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.

I was half afraid I was going to be asked to save my family from going over Niagara Falls without a barrel

But seriously, if they did go over Niagra Falls would you make the humans and the dog use an antihistamine first?

But seriously, if they did go over Niagra Falls would you make the humans and the dog use an antihistamine first?

Yeah. They'd need a little water to wash it down though.

I think that if the dogs are well behaved, nobody has a leg to stand on re not wanting them there. There's no rules against it, you can ask to be seated away from any dogs, just as you can asked to be seated away from children, and if you don't like it, you can take responsibility for your own preferences and go elsewhere.

If the dogs are poorly behaved and bothering people, then the owners need to be told to get the situation in line, or leave.

@AlternativePerspective

One thing confuses me though. If dogs are allowed in restaurants, why aren’t they allowed in food shops (or many other shops) for hygiene reasons? they are if the shop owner deems it appropriate.

The only place dogs aren’t allowed is in food preparation areas, otherwise allowing or not allowing dogs is down to the shop/restaurant owner.

ILs used to live in Devon and there most of the shops allowed dogs in, and some even had biscuits on the counters for the dogs.

TBH I apply the same rule of thumb to dogs as to children. They should be well behaved and their owners should have them under control.

Equally children should be well behaved, and screeching, running around etc shouldn’t be tolerated.

Children are not comparable to dogs! In the same way that an adult human is not comparable to an adult dog. It worries me that people see human children on a level with another animal species

@joystir59

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

Do you also dislike young dogs or is it just young humans you dislike?

Applying the same rule of thumb to children and dogs does not mean that people see children and dogs as comparable. All human or animal beings in any public space should be well behaved, well controlled, and respectful of others.

If the dogs are poorly behaved and bothering people, then the owners need to be told to get the situation in line, or leave

Define poorly behaved?

Upthread someone said dogs barking and jumping up (at staff? She wasn’t sure) wasn’t a biggie. I’d say that it was the mark of a poorly behaved dog that was bothering people. Do other diners really have to be subjected to that before the owners may or may not be told to get the animal under control or leave? Because we all know that every dog owner does exactly that when asked.

I’m a dog owner and outside I think it’s okay for restaurants to have dogs. I wouldn’t really like to be inside and around a lot of dogs eating.
I often take my dog to the pub which has outdoor seating

Was in TGIs not long ago with a children’s party next to me, screeching, running around and jumping up on the chairs near me.
Children are also unhygienic! So yes you can compare children to dogs and nice normal people who like animals class their dogs are their kids.

@MaMelon

There's no law against dogs in restaurants. Like with anything else, complain if there's something you don't like.

'Do people really have to be subjected to x y z' is the same with anything. Do people really have to be subjected to football supporters cheering, or the person who accidentally stumbles against their table on the way out, or the bread rolls not being warmed, or the place only servid diet pepsi rather than the diet coke you want... It's just life. Some places welcome dogs. As long as nobody is being rude, let them get on with it, and if you would prefer not to be around them, then be responsible for yourself and leave.

The other option is to bar a great deal of potentially happy and respectful paying customers for the sake of the few who have a particular preference.

I'd prefer not to be in a restaurant with people who don't like my dog, but I assume that my preferences are worth less than yours?

@rosalie11

Was in TGIs not long ago with a children’s party next to me, screeching, running around and jumping up on the chairs near me. Children are also unhygienic! So yes you can compare children to dogs and nice normal people who like animals class their dogs are their kids.

I have had kids hide under my table, and sneakily try to pinch food from my plate. From personal experience, dog owners keep a better eye on their pets than many parents do on their kids. I love seeing dogs in cafes/restaurants. Always makes me smile and lifts my spirits.

Do you have children yourself?

I really love dogs and we have two but god I really do not like places like this, unless the dogs are only allowed to be outside! There's just no need. Given our dogs aren't even allowed in our kitchen, I find it really weird and unsanitary tbh.

I don't eat where dogs are allowed (apart from assistance dogs). It is not conducive to a relaxed environment having dogs barking and/ or fighting in a restaurant and it's not cheap to eat out. I also spoke to a manager as one staff member clapped and actually fed a dog by hand, at a table. Then returned to the kitchen and proceeded to bring out customers food and serve it. I told the manager, I hoped this person had washed their hands as they wouldn't be serving my food. Another restaurant had a woman sitting at a table with her dog on her lap, the dog resting it's head on the table. These two experiences were enough for me. Im now at great pains to eat in dog free places. Too many staff are too lax with hygiene. Restaurants are not a place for pets, unless it's assistance dogs.

@FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop

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

Exactly this! I don't get people comparing dogs to children. Dogs are clearly more unhygienic and there's a strong chance of dog hairs getting in food if they shook.

Puts me off dog friendly restaurants 🤢

I have 2 well behaved dogs. I have never taken them into a restaurant or pub. The dogs will get nothing out of just laying under a table, especially if there are other dogs wandering around, barking or being a general nuisance. I wouldn’t be happy eating with other peoples dogs around. I have taken them into a beer garden to have a quick drink whilst out on a walk.

I usually take them for a long walk, give them a drink, then pop them in the van if I’m going into a pub for lunch. They are happier sleeping in the van than they would be in a pub/restaraunt.

This needing to take your dog everywhere is really strange. I have a dog however he stays at home when we go out to cafes/pubs/restaurants.

I get it if the dog is already with you and it’s as part of a walk maybe. Sitting outside a pub with the dog and having something to eat is fairly normal.
I wouldn’t understand taking the dog to a restaurant in the car straight from the house. Because it likes being with you and it’s just going to lie under a table. Leave it to sleep at home.

@Elys3

I have also noticed this. I prefer not to share the space with a dog unless it’s an assistance dog.

I fail to see the difference between the two.

With an assistance dog you can totally understand that it needs to be there. That’s the difference.

@LadyPoison

My dog is a regular visitor to pubs and cafes and occasionally restaurants.

You really won't know he's there ( unlike some children). He'll generally sleep under the table until it's time to go.

I hate to break it to you, but I will know he's there. He smells.

@KimmyAndMe

I have 2 well behaved dogs. I have never taken them into a restaurant or pub. The dogs will get nothing out of just laying under a table, especially if there are other dogs wandering around, barking or being a general nuisance. I wouldn’t be happy eating with other peoples dogs around. I have taken them into a beer garden to have a quick drink whilst out on a walk.

I usually take them for a long walk, give them a drink, then pop them in the van if I’m going into a pub for lunch. They are happier sleeping in the van than they would be in a pub/restaraunt.

Lots of dogs get plenty out of lying peacefully beside their humans rather than being left alone. Unless you have an air conditioning system that works separately from the engine, which most people don't, then putting in a van isn't really an option unless you can guarantee the sun won't come out or you'll come back to a dog with heat stroke or worse.

So I’m some cases it’s because the dog can’t be left home alone? It has to come to the restaurant?
Why stop there. Take it ice skating or to a West End show maybe?

@TheFoundations

Applying the same rule of thumb to children and dogs does not mean that people see children and dogs as comparable. All human or animal beings in any public space should be well behaved, well controlled, and respectful of others.

Listen, I appreciate that you are trying to be even handed and respectful in your defence of dogs but you are just plain wrong I’m afraid. A dog can be “controlled” but a child can’t be in the same way and nor should they because they are human beings!! Furthermore, a child isn’t going to harm anyone by being out of control whilst a dog most certainly can. You keep saying people can leave and go elsewhere if they don’t like it but, actually, why should they have to? Why should children have to leave our only park cafe because people who can’t control their dogs have taken over there?

I live quite rurally in a tourist place. My dog is normally allowed in the bar and outside dining places. He’s generally a good boy but my DP did teach him to bark for treats over lockdown so last time I took him out he did wood twice during the meal (it’s a single woof and he gets a firm no). I always check in new places if he’s allowed. I normally eat out following a long walk and I don’t leave him in the car in the summer so if he couldn’t come in with me I’d need to go home.