Should dogs be allowed in more places?

[Patchworkknitter]

I'm a bit hurt today but I don't know if I'm being completely unreasonable.

A friend and I were trying to arrange to meet up. We had sorted what we were doing and then she changed her mind and wanted to change where we did something which would have added another 90 minutes onto the day.

I couldn't do that as my dog would already have been left all day (with 2 dog walks from a dog walker). Even with the dog walker, he couldn't do another 90 minutes. My friend got a bit cross and said I should just get my parents to look after him but they're already looking after him the day before so it wouldn't be fair. I don't like to ask them too often, a bit like people don't like to look after their children too often.

It just seems we always do child friendly places (I'm not a Mum but I try my best to be understanding of her childcare needs). She says she can't afford any additional childcare to that which she already needs for work but I can't afford additional dog care either (I pay £400 a month and don't have a partner to share any costs).

It got me thinking how restrictive it can be having a dog as a single person. I wouldn't change him for the world but it's incredibly difficult. If it was childcare I feel people would be much more understanding.

If I was a mum I could take my children pretty much everywhere.
As a dog owner, I can no longer go to the cinema, to most pubs, to restaurants, to the theatre, shopping, etc without paying out for extra dog care.

I feel dogs should be allowed in more places, more shops, more cafes, more pubs etc. Aibu?

@StrangeToSee

Honestly I can’t decide if you are for real or you just find it funny to try and wind folk up 😂

“You seem to find it comical a dog could knock them off balance?” Right enough that’s exactly what I said, you’ve hit the nail on the head with that one 😵‍💫😂

I stand by what I said you sound ridiculous give yourself peace…it’s the minority of both people and dogs you are talking about.

Saying things like “what people need to realise” as if you’ve any right to tell people what to think 😭😂

And “Why would she want to be bothered by other people’s dogs all day?” Why would OP want to be bother with other people’s children it’s legitimately the exact same 😂

@StrangeToSee Also I hope your irresponsible dog owners comment wasn’t aimed at me my dog is very well trained and has excellent recall! As stated in my previous comment the only times there have ever been a child and dog chase involving my dog the child has been chasing my dog (presumably to play) not my dog chasing them nor reacting to the children chasing her. My reaction to this is not that the child is trying to attack or that children should not be allowed in the park…because I’m not irrational

@Grellbunt

It's your choice to get a dog.

Unlike human children your dog isn't necessary for the survival of our species.

And you can't take children everywhere either. Although breastfeeding mothers get sensitive if an adults-only venue (the clue is in the name) says no babies. But generally people accept that they need childcare for kids. I can't understand why they can't accept that they need doggycare for doggies.

Also I hope your irresponsible dog owners comment wasn’t aimed at me my dog is very well trained and has excellent recall! As stated in my previous comment the only times there have ever been a child and dog chase involving my dog the child has been chasing my dog (presumably to play) not my dog chasing them nor reacting to the children chasing her. My reaction to this is not that the child is trying to attack or that children should not be allowed in the park…because I’m not irrational

I’ve no idea what your dog is like. Or your ownership skills.

Sure children shouldn’t be allowed to chase your dog. Toddlers sometimes make a beeline for moving fluffy things (or walk into them!) And parents generally hurry over, apologise and retrieve toddler.
A dog chasing a child ‘playfully’ is entirely different because dogs have a prey drive. They can easily kill or maim a small child if they want to. And (most) children seem to have an instinctive wariness of dogs, just as they often fear snakes and spiders. My DC are fine around our dog but don’t want to be sniffed, licked or pawed at by unknown dogs.

I took my DDs dog for a walk into town

7 children came up and approached him (he is lovely and very friendly) but still their parents did not know that

I love dogs and like it when we see them out and about. However I do relax more when we are on a dog free beach or at a dog free attraction as I know my daughter won't step in dog poo yet again. I know most people pick up after their dogs and I'm sure you do but my mother in law and other irresponsible owners don't. My nephew is severely allergic to dogs so can't go to enclosed places with then.

@ichundich

No arguments in favour of keeping dogs, you mean? No, you're right, it's been wrong for the last 11 000 years. All those humans who decided to keep dogs domestically since then clearly didn't hear of your most excellent 'carbon emission' theory. It's a travesty that nobody listened to you, really. If only you'd been around in the ice age, we could have saved the world from this crime against nature...

@RaindropsonPiglets

I took my DDs dog for a walk into town

7 children came up and approached him (he is lovely and very friendly) but still their parents did not know that

That's a valid point.

I've never understood why some parents allow kids to do that.

I have two kids - one was terrified of dogs (getting better now) and the other loves dogs. I've always taught him not to approach dogs but approach the owner to ask if he can pet the dog etc. Almost all have been great with him. Either have got the dog to sit to allow him to pet the dog and tell him all about the dog, or explain to him that the dog doesn't enjoy being pet etc but thanked him for asking.

I've never understood why some parents allow kids to do that

Me neither, My dog's tiny and gentle, but if a child approaches I always tell them to ask first before getting near her/touching her. It's potentially so dangerous.

Why has this turned into a children vs. dogs conversation? It doesn't make any sense. Dogs aren't banned from cinemas and restaurants because children are in them and my understanding was the Op was upset about not being able to take her dog out at night, it's not like cinemas and bars are generally full of young kids at 9pm.

@FindYourPorpoise

Why has this turned into a children vs. dogs conversation? It doesn't make any sense. Dogs aren't banned from cinemas and restaurants because children are in them and my understanding was the Op was upset about not being able to take her dog out at night, it's not like cinemas and bars are generally full of young kids at 9pm.

It’s been that conversation from the start. OP believes her dog is her child.

As if most dogs would just take a shit in a cafe LOT of dog hate on Mumsnet, as usual

@namechanged984630

As if most dogs would just take a shit in a cafe LOT of dog hate on Mumsnet, as usual

Yes, it's nothing like real life. There just isn't any kind of 'dog hating' in the real world. Otherwise there'd be less and less places welcoming them, not more an more.

@Blossomtoes

But what does that have to do with being able to take your dog out with you in the evening? If she was a lone parent with a young child she wouldn't she be in a similar situation? She would have to get someone to dog sit (accepting she doesn't want to leave it) or just stay at home.

@TheFoundations

To be fair, there's an equal amount of anti-child nonsense here too. Children being less hygienic than dogs? Nonsense.

If that were true, we would see fewer and fewer places welcoming them, not more and more.

[quote FindYourPorpoise]@Blossomtoes

But what does that have to do with being able to take your dog out with you in the evening? If she was a lone parent with a young child she wouldn't she be in a similar situation? She would have to get someone to dog sit (accepting she doesn't want to leave it) or just stay at home. [/quote]
If she had a small child the number of places it could be taken at any time would be greater.

I’m not being drawn into another bloody dog thread. Enjoy.

I often say that a dog is like a child that never toilet trains.
When a person has children , they will have a couple of years of being seriously limited in what they can do, especially any breastfeeding mothers. But after a while it is less limiting and eventually the baby is a teenager who can not only be left alone but can be sent to the shops for supplies or tasked with keeping an eye on younger children. A dog will always be a dog: it will always need to be walked and fed and have its poo picked up, and youll never be able to leave it alone. That's just dog ownership, it's very limiting I agree, but if you dont like it then you shouldn't really have a dog.

Theoretically, yes, young children can be taken to the cinema and to a restaurant in the evening but most people don't do this, they just get a babysitter or stay at home.

I wouldn't want to spend my evening in any cinema viewing that would welcome my toddler.

I don't think this is about the rights of people with kids vs those with dogs, it's about adults expecting to be able to enjoy an evening without either disturbing them.

[quote FindYourPorpoise]@TheFoundations

To be fair, there's an equal amount of anti-child nonsense here too. Children being less hygienic than dogs? Nonsense.

If that were true, we would see fewer and fewer places welcoming them, not more and more. [/quote]
I agree. I'm just saying that the dog stuff is nonsense, not that everything else is right

[quote TheFoundations]@ichundich

No arguments in favour of keeping dogs, you mean? No, you're right, it's been wrong for the last 11 000 years. All those humans who decided to keep dogs domestically since then clearly didn't hear of your most excellent 'carbon emission' theory. It's a travesty that nobody listened to you, really. If only you'd been around in the ice age, we could have saved the world from this crime against nature...[/quote]
How many people were there on this planet 11000 years ago? How many are there now and how many of them have a dog not because they need one to hunt / guard but purely for pleasure? But I don't think there is much point arguing with someone like you. The CO2 impact of dogs is just one reason why we should think twice about breeding dogs. There are also the many fatal and near fatal attacks that happen each year, dog fouling, illnesses that are passed on from dog faeces, car accidents caused by untrained dogs running into the road, etc.

@ichundich

You're right, I'm not worth arguing with. Shame you've wasted your time so far, eh? Have a lovely weekend.

Were the seagulls aware that they were being 'playfully chased' by the dogs? I really dislike seeing dogs and children chasing wildlife.

Hilarious all these posters saying “having a dog is a choice”, when guess what? Having a baby is also a lifestyle choice.

Ultimately it’s up to business owners and I do think many are realising their demographic now includes dog owners, so I expect we’ll see more options in future

[quote mafted]@Sparklingbrook C.O? If so yes, just got back from there again, went to the trampoline place with the children and took something back. Dogs. Dogs everywhere on the shopping side. I don't get it, they mostly seem to be outside the shops with an owner. It seems pointless.[/quote]
That’s the one! Dogs everywhere, two at a time sometimes. Very strange.

Continuing your own species really isn’t a ‘lifestyle choice’. A lifestyle choice is choosing to live in a city or buy expensive clothes rather than have foreign holidays!
Obviously the young of any species need more looking after but adult dogs are perfectly able to survive without any human intervention, I don’t think it would be obvious to the friend that an extra hour and a half out of the house would be a problem when the dog has 2 visits booked in (presuming we’re not talking about a young puppy)