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?

This thread makes it clear though that some people think ALL places should be dog free for some reason.

Really? Where ?

It makes it clear that people who don't want to be around dogs are annoyed that many businesses are doing well out of it and want their trade.

@vivainsomnia apologies read dog free as dog friendly. It's a minefield .

I do agree with your last statement. Whilst people have choice they can use it, and vote
with their custom.

@sunglassesonthetable hmm. I don’t know. Maybe dog agnostic? 😂 It’s hard to think of something that doesn’t make people who don’t want a dog at the table some arseholian dog hater.

I think 'dog avoidant ' works in the context of
restaurants/cafes etc You might love dogs but just not want to eat by them or not like maybe have an allergy.

Doesn't mean you avoid dogs all the time.

Just like not all 'dog owners' want to take their dogs to cafes etc all the time or even anytime.

There are some very strange and deluded dog folk on this post. Dogs don’t rule the world. Of course dogs shouldn’t be allowed free reign to roam everywhere leaving piles of sh.. behind them.
Anyone who thinks that’s acceptable needs help . Weird

Who wanted that out of interest?

It's exactly that kind of generalisation that fuels the animosity tbh

YABU for thinking people who have kids with them should be allowed to bring dogs to a children’s play area. It’s just asking for trouble - dogs pissing in sandpits, fouling, licking everything. Not to mention the dog of someone with children is just as likely to get under the feet of a strange child and lash out if they are trampled on or kicked by mistake.

I have never kicked a dog in my life but I agree with the poster who suggested she’d be doing that if a dog chased her child. Why should someone stand by and let themselves or especially their child be possibly attacked? It’s not about blaming the dog, of course the owners are responsible but having a stern chat with the owner won’t help to protect your child in the moment.

I had a dog ran at me last year and I froze, I was lucky in that it “only” scratched me but if it were to happen again I’d definitely be ready to put a barrier between it and me using my foot.

OP, I suggest you write to your council asking them to put up no dogs signs. And that should apply to everyone. I don’t have kids but I sure don’t pay my taxes to have dogs take over playgrounds meant for children when they have whole entire parks and woods they can go.

Is there nowhere free from dogs anymore?

i don’t think they should be allowed in restaurants or cafes at all unless working dogs. They are unhygienic and stink. Dog owners are nose blind but they do. They shouldn’t be where food is served - at least indoors

It's gonna head that way 🤪...

I had no idea that Cornwall was UK's number one destination for dog owners! That will be why there were dogs, dogs, dogs everywhere coming out of the woodwork when I was there a few weeks ago.
There were dogs in our hotel and two made friends and started slobbering and chasing around the breakfast room. I found it really weird and I didn't like it at all. I won't be going to Cornwall again then. I really don't like the idea of staying in a hotel room or a self catering place where hundreds of different dogs have been slobbering all year round. Yuck.

I had no idea that Cornwall was UK's number one destination for dog owners

It's not, it's just another generalised statement that's been made😊A very simple google search will confirm that. It's always in the top 5 or so, but actually Wales (Snowdonia) is more popular with dogs than Cornwall. It may seem like it as holidaymakers in Cornwall normally tend to congregate around the same areas (ie., St Ives, Newquay areas, Falmouth etc, even Port Isaac as OP said), but the North/Snowdonia area of Wales has far more dogs visiting it on holiday than Cornwall. Also, almost 100% certain that every hotel room is cleaned before new people visit. I mean, that's kind of a given even if dogs aren't allowed in there. You'll also find quite a few hotels have a set number of dog-friendly rooms, meaning they're reserved for people with pets only, and those people normally end up paying a higher price to cover the deeper clean required after the pets have left. If you really really don't like dogs or had allergies, no manager will have an issue with you phoning and asking for a room that's not had a dog in it.

On a totally different subject, in comparison, North Wales actually overall have less restrictions for dogs on beaches than in Cornwall, however for some reason, everyone always finds something bad to say about Cornwall. My personal view, if you've visited Cornwall and don't like it, fair enough. Just don't make generalised statements about it.

@therealtalk - that's interesting.
Round my woods, everyone with a dog goes to Norfolk - lovely sandy beaches and plenty of dog friendly places. There is even a doggy diner in Cromer!

You also said we should all be moving away from the “Holiday cottage” style of tourism

And again I doubt many Cornish people would be happy with that.

So sorry my post should have said one of Cornwall's main industries ie the second major one after agriculture 🙄so pretty significant

Recently returned from North Wales Anglesey The dogs and owners drove me nuts. We did a steam train excursion 2 hours and we moved several carriages to avoid dogs. To add insult to injury it cost us £70 each for the trip the dogs which I might add are sitting on the seats too £3 we went to the on the great orme tram ride Llandudno same issue dogs on seats us £20 to travel dog £1.50 so perhaps if people have to pay same rate for their dog as frankly it takes up more room it wont be so necessary to bring them everywhere. In restaurants there should be a minimum charge for all dogs to enter. Plus hotels should have animals only rooms not allowed in all rooms. As this is such a trend I will checking in advance in the future for dogs free businesses. By the way can I bring my cat on holiday in some way that would fun wouldn’t in a restaurant dogs sees cat on. Oh my god!,

Dog avoidant !!😄

Cornwall is well known as the place to be for dog holidays.

The histrionics on these threads do make me laugh.

Currently in North Wales on holiday with my two dogs and I'm really not recognising the picture being painted by some on here.

The dogs have had a wonderful time on the beach - restrictions are still in place for the popular beaches, but we seek quieter out-of-the-way places (not hard) and if anyone is sitting on the beach or having a picnic, my two are on leads.

We've avoided a fair few cafés and shops that don't allow dogs and politely asked others if the dogs can come in. If it's a no we go elsewhere quite happily. They don't want my trade. If the shop is dog friendly but small, then DH waits outside with them.

I've not been approached by any random dogs in the last two weeks. None have slobbered all over me. I've not been disturbed by anyone else's dog in any pub or café. No one has stepped in any dog poo. However we have had to avoid the odd dirty nappy left lying about and decided to forego pudding in a cafe where the parents on the next table allowed their children to run riot. The problem is people. Not the dogs.

Agree 100%. It really pisses me off if I’m out for a walk or sitting in a pub garden and a bloody dog invades my space, sniffing round me or worse, jumps up at me. Whilst the owner does nothing because they assume/expect me to fawn all over their little darling. I have to say “Call it off!” which often gets an indignant response from the owner! Keep your dirty, unhygienic dogs to yourselves.