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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

SchrodingersMat · 04/07/2021 22:03

I think most kids are much more annoying at restaurants than dogs, and you’re much more likely to catch something from other humans than dogs so I don’t really get the fuss. What is the problem with the waitress patting a dog then taking orders? It’s just writing on a bit of paper, she’s not got her fingers stuck in your dinner

MirandaMarple · 04/07/2021 22:04

I think John Lewis allows dogs now. Two Labradors in the knitwear section is hell for me and hell for them. Although it's not even child friendly either, my local JL won't let you wheel in the shopping trolleys from the Sainsbury’s next door.

I'd prefer not to go inside a pub/restaurant with my dogs. I always think it quite selfish to be honest. Dogs don't want to be sat underneath bars and tables whilst we fill our bellies.

Sparklingbrook · 04/07/2021 22:04

I don’t know why it has to be kids v dogs. How about neither?

MachiaNelly · 04/07/2021 22:05

When's the last time you found a dog hair in your food?

I've never knowingly had a dog hair in my food, which is unsurprising as I've never eaten anywhere near a dog, nor eaten food from a kitchen with a resident dog, or even a kitchen in a house where a dog lives. I've never had a dog. None of my friends or family have dogs. I'm rarely anywhere near a dog.

I've never knowingly had a human hair in my food either, and I'm surrounded by them every day, and eat food from kitchens run by humans on a regular daily basis.

emmetgirl · 04/07/2021 22:05

I own a testament and we allow dogs in. It's on the understanding that the dog must be well behaved and not cause a nuisance. There's only once in the last 3 years I've had to speak to a dog owner. We love welcoming dogs into our premises. I meet some gorgeous ones and we find it helps us get chatting to our customers and they all get chatting to each other too!
I think wanting a no dogs allowed place might place you in a minority. I do understand though.

stevalnamechanger · 04/07/2021 22:06

I love being able to take them to places . Kids are far more annoying and irritating than dogs .

They should not be jumping up or in the way though

Bringmemoonshine · 04/07/2021 22:06

We took our dog to a pub restaurant tonight. We’re on holiday and had we not been able to take her we wouldn’t have gone because of the huge increase in dog thefts. She walked calmly to the table and then lay quietly underneath it for the duration of our meal. Meanwhile the children at two adjacent tables screamed, cried, argued with their parents and were constantly running around and getting in the way of the staff. Had we not gone the restaurant would have lost out on almost £100. Of course dogs in restaurants should be well behaved, as should children….

HalzTangz · 04/07/2021 22:07

I've been in restaurants where dogs have behaved but children were unruly. I would much prefer a behaved dog anytime lol

LadyCatStark · 04/07/2021 22:08

I have a dog but I wouldn’t take him into a restaurant even though he’s well behaved (for a puppy!) and rarely barks and certainly not in public.

I wouldn’t want to have to worry about him bothering other people and I wouldn’t wanted other people’s dogs bothering us! There’s always a lingering doggy smell in places where dogs are allowed too.

We do take him to beer gardens to eat outside though and he loves that.

Okbye · 04/07/2021 22:08

Uurrrrgghh this is one of my biggest pet hates. It’s DISGUSTING and totally unhygienic.
There’s a nice restaurant/bar in my town centre that I love but they unfortunately allow dogs so I’ve stopped going.

I wish ‘dog friendly’ places at least had certain sections where dogs are allowed so if you don’t want to be around them you know you can sit elsewhere and not have a stinking dog shaking it’s fur into your food 🤮

Sarahlou252 · 04/07/2021 22:10

We have a dog, and we love a good dog friendly pub to take him to. If I didn't like dogs, I would go to a pub that didn't allow them. Same with dog friendly beaches. I wouldn't take my dog on a beach where dogs aren't allowed, but I wouldn't expect people who don't like dogs to complain about them being on a dog friendly beach.
There are lots of pubs (and beaches!) that keep everyone happy.

MaMelon · 04/07/2021 22:12

It’s always the same on these threads - the dog owners always have perfect dogs who lie quietly at their feet while children run riot.

I think everyone should be free to take their pets to restaurants. Cats, gerbils, horses, tortoises, rabbits - bring the whole lot. Then the children running around and upsetting the dog owners won’t seem so bad.

TheFoundations · 04/07/2021 22:12

@FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop

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

Children are noisy and active. That can't be helped. Unlike dog they can't be left at home while adults eat out.

Where does it end - should disabled people not be allowed in restaurants lest they disturb another table?

It ends with preferences and money. If businesses will lose out by turning away customers with dogs, they'll accept dogs.

Well behaved children in restaurants are not noisy and active to the extent that they disturb others.

What have disabled people got to do with this?

TheFoundations · 04/07/2021 22:14

@Sarahlou252

We have a dog, and we love a good dog friendly pub to take him to. If I didn't like dogs, I would go to a pub that didn't allow them. Same with dog friendly beaches. I wouldn't take my dog on a beach where dogs aren't allowed, but I wouldn't expect people who don't like dogs to complain about them being on a dog friendly beach. There are lots of pubs (and beaches!) that keep everyone happy.

Yes, this.

If you don't like it somewhere, go somewhere else.

MaMelon · 04/07/2021 22:15

I wouldn't take my dog on a beach where dogs aren't allowed

Can you come and have a word with all the dog owners currently on holiday here on holiday in Pembrokeshire who are ignoring the ‘no dogs allowed’ signs please? Not just one or two owners - loads of them. ‘Cos I would love to find one of those actual dog free beaches to keep me happy.

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 04/07/2021 22:16

@MaMelon

It’s always the same on these threads - the dog owners always have perfect dogs who lie quietly at their feet while children run riot.

Indeed

No one ever comes on and says their dog is an annoying smelly bastard

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 04/07/2021 22:17

What have disabled people got to do with this?

Someone said diners should always have the right never to be disturbed by others. I asked where it ends and would they expect disabled people for example to be quiet so they aren't disturbed

Immaculatemisconception · 04/07/2021 22:23

I’ve just booked a table at a local restaurant. I asked if I could bring my dog and the man replied that dogs are welcome at any table but small children should be left tied up outside. I think this is an excellent solution.

Jaxhog · 04/07/2021 22:23

I hate this. I went to a restaurant before lockdown that allowed dogs. Now, I don't mind the occasional well-mannered dog but wasn't happy when a couple sat at the table next to us with 3 large, wet, jumpy dogs. I had to change tables.

Tbh, I don't restaurants are the right place for dogs.

rantymcrantface66 · 04/07/2021 22:25

There's a decent balance of some dog friendly places and plenty more non dog friendly places in every area to be able to keep everyone happy!

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 04/07/2021 22:25

Slathering dogs
Wet dogs who shake
Dog hairs
Staff petting dogs then handling food
Shitty arsed making poo stamps on the floor

Plenty of reasons why dogs are unhygienic.

Weird how MN hates children. Would rather a screaming baby or running toddler than Fido begging for food

Jaxhog · 04/07/2021 22:26

If you don't like it somewhere, go somewhere else.

And if you're halfway through a meal when someone arrives with a dog that tries to help itself to your lunch? Or slobbers all over your shoes? Or pees under your table?

And yes, I speak from personal experience.

lazylinguist · 04/07/2021 22:27

Pretty much all pubs in my area are dog-friendly. It's a popular tourist walking area. I only take my dog when eating in a pub if it's a post dog-walk meal. If we were just going out for a meal we'd leave him at home. He's pretty big, so doesn't really go under the table! We're going to Devon on holidsy soon and wanted to book a pub in advance for dinner. Every single pub we looked at allows dogs.

If there were more people complaining to pubs/cafés/restaurants about dogs than there were dog owners wanting to bring them, the establishments wouldn't allow dogs in!

Jaxhog · 04/07/2021 22:28

@MaMelon

It’s always the same on these threads - the dog owners always have perfect dogs who lie quietly at their feet while children run riot.

I'll bring my pet Alpaca then!! (Have you seen those teeth?) Just the right height to steal your lunch.

TheFoundations · 04/07/2021 22:29

@FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop

What have disabled people got to do with this?

Someone said diners should always have the right never to be disturbed by others. I asked where it ends and would they expect disabled people for example to be quiet so they aren't disturbed

Nobody said that.

If you're out in public, you have to accept that other people are also out in public, living their lives, and that your priority isn't your wellbeing.

People ought to be respectful of others. Dogs/children/disabled people/non disabled people/clowns/bats/artichokes should be respectful of each other.

There are no laws. Everyone is allowed. If you don't like the wheelchair, leave. If you don't like the children, leave. If you don't like the dogs, leave.

Equally, do not park your wheelchair in a place that blocks the gangway, if you can help it. Do not allow your children to disturb others. Do not allow your dogs to disturb others.

Respect seems ill understood. People are offended that their wishes are not met, without stating their wishes. People feel they should be able to do what they like, regardless of others.

Respect needs communication. Nobody can respect what you want if you don't tell them what it is.

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