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’m a massive dog lover, I have one myself, but I don’t feel the need to take him to John Lewis, cafes, or any public indoor area.
The reason for this is that I’ve seen many a dog lift their leg against something in shops, I’ve seen dogs shit in cafes, and I know many people who are frightened of dogs. Added to that the fact that pet allergies can affect people so badly means that I feel taking a dog into these areas when you don’t actually need to is a hugely selfish, entitled and actually pointless act. I think it’s disrespectful.
Guide dogs of course are wonderful and that’s totally different.

I’m allergic to dogs and am fed up of them in cafes and pubs. Guide dogs are trained to sit on the floor quietly, are very rare in any case and of course would always trump my comfort.

I don't think most people are that selfish tbh. I just think many are oblivious to the harm they're causing others and if you're used to living in a place which has dog slobber etc everywhere you don't notice it is happening in public places. I think most people, if they properly thought about what was happening a ns heard that its not a matter of take an antihistamine re allergies, could be encouraged to be more considerate.

Agree - and I get v worried for the smaller dogs when they’re being pulled around busy shopping centres in case anyone steps on their paws. I just feel bad for them, must be huge sensory overload as stressful. A dogs natural habitat is not John Lewis (where I’ve seen dozens and dozens of dogs).

What a fantastic dog owner you are. I wish they were all like you.

I wish I were exaggerating, but, sadly, nope. That actually happened. It was a meal we shall never forget, for all the wrong reasons!

What did you mean by mad? Itbseemed to suggest that people are happy for dogs to be in public indoors spaces. I think most people are just putting up with it. The fact that their are lots of dog friendly spaces is not evidence that thr vast majority of people want that.

Wait so now it’s that most people hate dogs and don’t want them in cafes but said cafes keep insisting on allowing them for some reason despite everyone hating it, yet somehow they don’t go bust because people are non-confrontational and don’t like to challenge things?

God, it must be exhausting to live with this kind of mental gymnastics going on in your head.

How is it not evidence? They wouldn't be opening here there and everywhere and being used by people with and without dogs if the vast majority of people had a strong aversion against them.

There are dog friendly spaces because people do actually want that, and also because a café owner will get more business if they are dog friendly. And some cafe owners love dogs.
I am not sure why some people are struggling with understanding this tbh.

Really not mental gymnastics to suggest that not boycotting a place means you're happy with dog slobber, fur and the bits of dog faeces which stick to their arses on the sofas and chairs etc. But if you want to Cs on being rude rather than actually conversing then go ahead. I'll take it as a sign that you don't actually have anything to say.

🤣 blimey

Some people want it of course. Some people don't. I've never said otherwise. Doesn't make it ok to have dogs running riot and on all the soft furnishings and owners dismissing the impact on others. I would love to see someone open a dog free (guide dog only) cafe and properly advertise that. I know ow loads of people who'd frequent that! Much nice experience for all. Failing a total dog ban indoors why not on leads and never in the furniture to any degree? Are there really that many entitled people that to require this would decimate a cafes takings?

I'm not at all neurotic. I am however highly allergic and have suffered life threatening life threatening reactions to allergens. As said sooooooo many times, there are no longer many dog free businesses so what looks to you like a simple plan really isn't.

Oh my life. There has been no one saying dogs should be able to run riot, shitting, pissing and bothering people. Get a grip now

Umm yes there have!! It's in the OP!

People are saying on this thread and in real life that people should allow dogs to run riot, shit and piss and bother people? I'll wait for the proof.

It's not just the shifting and passing which bothers people! Of all the time peoples pets have caused probelsm for me a d others around me, its not once involved shitting and pissing. That's certainly not something I mentioned.

Their very presence bothers some people and that is just unreasonable in a place that allow dogs. My dog doesn't bark, beg or bother anyone else. I am not disgusting or not a good owner for taking him the bloody pub.

You mentioned shifting and pissing not me.if a dog sits on a sofa it bothers other people. Many other non shitting ways have been mentioned by others.

I love dogs, we have a Labrador but I don't take him to pubs/cafes. He's gorgeous and beautifully well behaved but he's a drooler when there's food around. At home he's not allowed to beg for food but it's hard to stop him in a cafe or pub, it's so gross and I'd be annoyed if I had to sit eating a meal with someone elses drooling dog watching me so he says at home!

It's just economics. What has changed is that people aren't happy to leave their dogs tied up outside shops anymore. So if you want those people to spend money in shops and cafes you need to let them bring dogs in. Otherwise you're losing out on revenue from a whole spectrum of society. So blame the criminals who stole all the dogs during covid and ran puppy farms. On the allergy point, I'm not allergic but seems irrelevant to me whether the dog is on the floor or on the furniture. If you are highly allergic surely both would trigger a reaction so you're better off not going to a dog friendly location?

I'm giving the examples that have been given on this thread. My dog doesn't get on furniture in pubs either, unless, as I have mentioned, he was invited up by the landlord for a photo.

And if it is a place that actively welcomes dogs on furniture then you know not to go there.

I'm not suggesting your dog is allowed to approach others, lick their hands, sit on a sofa or any of the other things which bother others but many do. Their presence usually bothers people for a reason. For me it's a possible allergic reaction. A dog on a hard floor, not approaching others and not on the furniture I can avoid. As some have said, as ever, it's the irresponsible ones who make a problem for everyone. But personally I think they have no place in a restaurant a or a department store and there really should be some dog free cafes and pubs and rules re acceptable dog behaviour even in the places they're allowed in.