Dogs slobbering on products in shops

[PurpIish]

I know I'm not being unreasonable! But surely some think I am as they allow their dogs to do this.

Took DD(7) shopping today, trip was really spoiled by a few dogs.

Lush. Someone brought their large dog in, this dog was head height to the lower shelves, and had its snout in several of the products. I was about to complain to the staff, but several staff went over and started petting the dog, clearly they were team dog. I don't want my clean bath products with added dog slobber, nor do I want them handled by someone who has just been touching dogs. I will email lush to tell them, but I am posting to please ask dog people to resist taking your dogs into stores where they are going to have their noses in the products.

Next was at the little pop up market. Another dog, in owner's arms, sneezed on the wares (hand-knitted toys). Obviously sneezing happens, but come on, that's just gross.

Third, today, mid-to-large sized dog, cocked his leg on someone's stall. Owner wasn't even watching. Stall -holder has to pack up her table, with dog piss on the table leg. I did tell the owner, of the stall, she was really pissed off, and lamented that it has happened before, but because she's positioned in the outdoor market area, she has no control over people bringing their dogs right up to her stall.

Fourth. Woman had her dog on a long leash. Elderly chap tripped over the leash. Luckily he didn't land on the ground, it was busy so he just half -fell on someone as he stumbled, but he was shaken, and the person he landed on was hurt too. Dread to think how the old man would be doing had he completely fallen on the ground.

Fifth, there was a dog shit in the middle of the outdoor market.

This is all in one day. We were only out for about three hours.

Please please stop bringing dogs everywhere. And if you absolutely must, please watch them vigilantly so that the rest of us aren't impacted by them.

Yanbu - dogs should stay at home, or go to the park. They should not be in the shops.

Yabu. Dogs are still great, better than humans, and comparable to kids.

We specifically haven’t got a dog, because it’s harder to go away on holiday. You chose - if you have a dog then you are restricted as to where you can go and what you can do. You pays your money, you takes your chances.

I have no issue with well-behaved dogs in outdoor cafes, and I would happily take one of my two dogs for a quick coffee only if we sat outside (two would take up too much space imho).
I would never, EVER expect to take a dog indoors except perhaps if it was a dog-friendly country pub on a walking route.
It really irritates me. We ate lunch at Bill’s yesterday and despite there being available outdoor tables, a couple had a sizeable, wet-smelling labradoodle wedged under their table looking really miserable.
Just no. Restaurants are for humans.

I went to a bar/ restaurant last night, with friends for a meal, my phone was on the table and lit up with a notification, the waitress saw my dogs photo and said 'aw, beautiful dog' , then made comments about bringing her in. I just laughed. This is a town centre bar, quite a nice place, and I thought she was making conversation. It wasn't until later, and a couple walked past with a collie. I realised she was serious.
Whilst I do take her to a lot of places that some on here would disapprove of, a town centre bar on a Saturday night isn't one.

Right, but it isn't an either/or situation.
The dog situation is also easier to control than the cat one.

If I had this in my hair salon I go to (been going since lockdown) I’d definitely make a comment.

A previous hair salon I used had a resident dog but it was quite advertised.

But then in my hair salon I go to if there were kids or babies there apart from if having their hair cut I’d be irritated too.

On the same note, why did shops stop covering things like rolls, cakes and salads and just leave them open to the air and goodness knows what ?

None of us was there. Everything you read on MN could be made up.

Anyway for most decent people, even one of those incidents a month would be unacceptable. Focussing on the timing is just silly.

I said I had not experienced the dog piss incident but believed the person who had done.
You thought I had witnessed the delightful canine urination myself. You were wrong.
I can’t be bothered explaining this again.

The reason I like these threads is that it gives me perspective and I realise that there are so many respectful dog owners like you around. It somehow makes me less angry!

@Livelovebehappy

Exactly what I thought.

A colleague of mine WFH (everyone else in the office but she has anxiety and struggles to know what to wear in the morning so comes in to get work when she’s ready)

she brings in her year old mongrel (fancy breed with a mix of cocker/poodle/bichon and god know ms what else). Lets him run around, he’s yappy, jumpy, attention seeking. goes into bins, scrounges yogurt pots, chocolate wrappers etc.

the other day he ate a pot of mushy peas and the inevitable happened 🤮 and i was disgusted. I told ger to put “the thing” on the lead and asked her not to bring “it” in again. She does it as he cries all the time when left alone 🙄

i love dogs but NOT in the shops/work place. Just stop it for the sake of others

There are many dogs who work as therapy dogs warning owners of epilepsy etc.. and some are emotional support dogs too... there are shops that cannot refuse these working dogs and not all of the dogs wear harnesses etc advertising the fact ( owners choice). If they are just pet dogs then they should be left at home or owner doesn't go in shops. Lazy owners are not good nor lazy parents. I was eating in a food shop the other day and as the mum is standing at the serving counter the 3 year old jumped out of his buggy and laid across the counter and no one batted an eyelid! I did inform the manager that if I was from food and hygiene he'd be in trouble for allowing that and not addressing it... both kids and animals can be very unpredictable. 🤔

It all happened. Very busy Saturday afternoon, decent market town on the London/Surrey borders, huge population. Perhaps where you live is much less populated.

@PurpIish seems very far fetched, busy Saturday or not!

@PurpIish and I'm also south london/Surrey borders.....

Dogs have sensitive noses - taking a dog in Lush sounds like animal cruelty TBH

Can't get worked up about dogs in open air markets.

About the only place I see dogs getting into low lying products is Pets at Home - and they must be aware. Probably rely on some people buying the products that their dogs have snaffled.

There are 4 million more pet dogs in Britain than there were 3 years ago. It's no wonder they seems to be 'everywhere' - they are!
I had 4 negative dog encounters in 2 hours on Saturday so I totally believe OP. 4 million extra dogs, that is a huge increase. Never in history have we had such a steep rise in dog ownership in such a short time.

All these new dog owners don't have the etiquette, consideration and dog know how of proper, original dog owners. Hence the amount of badly trained dogs in food shops, cafes, restaurants, hotels etc.

I don't think any of us are talking about support dogs or well trained dogs with experienced long time dog handlers.

That's my take on it anyway.

*There are 4 million more pet dogs in Britain than there were 3 years ago. It's no wonder they seems to be 'everywhere' - they are!
I had 4 negative dog encounters in 2 hours on Saturday so I totally believe OP. 4 million extra dogs, that is a huge increase. Never in history have we had such a steep rise in dog ownership in such a short time.

All these new dog owners don't have the etiquette, consideration and dog know how of proper, original dog owners. Hence the amount of badly trained dogs in food shops, cafes, restaurants, hotels etc.*

Yes, There are simply more dogs around for starters , 4 million of them! Wow.

I got my own dog 3 years ago. Luckily just before lockdown as he was still able to attend some training, before the prices shot through the roof and because he was such good company.

So I could take offence that I am not an original "proper" dog owner. I'm as proper as the next one😁. And let's face it there were original shit dog owners before the big dog owning surge happened. So those numbers have increased proportionally also.

But on the whole I'd agree.

Sorry yes, I should have said ''not all these new dog owners have the etiquette, consideration . . . . ''

The lack of availability of training during covid restrictions must have had a huge impact, I hadn't thought of that aspect.

The lack of availability of training during covid restrictions must have had a huge impact, I hadn't thought of that aspect.

I think that's quite a thing. We only got 3/4 of the way through our classes before it all closed down.

There's an optimal time for socialising and training a puppy. There's bound to be a whole tranche of pups that missed that.

On the other we had more time on our hands to try out the training we had learnt.

Vile.

Dogs are an absolute scourge.

*Vile.

Dogs are an absolute scourge.*

😉

YANBU because those people are very irresponsible dog owners.
Cats are a different category and can't be compared because they are so (beautifully) wilful. Try and control a cat, it's impossible.

A dog pissing up that stall table leg is revolting, especially because disassembling it requires close human contact, absolutely revolting to allow this. I would not be happy!!!