to be alarmed that more and more places are allowing dogs?

[wheelings]

Just went to Wilko recently who had a sign up saying all dogs welcome. Went to a bistro and they allowed dogs too. Had lunch listening to small yappy dogs.

Since when did it become acceptable to allow dogs into shops and food places?

I think he was a labrador? So not really small although I think still a puppy? and it was just half of one of those kids thin small dairy milk bars

Well exactly. Some people don't mind, so why shouldn't business owners be allowed to decide if they're going to allow dogs or not? Why automatically ban it to appeal to the non-dog lovers?

Business owners are the ones who will suffer if they find their profits are dropping by allowing dogs. The risk is theirs. It is up to people to check if dogs are allowed or not and make their decision based on this.

I always wonder why owners bring them tbh. Some dogs seem to cope with it okay but a lot I’ve seen just seem really stressed. I wouldn’t want to be on the floor in an unfamiliar and noisy environment with strangers’ feet thumping around me and almost (or actually) treading on me, and I can’t imagine dogs like it either. I’ve seen so many dogs trodden on or kicked or hit with chair legs because people haven’t seen them.

I love taking my dog to wilkos. I always go armed with wipes and tissues should he have an accident, but he’s also a pug and doesn’t go knocking anything over. The staff all come over to say hello to him. He usually finds a wayward Millions sweet or five to enjoy somewhere too.

I don’t know how people on here who hate dogs this much even leave their houses.

Try Google. Check websites and business Facebook pages. I'm sure you can find somewhere.

If your favourite establishment starts allowing dogs just write to them saying you will no longer be going there and explain why ☝🏻🤠

I live in a region known for it’s scenery, which means that all the pubs I can think of locally are dog friendly. Our regular place for a weekend pub meal is right near a caravan park, so it’s usual for there to be multiple dogs under the tables.
I have never once seen any of the above happening, no soiling, no milling, and definitely no getting sick!

Up to the business. Lots of cafes let in dogs, looking around on an average weekday most customers are students, parents and people popping in for a coffee on the dog walk. If you don’t like going to a cafe where they have dogs you could….go somewhere else?

Oh he'll be fine then. A lab pup is bigger than my fully grown adult. I bet he was pleased with himself.

Owner was being ridiculous although to be fair the internet does overhype the dangers of certain foods.

I saw a large dog pee on some maxi dresses in M&S not long ago. The owner didn't notice, but I pointed it out to the staff. Disgusting.

Also this. I’ve never seen dogs going to the loo in a cafe or tripping up a waiter.

I don't like it. And I love dogs. I just don't think it's appropriate.

i am going to assume that these businesses have had dog-owners asking if they can bring their dogs in. As business owners they have then made a calculated decision to welcome them.

So the thing you need to do is ask if they are a dog free zone, and on hearing a negative, tell them that's a shame as you will now go elsewhere. If enough people do that, the business will recalculate who they will make most money from.

But you have to speak up instead of doing that British thing of saying nothing but complaining about it.

How could they not notice? surely they were pretending not to notice?

I'll second that! There's at least 3 threads a week!

Yes, I have a dog, who I take to the pub, on public transport or into those shops I think are appropriate, so pet shops or animal charity shops. I don't take her into cafes, restaurants, food shops etc. I know Wilkos is dog friendly but our local one is in a shopping centre that you're not allowed dogs in, so I've never taken her in there even if I wanted . She's a very well behaved dog, and in fact other customers/passengers etc have only become aware of her as we're leaving.

On the rare occasion I take her to the shops (mainly on holiday) it's me and my husband together so one of us stays outside with her.

She got the Dog of the Month Award on Instagram in one pub we took her too :prouddogmum:

Exactly what hygiene concerns do you have? Dogs run around on the floor, but I don’t tend to lick the floor or eat off it. Also do you really think dog paws are less clean than people’s shoes?

Is there a crew of mumsnetters on rotation for starting threads on dogs?

I love dogs and don't mind well behaved ones in most places however I find a lot of them don't have responsible owners that have trained them well enough to behave in public let alone a cafe or shopping centre.

I wonder how many people (including the cafe owners) were irritated by your child wandering around dropping food? Personally I see it as my responsibility to train my dog to drop on command, and wouldn’t take him to a cafe, but I wouldn’t appreciate a toddler bimbling around dropping food on the floor, and would consider her a trip hazard. Perhaps controlling your child will lead to less confrontation?

So the thing you need to do is ask if they are a dog free zone, and on hearing a negative, tell them that's a shame as you will now go elsewhere. If enough people do that, the business will recalculate who they will make most money from
^
This!
people who want to be dog-free need to start being as entitled as the dog-idiotics☝🏻

I never said I had any hygiene concerns

I was saying that yes there are two camps of people here but that the non-dog lovers shouldn't automatically trump the dog-lovers and ultimately, it's down to the business.

What an absolute idiot. She should teach her dog the leave command.

The more places they are allowed the better but owners have to be responsible. No one wants a Great Dane at the table but in shops fine and pubs , coffee shops small dogs under tables. More and more people have dogs and if businesses want our customer they have to allow dogs .

What puzzles me is that shops and cafes must have had a reason for not letting in dogs previously, so what has changed? Surely it was for hygiene and food safety reasons that they weren't allowed in places where people were eating. I don't mind dogs but I don't understand why they need to be in shops and restaurants.

I love dogs, I have 2 labs.
They don’t come to cafes or restaurants with me ( other than outside areas and rarely that) , they would get bored coming clothes shopping with me.

They want to run around in the woods, on the (appropriate ) beach, up a hill, in a river. They are loved members of my family, and they are treated according to their needs - as dogs.