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AIBU?

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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:
AlternativePerspective · 04/07/2021 21:14

Lol at people comparing children to dogs though!!! They are definitely not the same thing. it’s not a comparison. But fact is that many children are badly behaved in restaurants and many are not.

And I would bet money that there are as many people who would love to eat in a child-free restaurant as there are who want to eat in dog free ones.

It shouldn’t be about the dog it should be about the behaviour.

I have a guide dog so obviously he is allowed in restaurants. That doesn’t mean however that I don’t expect him to be well behaved when we go into one. And it is so often people who cause dogs to behave badly, like the man who wanted to offer him a pack of those biscuits he got with his coffee, or the man who bought a friend’s guide dog a panini and was shocked to be told he couldn’t give it to him. Or the restaurant staff who offered my friend’s dog a whole sea bass to take home. 😂.

It would be very easy to turn even a well behaved dog into a badly behaved one with those kinds of offerings/behaviours. It’s down to the owner then to make sure that doesn’t happen.

My dog is a guide dog and is well behaved. However he is a Labrador, and anyone who has ever owned a Labrador knows that they are ruled by their stomachs, so it would be very easy for my well behaved guide dog to be turned into a scavenger if I didn’t prevent him from doing so, and the public from thinking it would be ok.

It’s all about personal responsibility.

If a dog is badly behaved, then the fault lies with the owner.

Jijithecat · 04/07/2021 21:14

I was waiting in the queue for the deli yesterday which also has a small restaurant seating area.
The people sat at the table right by the sign regarding dogs and how much the owners love them had a small dog. The sign quite clearly said keep dogs away from the bread and don't let them up on the benches.
The small dog's owners either hadn't read the sign or had decided that it didn't apply to them.
I didn't stay in the queue any longer and made a mental note not to eat bread at anyone's house if I know they shop at the deli.

ScottsThots · 04/07/2021 21:15

@Sparklingbrook

I wouldn't want to be inside a restaurant with dogs in, it would put me off.
Me neither 😬
Lockheart · 04/07/2021 21:15

There's no such thing as a dog-free cafe or restaurant as all places must allow guide dogs by law.

There are places which only allow guide dogs, which in my experience tend to outnumber those that allow all dogs, but even so there is usually plenty of choice in most places regardless of your preferences.

Kanaloa · 04/07/2021 21:16

I wouldn’t care for this, but I wouldn’t eat at a dog friendly place for that reason. I have had a dog in the past and it wouldn’t occur to be to bring her out for a meal unless it was sitting outdoors.

Moonwatcher1234 · 04/07/2021 21:16

[quote TheFoundations]@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.[/quote]
Well some people are comparing dogs to children in the sense that they are saying if dogs have to behave, then so too should children. It’s a stranhe way of thinking that i just can’t understand...yes, obviously no table should disturb another but I think the disturbance is of a different nature according to whether it is from a dog or a child. I’m sorry but I think most reasonable people would be more accommodating and understanding of a toddler being difficult than a dog.

MachiaNelly · 04/07/2021 21:17

I find people expect my dogs to be on their leads in restaurants. This is harder to achieve with DC
Whilst I wouldn't eat in a restaurant that allows dogs, I also think children who run around and won't stay seated should be taken out. (In the least violent sense, obvs)

Sparklingbrook · 04/07/2021 21:17

I would gladly pay extra to not have the possibility of dog hair in my meal, and sit in a separate area.
Don't really see what's in it for the dog to lie/sleep under a table in a restaurant though.

millymollymoomoo · 04/07/2021 21:19

I’d much rather dine with dogs than children
Most dogs are pretty well behaved In restaurants and those that arent their doggie owners usually try to control them unlike parents with young children who let them shriek and squeal

ichundich · 04/07/2021 21:22

Never seen this in a restaurant (I don't eat out much), but I think it's fairly common in pubs unfortunately. Our local now has a "Dog Happy Hour". I can't think of anything worse!

MaMelon · 04/07/2021 21:22

Most dogs are pretty well behaved In restaurants and those that arent their doggie owners usually try to control them

Hahahahahahahaha!!!! Yeah, right Hmm

randomkey123 · 04/07/2021 21:22

What a bunch of miseries!

Dogs are far better company than most humans.

ouchmyfeet · 04/07/2021 21:23

I hate this. Pre covid I don't think I'd ever seen a dog inside a restaurant and now they seem to be everywhere. It's horrible. Give me a screaming toddler over a dog any day

MachiaNelly · 04/07/2021 21:23

Don't really see what's in it for the dog to lie/sleep under a table in a restaurant though

Sometimes, in a cafe, if you're in their eyeline they are fixed on every bite you take, with accompanying slaver. Most disconcerting.

TheFoundations · 04/07/2021 21:23

@Moonwatcher1234

I’m sorry but I think most reasonable people would be more accommodating and understanding of a toddler being difficult than a dog

Lots of kids are troublesome, and their parents do not take adequate responsibility.

Lots of dogs are troublesome, and their owners do not take adequate responsibility.

It's not a competition.

There's no law about children or dogs in restaurants. If a person doesn't like the clientele, they can speak to the management, or they can choose not to come back.

It's wrong to assume that 'I don't like dogs' or 'I don't like children' will be automatically catered for. That doesn't mean that the two things are comparable.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 04/07/2021 21:26

No way am I bringing my dogs to a restaurant.

Pub yes, outside in the summer, yes. Indoors - no.

TheFoundations · 04/07/2021 21:27

@Sparklingbrook

I would gladly pay extra to not have the possibility of dog hair in my meal, and sit in a separate area. Don't really see what's in it for the dog to lie/sleep under a table in a restaurant though.
Dogs are legally barred from kitchens, so a dog hair is as unlikely to be in your food as any other hair from another customer.

Dogs like to be near their owners, so if the owner is in a restaurant, the dog would prefer to be there. You don't have to get it.

JLL1990 · 04/07/2021 21:32

I think it’s fantastic more places are allowing dogs. Children are often far more disruptive. I wouldn’t bring my dog as he wouldn’t settle, is big, begs at the table. However, I am always put in a good mood seeing other people’s dogs who are well behaved.

LolaSmiles · 04/07/2021 21:32

I don't mind dogs in pubs and cafes, but prefer restaurants to be dog-free other than guide dogs.

Ultimately it's up to the business owners to make a decision about their business plan. If they think they'll have a more successful business by welcoming dogs then they will, if not then they won't.

DirtyDancing · 04/07/2021 21:33

We once was in a very restaurant in Nice, South of France for lunch . Two ladies came and sat down at the table next to us with two little dogs. One proceeded to do a sh*t on the floor, right as we were tucking into our main. True story. Confused

TheWagesOfSin · 04/07/2021 21:34

Fuck my old boots, is this the justification now? What "the dog would prefer"?

Anyway yes, it's rubbish and I avoid places that allow dogs in although increasingly more places do allow it.

Also, the phrase "dog friendly" is cloying and twee. And shit.

Sparklingbrook · 04/07/2021 21:36

so a dog hair is as unlikely to be in your food as any other hair from another customer.

Mmm but humans don’t do that thing where they shake their whole body causing lots of tiny hairs to be released into the air like dogs do.

TheWagesOfSin · 04/07/2021 21:38

Unless they're Jerry Lee Lewis.

But I wouldn't want him in a restaurant either.

Plus he's dead. Possibly. I think.

igelkott2021 · 04/07/2021 21:39

I don't like this trend at all. A country pub is one thing (though even then I'd prefer it if dogs were outside).

But I went to a cafe the other week which had the right idea. It did allow dogs but had signs up making expectations clear - and in particular making the point that not everyone likes dogs so please ensure dogs remain under your table and don't wander round trying to "be friendly". That seems fair enough as long as dog owners respect those rules.

TheWagesOfSin · 04/07/2021 21:41

Humans also do not shag your leg.