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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:
IdblowJonSnow · 04/07/2021 22:55

I'd rather goo to cafes and restaurants where dogs aren't tbh. One child is frighten after being bitten and my other is allergic.
Dogs barking is akin to excessive screaming /shouting from kids. It's not what people are paying for when they dine out.
Probably a compromise is to have a designated doggy area.
People always think their children and pets are better behaved than they actually are!

TheFoundations · 04/07/2021 22:55

[quote Muddydoor]@TheFoundations I quietly seethed. I think I was just so shocked at how much the world has changed.[/quote]
If you're not happy you have to say it. Otherwise, how will the pub/restaurant know? They'll just assume everyone is fine and carry on as they are. Maybe you were in a room with 20 dog hating, non-speaking tables, and 1 dog.

There have always been establishments that have accepted dogs. It's really not a tectonic shift.

MaMelon · 04/07/2021 22:57

The increase in the number of dog friendly restaurants (and establishments generally) is where the tectonic shift has taken place.

MachiaNelly · 04/07/2021 23:00

One child is frighten after being bitten and my other is allergic

Mine too. It makes me wonder, people who claim dogs are part of the family if their child developed a sudden and intense allergy to said dog, which one would have to go? Hard to choose between beloved family members then. Or is it?

TheFoundations · 04/07/2021 23:01

@MaMelon

The increase in the number of dog friendly restaurants (and establishments generally) is where the tectonic shift has taken place.
And what does that tell you about the customer base? Given that there's no law against dogs being allowed in, and never has been, why shouldn't they allow paying customers to bring their dogs?

And really, if you think it's a tectonic change that there's a dog allowed in the restaurant, you probably need to learn more about how big changes can be.

BackforGood · 04/07/2021 23:04

@BogRollBOGOF

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)

This ^

@Puppysharness If you read the thread, your question had already been answered multiple times by poster after poster.

TheFoundations · 04/07/2021 23:05

@MachiaNelly

One child is frighten after being bitten and my other is allergic

Mine too. It makes me wonder, people who claim dogs are part of the family if their child developed a sudden and intense allergy to said dog, which one would have to go? Hard to choose between beloved family members then. Or is it?

How cold.

It's not really about who you would choose to 'go', given a preference. It's about who you choose to love.

If 2 of your kids were drowning, which would you save? And does that mean that the other isn't part of the family?

joystir59 · 04/07/2021 23:06

Love dogs, love them in pubs cafes restaurants. Can't stand young children.

Moonwatcher1234 · 04/07/2021 23:07

I think in theory it’s an okayish idea but the reality is just different. Loads of people are experiencing a steady encroachment of dogs on their personal areas including in parks and now restaurants and to be honest, I don’t know if it’s lockdown related, a lot of people just seem incapable or uninterested in controlling their dogs. I’m experiencing this every day as I live close to a park and find a dog poo on my drive at least once a week. My cctv shows a number of dog owners letting their dogs do this and then they merrily walk away. There is an issue with some dog owners and unfortunately it’s a problem that is getting worse. No wonder we don’t want them in restaurants as well.

LemonRoses · 04/07/2021 23:09

The restaurant we eat at most frequently is called The Kennels. Very dog friendly. They have their own named water bowls.

Esspee · 04/07/2021 23:10

I would not book a table where I knew there would be animals allowed, just as I refuse to book a hotel which advertises it is “dog friendly”.

MaMelon · 04/07/2021 23:12

Exactly Moonwatcher. While the tectonic/not tectonic shift may or may not have taken place regarding restaurants allowing them in, the monumental increase in dog ownership has resulted in a rise in poorly trained dogs. One thing if they’re outside on a field somewhere, quite another when they’re in a human space.

MachiaNelly · 04/07/2021 23:15

If 2 of your kids were drowning, which would you save? And does that mean that the other isn't part of the family?
Straw man argument. They are both my children and part of my family.
If it was my child and my cat I would save my child. Because the cat is not my child. It is a cat. You didn't answer the question yourself.

Frazzled2207 · 04/07/2021 23:17

@IDontGetOutMuch

Just double checked-website says dogs allowed in bar area and outside. Seems they weren't enforcing this. I've asked the. To update their website.
I think establishments should absolutely make it clear when they are dog-friendly. On the websites, sign on door etc
MachiaNelly · 04/07/2021 23:22

I would save the cat as well, if there was no risk to myself. I'm not a monster.

Jijithecat · 04/07/2021 23:26

I'm amazed that people think their dog's want to fit into their lifestyle so much.
I once saw a dog being dragged around a Gap outlet store. The dog didn't look like it was having a great time.

Puppysharness · 04/07/2021 23:27

@BackforGood I was asking the OP what the main problem was, not for the opinions of other posters.

Was it being disturbed by barking? Or that one jumped up on someone else (the waitress?) Neither seem like major offences, in truth.

Now, if a dog had pooed on the floor.. different story!

TheFoundations · 04/07/2021 23:30

@MachiaNelly

If 2 of your kids were drowning, which would you save? And does that mean that the other isn't part of the family? Straw man argument. They are both my children and part of my family. If it was my child and my cat I would save my child. Because the cat is not my child. It is a cat. You didn't answer the question yourself.
Most people with pets would say that their pet was part of their family. They don't have to bring it down to choosing between their pets and their kids in the case of a tragic circumstance.

If you had to choose between saving your partner or your child in a fire, who would you choose? Does that mean that the other isn't part of your family?

Straw men all over the show.

MaMelon · 04/07/2021 23:31

Was it being disturbed by barking? Or that one jumped up on someone else (the waitress?) Neither seem like major offences, in truth

Neither are wanted by many other restaurant users or staff - both are the mark of a poorly trained dog and/or an owner that doesn’t give a shit. That’s precisely the attitude that many of us have been talking about.

rantymcrantface66 · 04/07/2021 23:31

Mine too. It makes me wonder, people who claim dogs are part of the family if their child developed a sudden and intense allergy to said dog, which one would have to go? Hard to choose between beloved family members then. Or is it?

Eventually I'd pick my dc but I'd try every cleaning method and anti histamine going first as they'd be as devastated as I of the dog ever had to go.

I'm amazed that people think their dog's want to fit into their lifestyle so much.
I once saw a dog being dragged around a Gap outlet store. The dog didn't look like it was having a great time.

I agree with the shop part - I said that previously down thread, but most dogs like a restaurant as the majority are pretty good orientated and plenty like to see other people too.

MachiaNelly · 04/07/2021 23:35

Most people with pets would say that their pet was part of their family. They don't have to bring it down to choosing between their pets and their kids in the case of a tragic circumstance

I didn't bring up a tragic circumstance. You did. I brought up the possibility of someone developing an allergy to the family dog. Sad, but hardly tragic.

It's you that brought up drowning children and families perishing in fires. Blimey.

MachiaNelly · 04/07/2021 23:39

Eventually I'd pick my dc but I'd try every cleaning method and anti histamine going first as they'd be as devastated as I of the dog ever had to go

Well that a sensible and fair answer. I was half afraid I was going to be asked to save my family from going over Niagara Falls without a barrel.

TheFoundations · 04/07/2021 23:40

OK then @MachiaNelly

So, in conclusion, many people, like me, think that their pets are part of their family, and many others, like you, think they're not.

You think it's to do with who you would choose if somebody had to go, I don't.

It would be tragic in my eyes if a beloved dog had to leave a family because the kids became allergic, you wouldn't think it tragic.

We differ. Respect is key.

catfeets · 04/07/2021 23:43

I've been surprised by this too.
We ate at a restaurant on holiday in Cornwall recently and the only place we could find to eat in was a posh looking bistro. We have a 16mth old and were really worried she would cause a fuss, but when we got there 2 out of the 3 occupied tables had dogs at them.
We took our baby out a couple of times when she fussed or made a noise as we didn't want to annoy anyone, but the dogs were quite badly behaved and the owners seemed to find it quite funny. There was quite a bit of barking and jumping up at waitresses.

We're not allergic to dogs so had no objection to them being there, but were surprised to see so many when it wasn't advertised as dog friendly and the diners weren't locals.

Skinnytailedsquirrel · 04/07/2021 23:45

Peoples' entitlement issues again. Too many dogs in the UK and too many people don't know how to train them.