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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:
FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 04/07/2021 22:29

@Jaxhog

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.

Indeed.

Personally I'd avoid a dog friendly restaurant if I know it is one but yes it can be unavoidable when you realise half way through your meal! Or you turn up and there's dogs everywhere and you're a party of six etc

aliloandabanana · 04/07/2021 22:31

I've noticed a trend recently for shops letting dogs in, when for the whole of my lifetime as far as I can remember no shops except pet shops would let them in. I find it very odd and I don't want to be avoiding dogs as I browse in a store.

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 04/07/2021 22:31

Nobody said that

Yes they did:

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

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.

Yep - the key word being people

MaMelon · 04/07/2021 22:32

Jaxhog - An alpaca is far more interesting than another yappy bijon, wheezy pug or slobbery lab Grin

FuckingHateRats · 04/07/2021 22:33

I absolutely get why this has become more.standard practice, but it makes me really nervous as someone who's really allergic to dogs.

I never remember this is a thing and then get all panicky wondering if I'm going to have an asthma attack and end up leaving.

Sparklingbrook · 04/07/2021 22:34

If you try on clothes in John Lewis does your dog go in the cubicle with you? I know they have to be carried on the escalators.
I don’t think it’s much fun for a dog to go shopping unless it’s Pets at Home or somewhere.

Odisia · 04/07/2021 22:36

Dog lying quietly under a table in the pub while a bloke drinks a pint - fine. Dogs in pub gardens - fine. In a restaurant - I don't like that idea at all for some reason.

Yennefer19 · 04/07/2021 22:36

As someone who is allergic to dogs, I would hope that restaurants/pubs advertise clearly what their policy is. I have no issue with dog friendly places but I want to know when I pick a place to eat that I’m going to be safe in it. My allergy means that even just traces of dog hair affects me so even if no dogs are there at that time it would still affect me.

MachiaNelly · 04/07/2021 22:37

Cos I would love to find one of those actual dog free beaches to keep me happy

I also live at the coast and the No Dogs signs are largely ignored. The beach always has at least half a dozen dogs running around and crapping. The signs are pointless. The allocated dog beach is 15 minutes walk down the front, but it's obviously too far for some. It's like dogs are notorious for their hatred of walking.

TheFoundations · 04/07/2021 22:38

@FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop

Nobody said that

Yes they did:

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

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.

Yep - the key word being people

Are you the one who gets to decide what the key word is, then? Otherwise, I'll just amend it to 'other parties'.

Although I think you might be being deliberately obtuse.

Lots of families include none-humans. If you don't like that, that's your prerogative, but it is the case. And if a restaurant chooses to accept snakes, parrots and gerbils, against your preference, go elsewhere.

Poppins17 · 04/07/2021 22:38

Pre owning a dog I would have agreed with OP and actually remember commenting about someone bringing their dog to a restaurant we were in…. Now that we are dog owners we search out places we can eat with our dog.

In fact, we’re off on a trip next month and will be staying near Tiverton and Exeter so if anyone has any recommendations, hit me up!

BogRollBOGOF · 04/07/2021 22:39

Country pubs with dogs outside, or seperate muddy boots/ dogs type areas are fine, and it's reasonably anticipated. Plus the dogs tend to be tired after a long walk and more likely to rest without disturbance.

I would not want to go to a proper restaurant that is "dog friendly" and places should make it very clear in their marketing.

Places like cat cafes are explicitly marketed as such.
It's also often clear if places are "family friendly"

I've done my time taking tetchy toddlers out to the car so they're not a disruption to others (so many lost opportunities fot dessert!), so I don't appreciate other people not taking their turn at managing their dogs (or children)

rantymcrantface66 · 04/07/2021 22:41

We've just had a new shopping centre built in our city and apparently many of the shops are dog friendly including JL and other high end brands as well as body shop. Body shop is probably horrendous for a dogs senses and I can't imagine rantpup being happy in JL either. She loves pets at home but I think the rest she'd rather be at home alone on the sofa. It's al a bit odd but I'm glad there are some eating places we can take her. I do think there should be plenty of non dog eating places too though.

ichundich · 04/07/2021 22:41

@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 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.

Yes, I think I should have a right to bring my pet crocodile or my flea circus.
TheFoundations · 04/07/2021 22:42

@Poppins17

www.thefatpigexeter.co.uk/

Lovely place, tucked round the back of the busy area.

TheWagesOfSin · 04/07/2021 22:42

Lots of families include none-humans

No. They don't.

Puppysharness · 04/07/2021 22:43

I’m not sure why it’s a problem for someone at another table to have a dog, unless a dog licked your plate or jumped on you?

What exactly was the issue?

TheWagesOfSin · 04/07/2021 22:43

or my flea circus.

AKA "dog".

MachiaNelly · 04/07/2021 22:46

Lots of families include none-humans

Lots of families have pet animals.

Peoniesandpeaches · 04/07/2021 22:46

@Ratalie

Peoniesandpeaches I'm also a dog attack survivor. I didn't have life-changing physical injuries but do have a crippling fear of dogs now. It's very difficult because, as you say, they have become so prevalent in recent years. Impossible to avoid them without being a shut in.
And often people are really unsympathetic about it in a way they aren’t with other types of attacks which is why I feel I need to justify how bad the attack was. It really does suck and I’m sorry you are suffering too Sad
ichundich · 04/07/2021 22:47

@TheWagesOfSin

or my flea circus.

AKA "dog".

😂
FuckingHateRats · 04/07/2021 22:49

@rantymcrantface66

We've just had a new shopping centre built in our city and apparently many of the shops are dog friendly including JL and other high end brands as well as body shop. Body shop is probably horrendous for a dogs senses and I can't imagine rantpup being happy in JL either. She loves pets at home but I think the rest she'd rather be at home alone on the sofa. It's al a bit odd but I'm glad there are some eating places we can take her. I do think there should be plenty of non dog eating places too though.
I live where you do and this is why I've been unable to visit the new centre. Really want to go have a browse, but don't feel able when I know where will be dogs in the shops and restaurants.
TheFoundations · 04/07/2021 22:49

@MachiaNelly

Lots of families include none-humans

Lots of families have pet animals.

Yes. Same thing. Lots of families include an animal.

Semantics.

MaMelon · 04/07/2021 22:50

or my flea circus. AKA "dog"

Perish the thought - MN dogs never have fleas Shock. They are only found on beaches specifically for dogs, they sit quietly under the table in restaurants, they never jump up on people in a ‘just being friendly’ way, and they’re better behaved in public than 99.99% of the human population.

Muddydoor · 04/07/2021 22:51

@TheFoundations I quietly seethed. I think I was just so shocked at how much the world has changed.