To wonder why the UK became so dog friendly?

[LancelotsLeftArm]

I have had several dogs in my life but I'm finding recent events in the last 2-3 years baffling.

Local ice cream shop lets dogs in - no longer go there as last time there was a massive dog blocking serving place where DC choose flavours, not sure what breed but size of a Labrador. 2 year Old's face ended up getting licked and knocked over,now DC doesn't feel comfortable around dogs. Always dogs there now but usually not that bad.

Family member has 2 labs that hate each other (no idea why) plus a history of "nipping" each other (?!) and recently they were growling at each other, teeth bared, lips rolling back. Toddler right between them with a toy. Heard the growling, got worse for about about 2mins, decided to tell toddler to move away quietly and calmly. Put myself between toddler and dogs. In law Relative went ape shit , offended. FFS. Decided we're not welcome in future if we don't accept that the dogs would "never harm a child" (like that's a reassurance).

School (primary school) is dog friendly and allowing dogs on leads in playground at pickup times which would NEVER have been accepted in my school. Including larger ones, not terriers etc - more Pointers etc.

As more people became dog owners, businesses realised they'd need to allow dogs in or loose custom. I don't have a problem with dogs being allowed in to a lot of places, but there needs to be rules. In eateries, dogs should be on the floor under the table. I absolutely hate it when dogs wander around or even worse, the owners lift them up onto the seating and feed them at the table. I don't want to sit on a seat that someone's dog has been sitting on.
Also, on a recent visit to a garden centre, I encountered a dog who barked non stop. Now this might have been tolerable in the gardening department but it was in the ladies clothing department with a man who was waiting for his wife (I assume) and he made no attempt to silence or correct the dog.

I cannot for the life of me imagine that dogs enjoy shopping so not really sure why people insist on dragging them around the shops.

@pharaohrocher - you are quite wrong - dogs are allowed on short leads at every NT property’s grounds as far as I know.

Obviously country pubs allow dogs - that’s their bread and butter. And town ones too - we all know the tale about “just off to walk the dog” !

I don’t think it’s appropriate for dogs to be in shopping centres etc, for the dog’s sake if anything. And I agree about the “emotional support” dogs; I even saw one in Disneyworld. Fancy subjecting a poor dog to that level of crowds and heat. Very selfish.

I do think that there are more “I hate dogs” people around. Bloody joggers barging past, people screaming… if you hate labradors and retrievers you must really hate dogs as they are not slathering pit bulls. A while ago I went to a pub billed as “The New Forest’s Most Dog-Friendly Pub.” There is sign outside . And at the next table was a couple glaring and huffing and puffing and shuddering at my dog sleeping under the table. Prats.

I never said anything about riding on the road.

i said children on bikes or scooters can be a danger to more vulnerable pedestrians.

why don’t you explain why their safety is less important?

I am sure when I was growing up it was the norm to leave your dogs at home sometimes and/or tie them up outside a shop. What happened to trigger this desire to take them everywhere you go?! I swear people are more attached to their dogs than children

It's getting harder to find a dog free cafe or coffee shop

@TrashyPanda why don't you give us the figures for all those vulnerable people killed or seriously injured by toddlers on bikes! FFS!!

My dog would 💯 prefer to be with me in John Lewis (as she was very recently - thank you JL) than left alone. I wouldn’t take her in if I thought otherwise. The majority of dog owners make sensible decisions. I would never take a soaking wet dog in a shop for example.

“The majority of dog owners make sensible decisions.”

Do they?

The rise in dog thefts plays a huge part.

I'd never leave my dog tied up outside a shop or unattended in our secure garden - because you never know what could happen. Two dogs went missing from their garden near me recently and were found six HOURS away at the opposite end of the country. Someone had the cut the kennel with bolt cutters and stolen them.

We're also learning that dogs shouldn't be left alone for huge periods of time, so if people are going out all day, they take their dogs with them, and want to go for lunch or to the shops while they're out.

As a disabled person, I’m speaking from personal experience.

is that okay for you? Or should I just stay in my house all day, so as not to inconvenience you?

Ddad takes his exceptionally well behaved lab to all sorts of places which is great and the dog loves it.
I don’t mind dogs in cafes etc. most are well behaved, there is the odd one that will come up to children and say hello but I don’t mind unless it’s an aggressive breeds and yes I do know that all dogs can bite.

OP I would have been very concerned about my toddler being in the middle of two dogs growling at each other because if they decided to start fighting the toddler probably would have got bitten. It would have been accidental because dogs aren’t good at aiming when they are fighting.

But you didn't say that in your op. You just said that children shouldn't ride scooters or bikes on the pavement.

Children absolutely should be taught to slow down, give space to other people and give them a wide berth. But that doesn't mean they should never ride a scooter in public.

My 4yo can't walk all the way to school so he goes by scooter. As is encouraged by the school, who don't want every single child to be driven to school every day.

It’s awful isn’t it. Dog owners are so selfish and entitled and think everyone should love their dirty mutts.

I cannot for the life of me imagine that dogs enjoy shopping so not really sure why people insist on dragging them around the shops.

Convenience.
Because if you take your dog on holiday, you can't leave them in your accommodation so they have to come with you everywhere you go.

@LancelotsLeftArm
OP, your relative's comment that the dog(s) would "never harm a child" is ridiculous and you were quite right to step between the child and harm's way.

How often nowadays do we hear of dogs becoming agitated and attacking young children? Yet the day before the attack, the dogs owners would state the dog was safe around children. You wouldn't leave a child alone with matches, so why trust a dog around children, when they can be unpredictable.
A previous poster has said their local cafe has new owners, and dogs are allowed on the sofas ! The pathogens from faeces must be on those seats, that people are expected to sit on and eat food !

You presuming small children ride or scoot into people.

Not seen that in my area as it isn't actually toddlers on scooters or small bikes it is preschoolers and primary aged children. Children who are old enough to know and follow instructions not to go into people and to stop when they are near strangers.

You are actually at risk from older secondary children and adults who can safely ride on the road but ride on the pavement and seem affronted when you refuse to move out of their way.

Anyway this is about badly behaved dogs.

I love dogs. Obviously pets at home welcomes all dogs which is fine. What I don't like however are the owners who let their dogs piss all over cat litter or other items on the lower shelf. You could easily pull your dog away to piss on the floor and not against merchandise.

Fuck knows, there's always one howling and barking through the night. Shit everywhere, bags hung from trees, jumping up at you on a walk. It's not the dog, it's the owners blah blah...

Of course not @TrashyPanda but you are claiming that dogs and children are comparible nuicances when they are not.

nuisances even

Commercial opportunity I think.

See also supporting charities to look good, whilst still treating employees poorly and/or on low pay.

There were a lot of dog friendly cafes near me earlier in the pandemic but most have become dog free again now.

I think dogs in the playground is completely unacceptable.

I know where I live in Cornwall places have become more dog friendly simply because businesses are realising that dog owners make up a large amount of tourists and therefore they can make more money.

I can't stand it. It's gross for those of us who can't stand the stench and slobber of dogs. I avoid places that allow dogs where possible.

I think there has been a big push from the dog industry to foist dogs on us. It's a big money-maker. Dogs are everywhere in TV shows and films. It's mental.

In some places I'm very glad there are so many dog friendly cafes, pubs and beaches because it means I can go for long weekends away without paying a fortune for kennels.

Some are doing it for business reasons and some are just owned by people who like dogs - the latter are the ones I prefer because they're properly prepared. Some of the ones I've used provide dog beds / blankets, towels, water and sometimes treats, which all helps me keep my dog clean, dry and out of the way.

On the other hand, people who are offended by the idea of their dog being dangerous to a child are idiots. Mine is 14, has never shown aggression is his life but dc in the family aren't left alone with him and are given strict instructions on how to deal with him.

Also, I can't think of any good reason to take a dog shopping tbh. Mine would be well behaved but he'd want to sniff everything and he sheds hair like a bugger so you wouldn't want him near new clothes!

Biggest issue for me is the amount of people with badly behaved dogs that you're supposed to just tolerate.
I love dogs but I don't want them slobbering or jumping on me, eyeing up my dinner or barking their heads off around me.
If they can't behave, they should be at home (with the exception of a young dog being trained). And I say that as someone who's previous dog was an arse when it came to this stuff. She couldn't be trusted with food or other dogs so she was left at home,