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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Dogs Everywhere

768 replies

SusanandMidge · 17/09/2023 20:36

I don't live in the UK but am just back from a holiday in Cornwall. We were shocked at the amount of dogs allowed everywhere. They were in every restaurant, cafe, pub and hotel. Two or three people with dogs would all go into a small shop, blocking the aisles for everyone else. In Port Isaac on a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon the whole harbour and uphill area was disrupted by loud and continuous barking. Dogs were running around off leash on every beach. People were clogging the narrow pavements with two or three dogs on leads, wheeling dogs around in prams and buggies, stopping outside holiday cottages for ages chatting while their dogs barked, yapped and howled and ruined the peace for the people inside.

We were genuinely wondering if the next time we came back there would be dog and owner spaces in supermarket carparks and an expectation that you should stand up on public transport to let people with dogs sit down.

AIBU to think England has gone a bit mad when it comes to dogs?

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 17/09/2023 22:25

SusanandMidge · 17/09/2023 22:15

But your dog is not human. He does not care if he is on a beach in Cornwall or being allowed run around the dog friendly area of his local park, and his rights are lesser than those of humans.
And your comment about babies is really silly.

Babies don't care either. What does a baby get out of being taken on an all inclusive holiday in Spain?

Flickersy · 17/09/2023 22:25

irisretic · 17/09/2023 20:40

YANBU at all. Far too many dogs in cafes and shops these days. Awful for people with allergies or poor eyesight and a myriad of other reasons.

Dogs can be fairly essential for those with poor vision...

Nevermind202020 · 17/09/2023 22:25

Flickersy · 17/09/2023 22:22

I came back from two weeks in Cornwall a few days ago.

There were dogs around, sure. But never once was I bothered in a restaurant or driven away by a cacophony of howling and yapping, nor forced into the road by them (the same cannot be said for people with prams and suitcases), nor was I otherwise accosted or harassed.

How very odd. Almost like the OP is exaggerated for effect. But that would never happen.

How very odd that you feel your experience is any more valid than OP's experience. Hmmmm.

Mble · 17/09/2023 22:26

Trevorton · 17/09/2023 20:52

Are you american? Just wondering because of the use of ‘leash’. It’s a ‘lead’ in uk. And yes, dogs (like children) are welcome in most places. I think if you swap the word dogs for children the setup and irritation is similar for a lot of us.

The fact that you find Americans and children irritating is irrelevant to the dog situation.

Pollyputhekettleon · 17/09/2023 22:26

Flickersy · 17/09/2023 22:25

Dogs can be fairly essential for those with poor vision...

Absolutely no one is complaining about guide dogs.

thatsabigtree · 17/09/2023 22:26

Carouselfish · 17/09/2023 22:22

Things more irritating than dogs in cafes - other peoples' children, loud people, obese people, slow people, agonisingly posh people, cyclists in lycra.

See, we can all be annoyed by things there are a lot of in Britain and then the rest of us can be offended by the annoyance.

Or, we can just carry on, get over it, live and let live.

I agree with all of these! And I am several of them myself! 😆😆

SusanandMidge · 17/09/2023 22:26

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 17/09/2023 22:21

Big speech there.

Too bad it's drowning in mawkishness.

I think you need to look up mawkish in the dictionary,

OP posts:
Dickheadseverywhere · 17/09/2023 22:26

Look how happy the dog owners on this thread are. It’s a joy to see.

Research has shown that owning a dog can affect our mental health in the following ways: Dogs can increase our dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin levels. These are the “feel good” chemicals our brains release that improve mood and affect happiness.

Good night all, double maths in the morning.

Flickersy · 17/09/2023 22:27

SusanandMidge · 17/09/2023 22:23

No it's not exaggerated. It's almost as if you're minimising the issue for your own reasons,

We were genuinely wondering if the next time we came back there would be dog and owner spaces in supermarket carparks and an expectation that you should stand up on public transport to let people with dogs sit down.

Really? Were you really truly wondering this?

You are hugely exaggerating for effect. If you were truly wondering that then you're a bit dim.

SusanandMidge · 17/09/2023 22:27

XenoBitch · 17/09/2023 22:25

Babies don't care either. What does a baby get out of being taken on an all inclusive holiday in Spain?

Absolutely nothing. But what's your point?

OP posts:
Nevermind202020 · 17/09/2023 22:27

Dickheadseverywhere · 17/09/2023 22:26

Look how happy the dog owners on this thread are. It’s a joy to see.

Research has shown that owning a dog can affect our mental health in the following ways: Dogs can increase our dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin levels. These are the “feel good” chemicals our brains release that improve mood and affect happiness.

Good night all, double maths in the morning.

Are you not reading the same thread as the rest of us? That explains the yawning face.

Flickersy · 17/09/2023 22:28

Nevermind202020 · 17/09/2023 22:25

How very odd that you feel your experience is any more valid than OP's experience. Hmmmm.

I'm not the one starting a goady thread on the internet which I know will get people frothing.

Hellohah · 17/09/2023 22:28

idiotmagnet · 17/09/2023 22:05

Dog owner here and delighted at the big increase in places welcoming dogs. Can see how it might piss people off though. I think places with separate areas probably work best.
Having said that, dog owners should work on their dog's manners if they take them to pubs, cafes etc.
I didn't take mine into places like that until I was confident she would settle and not whinge or try to go up to other dogs. Also she is never off lead and isn't permitted to approach anyone unless they ask to interact. She is a big dog though, so I do avoid smaller spaces.

Me too, but I didn't take my dog anywhere until he'd mastered the "place" command. We have a mat (picnic blanket thing) that we take to pubs/cafes with us and he knows he's not allowed off that. He's not a barker either, so he will mostly just settle and watch the world go by. He's an uncommon crossbreed though, he gets so much attention and fuss when out we always try and find a table we can hide him under. But as he's a tall, lanky dog, it's not always possible.

Cosyblankets · 17/09/2023 22:28

A big mistake that people make is that they think socialising the dog means they have to meet and play with all other dogs. It doesn't. It means that they are exposed to lots of sounds and smells and different places, people and dogs and other animals. They need to learn to ignore them.
Yes i take my dog in a pub. He sits under or at the side of the table. He doesn't bother anyone because he's done it from the very beginning. And his lead would be too short anyway! When we're in crowded places he's on a very short lead so he can't get in anyone's way.
We like days out in the countryside or the beach or whatever. So we got a dog. That's how we enjoy our leisure time. So our holiday is full of days out and we book dog friendly accommodation. And we have lots of days out.
If we're at the shops we generally don't take him in because for one thing i don't really like browsing i go in for specific things and I'm straight out so one of us walks round outside with him while the other goes in.
At home he sleeps in the kitchen. No one has ever not come to my house for dinner because it's unhygienic. The 3 dog friendly pubs in my town all have 5 star rating.
As ever many dog owners are giving us a bad name.
Keep your dogs under close control and we might all get along better.

Nevermind202020 · 17/09/2023 22:28

XenoBitch · 17/09/2023 22:22

I know my dog, and she does enjoy her holidays. She sleeps in the car on the journey there. She is not stressed about being in strange accommodation etc. Most owners know there dog.... yet it seems some on this thread seem to think they know them better than the actual owners.
My dog wont eat in kennels. Not all dogs get on in them... and like I said before, I opt to take my dog on holiday because we both enjoy it. I don't take her because I wont leave her at home.

I did say 'based on the replies' here, so not just your experience.

Lahdedahiam · 17/09/2023 22:29

I'm booking Cornwall next year!

LimeCheesecake · 17/09/2023 22:29

SusanandMidge · 17/09/2023 22:20

And as for Cornwall being dog friendly, I think it's more the case that it's a popular holiday destination, became more popular during covid and has now become a target by selfish dog owners who have lobbied, pushed and insisted that their dogs be welcomed and allowed everywhere, regardless of the annoyance they are causing to everyone else.

But it’s only Cornwall - other seaside holiday destinations are like this.

the people of Cornwall have decided to be dog friendly and its restaurants have the same. Go somewhere dogs aren’t welcome next time.

SusanandMidge · 17/09/2023 22:30

Flickersy · 17/09/2023 22:27

We were genuinely wondering if the next time we came back there would be dog and owner spaces in supermarket carparks and an expectation that you should stand up on public transport to let people with dogs sit down.

Really? Were you really truly wondering this?

You are hugely exaggerating for effect. If you were truly wondering that then you're a bit dim.

No I'm not dim at all. You, however, are rude, defensive and a teensy bit over literal.

OP posts:
Nevermind202020 · 17/09/2023 22:31

Flickersy · 17/09/2023 22:28

I'm not the one starting a goady thread on the internet which I know will get people frothing.

You are the one minimising another's experience just because it wasn't exactly like yours though. Of course some people are not bothered by dogs, but many people are. I am aware of lots of people in real life too, who are concerned by how apparently dog friendly (which really just means dog owner friendly in many cases) that society is becoming.

MehtotheChristmasrunup · 17/09/2023 22:31

SusanandMidge · 17/09/2023 22:15

But your dog is not human. He does not care if he is on a beach in Cornwall or being allowed run around the dog friendly area of his local park, and his rights are lesser than those of humans.
And your comment about babies is really silly.

We it does care. It’s needs are different granted. It likes things that humans consider immoral/ vulgar/ unacceptable but they are dog needs. It has as much right as you to be here.

Flickersy · 17/09/2023 22:32

SusanandMidge · 17/09/2023 22:30

No I'm not dim at all. You, however, are rude, defensive and a teensy bit over literal.

"Over-literal" - so you admit you're exaggerating and using hyperbole.

SusanandMidge · 17/09/2023 22:32

LimeCheesecake · 17/09/2023 22:29

But it’s only Cornwall - other seaside holiday destinations are like this.

the people of Cornwall have decided to be dog friendly and its restaurants have the same. Go somewhere dogs aren’t welcome next time.

I think many businesses in Cornwall have been 'forced' to be dog friendly. And again, I think some dog owners, like some parents, are interpreting 'dog friendly' as meaning 'my dog rules, and takes precedence over everyone else.'

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 17/09/2023 22:32

SusanandMidge · 17/09/2023 22:27

Absolutely nothing. But what's your point?

That according to people who do not know my dog, that the same applies to her, so therefore I should chuck her in kennels and go on holiday.

ActDottie · 17/09/2023 22:33

thenightsky · 17/09/2023 20:37

The British are animal lovers. Get over it.

This! I love my dogs and take them everywhere I can.

Livelovebehappy · 17/09/2023 22:33

SusanandMidge · 17/09/2023 20:46

Not to mention the dogs leaping up on you while the owner titters ' oh that's naughty Poppy'.

This is exactly how I feel about other peoples children though. Parents of young children and dog owners are very similar in that they really think everyone else should absolutely love their children/dogs as much as they do, and that we should all indulge in oohing and ahhing everything they do. A cafe full of dog owners and parents with badly behaved dogs and small children is hell on earth! (And I have a dog - but a very well behaved one).