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?

Meeting SIL for lunch tomorrow.
She says "let's go to xyz because I can take the dog".

OK then. Never mind if I have a preference for where we might want to go.
I've got a lot on so I'm picking my battles.

Do people really take their dog everywhere though?

Out of all the places listed, I've only ever taken my dog to dog friendly pubs/cafes.

What they get out of it is a nice lie down and treat, post long walk.

I think mainly it comes down to killing 2 birds at once. For instance, today I needed to pick up some more treats for my dog from a little pet shop in town. So I incorporated it in to his walk.

I wouldn't dream of talking him to a shopping centre, or food shop. My bugbear is when people just pick up small dogs and walk them around shops. Surely no dogs means no dogs?

I would take him on the school run and wait for my children outside of the gate, but he's an attention whore and would think that everyone had gathered there at the same time to see him.

I have previously owned dogs and occasionally look after DB’s lab. I’d never expect to take him into a shop but do like to take him for a coffee occasionally. He just chills under the table.

Because people are time poor and people try and combine a lot of things in one or two trips. It also makes sense from a climate point of view not to do lots of separate trips. Dogs like company and need walking, so combining it with errands makes sense as the dog gets walked and has company, the person gets exercise and gets their errands done. I think the sad rise in dog stealing crime also means that people don't feel they can briefly leave their dogs outside the shop anymore like you tended to see in the past. It's understandable.

It also depends on what the area is like. In areas full of walkers lots of facilities are dog friendly or else they would miss out on a tonload of custom. In areas less like that there tend to be less dog-friendly facilities. However, I think since the pandemic I've noticed a lot of facilities are not so much about dogs as about attracting families and being dog-friendly is part of that. Pubs and eateries are trying to get families in, and families like to be able to take kids and their dog if they are on a day out or going to the park or whatever.

Dogs are companion animals. So people do have them as members of the family and want to take them on family days out. Walking and stroking dogs is terribly good for people's health, people interact a lot about their dogs which makes people without a lot of social connections more connected with their local community which is good for well-being and health. Studies have come out saying children brought up with dogs tend to be healthier with better immune systems.

It’s dogs in shops that gets me. Don’t have an issue with them in pubs, but our local shopping centre allows dogs now, and it’s really annoying when there are several in a shop.

Closest town to me is very dog friendly and long may it continue, the main reason being it stops many dogs being left in cars, especially in warm weather - it is a tourist area and businesses have taken the sensible decisions to allow dogs both for economical and welfare of the dogs reasons.

There are shops, cafes and other businesses which are not as dog friendly, all in all there are enough to go round to please the "we take our dog everywhere" and the "we hate dogs" brigade.

It's not surprising you'll see a lot of dogs out and about in touristy areas.

Most holiday accommodation (quite rightly) won't let you leave your dog alone in the property. So when you go out, your dog goes with you.

But neither can you leave the dog in the car when the weather is warm, which is when most people go on holiday. If you have brought a car, that is. So it has to come with you when you go to the shops / beach / cafes etc. I recall lots of research and planning ahead to work out which bits of beaches we could take dogs on and at what times of year, as well as buying specific dog-friendly pub guides.

In my experience of UK holidays, there are lots of places which don't allow dogs, and lots that do, so everyone is happy.

I suspect that this is partly due to the fact that more (clueless) people generally have dogs since the lockdowns, and also due to fear of theft, as well as helping with much-needed socialisation of the dogs.

I've always wanted a dog I could take on long walks, ending with a pub meal and the dog happily relaxing under the table. I cannot see the appeal of taking one into town (presumably with another person) and having to take turns staying outside with said dog, so the socialisation aspect would be the only reason I can see for doing so. Still, each to their own as they say.

My local bakery used to welcome dogs but now has a similar sign, saying due to an increase in bad behaviour they now ask that people leave their dogs outside. The timing is suspiciously congruent with the timing of the pandemic and the rush of people getting dogs.

I think the consumer culture encourages people to see dogs as very special/needing pampering/being like humans so it can sell them more and more paraphernalia (clothes, treats etc). Wouldn't be so bad if so many owners weren't so ignorant and irresponsible about training, managing and socialising their dogs.

I'm a dog lover, grew up with several dogs and have a dog now. But too many owners use their dogs as social props, forcing them into scenarios with a determined glint in their eye. It's the same mentality of those parents who refuse wedding invitations because their children haven't been included on the invitation.

I love dogs but I'm highly allergic to them, it isn't ideal when people bring them into cafes/restaurants

I imagine most dog owners (old and new) have a lovely vision in their minds of long walks ending in a pub with good old Fido under the table quietly sleeping.

The reality is though that a fair proportion of dogs aren't laying there beautifully under the tables. The dogs are unable to do this, either because of bad training or it just not suiting their natures, but the owners are stubornly ignoring the fact and carrying on with the 'my dog is a sleepy dog under the table' fantasy firmly in mind.

No one ever comes on to these threads and admits that their dog is a PITA when out, but they intend to carry on regardless. And yet we all know there's loads of them out there!

The one I hate is people walking their dog not on the lead on pavements by busy roads etc. I was on a busy shopping street in a large city & there was a couple walking a terrier off lead. I ran up to them & asked if it was theirs it was quite a long way behind them - ( I have 2 the same breed) They ( the couple ) were so sneery to me and said - we know our dog. It is by a busy road. I think I know if a terrier sees a pigeon , they'll be off. & not only is the dog in danger if it is the road but so are motorists cyclists etc. I think it is sometimes an affectation to think your dog is so well behaved you can walk them off lead in busy areas .

Certain dog friendly pubs etc I think fine as long as the dog just lies down and goes to sleep. I would not take one of mine shopping. I have taken them on a train and they just curled up under my seat and went to sleep.

I watched a dog pee in the centre aisle of a garden centre recently. The owners were aware, but ignored it. I told a member of staff and presumably, they have a procedure for dealing with it, but I find it offensive and the owners irresponsible.

This. I wish MNHQ would set up separate sections for dog and parking threads. Both are equally tedious.

IME, there are many places where dogs have always been allowed, banks, post office, pet stores, John Lewis, some clothing shops like Fatface, pubs, cafes, public transport etc so I suspect that it's simply an increase in number and sadly an increase in bad behaviour that people are noticing. I'm old enough to remember local dogs congregating at the butcher shop for a hand out that came more often than not.

As for the why ? I enjoy spending time with my dog, he enjoys being with me. He's a social animal who enjoys being around humans and animals and is happy to watch the world go by. Why wouldn't I want him with me ? He enriches my life and while I don't want him to impinge on anyone else's life, I won't restrict our life together when he's not being disruptive or a nuisance in any way. If he was, my answer would be to retrain him not to isolate him.

The PITA dogs you mention and saying nobody will admit this - I have a young pup, plus a much older dog. As I have said previously I am from an area which has many dog friendly places and is very touristy. My pup is by no means fully trained yet, but I take her into coffee shops and shops etc, with all the training in the world the only way she will learn to lie down quietly in a coffee shop is to actually do it. This may mean there are times when she will not lay down or be quiet for any length of time. Exactly the same as young children. So you would call my youngest dog a PITA, I would disagree with you but admit it is a young dog undergoing training to ensure I can take her into any situation.

Many dogs misbehave because they are not socialised enough - dogs can go to all the training classes in the world but nothing actually replicates real life situations other than real life situations.

How the owners handle or deal with the situation of a dog not quite being 100% bombproof in a shop is the most important part of the scenario.

I went to the hairdressers last week and the lady in the chair next to me had a dog on a lead. Poor dog was trying to wander off and the hairdresser couldn’t walk around the chair properly. The owner was in for a long appointment - she was there when I arrived and still there when I left. I didn’t seem fair on the dog or the hairdresser.

I think there is the traditional dog owner that treats dog as a pet, part of the family but a pet and takes on walks and other suitable places.

Then there is the new breed of owner that calls their dog their 'fur baby' and treats them like a baby which includes clothing and pampering and taking them everywhere, restaurants, shops, holiday etc. Some of the dogs are treated like people and the 'dim-witted' owners don't appear to realise that not everyone wants a dog sniffing at you in a restaurant/café/pub or likes the smell of wet dog, or dog paws jumping up at you and making your clothing dirty.

Some people have no consideration for others and assume their dog is more important. selfish behaviour.

I don't get it either, especially small dogs in pushchairs and front carriers like a baby???

My ddog does like a trip to the pub and is a fan of country and blues music (local band know him) but I never would take him shopping, don't get it

I'm looking into getting a carrier for my JRT she's getting on a bit now and although ok at the moment, she's going to struggle with the long walks that I like doing and that the spaniel needs, especially on a daily basis.
It would be so she can still come on a walk but I've got somewhere convenient to carry her so she can have a rest when she needs it, without me having her in my arms all the time. And I can introduce it slowly before she needs it.

It's a practical solution to the problem. My dogs are part of the family, but they are dogs and treated as such. I don't take them shopping, occasionally to a local dog friendly café if we're out for a walk but not very often, because we'll, it's a dog walk and they want to be sniffing and doing dog things.

As for shops, pretty much all the shops except supermarkets allow dogs here. Not sure about M&S but John Lewis, fat face, mountain warehouse to name three ddog has been in, he's pretty chilled being older

How do you ensure that what your dog is eating off the floor is safe for them to eat? Surely there is lots of food served in cafes that is toxic to a dog.

Mind you, I've seen an 'influencer' on line claim that her dogs favourite walk is in a shopping centre.

What a sad little life Jane.

I watched a manager have to remain very calm at a man in primark the other day who was swearing and shouting at her as the security had told him it was no dogs allowed.

What is your dog going to get from a trip to primark ffs