To not understand the culture of taking dogs everywhere?

[Supernova23]

This isn't an anti dog post, as I have two dogs, and have had them for my entire life. But I can't for the life of me understand the idea of taking them everywhere which seems to be the case now - I see dogs dragged around in shops, restaurants, cafes, literally everywhere you go.....there are dogs. Perhaps it wouldn't be so obvious if they were quiet and well behaved, but that often isn't the case. Recently in a pub I was at, two different sets of dogs were going mad at each other. The owners could care less and probably thought it was funny. You go to places where dogs should strictly be on leads, and they are running loose in their droves, followed by their hapless owner on the phone who has no control over it. If you tell their owners to control them you get a mouthful of abuse.

I have two large breed dogs, one of which is VERY heavy shedding, and can be very vocal as a breed trait - and I don't just mean barking, but making all sorts of weird wookie noises. I wouldn't feel comfortable taking her into somewhere that served food, knowing that her fur would probably be flying off her. I think that would be quite gross for the people around me, and the people who come afterwards. Plus, what does the dog actually gain from being dragged into shops, restaurants etc? my dogs get long daily walks, and do come out and about in the car with me while I do errands (it fits in with walks). They get plenty of attention, and when they were younger (one is very elderly, the other middle aged) got taken to training classes - you know, actual dog stuff.

So can someone enlighten me? why is taking your dog everywhere a "thing" now?

Well, that is a people problem and not a dog one.

Yes in the new battersea power station mall :)

I have a dog - albeit a rather highly strung one, so not one I would take out specifically for a restaurant trip.

But if I'm already out with the dog, it is nice to be able to pop into a coffee shop for a takeaway coffee, and in some cases it will be the difference between getting a birthday card at the independent shop on the way home Vs the supermarket (I'm not going to take ddog home and double back for that!)

There was a café locally that opened in April in a urban park, and said 'no dogs'. By September they'd gone bust. Idiots.

The thing that did raise my eyebrows recently was attending a university open day - I haven't been to one for at least 5 years, but rather to my surprise on one day I counted at least 8 dogs in attendance, only 1 of which was an assistance dog. I really couldn't fathom that one!

YANBU

I live in a tourist town, and you can’t move for dogs being in the local chemist or pub. When did people stop leaving their dogs at home?!

You have answered your own question. If you live in a tourist town, then it means many people and their dogs are visiting. You are not allowed to leave dogs alone in holiday accommodation, so it makes sense that people visiting your town will have their dogs with them.

Agreed with this. Also, what op says about dog owners not being considerate about others in public, same can be said about parents of small kids.
Also, there is no need to bring baby strollers in the shop, especially those crowded like TK maxx., they cause inconvenience to others

I think the days when you leave your baby in its pram outside the shop are long gone! 😂

I wouldn’t want to take my dog to the pub on a Friday night out with my friends anymore than I would want to take my kids. Unfortunately on holiday I have to take them all if I want to go for a pub meal. Dog doesn’t mind being left at home for a couple of hours but she’s not allowed to be left in a rented caravan.

People live in tourist towns too. They also have dogs.

And no, you can't leave a baby in a buggy outside anymore but why are prams so big these days? What happened to the Maclaren umbrella types (misses point of thread).

You can’t leave a baby in a pram outside the shop!!

We often look after a relative’s black lab while they are away. One time we were in a dog friendly tea room in a touristy area and Lab was chilling under our table. A baby started crawling across the floor towards him. She got almost right up to him before her mum realised what she was doing and came to pick her up! Lab loves kids and is used to them and was just thumping his tail gently, but the mum wasn’t to know that was she.

@Acrylicpainter Are dogs allowed in shops?

Yes, they are, and if shops don’t allow them in people just call them Assistance Dogs and kick off if the dog is not allowed in. I knew someone who took their dog everywhere as it barked non-stop when left at home to the point the neighbourhood had involved local council. The fix was to get some Assistance Dog jacket off eBay and take it everywhere claiming it was an assistance dog. It wasn’t. It was also really badly behaved when out and about also. That’s not an isolated CF, there are many that have clued on to this workaround for places that don’t normally allow dogs.

I worked at a local event where tickets were purchased online. Advice was clear on website, no dogs except assistance dogs.
On the day a family drove from Wales (event in England) and were outraged when they were told they couldn't bring the dog in. They even tried to claim the dog was 'an emotional support' dog but had forgotten his jacket once they realised they weren't going to get in.

Yup, and even when you're dog friendly but have separate areas people still do it and tell you you're breaking the law if you don't allow their dog in because they tell you it's an assistance dog.
There's entitled behaviour on both sides of the argument, non dog lovers expecting businesses to change how they run and not allow dogs because they don't like it and dog owners pushing their dogs into spaces they're not supposed to be by claiming they're assistance dogs and threatening to sue if you don't comply.

One things certain though, the business and the staff who work for them are always the ones in the wrong according to someone, whichever way they jump.

The thing is, though, dogs in cafes and restaurants worry me because it’s so easy for a child to trip over a dog or step on a tail or paw which could potentially provoke a dangerous reaction from a dog, especially when these places get crowded. The result is more stress for parents, even those who are perfectly responsible and are not failing to supervise their kids.

I’m assuming you don’t have a child or raised your children a long time ago and don’t really remember what it was like? The tiny fold up push chairs are for toddlers, or older babies at the minimum, not newborns. Prams actually used to be much bigger - have you ever looked at an antique pram? They were massive and were used to cart home sacks of potatoes and bags of coal!

A properly supervised child should be sitting at the table with their parents and not getting near enough to dogs to step on them.

My son is 20 and I had a Maclaren umbrella buggy from birth.

Hope that helps.

Next time - don't be so patronising.

And when they were much bigger, they were left outside.

It's actually quite interesting how often people try to tell me that Maclaren buggies were not suitable from birth, when they were.

Getting back to the thread, A properly supervised child should be sitting at the table with their parents and not getting near enough to dogs to step on them agreed, but the dogs should not be wandering around either.

I think the lines have blurred between dogs being pets and full time companions. We’ve been going to training/puppy classes since we got our dog a year ago and all talk is very much of your dog being with you at all times but that is not realistic. When you’re cooking and eating your dog shouldn’t be with you, if you’ve children over they might be nervous of dogs, or if you’re playing a board game it’s not feasible- and dogs need time to just wander and be dogs! We went into a pet shop saying our dog was eating his bed and she asked why he didn’t sleep with us!! I find dogs clingier these days despite training being more the norm- they need to be left alone a bit more

When you’re cooking and eating your dog shouldn’t be with you, if you’ve children over they might be nervous of dogs, or if you’re playing a board game it’s not feasible- and dogs need time to just wander and be dogs!

Why on earth can't your dog be with you when you're cooking and eating? I'm eating my lunch now from the saucepan and ddog is lying at my feet despite having the option to go into the garden. Or playing board games? I have no idea why the dog can't be near a monopoly set - are you concerned the dog might become a capitalist as a result?

Fair enough about visiting children but that's hardly every day.

It's not just the UK either. Was recently in Stockholm and a couple were getting annoyed that they were not allowed into the Vasa museum with their two German Shepherds.

HiHoHiHoltsOffToWorkWeGo
We don’t give the dog much human food so I myself just wouldn’t have the dog sitting smelling lovely smells when he can’t have it but everyone’s different. Board games we would be playing stuff with tiny pieces and if it fell on the floor I’d be afraid he’d eat it (he’s only a puppy and kind of trained but not fully trained iykwim). Kids over would be about 4 hours.

Sounds like there are boundaries in Sweden though, if they weren't allowed in.

Given how they chase you round some museums in Europe and won't even let you keep your bag with you in case you nick something/knock something over, I can't imagine it's a regular thing to allow dogs. UK museums are more relaxed generally.

It’s ridiculous. There’s certainly an increase in the number of badly behaved dogs that we see. Example, a number of friends dogs think nothing of taking food out of children’s hands.

IMO, the behavioural problems come from the fact that people personify their dogs and don’t set boundaries for them. At the end of the day, they are pack animals and are much better when they know their place. Gently telling a dog off for misbehaviour (“you’re such a naughty boy, Fido“) isn’t disciplining or training, the dog