First date - guy bringing dog

[Macaroni46]

So I've been chatting to a guy online who seems very nice etc and we have arranged to meet for the first time at the weekend.
We are going for lunch at a pub I a village half way between where we both live.
I am aware he is a dog owner and very fond of his dog. Talks about him a lot, sends pictures of him etc.
Through the course of our message exchange it transpires that he is bringing his dog to the first date. I'm not sure how I feel about this?
AIBU in feeling it's odd? Or should I just embrace it? After all, a plump middle aged woman can hardly be too choosy!

That guy and his pooch deserve to meet someone far nicer than you OP.

I would love that

I wouldn't be happy he's going to leave the poor hound in a car.

I always had my dogs vet boyfriends when I was in my teens/early 20's and they were always right. I wouldn't trust my current dog (probably a good thing as I'm married). He loves everyone and hides behind me if something scares him.

Id love that, i like dogs and it would be a fantastic ice breaker.

@crispysausagerolls

Tell us more.

Claiming that someone isn't 'a real dog person' if they don't want to have a dog dragged along on every single outing is ridiculous.

If you were dating my son I'd be impressed he settled for bringing just the one. He is really fickle that anyone he is close to loves his dogs and other random animals. They are a big part of who he is

crispysausagedogrolls

I am fearful and don’t like most dogs much and very much dislike picking up and disposing off the poo so probably wouldn’t be compatible with a dog owner.

@Somanysocks

Absolute mentalist druggy/alcoholic but drop dead gorgeous and presents as totally normal until you get to know him. Wildly obsessed with his dogs. Left in the middle of my wedding dinner after insulting everyone on his table to “be with his dog”.
His dogs were deeply unpleasant (and I’m a dog person!)

Wow, but you invited him to your wedding. Not to him presumably

@somanysocks

He slept with a friend who attended and wanted me to invite. He and she both begged me
To invite him! What an error! Sadly only became apparent just before the wedding how bad he was, and even then I didn’t realise he would just get absolutely shitfaced, abuse everyone and leave during he main! Friend found someone else nice to go home with 🥳 She was initially attracted to him as she likes sausage dogs...

And yes lol, nearly clarified before but the wedding was not to me! Would make for a better story though 🤪

My BF brought her dog on a first date 21 years ago. Readers, she married that date.

🤣

That was to crispy.

If I was about to go on a first date and the guy said he was bringing his dog I would literally swoon! He’d massively go up in my estimation & shows he’s caring and capable of responsibility.
However, as the name suggests, I’m a huge dog lover and wouldn’t mind if a guy bought 5 dogs on a date tbh!
Plus if the conversation dried up you’ve got a perfect distraction.
If at this very early stage you’re a bit miffed he hasn’t asked you if he can bring his dog then I don’t think it’ll work out long term, sorry 🤷🏼‍♀️
If a guy said to me “I’d rather you’d asked than just presumed” or asked me not to bring my dog I would cancel. It does sound uptight IMO.

To people moaning about dogs in dog friendly pubs - perhaps eat somewhere where dogs aren’t allowed then...

@FAQs PLEASE SET THIS UP! I will sign on the dotted line immediately!!

Am always not that keen on dogs in restaurants / near food but appreciate I may well be in the minority in that.

Dog friendly pubs are brilliant! Dogs stay on the floor unlike some small kids who spread their filthy hands and in some cases backsides all over the tables. Not to mention the coughing, sneezing, nose blowing into napkins (gross) brigade.

I think that if the man has been sending photos and comments about his dog it’s likely that he’s assumed that you’re interested/keen to meet his dog. You’ve probably replied to him saying things like cute dog, nice looking dog - that sort of thing which would obviously make him believe you’re happy, even eager, to meet his dog.

I’ve had dogs all my life and frankly, they’re non negotiable. Thankfully my husband of 48 years is the same but I seriously could not spend my life with anyone who didn’t like dogs and it’s no good pursuing a relationship with such a basic difference.

Sorry but it just ain’t going to work.

If I had a dog, sadly no longer have one, I would take it anywhere with me that I possibly could that would allow dogs so it’s not weird at all

@cologne4711

The smell? Ever been stuck on a packed train next to Lycra bike man? On the tube with your poor nose in some stinky blokes armpit?

Not to mention the overwhelming eau de stink that so many women liberally spray all over themselves and waft over everyone in the restaurant.

The smell of a dog is no contest for the overcooked, roasting, garlicky, onion, booze stink in the average pub in this country.

I thought that too, @Lincolnfield. Humans stink!

The way I am at the moment, I'd be more excited to meet the dog than him

Think it's quite hard to leave a dog at home alone tbf x

I bloody love my dog. However I wouldn't take him on a first date, because it's odd.
YANBU.

When I was dating my dogs came on most of the first dates I went on (and a lot of the subsequent ones!). A walk and a drink at a dog friendly pub was the usual first date. The men always knew in advance, it was very clear on my profile that dog lovers only need apply, so they were often more excited to meet the dogs than me