrancisCrawford · 11/04/2018 07:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LakieLady · 11/04/2018 07:36

I think it's basically a commercial decision. So many people now have dogs that pubs, cafes etc can't afford to turn them away. And as a dog owner, I'm delighted about that.

If a family is on holiday with their dog, they can't leave it alone in a holiday cottage or on a camp site, and they can't lave them in a car, so they can only go and eat in places that allow dogs. This is probably why Devon, Cornwall and the Lakes etc are so dog friendly.

As for hygienic, any half-decent owner would never let their dog piss or crap in a shop or cafe, and to imply that this is a common problem is like me saying that toddlers shouldn't be allowed in pubs because I once saw a woman change a nappy on a pub table, then leave the dirty nappy on a seat at the next table. And she didn't wash her hands afterwards!

unluckycat · 11/04/2018 07:36

I like dogs, I find them a cheery sight, I like seeing them happy on the beach (not a dog owner) but my experience of eating at homes with dogs is them sitting under the table farting away or generally smelling like dog, which their owners are immune to. Really off putting and not something I'd be happy about if I was paying to eat out.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 11/04/2018 07:41

Dogs can be a bit smelly, but they are generally at floor level in pubs and cafes.

Unlike the horrible woman who had clearly used up a whole bottle of Angel who sat next to us in restaurant recently.
Bad smells are not exclusive to dogs.

M4MMY · 11/04/2018 07:41

I'm another with ridiculous allergies that can make my life a misery so I do sympathise. However, I do know that it's my problem and no one else's. I think you are being a bit unreasonable but I certainly understand why. Allergies are a nightmare to live with. Flowers

Youshallnotpass · 11/04/2018 07:42

I'm not anxious about people germs but animal ones yep of course I am. any reasonable person would be!

Right... funnily enough human beings carry germs which directly impact other human beings. You know, same species and all.

When did you last catch dog flu?

Hmm
Teacakequeen · 11/04/2018 07:45

I'm allergic to dogs. If I was aware a place was dog friendly I would avoid it. Do all these dog friendly places have signs? It's the unexpected aspect I mind. It makes me wheezy for days and antihistamines don't solve that

onefootinthegrave · 11/04/2018 07:48

YANBU. Unfortunately there are a lot of dog owners out there who don't think that your allergy should trump their right to take their shit machine out with them wherever they go Angry

Not all dog owners are like this, but I don't meet them much, sadly.

FrancisCrawford · 11/04/2018 07:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NoSquirrels · 11/04/2018 07:49

Also, to explain to a previous poster questioning another poster about why dog germs are "worse" than people germs, this is something i've been having intensive therapy about. Basically (for me at least, maybe not the poster you were asking), germs produced by people, from their shit etc, is something we have some natural immunity/protection for.

Thank you for explaining your thought process, Sandwich. But you’re aware your worries are part of your OCD. PP was saying “any reasonable person” would be more bothered about dog germs - and I still think that’s not true.

The risk of catching anything from a dog having been in the space before you is absolutely minimal. The risk of catching a cold or flu during the season is really high. Allergies aside, I can’t even think what “dog germs” you might be exposed to by just going to a cafe where a dig might be.

If you owned a dog, and didn’t look after it properly, then perhaps you might get worms or get sick from letting it lick your face or sleep in your bed - IF you didn’t make sure the dog was healthy and IF you were in close proximity to it all the time.

But most diseases are not zoonotic (do not cross species barrier) so from “germs” there is nothing to worry about.

You seem to know this already, as you mention getting intense therapy for it. But PP genuinely did not appear to realise that these fears are irrational.

I’m really sorry that your OCD makes being around digs hard, genuinely. But I’m afraid I still love a dog in a cafe or pub.

gingergenius · 11/04/2018 07:52

@onefootinthegrave you do realise that humans are also 'shit machines'???

Summerisdone · 11/04/2018 07:57

YANBU. I have seen this to be the case where I live, in fact the pub I work in makes a big deal about how we're dog friendly and even offer home made treats for them.
I love dogs, and absolutely love seeing them in the pub, although as I'm a chef I unfortunately can't go and interact with them Sad, obviously rather unhygienic.

I had never thought though, about how much of nightmare this could become for people with allergies. When I think how majority of pubs and cafes in my area allow dogs now, this must make it hell for anyone who is allergic to them

GoingFullNorman · 11/04/2018 07:59

In our situation, assistance dogs (clearly far fewer of those about than general pets) can be avoided.

Walking down the street and see an assistance dog? Cross the road. Dd1 still highly anxious, but disaster averted. At least the dog isn’t on an extending lead, able to run up to us, and is properly trained sonignkring her anyway.

Want to have lunch out and there’s an assistance dog in the café? Find another café. Dd1 highly anxious, but disaster averted. At least the dog is under control and properly settled, not loose and making a nuisance of itself.

And so on.

Current situation with dogs being taken anywhere and eveywhere: can’t cross the road to avoid, as here’s more in the other side. Can’t nip into a shop while the dog passes, as there’s likely to be a dog in there too. Can’t have lunch anywhere because there’s a dog in every café. Can’t go to the park because there are several dogs tied up at the playground entrance meaning dd1 is terrified, and that’s hoping someone didn’t let them in the playground too (frequent occurrence).

So dd1 can’t actually go about her daily life without being terrified. But that’s ok, because dogs are welcome everywhere now and that’s so much nicer.

And I do mean terrified, btw. Properly screaming terrified. And that has a knock on effect for the rest of us, obviously, as well as it just not being very nice for dd1 to live like that. Severe anxiety and frustration + ASD and learning difficulties often combines into challenging behaviour, usually physical, and we (me and her younger siblings) often end up getting hurt as she lashes out.

But it’s ok, because the dogs are having a happier life (because it must be so interesting for them, going clothes shopping, or being tied up outside playgrounds, or waiting outside the library; hours of fun).

neveradullmoment99 · 11/04/2018 08:06

Nooo... not seen this. I hate dogs. Just no. YNBU.

SusanneLinder · 11/04/2018 08:09

Ah good, another dog thread. Must be at least 3 mins since the last one...😋

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 11/04/2018 08:11

But it’s ok, because the dogs are having a happier life (because it must be so interesting for them, going clothes shopping, or being tied up outside playgrounds, or waiting outside the library; hours of fun).

It's not about the dogs. It's the owners who are allowed to have a happier life for doing all this.

I'm sorry your daughter is having a difficult time with dogs, but thousands of other children and adults are happier for having dogs in their lives. I'm not happy about many things but I recognise some of them are my problem.

monkeysox · 11/04/2018 08:12

I like dogs. I just want to have a choice if I'm exposed to them as they make me ill in confined spaces.
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/21-teesside-park-shops-opening-14375122.amp

OP posts:
ohhereweareagain · 11/04/2018 08:12

Ridiculous thing to say in response to a poster who said humans are also shit machines. I rarely see a human squatting down for a thomas as i walk along nor do I find myself having to dodge a pile of human faeces on the pavement Confused

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 11/04/2018 08:14

There's something about a person that " hates dogs " that makes me wary of them.

They're usually overly dramatic, self centred, unfeeling and in some cases unhinged.

Dogs are beautiful. Every single one of them.

monkeysox · 11/04/2018 08:16

I agree. They are beautiful. But I have to breathe

OP posts:
ChardonnaysPrettySister · 11/04/2018 08:17

But you have plenty of choices.

There are more places that don't allow dongs in than places that are happy to let them in.

You don't want a choice. You want everything just for you.

mydogisthebest · 11/04/2018 08:19

There are some really over the top posts on here from posters who don't like dogs.

I appreciate that some people are allergic to them but is it really that large a number? Lots of people have allergies and have to learn to deal with them. Strong perfume can trigger a migraine for me. No, of course not life threatening, but can mean one or two days in bed unable to even sit up and vomiting - not very pleasant.

I am pretty sure that even in the most dog friendly of places in the UK there are still more shops, cafes etc that ban dogs than allow them so how can there be a problem?

Tourist areas have been sensible to start allowing dogs. Many people go on holiday with their dogs and if you can't go in any shjops, cafes etc then, obviously, no money gets spent in the area.

About 10 years ago me and DH went on holiday to Cornwall with our dog. It was so not dog friendly. The weather was shit but we couldn't go anywhere inside with our dog. No shops allowed him in and all cafes etc would only allow dogs outside. It's great fun sitting outside in the pouring rain eating your lunch.

Most of the beaches didn't allow dogs. One beach did but only on one end. Fair enough except you couldn't walk along the main bit of beach to reach the dog friendly part you had to negotiate your way across large rocks and then down a fairly steep path.

Our holiday was honestly pretty awful and we vowed never to visit Cornwall again. In comparison we found a lot of Norfolk dog friendly

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 11/04/2018 08:21

I'm not referring to you OP. I replied last night to you saying I understood. I'm talking about people who just hate them.

NoSquirrels · 11/04/2018 08:22

I do honestly think that whilst some places may be more dog-friendly than others, and there may appear to be more dogs around day-to-day than in years gone by, there are still vastly more places that don’t accept dogs than that do.

If you are afraid of dogs, or allergic, or living with a difficult situation like a couple of PP, then you will be more attuned to seeing dogs “everywhere” but that’s just perception bias - they really aren’t waiting to jump out at you in M&S on the regular.

onefootinthegrave · 11/04/2018 08:24

I said many, not all, and didn't include assistance dogs.
Francis, no I didn't realise human beings were also shit machines! Thank goodness you're here to point that basic bit of biology out to me.
The difference is, the overwhelming majority of humans don't shit on the pavement or in the park, or shit in public but think it's ok to their shit in a nappy sack and leave it hanging off of tree branches. Unlike quite a few dog owners who think it's their God given right to let their shit machine shit where they like and not give a flying fuck if anyone else treads in it.