Petting other people's dogs in a pub

[neverbee]

Spent a lovely late afternoon/evening in a local pub popular with everyone on a sunny day like today, but today there were quite a number of dogs in too.

DH thinks it's not a problem to encourage the children (aged 5 and 8) to approach these people and ask them if they can stroke them as they are in a public place.

I have no problem with them asking this if we are passing people on a walk with their dogs but I think that people who are out with friends or family for an evening meal or drink don't want to be constantly disturbed by strangers. AIBU?

If it matters we don't own a dog for two reasons - we both work full time and think it would be unfair and I am quite nervous of dogs so I'm sure DH thinks this is just me being anti dog.

I agree I wouldn't disturb people who are eating to ask to stroke their dog. Although they must realise their cute looking dog will be a magnet to children so are probably not going to be too worried about the odd disturbance. It's good that they ask though and know never to just touch dogs without asking the owner.

At the weekend we were out with friends and their dog and stopped for coffee. A little girl came up and very politely asked if she could stroke the dog.

I don't think for a second that any of us thought it was intrusive or bothersome and mainly commented on how polite she was and how nice it was to see a child enjoying dogs.

Like everything it's context dependent but I can't imagine many situations where a dog owner in a social space would be overly bothered by a child intruding for a short time to make a fuss of their dog (who is usually second only to children in terms of pride and joy).

I am always very happy for children to pet my dog when I take him to the pub. I don’t have children of my own and it’s good for him to meet and accept different kinds of human. And, for all sorts of obvious reasons, it’s good for the children too.

I take my dogs to various pubs all the time, everyone stops to have a fuss - children, adults, staff.

I really like it, sometimes it gets annoying if we're eating but I'm very happy that people think my gorgeous dogs are as gorgeous as I think they are!

I took my dog into the pub for a quick drink yesterday. The resident drunk thought it would be a good idea to whistle loudly in her ear.... So, really, a polite child asking to stroke her would be delightful in comparison.

We take our dog to the pub all the time.

It would annoy me a little if we were eating, but I don't think we've ever been approached as it happens.

If we are just Drinking, (which is most visits) we are more than happy for people to say hello, especially children and encourage it if we notice anyone taking an interest.

Our Lab loves people, hence why we take him with us.

I own a black lab who is ten months old and loves a fuss. Today we took him in a pub garden and were more than happy for people to fuss him as he loves the attention. Well done for encouraging them to ask but personally we don't see it as a bother were out socialising and its good for him to interact with others.

I don’t mind people asking to stroke my dog, especially children as she’s very gentle and patient and I’d be very happy for her to provide a positive canine interaction for them. Plus she’s adorable and I like it when people acknowledge that 😄

If I’m out without her and see a lovely dog I’d like to say hi to I will always ask, politely, and my children frequently do the same. Nobody has ever shown any signs of minding.

Ha, mine’s a Labrador too 😁

I love it when children ask to stroke my dog, so many seem scared of dogs these days, it doesn’t bother me if I am eating either.

I would be fine with this as long as I wasn't actually eating and the child/ren asked first. I'm always happy for people to fuss our dogs and talk about them

It wouldn't bother me. Ours aren't very common breeds so we often get stopped on walks or approached in the pub. The dogs love the attention and I like it when they get fussed over.

I wouldn't like children getting them too excited or trying to play with them though, they lay down and behave quite well in the pub.

I never mind people making a fuss of my dog, even if we're eating, but she's a bit of a snooty cow and can be standoffish.

I positively welcome children who ask politely if it's ok and then stroke the dog nicely.

I agree - I have a dog who loves a pub trip, sits patiently under the table and never approaches strangers / other dogs despite the fact he's not on a lead. He however isn't keen on kids due to being mauled in the past so I have to politely say no to kids asking to stroke him, cue parents saying we shouldn't have him in the pub! He doesn't go near them, doesn't make a sound, he just doesn't care for people touching him he doesn't know. My pet peeve at the moment! Respect dogs just like humans, you don't go up to another group when they are eating to bash them on the head, why dogs?

My dogs' ambition in life is be stroked by people in pubs. The more the better. All the time if possible.

We have a giant dog who gets a lot of attention when we're out. Frequently people will interrupt us eating to talk to us about her. That pisses me off as it usually takes her a good while to settle down somewhere not in the way and then she bounces up again at the prospect of being fussed. She's like a ten stone yo-yo! One time we were eating in our local and the table next to us gave her their steak scraps without asking us! Polite children who ask to stroke her when we're not eating, we're fine with.

My dog would be horrendously put out if she wasn’t made a fuss of in the pub.

I love when kids ask if they can pet her, and they’re always so gentle and nice.

We don’t have children so she doesn’t have much interaction with them, and is probably a bit standoffish but she does tolerate them in exchange for rubs.

I had a woman a few weeks ago bring her little boy up and encourage him to ask to pet my dog, which he did very nicely (he was about 4). She mouthed to me that he’d had an incident where a relative’s dog had snapped at him and he was scared of dogs since, and she was trying to get him out of his fear. I’m all for helping out with that.

It's kind of weird to go to pub and not expect social interaction, even, gasp , social interaction from strangers. If you really don't want strangers possibly talking to you, then don't go to busy crowded public places. Meals & beer can be enjoyed very easily in private.

Most dog owners love to see other people enjoying admiring their dog, so that is unlikely to cause offence.

Ok. That's good to know on the whole it's ok as long as they ask politely and are prepared for the answer to be no if the dog needs some peace! .I shall try to be less uptight in future! thanks all x

I only go to the pub so I can pet other people's dogs (with permission). Last week we named our quiz team "Bingo's fan club" after the cutest friendliest dog there.

His owners were so proud they didn't mind that we beat them.

My dogs would love a head stroke, though they're all big beasties so I'd stop eating to make sure they didn't accidentally bump someone.