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Original poster

Dogs in Restaurants

916 replies

IDontGetOutMuch · 04/07/2021 20:05

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.

OP posts:
Whywonttheyhelpme · 05/07/2021 18:44

I’ve taken our dog out to our local pub/restaurant, had a meal, few drinks etc and the people we were sat to a table with hadn’t realised he was there until we got up to leave with him.

Your experience sounds like poorly behaved owners rather than poorly behaved animals. If our dog wasn’t well behaved then I wouldn’t dream of taking him…. much like my children but that is a whole different thread! Grin

rantymcrantface66 · 05/07/2021 18:45

@claralara42

What makes you think I'm in the UK? Not everyone is.
If you're not on the UK and somewhere where dogs don't go in pubs then your opinion is more understandable, but not really relevant to the thread which is about it being common for dogs to be in pubs.

When I lived elsewhere dogs didn't go on pins either. There was a miner of reasons for this

  • it was too hot to take dogs out
-the people using pubs were tourists from other countries so didn't have dogs
  • the locals tended to have yard dogs rather than ones that lived in the home

Here in the UK none of that applies. It IS normal therefore you'd need to ask if you wanted to be sure there wouldn't be a dog. Most will have signs up to say so as it's a selling point for many but it might not be spotted

LST · 05/07/2021 18:45

@claralara42

Your point in that post appeared to be that you don't need to ask, because it's so uncommon. Well that's fine then. Unless you happen to go in one of the uncommon ones that do alliw dogs, I guess. Or bears

No, that wasn't the point. But like I said, you missed it. Maybe try again.

Are you in the UK?
TheFoundations · 05/07/2021 18:46

@Rosewaterblossom

Ranty the point is, the establishment has to display that information by law so the customercan make an informed choice. They don't have to display that they welcome animals, which is the issue here.
Why not phone, if your life is at stake?

What about people who are allergic to other things? Certain cleaning products? Certain plants? Bee stings, dust mites... How many signs do you want the pub to put up?

WARNING: THIS PUB MAY CONTAIN A MOSQUITO

LST · 05/07/2021 18:47

@Whywonttheyhelpme

I’ve taken our dog out to our local pub/restaurant, had a meal, few drinks etc and the people we were sat to a table with hadn’t realised he was there until we got up to leave with him.

Your experience sounds like poorly behaved owners rather than poorly behaved animals. If our dog wasn’t well behaved then I wouldn’t dream of taking him…. much like my children but that is a whole different thread! Grin

Same here. Unless someone offers our dog a pork scratching he rarely gets noticed.
Rosewaterblossom · 05/07/2021 18:50

"Dogs Welcome"

That's all.

rantymcrantface66 · 05/07/2021 18:51

Ranty the point is, the establishment has to display that information by law so the customercan make an informed choice. They don't have to display that they welcome animals, which is the issue here.

They do have to list it but as a customer you have to look for it (ie read the menu or ask a server). It's not there on the chalk boards at the front

There probably is something somewhere that says the pub welcomes dogs if you care to look for it - or you could ask a server. Only certain allergens need listed. Rare ones aren't. As said fatal allergies to dog fur/dander is very rare so doesn't get legally listed wherever there are dogs

TheFoundations · 05/07/2021 18:59

@Rosewaterblossom

"Dogs Welcome"

That's all.

So it's just about catering for your allergy, then? People with other allergies have to find a way to manage without a sign?

Most pub websites will mention if the pub is dog friendly. Perhaps you could look on those?

TheFoundations · 05/07/2021 19:02

And dog friendly pubs more often than not have a water bowl outside the door. You could look for those. Or you could phone up?

Rosewaterblossom · 05/07/2021 19:03

By law food allergens must be displayed clearly. If the customer has to look for it, its not being displayed clearly. The law updated to make it easier for customers to find the information clearly. An allergy to cats and dogs is not rare.

Rosewaterblossom · 05/07/2021 19:05

My job involves being trained on food allergy laws hence why I know the legalisation surrounding it. If food places are not clearly displaying the information then that would be interesting to know...

KimmyAndMe · 05/07/2021 19:08

Dogs are vermin

Wow! I’m not a fan of dogs in restaurants - my own included. But “dogs are vermin” is a big stretch! I don’t take my dogs into a place where people are eating because

  1. They are not allowed around the dinner table at home
  2. They wouldn’t be comfortable lying under a table with food smells around them
  3. Other peoples dogs are a distraction - even though they insist their dogs are perfectly well behaved - most are not!
  4. I am 💯 certain that my dogs are most comfortable staying home or in their beds in their air conditioned van, rather than lying under a table with nothing to do for an hour or so.

I find it sad that some dog owners think their dogs enjoy lying under a table for a couple of hours but there you go 🤷🏻‍♀️ But nope… I don’t think dogs are vermin.

rantymcrantface66 · 05/07/2021 19:10

@Rosewaterblossom

By law food allergens must be displayed clearly. If the customer has to look for it, its not being displayed clearly. The law updated to make it easier for customers to find the information clearly. An allergy to cats and dogs is not rare.
But being listed on the menu is clear. You do have to look for it though as if you don't need the information you don't notice it. The alleged informs is not in chalk on the welcome board. Same with dogs, if you need to know then you will look. Dog allergies aren't especially rare but being so severe that being likely to die because a dog was in the room earlier is.
LST · 05/07/2021 19:10

@KimmyAndMe

Dogs are vermin

Wow! I’m not a fan of dogs in restaurants - my own included. But “dogs are vermin” is a big stretch! I don’t take my dogs into a place where people are eating because

  1. They are not allowed around the dinner table at home
  2. They wouldn’t be comfortable lying under a table with food smells around them
  3. Other peoples dogs are a distraction - even though they insist their dogs are perfectly well behaved - most are not!
  4. I am 💯 certain that my dogs are most comfortable staying home or in their beds in their air conditioned van, rather than lying under a table with nothing to do for an hour or so.

I find it sad that some dog owners think their dogs enjoy lying under a table for a couple of hours but there you go 🤷🏻‍♀️ But nope… I don’t think dogs are vermin.

I don't think. I know my dog would prefer to be with us than left alone. But there you go.
AliceLivesHere · 05/07/2021 19:12

[quote TheFoundations]@AliceLivesHere

The vast majority of dog owners are decent, responsible people who dislike badly behaved dogs/irresponsible owners just as much as anybody.

Your view of reality seems skewed because you've met a few dog owners with... 'issues'.[/quote]
Actually incorrect, I love digs but there are a lot of owners of fur babies that need their head wobbling. The type of ignorant dog lover than cannot understand that everyone doesn't love their dog, the behaviour of their dog and want it in their space.

AliceLivesHere · 05/07/2021 19:13

🐕 not digs

Volhhg · 05/07/2021 19:14

I worked in some dog friendly cafés and bars and it's kinda put me off. There's always staff who fuss over the dogs and have them lick and without washing hands go right over to the food service area and take orders out to tables whilst picking up the cutlery etc. Or do things like touch the tills and cash with doggy licked hands. Really disgusting. I like dogs but the types of owners who sit around the cafe with dogs are always massive arseholes. It was a bit of a joke I had with a colleague friend when we had a tricky customer and we always asked if they had a dog, guess what they always did. And yeah plenty of dogs weed on the floor, one day the boss even found a small dog poo in a carpeted area! At least babies have nappies and don't see and poo all over the path.

AliceLivesHere · 05/07/2021 19:15

People that realise that dogs are animals then need training and to be under control of owners are great. The people that have 'fur babies' and assume everything they do is delightful, funny, OK because they are friendly are just ignorant prats

Rosewaterblossom · 05/07/2021 19:17

The dog dander is in the room so whatever your allergy strength, it's still there and a warning would be great. You don't have to stroke a dog to suffer from an allergy because like I said, dander is like dust. Dogs don't need to be inside a restaurant, it's for people going to enjoy a meal and what's wrong with that.

rantymcrantface66 · 05/07/2021 19:17

How many of us have air conditioned vans though 😆. My dog is ok left for short times but she'd certainly rather not be . She sits happily at my feet out of choice while I eat a meal at home so why would she not be happy to when out. She likes to settle at my feet wherever we go!

LST · 05/07/2021 19:19

@Rosewaterblossom

The dog dander is in the room so whatever your allergy strength, it's still there and a warning would be great. You don't have to stroke a dog to suffer from an allergy because like I said, dander is like dust. Dogs don't need to be inside a restaurant, it's for people going to enjoy a meal and what's wrong with that.
We're going round in circles. People who want to avoid dogs don't need to go to a dog friendly establishment. Find one that doesn't allow dogs. It's really that simple!
TheFoundations · 05/07/2021 19:20

@KimmyAndMe

I find it sad that some dog owners think their dogs enjoy lying under a table for a couple of hours but there you go

My dog loves coming to the pub with me. She tries to drag me into every pub we walk past. It's very plain when she doesn't want to go somewhere. For example, when we walk past the vets, she tries to cross over to the far side of the road.

I don't think you can make a generalisation that dogs don't like going to certain places. They are often happiest in the company of their people, and I think it's a bit much to think you know better.

LST · 05/07/2021 19:21

[quote TheFoundations]@KimmyAndMe

I find it sad that some dog owners think their dogs enjoy lying under a table for a couple of hours but there you go

My dog loves coming to the pub with me. She tries to drag me into every pub we walk past. It's very plain when she doesn't want to go somewhere. For example, when we walk past the vets, she tries to cross over to the far side of the road.

I don't think you can make a generalisation that dogs don't like going to certain places. They are often happiest in the company of their people, and I think it's a bit much to think you know better.[/quote]
Mine adores sitting in front of the open fire in our local pub in the winter. If we go for a wall through town he actively goes towards all the pubs we normally visit 😂

Rosewaterblossom · 05/07/2021 19:22

It's bizarre that people actually think it's OK for paying customers to avoid restaurants designed for paying customers to eat at, all because they can't have a meal without their doggie sat under/beside the table. Kind of childish.

LST · 05/07/2021 19:23

@Rosewaterblossom

It's bizarre that people actually think it's OK for paying customers to avoid restaurants designed for paying customers to eat at, all because they can't have a meal without their doggie sat under/beside the table. Kind of childish.
Take it up with the owner of said place then?! Not the dog owners doing nothing wrong.
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