Dogs in Restaurants

[IDontGetOutMuch]

Took my mum out to lunch today. It was a nice enough place-£25 per head.
Have expectations changed with regard to dogs in restaurants? There were four other tables in our section and three had a dog with them.
Two of them barked at least three times during the meal. One jumped up at a waitress carrying puddings to another table, paws on her apron. One jumped up at the table wanting to be fed. One was petted by another waitress who then went straight to a table to take orders without washing hands. One was lying in the way so that I had to ask the owner to move it to allow my mother to get through with her Walker.
We had a dog when I was a child. He never went to a restaurant. What about people with allergies?
Is it okay that they do? Do I need to get over myself? I tried to compare to children. I expect my children to cause no disturbance to others at a restaurant and to stay at the table. We expected this even when they were little and actually rarely went to restaurants anyway.

I’m following this because we got a rescue last year (it’s been many years since I had a dog) and want to be sure we get the etiquette right!

One thing confuses me though. If dogs are allowed in restaurants, why aren’t they allowed in food shops (or many other shops) for hygiene reasons?

@Yetano if the dogs under the table, no problem. It's a bit like me insisting my kids stay at the table, really. I can understand people being equally annoyed with children disturbing them...although it seems socially unacceptable to insist children stay under the table out of sight...😉

@IDontGetOutMuch

Just double checked-website says dogs allowed in bar area and outside. Seems they weren't enforcing this. I've asked the. To update their website.

They might have done something about the issue at the time, if you'd mentioned it. They were probably just being amenable.

I'm not sure that restaurants and pubs can afford to turn away customers with dogs in the current climate, tbh. I know a lot of landlords of rural pubs positively welcome them, because it brings in parties of holiday makers and walkers whose trade they value. There are at least 14 pubs in my small town, and they all welcome dogs.

I had dogs for many years, until last year (and will be getting another when I've had my long-awaited knee surgery). We had our main holidays in the UK, so we could take our dogs and ate out most of the time. The only place where we had any problem finding somewhere dog-friendly was NE Somerset, where one pub landlord told us that the local council's environmental health department wouldn't allow it. He reckoned this ban cost him a fortune in lost trade.

Around 30% of UK households have dogs, so that's a lot of trade to lose.

@FictionalCharacter yes, I think it's inconsistent.

@TheFoundations I couldn't be the immediate bad guy though-especially when I wasn't sure about the rules. I wouldn't choose to eat there again, now that I know their practice re dogs.

@Redapplewreath That’s what worries me. We’re going on holiday and will be sure to only take him to dog friendly restaurants, and he’s well behaved. But I think it would spoil things for me if people were muttering and grumping when I’m doing something I’m allowed to do.

Nah I’d rather the dogs be feral and come over and put their moist snoot in my lap so I can have a good smoosh of their jowls.

Then eat my dinner and throw them a chip 🥲.

I have a dog but wouldn’t eat in a restaurant which allows dogs in . I take mine to the local pub which has a section in the garden for dogs .

I’m not keen at all on dogs inside food places. I remember ordering tea and cakes with a friend at a nice french style patisserie place and a dog proceeded to do a large wee in the middle of the walk way (indoors). There must have been a slight incline so it ran and pooled all under my table. I had to lift up my feet and pick up my bag sharpish. I couldn’t believe the dog owners just sat there muttering oh he’s really old, and waited for the waiting staff to mop it up. The whole experience was so unpleasant I had to leave as I had been put off eating or drinking anything. And I didn’t want to be served by waiting staff who had been touching dog wee. Sorry but I don’t see at all why dogs have to come into places where people are consuming food and now avoid places that allow it.

I avoid pubs that allow dogs in the restaurant area (if they have one, the bar's ok) I've never been in an actual proper restaurant that allow dogs though. I think I'd likely leave and find somewhere else if that happened.

One thing confuses me though. If dogs are allowed in restaurants, why aren’t they allowed in food shops (or many other shops) for hygiene reasons? they are if the shop owner deems it appropriate.

The only place dogs aren’t allowed is in food preparation areas, otherwise allowing or not allowing dogs is down to the shop/restaurant owner.

ILs used to live in Devon and there most of the shops allowed dogs in, and some even had biscuits on the counters for the dogs.

TBH I apply the same rule of thumb to dogs as to children. They should be well behaved and their owners should have them under control.

Equally children should be well behaved, and screeching, running around etc shouldn’t be tolerated.

We’re in the West Country - lots of places are dog friendly but I’ve never seen the behaviour you talk about. Dogs stay with owners by the table so you barely know they’re there.

[quote IDontGetOutMuch]@TheFoundations I couldn't be the immediate bad guy though-especially when I wasn't sure about the rules. I wouldn't choose to eat there again, now that I know their practice re dogs. [/quote]
Problem solved.

If you don't want dogs present, check when you book that there will be no dogs. There are no laws, just preferences.

@AlternativePerspective

One thing confuses me though. If dogs are allowed in restaurants, why aren’t they allowed in food shops (or many other shops) for hygiene reasons? they are if the shop owner deems it appropriate.

The only place dogs aren’t allowed is in food preparation areas, otherwise allowing or not allowing dogs is down to the shop/restaurant owner.

ILs used to live in Devon and there most of the shops allowed dogs in, and some even had biscuits on the counters for the dogs.

TBH I apply the same rule of thumb to dogs as to children. They should be well behaved and their owners should have them under control.

Equally children should be well behaved, and screeching, running around etc shouldn’t be tolerated.

Lol at people comparing children to dogs though!!! They are definitely not the same thing.

I would never go to this place again and tbh I surprised that you’ve stayed. What level of hygiene could you expect in this place??? It’s awful.
I can accept dogs quietly sleeping under the table in the beer garden but not the picture you’ve described.

It drives me mad - I just don’t want dogs in areas I’m eating in. There’s usually one that barks which sets the others off, and a dog barking in an enclosed area is LOUD. Every owner likes to think their dog is well behaved and sits quietly at their feet, but everyone knows that’s not the case - like everything the minority give the rest a bad name. I do actually like well trained dogs, I just don’t want to eat beside them.

I was so pissed off the other day. I ordered and paid (as is their policy, it being a long time between ordering and being served, perhaps), then someone came in with a dog. I hate dogs (I have my reasons) and I was forced to sit near a dog waiting for my meal and eating. Once I had paid, I wasn’t going to throw my money away on not eating.

This must be a recent thing. I’m getting on now and never before in my life have I seen someone brazenly bring their dog INTO a restaurant.

Lol at people comparing children to dogs though!!! They are definitely not the same thing

It always happens on dog threads. As sure as night follows day.

@Moonwatcher1234

Nobody is saying that children and dogs are the same thing.

Everybody is agreeing that nobody's table ought to be disturbing anybody else's table.

I do understand venues who allow dogs outside and even the country pub which is frequently used by walkers to allow dogs in.

But I do think a dog shouldn't be the norm. I think there are lots of reasons, my main one that I met too many dog owners who don't have control about their pet. There are plenty who do but I often see them similar to parents who let their toddlers run around restaurants, I. stopped going to typical "family restaurants" for this reason.

@Muddydoor

I was so pissed off the other day. I ordered and paid (as is their policy, it being a long time between ordering and being served, perhaps), then someone came in with a dog. I hate dogs (I have my reasons) and I was forced to sit near a dog waiting for my meal and eating. Once I had paid, I wasn’t going to throw my money away on not eating.

This must be a recent thing. I’m getting on now and never before in my life have I seen someone brazenly bring their dog INTO a restaurant.

Did you make this plain, and give the restaurant the opportunity to cater to your needs? Or did you just expect them to know what you wanted?

I frequently take my dog into dog friendly restaurants. He's used to going to places and he lies by my side or under the table.

I've never seen the behaviour you describe.

Equally children should be well behaved, and screeching, running around etc shouldn’t be tolerated.

I find people expect my dogs to be on their leads in restaurants. This is harder to achieve with DC.

I stopped going to typical "family restaurants" for this reason

Me too. Unfortunately more and more restaurants and cafes are starting to allow dogs in, it’s getting harder and harder to avoid them. Our local Dobbies garden centre now has an area specifically for dogs - it’s often carnage. They bark at each other and one always snaps at another one - the sound reverberates around the cafe. PITA.