Dogs in cafes etc

[Dogscanteatonions]

I love dogs but I'm utterly fed up of them being cafes pubs restaurants shops etc, partly because I am allergic and partly because so many are poory behaved

However in the last week I've seen:

A man at the bar in a pub with his dog on the bar stool next to him with its paws up on the actual bar

A photo on the Facebook account of a favourite bar/ restaurant of a big hairy dog lying on one of the sofas - I'd have an allergic reaction if I sat on furniture right after a dog had been in it.

And to top it off yesterday I was in a cafe and the table next to me had a puppy which peed on the floor profusely which they halfheartedly mopped up with just a tissue from a pocket and didn't even tell staff so they could properly clean it. This was right next to serving counter.

I know a huge amount of people on Mumsnet are crazy pro dogs but I defy anyone to defend this. How do people think this is ok??

Aibu to think you should keep your dogs off furniture in these places and that you have an obligation to ensure its cleaned up properly if your 3 dog messes?

I think it’s horrible. I was in a cafe the other day when two dogs took a dislike to each other and started barking the place down - no one could continue their conversations and they didn’t move them for what seemed like ages

I was eating in a pub restaurant and all the tables around us had dogs and one came over and wiped his chin on me 🤢. I am allergic so it affected my breathing and we eventually had to cut our evening short.

It seems to be getting worse with dogs everywhere. Some owners don’t seem to give a second thought to others.

PS. I have a dog and grew up with dogs.

There are plenty of establishments which ban all dogs except registered guide-dogs (which must be admitted by law)

I think that sort of mixture is right. People can choose which one they go to.

Totally agree with what you've said.

The only pub in my local town that doesn't allow dogs is a dingy Wetherspoons. Every single other one does allow them.

And in fairness, most people round here are normal about their dogs so their dogs are well behaved. But I don't think that it's quite that simple to tell people with allergies that they can just find another pub - in some places, they can't.

I agree op. I’m not allergic but I was phobic as a child and while I’m pretty good now- there are many dogs I think are quite sweet and I’ll stroke and fuss. I still don’t want them in all the public spaces. Partly because they’re often badly behaved and badly ‘trained’ and allowed to take priority. I don’t see why dog lovers have suddenly been able to have it their way.

People are shitty and discourteous.

Dogs are fine but there owners need to be considerate and conscientious.

For those saying go elsewhere, where I live you're allowed to take dogs pretty much anywhere.

Totally agree! dogs with there owners outside cafes & humans inside! Simple.

Dogs used to be banned from areas where food was prepared or served. The old bloke with dog in pub was not standing next to an eating table. I don’t understand what has changed, because basic hygiene hasn’t.

Ever since lockdown there has been a noticeable increase in the number of inappropriate and irresponsible dog owners. Before then I hardly ever noticed anything like this but it's much more prevalent than it used to be.

Have owned several independent restaurants and in all cases the council EHO (Environmental Health) have said no dogs except guide (or assistance) dogs. So I wonder how dogs can be allowed at all.........

BubziOwl · Today 11:03
MrsSkylerWhite · Today 10:54
Goldandpurplezebra · Today 10:50
@MrsSkylerWhite let me guess, you're not allergic”

To dogs, no. If I were though I’d just go to one of the (majority) of cafes or pubs where dogs aren’t permitted.

“The only pub in my local town that doesn't allow dogs is a dingy Wetherspoons. Every single other one does allow them.

And in fairness, most people round here are normal about their dogs so their dogs are well behaved. But I don't think that it's quite that simple to tell people with allergies that they can just find another pub - in some places, they can't.“

Fair point. One of the benefits of being a townie I suppose, more choice.
The business owner has to make a decision based on what pays for them, though. Someone mentioned up thread their annoyance at 2 cafes in a park allowing dogs. I imagine in that instance, the clientele are in the main dog walkers and the owner is catering to demand. After the past couple of years, can’t blame them for that at all.

You may hate dogs in cafes but cafes need all the custom they can get, especially given the upset of the past few years. I agree that dogs should be kept under control, but honestly, I would much rather have thriving cafes with dogs in them than cafes going under because of lack of trade. The cafe owners have families and lives to maintain.

I have a dog and I'll bring him to outside sitting areas of cafes, pubs and restaurants and have him sit on the ground at my feet. I never bring him inside a place that serves food. I do not want to be inside a restaurant, pub or cafe with other people's dogs sitting on the furniture, sniffing the table, shedding hair everywhere. I see a dog friendly place and I walk past. If I'm going for something to eat I want somewhere that at least appears clean.

Could you also do a list of the well-behaved dogs in places? For balance. Because yes, these things are not really acceptable (and I love dogs and have a dog). But not all dogs / owners or places of business act like this. And that is why these threads get labelled as "dog-hating". I get incensed by the behaviour of some parents and their kids, but I don't think it's all or even the majority. And on the other side of the equation (a) my dog can go anywhere I can as he's a service dog, so very well-behaved and can't be banned simply because someone else might have an allergy and (b) there are still plenty of places that don't allow dogs in - I know because of the number of arguments I have with them about the fact that service dogs are permitted anywhere with their owners. Guide dogs for the blind / visualy impaired are far from being the only service dogs now.

I think it's because during lockdown there was an increase in dog ownership.

This means that
a) there's more people who would find 'dog friendly' places attractive, and businesses are trying everything they can to be attractive to lots of people.
and
b) the proportion of people who are idiots and who also own a dog has naturally gone up.

No more grim than the parents who change nappies on the tables. At least people aren't eating off the floor. The floor is going to be covered in all sorts of bacteria from people's shoes anyway.

The problem is not with the dogs (or the babies). It's the owners and parents who are to blame.

You’d still be allergic to that chair if a guide dog had been sat up against though? I’m so allergic to cats I can’t sit next to someone to owns a cat, let alone the cat itself. But the simple answer to that is keeping some antihistamines in my purse. It’s not difficult.

Unpopular opinion but I'm another person who is a bit afraid of dogs and I don't like it they are allowed everywhere either.
All pubs local to me are very dog friendly and it's annoying that you can't enjoy a meal without dogs from different tables snarling at each other. Also the hygiene thing.
YANBU.

I can honestly say I've never seen a baby being changed on a table! But I see every day dogs sitting on chairs, eating of cafe tables, in the pub, in the shops, absolutely everywhere!!

I LOVE dogs in cafes & bars. Even better if I get to fuss them!

if you’re allergic, why not go to the places that don’t allow dogs.

I agree & I feel the same, it's not a popular opinion & there is no where to go to escape them. I'm fed up of them being everywhere I go.

I love it. The more dogs the better.

I'm not a dog lover or dog hater,. I'm fairly indifferent and I don't mind dogs in foods places if they are well behaved.

I went out for brunch last week and a couple came in with a dog that has clearly been for a nice swim in a river... absolutely stank and I felt that was an off thing to do. He was a nice friendly little dog but they let it stetch it's lead over to our table to try and get a sniff of our food. Again, no thanks.

Totally agree with you.
I take my dog into cafes. I am lucky that he is very calm and doesn't bark (you wouldn't really know he is there, he just lies under the table). I would not let him on furniture, lick plates, approach other people's and make sure he has weed and pooed before (and a trained dog doesn't just open sesame inside unless desperate). If he is muddy or wet I would towel him off first. It's common sense.