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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not understand the culture of taking dogs everywhere?

326 replies

Supernova23 · 22/03/2023 13:42

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?

OP posts:
YearsOfStagnation · 22/03/2023 22:05

I went to a meeting as a professional at a GP surgery. The team’s ‘support dog’ bounded up to me and jumped at the laptop on my knees. I am not scared by dogs generally but find them dirty and don’t want one touching me. No consideration from its owner as to how others might react, who might be anxious etc. Ironic given the role of this dog.

MajesticWhine · 22/03/2023 22:06

I am always eye rolling at people with their dogs at an indoor shopping centre in London. Ridiculous. And I do have dogs.

Twizbe · 22/03/2023 22:20

cartagenagina · 22/03/2023 22:03

I’m not sure I have ever been in a pub that didn’t allow dogs. 🤔

My employer has just agreed to allow staff to bring dogs to the office with them, which is wonderful for us dog lovers. There’s a woman in our specific office who has said she is allergic to dogs, so she now has her own little office which has made her very happy.

Their reasoning is that they now want hybrid working, with staff coming in one or two days a week. If they don’t offer the “bring your DDog to work facility, too many staff will leave as it’s so easy to get a job that’s fully wfh in our sector (legal)

I wonder if they will extend the same to working parents. Bring your baby to work days?

DrMeredithGrey2023 · 22/03/2023 22:24

AllInADay · 22/03/2023 22:04

Donutosaurus. We live in Devon. The whole dog thing is out of control. I could cite all sorts of incidents round here, similar to everything that many others have said.

I am also in Devon, and haven't seen anything like the tales of out of control dogs.

I wonder if it is dependant on how touristy your area is.

I'd say the biggest concern I see here is the amount of dogs out for walks on ridiculously hot days.

BitOutOfPractice · 22/03/2023 22:32

So far this week I have been approached by dogs

  • At home, jumped up at while waiting for the lift before I’ve even left the building I live in
  • in the park, also jumped up at
  • at work, sniffed at while eating lunch at my desk
  • in the pub, dogs running around, off lead, just “getting to know each other” as I’m eating a meal
  • in John Lewis, yapping away in the customer collections department, carried by a really unapologetic looking woman.

I’m sorry but if your dog can’t be left alone at all, then, the alternative to taking them out and imposing them on the general public, is to stay at home with them.

BitOutOfPractice · 22/03/2023 22:34

So in short op I agree. Sick of dogs everywhere.

midlander79 · 22/03/2023 22:36

It's 'new' to not take your dog everywhere really. A few 100 years ago dogs were just wherever their owner was.

BitOutOfPractice · 22/03/2023 22:41

You know @vivainsomnia that for every person saying your dog is cute, there’s three wondering why the hell your dog is there! They don’t say it though because that’s unacceptable!

allhailthebrain · 23/03/2023 00:31

I am really allergic. I can't tell you how much this affects things.

I haven't read the comments so I don't know if it's degenerated into the usual ones I see on Facebook. "Go somewhere else then!" "I'd rather dogs than children" "so take antihistamines, it's not hard"

ARGH! I would if I could, in the city I live in every cafe appears to be dog friendly these days. Every pub. So many holiday lets and hotels... Even entire shop chains now (e.g. Wilko). It's a nightmare - and really does make you feel like you're worth less than someone else's desire to take Fido for Sunday lunch. I don't get it.
Comparisons between dogs and children are pointless. Totally different topic.
And of course the favourite of any person with allergies - if it were as simple as taking an antihistamine, do you not think we would...? 7 years of desensitisation later (for a different allergy) - give it a go, see if it seems easy to you... Or perhaps give someone with a peanut allergy an antihistamine, then feed them a Snickers - that'll be ok, right...?

I love animals but can't be in a house where one lives. Or a place where I have to sit next to one. I can just about get by in a place which is dog friendly if they have an area where dogs are not allowed. Practically none do. Last week I saw two dogs up on the upholstered chairs in Starbucks, shedding everywhere, eating directly from the table and lapping from standard starbucks cups.

Hotels need to keep certain rooms for dogs only - i.e. these ten/twenty rooms are the ones we put dogs in when they stay, no others. That would work for everyone. Again, hardly any do - or if they say they do, they don't stick to it. I've a hospital visit to show for that in a Premier Inn. Most just rip off the dog owner for a "deep clean" which does sod all...

If there were regulations it would work for everyone. But there aren't. I've even been sat in a restaurant and have a family with a dog walk in and sit next to us. I've had a quiet word with the staff so as not to upset anyone and told them I was really allergic - and instead of asking them to sit somewhere different (for a made up reason - oh we're about to clean that table, how about this lovely one here, before they has even settled, let alone looked at a menu) they moved us. In the middle of our dinner. To the table next to the door - where the dog owner came and stood, holding it open, so the dog could enjoy the bowl of water on the other side. Freezing and sneezing, hurrah!

I wish I could change it and not have allergies, for a dozen reasons. People should be able to enjoy getting out and about with their pets, I totally respect that. But it would be nice to feel more valued as a human than Rover's desire for a puppucino 😉

Phoebo · 23/03/2023 00:33

It's ridiculous. I went to a clothing shop today and someone had one, it shouldn't be allowed. It kept barking and was a but scary tbh

user1477391263 · 23/03/2023 01:03

Nowillpowerarall · 22/03/2023 13:54

I have a dog, he's nearly 2, I've tried and tried but he doesn't like being home on his own. He barkdls and gets upset. I could be really horrible and leave him anyway, sometimes I have too, but if there are places I can take him then I will do. He's always on a lead in public places, hes small, non shedding and because he's used to going to cafes etc he's very well behaved when out. Just has a little snooze under the table.

If I knew a magic answer to him bring home alone I would, however I cam combine this with a walk too, I work from home so I like to go out and see people.

I agree it's annoying when people can't control their dogs, have them off lead or they are being very vocal. I also don't like when I hear dogs really upset cos they've been left and are unhappy about it.

The thing is, there is no such thing as a non-shedding dog - they all shed, it’s the nature of their hair. And dogs smell. I don’t want to eat or drink in an indoor place with dogs. If you live with a dog you probably don’t notice doggy smells any more, but other people will.

The risk of having a dog who can’t be left for any period of time is well known - did you not research this when you were thinking about getting a dog? You need to find another way to deal with this, by getting a dog behaviorist in or paying for dog daycare.

Whenharrymetsmelly · 23/03/2023 01:07

Ironically this is really just a slippery slope from kids, because we have to be tolerant of kids (even if they are brats) and no one can say anything, it's now basically dogs as well. And yes it is dumb to compare, but that's what seems to be happening. Wonder what will be next, probably cats on leads

Widowtoaworkaholic · 23/03/2023 01:14

No idea but it is weird. Especially in clothing stores. I don't mind our pet hairs on our own things but I don't fancy buying something with somebody else's pet hairs on it!

Widowtoaworkaholic · 23/03/2023 01:16

MajesticWhine · 22/03/2023 22:06

I am always eye rolling at people with their dogs at an indoor shopping centre in London. Ridiculous. And I do have dogs.

The ones in doggy pushchairs somehow don't bother me as much! It's still ridiculous though!

Whenharrymetsmelly · 23/03/2023 01:29

UWhatNow · 22/03/2023 21:15

Totally agree! Just because ‘people make more mess’ or ‘children can equally be a nuisance’ is missing the point. It’s not a race to the bottom. Smelly unpredictable animals - with equally inconsiderate and unpredictable owners should not be in public places like shops on a large scale. Assistance dogs only please. Leave the rest at home.

Show quote history

Well said

Twizbe · 23/03/2023 05:46

midlander79 · 22/03/2023 22:36

It's 'new' to not take your dog everywhere really. A few 100 years ago dogs were just wherever their owner was.

Different owners and different dogs.

Not quite a 100 years ago, but when I was a child it was only the farmers who brought their working dogs into town.

They were some very very well trained dogs.

ConcernedMum22 · 23/03/2023 07:11

Yes! I keep saying this. I have really severe allergies to dogs and increasingly dinging it a nightmare to avoid them 😞 the worst for me is seeing people have their dogs sitting on seats on trains and buses etc 🤢 that some one else then has to come and sit down on. Folk just don't care.

follyfoot37 · 23/03/2023 07:14

You could replace the word dogs with children in this post and it, and the responses would be as valid!

Sillybeagle · 23/03/2023 07:41

follyfoot37 · 23/03/2023 07:14

You could replace the word dogs with children in this post and it, and the responses would be as valid!

Not really. I can promise you my 6 year old daughter would never be lunging to grab food out of stranger’s hands…. Which is exactly what happened to her in a cafe when they sat a woman with her cav king spaniel next to us on our table.

We certainly didn’t mind sharing the table but I did mind the woman saying ‘oh no she’s got a sausage roll’ with a sad face followed by her wrestling this dog away from dd for the next 10 mins. We left early, has really put me off returning there.

whyhere · 23/03/2023 08:01

BitOutOfPractice · 22/03/2023 22:32

So far this week I have been approached by dogs

  • At home, jumped up at while waiting for the lift before I’ve even left the building I live in
  • in the park, also jumped up at
  • at work, sniffed at while eating lunch at my desk
  • in the pub, dogs running around, off lead, just “getting to know each other” as I’m eating a meal
  • in John Lewis, yapping away in the customer collections department, carried by a really unapologetic looking woman.

I’m sorry but if your dog can’t be left alone at all, then, the alternative to taking them out and imposing them on the general public, is to stay at home with them.

Or, train them so that they aren't a nuisance in public.

I have a staffie, and he comes with me to most places, simply because we enjoy being together and it's good for him to have lots of different experiences. However, he is trained to behave! We had a slight blip a year or so ago when, while on-lead, he was attacked by another on-lead dog whose owner couldn't control her dog. This scared him and his reaction was to start barking and lunging at other on-lead dogs. I simply re-ran his basic training and he's now back to his well-behaved, happy self.

Training a dog really isn't difficult, and is so rewarding. I honestly don't understand why so few owners bother to do it.

TheOrigRights · 23/03/2023 08:11

follyfoot37 · 23/03/2023 07:14

You could replace the word dogs with children in this post and it, and the responses would be as valid!

This is the crux of the issue I think. People believing their pets have as much right to go where people go.

IDontWantToBeAPie · 23/03/2023 08:14

Dogs don't like being left home alone all day.

After the work week I'd rather give my dog a good, new environments filled day. So sometimes we'll take a long walk, go to a cafe/pub for something to eat and then a long walk back.

By the end he's had a great day

IDontWantToBeAPie · 23/03/2023 08:15

Although I keep him on the lead except at the park and have never abused anyone in my life.

Redebs · 23/03/2023 08:19

In my home city it's relatively unusual for people to take dogs into places, but I've noticed that in touristy retirement towns, the shops, streets and cafes are full of them. Such a nuisance. And every street has pee trickles running across the pavements.

BitOutOfPractice · 23/03/2023 08:20

IDontWantToBeAPie · 23/03/2023 08:14

Dogs don't like being left home alone all day.

After the work week I'd rather give my dog a good, new environments filled day. So sometimes we'll take a long walk, go to a cafe/pub for something to eat and then a long walk back.

By the end he's had a great day

I think this is where attitudes have changed. Previously, someone who was out at work all day and appreciated that was not an ideal situation to have a dog because they would be unhappy, simply didn’t get a dog.

now, people whose lifestyle really isn’t conducive to a happy dog, simply get a dog anyway and are then forced to take it everywhere with them and impose it on everyone else.