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’ve found MN helpful in tackling my own dislike of dogs as people take it to such an extreme degree on here that it makes me want to not end up like that.

Honestly, I think one of the best things we could do for the planet is to stop thinking that we as humans are the top of a hierarchy over other animals. I’m not suggesting that any animal be allowed to piss and shit everywhere, before someone starts, but given how destructive humans are as a group, and our overall propensity towards selfishness, it might be better if we lived in a world where we didn’t constantly see ourselves as better than all other species and therefore deserving of ultimate priority.

Firstly I have a dog who I love dearly. We have an amazing bond. He is my first dog whom I got later in life. I had to familiarise myself around dogs beforehand as I was brought up to be anxious around dogs by my Mum who was scared and hated them and passed that onto me. Once I understood dogs behaviour however the fear went and I adore most of the breeds apart from a few whom I give a wide berth.

However I’d never ever let my dog urinate or deficate in a public eatery or place with lots of people around eg shops etc. That’s disgusting. My dog is socialised and well trained and I’d expect him to be calm and behave or I would leave the place assuming it allowed dogs .I tend to only bring my dog to a cafe type place on holidays. Otherwise he stays at home where there is always someone with him.

I had enough years of being nervous around dogs to understand and empathise with those who don’t want dogs jumping up and licking them. Some dogs are nuts and bonkers and whilst I have no issue with this outdoors in open space -find it funny in fact! if I was having lunch in a cafe I’d feel it was an intrusion if a dog was badly behaved. I’m not sure about lying on a sofa. It wouldn’t bother me but I’d assume people should have priority and I wouldn’t allow my dog in place of someone who wanted to sit down. If the place was very dog friendly then I’d expect allergic to go elsewhere to be honest. As long as there are a mix of places dogs/ no dogs- we should all be able to manage !

Same here, I find it baffling. I have no issue either way, as I don’t have a dog (I'm a cat person), but I don't understand the anti dog vitriol see on every single dog thread.

I do wish that places generally were more willing to ask disruptive people to leave - whether that be badly socialised dogs, kids allowed to run riot while the parents ignore them, or groups of loud adults.

However, I do agree with the OP that dogs shouldn't sit on the furniture. It doesn't impact on me in any way, but my DH is allergic as are a lot of other people and it really isn't fair on them to have to cope with dog hairs on the furniture in an eating establishment.

I can’t say it's something I've ever come across, though, I've only ever seen dogs minding their own business with their owners, under the table, or sitting quietly on the floor. Which is absolutely fine!

@LizzieW1969 @XenoBitch A part of me wonders if it’s because a lot of people are more interested in people’s dogs than kids, like dogs more than kids, etc. I don’t particularly like dogs but even I like seeing them around.

The people on here who hate dogs always use the “fur baby” insult and I think that’s quite telling. I think there’s an element of jealousy that their children don’t command the same interest as some random person’s dog.

Yeah because dog paws are sooooo much worse than the piss stained, bollock scented mens hands that are over every damn bar in the UK

Yes they are.

Have you never seen a cat poo in the garden thread? They are always terrible and generally people pop up with ways to kill the cat or hurt it in some way.

I think you might be on to something there. Ours is a tiny, very pretty Jack Russell, she weighs 5kg dripping wet and virtually everyone who sees her makes a fuss of her. She’s particularly appealing to teenage girls for some reason.

@Sparklingbrook

Yes I have seen those, too, actually. Both cats and dogs inspire a ridiculous amount of vitriol on MN, which I've never seen in RL, as a cat owner.

Really?

Same here too. I’ve never encountered such vitriol in RL. But that’s keyboard warriors for you.
Dogs are amazing animals - at this very moment there will be dogs searching and rescuing people’s loved ones, putting their own lives in danger to serve humans. They also bring comfort to the lonely and assistance (any dog can be an assistance dog) to people with a whole range of disabilities.

I can imagine! I’ve just remembered the difference between one of my colleagues bringing her baby into the office (polite interest and enquiry from team members for about 10 mins or so) vs one bringing her new golden retriever puppy past the office and being asked to make a stop there so that we could go outside on lunch and see it. We were out there for an hour and still gutted when she had to leave - it was to die for cute and I don’t particularly like dogs.

😂they can't tell my dog what to do!

Do you still dislike dogs?
Excellent post btw..

@Springbreakwoohoo I’m better than I was. I like to be around dogs and to look at them but I don’t really like being in physical contact with them. I don’t see them as dirty or horrible or anything - I just don’t read them very well and they make me nervous sometimes. I don’t like owners who let them jump at people but nor does anyone, even people who love dogs.

I don’t like owners who let them jump at people

I don’t either. I found myself with a Labrador’s muddy paws on my shoulders while I was out yesterday. His fuckwit of an owner thought it was a good idea to go running and exercise the dog off lead at the same time. He didn’t even notice.

My dog is 26kg odd. She gets a ton of love.. she is an elderly greyhound. She just wants her throat to be tickled.

Thank you for replying.
It’s not a bad thing at all to be wary or nervous of dogs - much better to be cautious than making a lunge for them as some people do. I love dogs but I’m always careful around ones I don’t know, regardless of breed and size. And contrary to many people’s beliefs, we don’t all want people touching our dogs so admiration & respect (or not 😃) from afar is much more favourable in my book.

I adore greyhounds, so elegant with such beautiful faces.

My lab comes with me to the cafe when we’ve been for a walk nearby. He lays under my table and you wouldn’t know he’s there. Well until someone comes and asks if they can fuss him and then he’ll elegantly slide himself out and regally allow them to make a fuss of him.

1. I haven’t RTFT.
2. I love dogs.

BUT…. I hate dogs in pubs and cafes! In my experience, a lot of dog owners are so besotted with their dogs that they just assume everyone else will be too, and therefore don’t mind that they bark/ approach people/ beg for food/ absolutely stink (a lot of dog owners are nose blind too!) because they think everyone else will think it just as adorable as they do. I come from a small town with only 3 pubs and they all allow dogs. Every time I go in there there is at least one dog, and even if they’re well behaved (and very often they’re not) I don’t like them being there. There’s also a lot of hostility from dog owners if they’re asked to stop their dog from barking etc, as if the dog has more rights than the people in there, paying to eat!

@Dogscanteatonions

people are the issue not the dogs
people should
need to pass an exam to get a licence to have a dog.

Humans are at the top of the hierarchy. Our brains are capable of much higher cognitive abilities than animals. It is embarrassing how people do not realise that. However much you love your doggy, it cannot do what a person can, good or bad.

We should treat animals kindly and I abhor cruelty to them. But making out they are at an equal ‘level’ to humans is just silly.

Anyway I am glad that threads like these have opened some dog-lovers’ minds and made them realise that not everyone adores their dogs. Who knows, it could lead to a change to more considerate behaviour.

For years, cafe and restaurants have largely been dog-free. And designed for humans. Due to economic reasons they are now allowing stinky dogs in. Of course there will be some push-back. In an ideal world people would have a choice of where to go. I am lucky here in London and there are many nice clean and civilised places to go to that won’t allow dogs in. I feel for those who have more limited choice.