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?

My Bichon can behave herself anywhere, local restaurants and shops love her. She's 4 now. When she was 1 she was awful, she'd yap and fuss and once she did a massive wee in a furniture shop that allowed dogs (i was armed with towels and wipes so it was fine, the sales people actually laughed.)

You can't put up up a sign saying only "nice" dogs so a ban on all dogs is reasonable. We are getting a new puppy- she's likely going to be dreadful for a while and I will not be foisting her on the general public in closed situations.

Dogs are wonderful but they also do gross and even dangerous things. There should not be general access for non-service dogs.

My dog is not my child

FTFY

Nope Plenty enough places as it is.

They're animals not humans.

@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.

It's your own rule about not leaving your dog that is stopping you OP. That's not a good reason for everyone else to change the rules about dogs in the places you mention (cafes, pubs).

@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.

But you can

You won’t get a lot of understanding because lots of places are dog friendly already and you chose to get a dog knowing the limitations .

Things my family has done recently with and without hound:

Swimming (pool, without)
Swimming (river, with)
Picnic (with)
Inflatables park (without)
Rock climbing wall (without)
Long walk/hike (with)
Theatre (without)
Hairdressers (without)
Supermarket (without)
Eating out (both with and without)
Visiting historic stuff (with and without)
Bookshop (with)
Over to people’s houses (both with and without)

Some things are appropriate for canine company. Some are not.

I do wonder why between the two of you, you can't find dog/child friendly places? Surely you could go for a walk in a local forest or park and take a picnic? Go to a cafe and sit outside?

What kind of places does she want you to go to that are unsuitable?

I can't think of anywhere I'd like to take my dog to that I'm currently not allowed.

People aren't allergic to or scared of children.
Children don't shed hair and lick their privates in public, jump up at people or bark at them. They wear nappies or are toilet trained.
Your dog might be very well behaved and lie quietly under the table, but many don't.

Maybe you should move closer to the town if you want to be able to go to the cinema/theater?

@KarmaStar

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....

LMAO just like the dog that knocked DD5 over the other day after charging at her in a public park?

I’m guessing you work full time. So if you have a dog you can’t expect to leave it all day then go out for the evening.
Dogs are accepted in plenty of places. They certainly don’t belong in a theatre for instance.
And yes I have dogs. I bloody love them. They aren’t children though.

No sorry I absolutely hate dogs in cafes and shops unless they are service dogs.

@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 go. You just can’t go carefree and without sorting out logistics.

No.

That is all.

Cross posted with you, OP.

Not being nasty, but is this your first dog? As it's quite difficult to realistically anticipate the impact they can have on your life. I feel like this about my kid sometimes.

I'd work on your dog's ability to be home alone if possible and honestly, he should be ok left for slightly longer every once in a while.

Have you seen the website Borrow My Doggy? We use it as do friends, and once you've got to know and trust 'borrowers' it means you get proper day and nights out, the dog gets new friends and you only pay an annual fee.

Yes.

Or you could hire a babysitter for the dog? That's what I need to do for my children . It's just the deal you sign up to with a dependent being.

Lots of children have accidents. The pool I swim at has regularly been closed due to child poo.

weirdest reply EVER 😂🤣

are kids at your pool not learning to use the Toilets 🤢

My husband wouldn't be allergic to anyone's children. If dogs are allowed to go everywhere, he would be stuck at home.

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 do not want dogs barking in the theatre or getting hair over new clothes thank you very much.

Sorry, to be clear.
YABVU.
Dogs are not children.

@ADialgaAteMyDog

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.

If it helps people who aren't able to have children to think of their pets that way then they should. It's not harming anyone.

Have you tried contacting your local pubs/cafes to see if they'd be open to relaxing their rules on dogs? No harm in asking ☺️ 🐶

Personally I'd love to see dogs everywhere but I have a friend with a huge phobia and it would make her life a misery. It's bad enough having to check campsites and pubs to see if she can go. If they were allowed in theatres and libraries and other places she'd never go anywhere.

YANBU we are lucky to have many dog friendly places near to us.

“Unlike human children your dog isn't necessary for the survival of our species.”’😆🙄oh my word. It’s not a good thing, the human race is a plague!

@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 have said (paraphrased)

• dogs should be allowed in more places
• I can't go to the cinema because I have a dog
• I don't want dogs to be allowed in cinemas

So how would dogs being allowed in more places (but not the cinema) allow you to go to the cinema?