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?

@Patchworkknitter

I'm guessing I'm not going to get any understanding here.

Thank you.

It seems YABU. That’s it really.

@Patchworkknitter

I'm guessing I'm not going to get any understanding here.

Thank you.

That would be because most people think your wrong!

I can't think of anything else than taking my dog to the cinema. He'd be a massive pain in the arse and get in everyone's way 😄

Some places just aren't dog friendly, same way some places aren't child friendly. I mean you can't take you kid to the cinema if you're going to see an 18 film and you'd probably be unlikely to take a 3 year old to the opera.

Dear god no. Dogs are in far too many places already. And I’m sure your dog is very special to you but it will always be a dog.

No.

Yes well behaved dogs and their handlers are fine with me (Im not a dog owner)

the cinema? the theatre? seriously?

And children aren’t allowed loads of places too. They’re not allowed (or at least not encouraged) in theatres depending on the show, not allowed in cinemas for age-restricted stuff, not in adult-only hotels or campsites or resorts, or in fancy restaurants (I mean, you can try but you won’t be popular!) You can’t take a dog on a zip-wire but you can’t take kids under a certain height/age either etc.

Some things are not suitable for all.

Yes they should
They are cleaner,better behaved and all round better company that noisy entitled kids running around screaming,throwing good on the floor,barging into people....

Surely you considered all this before you got a dog? As an owner (and you sound like a good one) you have to accept the responsibilities and constraints that come with it.

I like dogs but they are often allowed to be quite anti-social and intimidating even in open spaces, I wouldn’t want to see them in indoor environments any more than they already are.

You don’t want understanding, you want people to agree your dog should be allowed into more places. Most replies suggest people disagree.

If there’s other stuff going on then post a new thread about that. This one is daft and the answers won’t help you.

How can I? My dog walker doesn't walk evenings and my nearest cinema is 40 minutes away, nearest theatre 45 minutes away. That's nearly 2 hours travelling plus the show. A dog can't be left alone for that time

OP, you chose to have a dog. Did you not take all of the above into consideration when making your choice?
Pets tie you down, especially dogs. It's inevitable that if you have a dog you can't simply go wherever you want to, whenever you want to like you did before: you have to take account of the dog's needs as well as your own.

@Patchworkknitter

I'm guessing I'm not going to get any understanding here.

Thank you.

But where do you want to take them?

I mean, the cinema is inappropriate not for the other punters but because cinema surround sound is going to be distressing to the dog.

For what it's worth, I didn't say I wanted to take my dog to the cinema or theatre. There were examples of places I could no longer go.

I can never understand why on threads about dogs they get compared to children. All dogs are angelic and all children are badly behaved apparently. I don’t find that in RL.

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.

These aren’t new rules though, it’s not like dogs used to be allowed in these places, so you knew this when you decided to get a dog. You presumably thought it was worth it.

@Patchworkknitter

For what it's worth, I didn't say I wanted to take my dog to the cinema or theatre. There were examples of places I could no longer go.

You can if you plan things. Same as I can as a parent if I find suitable childcare unless it’s a child friendly show

If you decide to have a dog you accept that will impact on life

No, I wish to see less of dogs not more of them!

@Patchworkknitter

For what it's worth, I didn't say I wanted to take my dog to the cinema or theatre. There were examples of places I could no longer go.

You live too far away from the cinema that’s your problem.

A dog is not a child. A dog is a dog. In most countries they live outside and work for their keep. This trope of "my dog is my child" is damaging and helps no one.

No, sorry. I love dogs, but there's a lot of allergy sufferers who would be negatively impacted and the places you've suggested are really not what I'd call dog friendly. Particularly the cinema which would certainly be painfully loud for the poor pooch.

I also don't really get comments like this They are cleaner,better behaved and all round better company that noisy entitled kids running around screaming,throwing good on the floor,barging into people.....

I don't want badly behaved dogs, children or people in general around me, unfortunately all 3 categories exist.

No. I can't stand people who treat their dogs like children, and the place they want to eat and drink is dictated by their dogs.

I have two dogs, no children.

I actually prefer dogs over kids.

But I think being allowed in pubs and some cafes is plenty. They shouldn't be allowed in restaurants.

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

Apart from the pub, it isn’t unreasonable to expect all those other places to be dog free. And of course you can do the above. A dog can be left for a few hours.

There's hardly any dog friendly places near me

I’m surprised. Dogs seem to be accepted in most places these days.

You seem to have an unhealthy and rather self-entitled attitude about your dog.

Fuck no. As someone who lives in the Lake District I'd like more places to ban dogs. Fed up of every cafe stinking of wet dog hair