To think this is a serious error and the resolution doesn’t really cut it

[Myinterestingnewpath]

Visited a well known chain restaurant, early in the week so it wasn’t busy, only about six tables tables taken. I was with my daughter, asked if I could have a table instead of a booth, as I have an assistance dog. My dog is a small/medium size, and was wearing his harness. I got asked if he was a guide dog, I said no an assistance dog. He then asked what that meant. I explained that the dog helps me with tasks that help me live my daily life. He then asked what exactly that meant. So I explained I have neurological damage after breaking my neck, and I can’t feel my fingers so drop things and the dog retrieves them. I also explained I have balance issues, so bending down without falling over is a problem. I then got asked if it was a guide dog again. I said no. He then said you can’t come in because it’s not a guide dog and you’re not blind!! I am not a confrontational person so I just said ok, we’ll just go the restaurant next door, (which is owned by the same group) as they always welcome me. The next day I rang head office and they admitted that what he did is unlawful, and they would do some staff training. Turning away a disabled person because of their equipment is a serious issue. Dogs are classed as auxiliary aids same as wheelchairs. I have been offered £20, I think they’ve got off lightly. What do mumsnetters think?

YABU-restaurants can choose who dines
YANBU-it’s discrimination

I agree, assistance dogs do have legal standing in the UK. I googled and found a government site, amongst others, which states that quite clearly.

free meal for 2 AND 10% off next meal?

She also states she trained him herself. Which is further proof is nonsense. She basically has a dog she’s labelled therapy. It’s nonsense and they were right to refuse.

My issue is that we seem to constantly have people in jobs who don’t know how to do the job. Why does this guy need further training.
If he didn’t understand what an assistance dog was (I can’t believe anyone is that ignorant) then ask the manager. If the manager is equally ignorant to what laws there are regarding restaurants and assistance dogs then they should not be in the job.
What else don’t they know

There is no Government based register, hopefully (IMO) this will change, however there is the Assistance Dog UK Register, that covers many of the charities that train and provide the dogs to clients, such as Hearing Dogs. The dog is given a registration number and ID book.

There is yes. And only dogs trained by them are on that register. This dog wasn’t trained by them so not on the register.

'prove it' Where do you get off speaking to the OP like that?
She might mean registered with ADUK.
In any case, it doesn't matter. The use of assistance dogs in places like restaurants is protected under the Equality Act.

After reading this thread I think you are fighting the wrong people OP. It seems you should be highlighting this situation with your MP to get the dog registration clarified. It would be awesome for both sides if a flash of an official card would have had the situation sorted in an instance and which would keep the cf and their dogs out.

However I am confused as to whether you told them your dog was registered?

This isn’t an assistance dog. The ADUK only registers dogs they’ve trained. This dog wasn’t trained by them. The OP is being dishonest.

It is perfectly legal for assistance dogs to be owner trained. And the access laws still apply to them. People don't to have need registration with ADUK / guide dogs, in order to access their legal rights in public, using the dog.

The OP doesn't say he did ask those questions though? The OP offered the information when asked if the dog was a guide dog, she answered with he/she was an assistance dog and the waiter asked what that meant - the OP offered details of her disability and the dogs tasks that help her, in response to being asked what assistance dog meant.
The simple answer would have been that assistance dogs have the same standing as guide dogs in places like restaurants etc. No need for the explanation of her disability or the dogs role in helping her - if he did actually demand that information then you'd have a point, but according to OP in her first post, he asked what a service dog meant in response to her saying it was a service dog and not a guide dog, not what her disability was and why she needed the dog.

I agree that the waiter should have known those things, but, that's down to the company not having a clear and consistent policy on it, or training their staff - I have done training around it and therefore am aware and wouldn't be in this situation, however had that not happened, then I too would be unaware as to what actually constitutes a service dog, over and above a guide dog and may well be confused.

My dog is trained by myself, but he has to pass exams. I have years of experience in dog training, especially the retraining of rescue dogs. I have previously competed nationally in obedience competitions. I got this dog as a puppy and he knows his job and place when out in public places.

You see this is what I don't understand. You have had to do all the training yourself by the sound of it, ever since he was your average normal puppy who needs the usual house training and socialising and behaviour training and lead training etc etc. If you need an assistance dog so badly, how on earth did you manage a puppy on top of your own needs? Puppies are a pain in the butt for anybody. Someone who is registered disabled enough to need an assistance dog in the first place would find looking after a puppy even more difficult than someone without any assistance needs. It is why guide dog puppies live with a foster family first, so that the usual standard puppy training can be done even before the specialist training begins when they are a bit older. It is only when they are fully trained and useful that they go to live with a blind person and they do training as a pair.

I guess the person in the restaurant may have wondered why you needed the assistance dog if you had your daughter with you. The dog didn't need to be there to pick things up for you etc as your daughter was with you. So it's understandable to ask questions I think.

That’s not correct.

all of this and more.

Yes it is correct.

I guess the person in the restaurant may have wondered why you needed the assistance dog if you had your daughter with you. The dog didn't need to be there to pick things up for you etc as your daughter was with you

Would you also apply that to someone who went in to a restaurant with a guide dog and had another adult with them who could help out instead?

If not, why not?

I am totally in the camp of profuse apology from restaurant, their gratitude (which they seem to have done) plus appropriate compensation so that YOU feel good as the customer and would talk well about them as a result. for me this would be a free meal up to a certain value (generous value, 3 courses for 2 plus some alcohol for example) and a half price meal for two as well. It costs them little compared to what they might have had to shell out and your goodwill given they have made such a profound mistake should be king, especially since the whole episode will have been tiring for you

No it is not. A person randomly announcing their dog is an assistance dog means nothing.

Are you joking?

I completely agree with the refusal of the dog but that’s the most offensive comment I’ve seen on this post. If it was a guide dog would you apply the same logic? Remove a 4 year olds wheelchair because dad can carry them? Give over.

A person is allowed to train their own assistance dog. This includes guide dogs. There is no official registration process for assistance animals. But the equality act demonstrates you are not allowed to discriminate on the basis of their assistance dog. And there is no requirement for people to take in a registration certificate, because there is no universal registration process. If you don't believe me, then go and look it up on the assistance dog website. And check out the equality act too whilst your about it.

Definitely discrimination if your dog was wearing their harness.

Is it though? I would think that’s only the case if you also have the relevant accompanying paperwork as anyone can buy a harness/jacket and pop it on their non trained, non registered dog.

I USED to have a friend that was a right CF, hence the ‘used’. They got an assistance jacket for their dog and would take it everywhere as it would bark terribly if it was left at home and the neighbours complained, council interaction etc. So this was their fix. The dog was horrendously behaved. She would play the discrimination/I’ll go to the press card to get people to back down, particularly when the dog was behaving like an absolute arsehole. I think a jacket/harness is meaningless, you should have to carry and produce the accompanying paperwork.

I won’t even detail other aspects of her CF’ery. She would claim a child was disabled to get priority passed/skip queue at parks etc. Again, any questions from staff would be met with cries of discrimination and threats of the press etc and they would quickly back down (and to get her to shut up and move on I suspect). Again, used to be a friend, I couldn’t put up with it.

Tell that to the OP who’s being blatantly dishonest.

This dog isn’t registered. There is no registry in the Uk yet here she is lying through her back teeth.

trained to compete is NOT the same as training to be an assistance dog. She’s attempting to exploit laws set up to protect disabled people. If she was genuine why is she lying?

I know there’s no register. Which is how I know the op is a liar when she says her dog is registered.

Well I actually don't often tend to see many people out with their guide dogs in restaurants when they're with somebody else. I mostly see people out with guide dogs when they're on their own. If I did there could be many reasons why the dog was with them. They could be in training together. The blind person could have gone to the restaurant to meet someone and needed their guide dog to get them there.

It's not really clear from OP why she would need her dog with her when meeting or being with her daughter in a restaurant, as she hasn't really explained how she got to the restaurant and what sort of things the dog would need to do for her on the way or whilst there. I get that in the house when you're doing a lot of fetching and carrying in various household tasks then it might be needed more. I think it's fair enough for people to be wondering about that and wanting to ask questions. It's not as clear cut as what a guide dog does for a blind person, which is extremely obvious.

She doesn't say it's registered. She says it's trained by herself. She had experience in dog training. She is applying for it to take exams in which case she can probably get it on the assistance dogs register, which is not necessary, but may be helpful, when faced with ignorant people who don't understand the law.