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.

@FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop

Completely agree *@Delphinium20* - as a PP said there's other restaurants, so I ca cope with that but I do object to non-service dogs being in places people can't avoid.

If you could all stop walking your dogs on beaches that are supposed to be dog free (and are clearly signed) thatd be grand too. There's more dogs than humans on those beaches these days

I actually didn't know this was a thing. Beaches here are pretty vast and plenty room for everyone so dog free beaches are rare but I know they are a thing elsewhere where it's busier and agree with it. I didn't know it wasn't adhered to it definitely should be

[quote Rosewaterblossom]@TheFoundation there's been many cases on planes with nut allergies, a quick Google I'm sure will confirm this. Planes wouldn't ban nuts on some flights just for fun and there are people out their with a shitty attitude who think giving up "an imaginary" chocolate bar aka snickers, is a massive inconvenience for a few hours over someone else's life. People really are that ignorant and that selfish.[/quote]
Nobody can give up an imaginary chocolate bar. If it's real, people make different decisions, and you can't judge everybody on the decisions of a few. Personally, I'd be accommodating others as best I could, if I'd been made aware of their issues. But the fact is, in all my years with a dog, I've never had somebody say 'I've got an allergy so you need to leave', because... well, it's rare for an allergy to be so bad that you'd have to bother anybody else with it, and presumably, most allergy sufferers are used to avoiding their allergens by going to places where there is not a big 'allergens welcome!' sign at the door, an allergen drinking bowl, and a big jar of treats for the allergens on the counter.

'Ignorant', 'selfish', 'shitty attitude', 'cunt' are all phrases you've used, so, as I said, it's not a discussion worth having. It's just unpleasant. I'll be down the pub with the dog, enjoying a pint, and, hopefully, you'll be enjoying similar in one of the many dog-free places available to you.

We get sick from the dander in the air that we inhale and it doesn't matter if that dander is a minute old or ten years. More dander in a space means a worse attack
But surely you are then at risk everywhere. Even hospitals and hospices now have visitor dogs. Your situation is quite extreme and thankfully very rare. I've never come I to anyone in my life and I have met many many people with an allergy to dogs that meant they'd suffer just being in a place a dog had been hours before.

You've got to appreciate that in the example I've given, the chances that someone severely allergic to dogs comes in that same day is low. Add to that that my dog is hypoallergenic anyway and therefore much less like to trigger an allergy than the farmer next door whose jumper is full of dog hair, what do you suggest? That ai never set foot in a public indoor place with my dog, even for a minute, in case you happen to be there? And the farmer should shower and change into clothes with no hair at all before he goes to buy stamps?

There has to be a limit by which we dog lovers are prohibited from most public places because of the very rare risk of coming across someone like you that same day?

Many people got dogs during lockdown , and many are giving them up because so many places are dog unfriendly

That's not why they are giving up their dogs. And if it is, then they are idiots who didn't bother to find out that dogs aren't welcome in a lot of places.

Around 1 in 10 are allergic to pets.

But surely you are then at risk everywhere. Even hospitals and hospices now have visitor dogs.

Yeah, and it really sucks because this never used to be the case.

Your situation is quite extreme and thankfully very rare. I've never come I to anyone in my life and I have met many many people with an allergy to dogs that meant they'd suffer just being in a place a dog had been hours before.

It's not rare. People with dog allergies avoid people with dogs so it makes perfect sense why you don't know them. We also tend to get sick and not tell you all about it.

As I mentioned earlier, a single dog doesn't necessarily make you sick, but a lot of dander building up over time in enclosed places with no ventilation is the problem.

There has to be a limit by which we dog lovers are prohibited from most public places because of the very rare risk of coming across someone like you that same day?
Maybe I wasn't clear before. This isn't an issue of only a chance encountering of a dog, it's the buildup of dander in spaces. And many people have this allergy.

Lots of people are allergic to pets but generally it's not so serious that it causes a&e visits or risk of death. Most of the people I know who have cat or dog allergies own them themselves and just manage the symptoms in the same way we manage hayfever in summer

There has to be a limit by which we dog lovers are prohibited from most public places because of the very rare risk of coming across someone like you that same day?

Two of my children are allergic but you're mistaken thinking that the main reason for keeping your dogs out of public places is because of rare serious allergies. You forget that there are lots and lots of people who simply don't like dogs. We don't want them barking and slobbering and shedding all over the place, and only being friendly and so on (and yes, I'm sure you'll say your dog is perfect and does none of those things, that's what everyone says).

Two of my children are allergic but you're mistaken thinking that the main reason for keeping your dogs out of public places is because of rare serious allergies. You forget that there are lots and lots of people who simply don't like dogs. We don't want them barking and slobbering and shedding all over the place, and only being friendly and so on (and yes, I'm sure you'll say your dog is perfect and does none of those things, that's what everyone says).

My dog definitely doesn't slobber as she doesn't have that shaped jowls that allow for slobber. She hardly even pants. She's smaller than your average cat and we don't see dog hair day to day on the blankets she sleeps on so I doubt she sheds all over the place on a short visit elsewhere . She's not friendly. She dislikes strangers so has no interest in approaching them and only barks if they force themselves in to her immediate space (continues to try and stroke her when I've told them not to - this does happen) I have high expectations of behaviour when out from both my dc and dog as both can be irritating for others if I don't

claralara42
I don't like badly behaved dogs, but to be honest most dogs I've seen I'm cafes or pubs haven't been badly behaved.

If a business decides there's more custom from welcoming dogs then customers can decide where they want to spend their money. If I'm out for a walk then I'll plan a walking route that passes a nice dogs welcome pub for lunch. If I want a nice meal out and drinks with friends then I'll select a restaurant/bar that doesn't welcome dogs. I'd not look for somewhere for Sunday lunch once in a blue moon and be annoyed that they've prioritised reliable custom from dog owners over my infrequent desire for a Sunday lunch.

I've met lots of people with allergies to cats and dogs who are shocked when they see the pictures of me when I come across the allergy. It really is horrible.

I love the vibe of a dog friendly restaurant. It's a great pleasure to go for a lovely walk and stop off for lunch. If you don't like dogs in a restaurant then just go to a restaurant where they aren't allowed.

Is there something that I’m missing with this logic:- If your allergic to dogs/don’t like them/scared of them then don’t go to a dog friendly restaurant go to somewhere that doesn’t cater for our furry friends

If you like dogs/have dogs and want them to join you then go to dog friendly places

We have a dog and if we want to take her with us we go to dog friendly places and if it’s date night or a special occasion we don’t take her and go to places that don’t cater for dogs (or children to be fair)

I’m allergic to cats and my best friend has them and if I didn’t take an antihistamine before we meet up I would be sneezing within about 15 minutes of seeing her (even outside her home) as she has dander in her clothes so if you do have pet allergies surely it’s the easiest thing to pop a tablet before venturing into any public place like I do as everyone who has pets will have some form of hair/dander from their pet on them, you could be queuing in the supermarket and the person in front have dogs or cats so surely by preparing yourself like I do stops a lot of the allergic reactions before they start? But as I said just ring up the pub/restaurant before you go or google the place and check out the dog policy

The problem for me is that restaurants don't tend to advertise themselves as dog friendly.

I would avoid these establishments like the plague but often don't know until I arrive that they'll be full of smelly dogs

*People with dog allergies avoid people with dogs so it makes perfect sense why you don't know them. We also tend to get sick and not tell you all about it"
Again, do you not go to the cinema, theatre, events ever in case you are seated next to a dog owner with dog hair all over their clothes? I think there is a lot of drama here just stayed for the purpose of trying to justify that dogs should never be in public places by people who just don't like them.

We don't want them barking and slobbering and shedding all over the place
You are right, my dog doesn't do any of these things, so would you be ok with them being in your proximity or will you just hate my dog, assume it's bound to be a pest, just because you don't like dogs as a whole and judge them all the same?

You forget that there are lots and lots of people who simply don't like dogs
And that's fine. Using the example of the post office. If you were queuing and I came in, you would just need to tell me you are very uncomfortable around dogs and if you said it pleasantly, I would say not to worry and would just step out and wait. The problem I expect is that it wouldn't be said pleasantly but probably in an accusatory tone, face like thunder, giving dirty looks to my dog's and I, and that would not really prompt me to want to be kind.

The problem for me is that restaurants don't tend to advertise themselves as dog friendly
So you just ring in advance or ask at the door!

@ouchmyfeet

The problem for me is that restaurants don't tend to advertise themselves as dog friendly.

I would avoid these establishments like the plague but often don't know until I arrive that they'll be full of smelly dogs

I think that is a problem. I do tend to do research online and look at the menu etc before going out (especially since Covid to see what the rules are). Some of the sites clearly state that Dogs are allowed in certain areas or dogs positively welcome. And I can make a decision.

But if you turn up to somewhere without booking or just passing you aren't going to know if the place is full of dogs or not until you get there.

But if you turn up to somewhere without booking or just passing you aren't going to know if the place is full of dogs or not until you get there.

If dogs are a problem for you then it would be wise to check. Would take a few seconds to make a phone call and ask

@rantymcrantface66

But if you turn up to somewhere without booking or just passing you aren't going to know if the place is full of dogs or not until you get there.

If dogs are a problem for you then it would be wise to check. Would take a few seconds to make a phone call and ask

But you are already at the pub at that point so a bit late for phone calls. If you are just passing and see a nice pub/restaurant and pull in?

I actually didn't know this was a thing. Beaches here are pretty vast and plenty room for everyone so dog free beaches are rare but I know they are a thing elsewhere where it's busier and agree with it. I didn't know it wasn't adhered to it definitely should be

And also letting their dogs off lead on farmers' land despite signs. The risk there is that the farmer will shoot your dog, so it really is rather stupid.

If you don't like dogs in a restaurant then just go to a restaurant where they aren't allowed The issue is it's not that easy because everywhere is allowing them these days unless you go to a Michelin starred place in London.

But you are already at the pub at that point so a bit late for phone calls. If you are just passing and see a nice pub/restaurant and pull in?

If you have an individual requirement it's wise to plan ahead but you could simply ask on arrival and if the answer is yes they accept dogs then move on and try somewhere else. As I would do if passing and fancied something to eat after a walk with my dog. If the answer was no we don't allow dogs I'd thank them and try another place.

The issue is it's not that easy because everywhere is allowing them these days unless you go to a Michelin starred place in London.

Not really true - you can't take your dog in to Nando's or Wagamama's anywhere in the country. Both far from seeing any Michelin stars

All these non-allergic folk that hate dogs are hard for me to relate to. I'd much rather lunch with my dog than most humans. Ha!

Surely if you live with a life threatening allergy to dogs, you don't leave it to chance? You just call and ask, don't you?