Dogs Everywhere

[SusanandMidge]

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?

Not only do they give the restaurant a bad review, but other parents who weren't even there join in the slagging off and 'oh that's shocking. I'll never go there again' posts.

And people who don't want to do eat around dogs have equal opportunity to post similar posts and no doubt others will join with them.

Let's face it , all sorts of people can flounce onto SM whether they have a dog or not.

We have working dogs in the family. I.e they are on a farm doing a job. They are looked after and have acres of land to roam and be dogs. They do not go to public places and ruin everyone day and Crap everywhere. My family are used to dogs but they are working dogs and not treated as humans or as some idiots say "children" 😂

Yep I'm also part of a farming family.

There are some useless dog owners out there.

But if this is just a thread to list bad things dogs do i'll leave you to it.

But these behaviours aren't generally deemed to be 'appropriate'. They are considered appropriate by people who decide if there's no rule or law against something then it's ok. They don't use any judgment or consideration or take different situations into account. That is the point I was making
Appropriateness IS usually defined by rules. There are many rules that I don't like or don't make sense to me but accept them because they are normal for a majority of people.

If it was up to me, I would have a rule that kids are not allowed on trains during commuting times. It seems very appropriate because people commuting want peace or to able to work on their laptops quietly. However, I totally appreciate that the majority of people want to be able to take their kids during these hours and others are not bothered.

Individuals do t get to define what is or isn't appropriate, hence the rules.

Saying that, there is of course a moral aspect to it. If I took my dog somewhere they are allowed but someone there was genuinely petrified of dogs, of course I would move just out of personal consideration, not because I should.

Those examples demonstrate that for every responsible and considerate dog owner there are irresponsible and inconsiderate ones. Hence people saying 'well my dog is very well behaved so I don't see why he can't go into shops' need to understand that you can't discriminate between the good and bad owners. So by allowing dogs into restaurants etc you are enabling the bad dog owners to annoy and disturb other people
Isn't that the same as parents who can't discipline their kids, or dangerous drivers? Should everyone be canned because of bad ones?

It comes down to perspective. People who don't like dogs are much more likely to be focused on bad behaviours whereas those who love dogs are more likely to not see it.

That's why it comes down to rules. Ultimately, dogs are more visible and part of society and society is encourage it, which would indicate that all in all, people are encouraging of it or at least not bothered by it.

I noticed this too when I went in April/May. I assume it may depend which state you’re in. I also noticed more designated dog parks AND dog- free grassy areas there. Yay for Common sense!

Thread started out about specifically Cornwall and the OP saw so many dogs there.

It's now turned into a dog hating thread and about how many bad owners there are in the country and how entitled everyone is. Aren't dog haters entitled to? Think just because they don't like dogs then dog friendly holidays shouldn't exist.
And for all those people saying "I wouldn't take my dog in a cafe or a restaurant" neither would I in my hometown. But on holiday in a dog friendly place I will. There are signs on window saying dogs welcome. My dog is well behaved. I don't see the problem.

I disagree. Minimum standards are defined by rules, but after that judgment and consideration come into it. There's no rule that says I can't play loud music in my garden at 3pm on a sunny weekend afternoon. But good judgment and a sense of consideration for those in your immediate environment stop most people from behaving like that. There's no rule that says a smoker can't sit down beside someone enjoying a sandwich on a park bench and light up a cigarette. But again judgment and consideration mean that most smokers don't behave like that. But there's always an annoying minority who just decide 'there's no rule against it so I can go ahead'. It's the same with dog owners. I'm sure many have the sense to know when it is and isn't appropriate to bring their dog somewhere. But others just think 'oh dogs are allowed' and that's it.

Thanks to this thread I have left a review on a tiny cafe near me that allows dogs in and lets them put their paws on the counter surface where food prep happens.

It was a a balanced review, complimenting the service and bagels but explaining my concerns about hygiene and why I won’t be back.

I agree that this is the way to effect change.

Why do people always call annoyance at genuine issues caused by selfish dog owners 'dog hating'?

The paws on the counter thing too would annoy me, partly as it's possibly breaking environmental health rules.

I find reviews like this very helpful. I was going to a vegan restaurant in a nearby city the other week and read a similar review which helped me with my decision not to go there. I will start posting similar reviews to help others .

I think businesses don’t realise how many people, including some dog owners, don’t want dogs everywhere. It’ll be good for them to know.

As I’ve said upthread , every restaurant and cafe , should display their dog policy clearly on websites and their entrances so people can decide.

I'm sure many have the sense to know when it is and isn't appropriate to bring their dog somewhere. But others just think 'oh dogs are allowed' and that's it.

If dogs are welcome, they're welcome.
And that's up to an individual business.

I don't think it's fair to then berate people for following the etiquette that they have been invited to follow.

I don't really buy into this idea that individual business are somehow forced or shamed into allowing dogs against their will despite OP meeting one owner that said that.

The summer is all about business in Cornwall and people do what it is good for business.

*I find reviews like this very helpful. I was going to a vegan restaurant in a nearby city the other week and read a similar review which helped me with my decision not to go there. I will start posting similar reviews to help others .

I think businesses don’t realise how many people, including some dog owners, don’t want dogs everywhere. It’ll be good for them to know.

As I’ve said upthread , every restaurant and cafe , should display their dog policy clearly on websites and their entrances so people can decide.*

Reviews are there for everyone. Make your views known.

@Nevermind202020 it is dog hating. It not minor annoyance. People are angry at owners taking their dogs places where they are allowed. Stating that even though it says "dogs welcome" I shouldn't take my dog. I should leave him in the caravan or the car. Where id be slated for doing that too.
Or I should stick him in kennels instead of taking him with me to Cornwall, where he is in fact welcomed in a lot of places.
He is well behaved. He is 13. He doesn't jump up people or bark.

We are back you not seeing something a certain way, and thus it absolutely not being that way ('I don't buy into'). Also you need to understand @SusanandMidge's point about being invited and not taking advantage of that invite. Being allowed/invited into an establishment also means knowing how to behave appropriately. Many dogs do just that, lying calmly at their owners feet for example, while others sit on chairs, sniff and drool on people/tables, or put their dirty paws up on the counter. An invite does not mean a free reign!

An invite does not mean a free reign!

I know that 👍🏻

I have never said you shouldn't take your dog, if it says dogs are welcome, I have said that some people abuse the invite by behaving in a terrible manner once they are there. Maybe you don't do that, in that case you are not the issue.

Reviews are there for everyone. Make your views known.

yep, I certainly will.

You are saying 'if dogs are welcome, they are welcome' - I am pointing out that they are not welcome to do as they like, as some owners seem to think.

@Nevermind202020

I don't buy into = I don't agree with the idea that

( you're allowed not to agree I believe )

You are saying 'if dogs are welcome, they are welcome' - I am pointing out that they are not welcome to do as they like, as some owners seem to think.

I realise that. 👍🏻

YANBU

I live in the UK and am sick of seeing dogs everywhere- pubs, cafes and shops

I know what 'I don't buy into means'.
(My bad, I re-entered that unusual universe you are in, it was an error).

I bring my dog on holiday with me and on days out because we do a lot of walking holidays and it's unfair of me as an owner to leave him locked in all day while I'm doing something he would also enjoy.

Being able to go into a coffee shop or cafe with him means we don't need to eat in our car the entire time which is far nicer, contributes to the economy and small businesses and makes our holiday much more social and enjoyable. It also means we can actually stay out for the day or overnight without having to pay additional costs to kennel him which he finds stressful.

Our dog is super well behaved. Sits beside me when told and if we're eating in a dog friendly place he will lie under the table quietly until we're finished. People have frequently said they didn't even know he was there until we were leaving.

Somewhere being dog friendly would make me more likely to support that business even if i didn't have my dog with me. I think if you don't want a dog where you're eating there are still many, many places that are not dog friendly to choose from. Why shouldn't both preferences be catered for. I ring ahead to check why not do the same op.