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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
LST · 05/07/2021 20:11

@Willyoujustbequiet

It would put me right off. Pubs I understand but not proper restaurants. I'm a dog owner but the sense of entitlement of a minority of dog owners is ridiculous. I feel sorry for those with allergies or phobia of them.
But it isn't the dogs owners? It's who owns the places that allow them. Anyone can open a restaurant or pub or what ever and allow kids or dogs or neither. How it is dog owners entitlement? If it wasn't dog friendly.. I wouldn't take my dog.
FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 05/07/2021 20:11

@vivainsomnia

Not everyone has an available or trustworthy babysitter How is that my problem? The same as how is it your problem that I happen to be on holiday and can't leave my dog alone in the rental place?

We tolerate each other. Fortunately for you, you'll likely manage to find somewhere where dogs are forbidden. It's much harder to find places that are child free!

Because dogs are not humans! They are not your human children - crikey how many times!

A child being in a restaurant is not anyone's "problem" because they're a human that needs feeding human food, which is what the restaurant supplies.

Dogs are there as a convenience for their owners and mostly get in other people's way.

This is such a typical entitlement monopolised by many dog owners - thinking your fur baby has nearly the same rights as a human being, and expecting people to give the same consideration to it as an actual child.

rantymcrantface66 · 05/07/2021 20:11

@Willyoujustbequiet

It would put me right off. Pubs I understand but not proper restaurants. I'm a dog owner but the sense of entitlement of a minority of dog owners is ridiculous. I feel sorry for those with allergies or phobia of them.
You think people who take dogs to a place that advertises it's self as dog friendly are entitled?
PattyPan · 05/07/2021 20:12

Presumably people asked if they could bring their dogs and that’s how most places became dog friendly.

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 05/07/2021 20:13

@rantymcrantface66 sorry I should have said "take them to a restaurant and let them behave badly". I know many dog owners are responsible too

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 05/07/2021 20:14

@LST so your dog can be left unlike small children?

That's many people's point here - there's a significant difference in why people take children to restaurants vs why they take dogs.

SunflowerGiraffe · 05/07/2021 20:14

Wow, how ungygienic and unpleasant. I understand them being allowed in some informal bars and beer gardens but it's ridiculous for them to be indoors in an area where people are eating. Particularly somewhere where there may be children.

LST · 05/07/2021 20:15

@PattyPan

Presumably people asked if they could bring their dogs and that’s how most places became dog friendly.
Right? And the owner decided that they'd benefit from allowing dogs and therefore made the decision to allow them. The vast majority of restaurants don't allow dogs. Most pubs do, but that has been the norm for years.
SunflowerGiraffe · 05/07/2021 20:15

[quote FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop]@LST so your dog can be left unlike small children?

That's many people's point here - there's a significant difference in why people take children to restaurants vs why they take dogs. [/quote]
Lol!! Can't believe people are comparing children to dogs! Confused

LST · 05/07/2021 20:16

[quote FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop]@LST so your dog can be left unlike small children?

That's many people's point here - there's a significant difference in why people take children to restaurants vs why they take dogs. [/quote]
Yes he can when we're at home. But when camping I prefer not to leave him so he comes with us.

LST · 05/07/2021 20:17

Why are you comparing my dog to a child? No where have I said he should come because he can't be left or compared him to a child?

rantymcrantface66 · 05/07/2021 20:17

[quote FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop]@rantymcrantface66 sorry I should have said "take them to a restaurant and let them behave badly". I know many dog owners are responsible too[/quote]
Ah yes, very fair. I hate that too. I hate badly behaved dogs being in the park too. It's annoying everywhere and you're right some dog owners are very entitled. Sadly it doesn't stop there, there are entitled people everywhere.

TheFoundations · 05/07/2021 20:17

@Rosewaterblossom

Three times, now: A disabled person cannot walk away from their disability. An allergic person can walk away from an allergen.

Why do you keep making the same comparison? Do you class yourself as disabled because of your allergy?

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 05/07/2021 20:17

@LST well camping is obviously different as it would be leaving a dog overnight otherwise, and you're confined to your own tent.

LST · 05/07/2021 20:17

@SunflowerGiraffe

Wow, how ungygienic and unpleasant. I understand them being allowed in some informal bars and beer gardens but it's ridiculous for them to be indoors in an area where people are eating. Particularly somewhere where there may be children.
So.... Drumroll..... Don't go!
FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 05/07/2021 20:18

@LST

Why are you comparing my dog to a child? No where have I said he should come because he can't be left or compared him to a child?
I'm not.

Other people have made the comparison and I said the categorical difference is all dogs can be left at home, not all children can.

Then you popped on to say your dog can't be left at home - which it turns out he can.

Does that help?

KimmyAndMe · 05/07/2021 20:19

Most people generally love dogs

No they don’t! My dogs are my life. They are what I live for but I don’t expect everyone to love them. There is nothing at all within a restaurant that would appeal to them. I do not expect anyone else to welcome them (especially if they lie, quietly, under the table waiting for me to finish my food, amongst other dogs barking, howling, running riot). My 2 year old GS is someone I look forward to spending time with. We have so much fun together. I love the very bones of him ❤️ That doesn’t mean I welcome other peoples toddlers running riot around my table in a restaurant.

LST · 05/07/2021 20:19

Please show me where I said my current dog can't be left......

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 05/07/2021 20:20

@TheFoundations allergies can be debilitating - why should allergy sufferers be the one to walk away? Would you tell someone with a peanut allergy not to get on a plane because somebody has brought a Snickers on board?or would you expect the Snickers eater to be the decent person?

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 05/07/2021 20:20

I think I'll find a cat and then approach my colleague - who is allergic to cat hair to the point it induces an asthma attack - and rub the cat in her face and say "WhY doNT yOu JUsT waLK aWAy"

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 05/07/2021 20:21

@LST 15 mins ago. You said you're at dog couldn't be left

LST · 05/07/2021 20:22

@FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop

I think I'll find a cat and then approach my colleague - who is allergic to cat hair to the point it induces an asthma attack - and rub the cat in her face and say "WhY doNT yOu JUsT waLK aWAy"
Well the dog owner that rubbed their dog in your face is obviously a cunt.
rantymcrantface66 · 05/07/2021 20:23

And yes most dogs can be left at home. Not many people take, or want to take their dog out for an evening meal in town, they leave them at home. I do want to take my dog if we've been out for the day with dog and decide to have a meal before we come home. I don't want to leave her in the car as it's probably too hot at this time of year and she might get stolen. Next week when we go camping I hope there is a dog friendly pub near by we can have a lunch. I can't leave her in the tent.

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 05/07/2021 20:23

@LST no such situation occurred thank god 🤣 that was a response to someone who said it's up to allergy sufferers to walk away from the allergen.

Fuck knows what she think hay fever sufferers do in the summer

LST · 05/07/2021 20:23

@rantymcrantface66

And yes most dogs can be left at home. Not many people take, or want to take their dog out for an evening meal in town, they leave them at home. I do want to take my dog if we've been out for the day with dog and decide to have a meal before we come home. I don't want to leave her in the car as it's probably too hot at this time of year and she might get stolen. Next week when we go camping I hope there is a dog friendly pub near by we can have a lunch. I can't leave her in the tent.
You bloody entitled dog owner you!