Dogs in restaurants

[MealDealDreamz]

Informal dining and cafes, fine. Pubs, fine. But only if dogs are on the floor and reasonably well behaved (by that I mean not barking all the time).Restaurant not fine. Am I alone in this?
If I am paying to go somewhere specifically to enjoy the food and pay extra for it and want to enjoy a special evening (birthday) why do I have to put up with a dog lying on the floor at the table next to me?. I just don't think this is necessary or acceptable. Am I totally alone in this?

Was in the pub at lunchtime today. My dog was under the table asleep. Two different tables had babies at them and both were crying at one point. Not a problem, but which tables impacted on others dining experiences? Not me.

Exactly! These babies would completely destroys other people's enjoyment of their dinner/drinks. No idea why some awful over entitled parents think this is acceptable. Small children/babies shouldn't be allowed into restaurants or bars.

You can't seriously think the presence of babies and presence of dogs in restaurants is in anyway comparable?

Wow.

Not exactly my point!!! But one of the mums was hugely frustrated at the other because her baby was setting the other one off. I found it amusing more than disruptive, particularly with this thread front of mind!!!

No, not comparable because babies are very disruptive whereas dogs sit under the table minding their own business.

So a complete generalisation is your argument?

If "dogs sit under the table minding their own business" how, in the pub last Friday evening, was there one pulling on its lead , barking/whining so loudly every couple of minutes that people started leaving?

And in the very same pub on the very same evening, how did a young cocker spaniel jump up and put its dirty paws on my friends leg, marking her cream trousers, if it was sat under a table minding it's own business?

And by the way, we saw that cocker spaniel being unloaded from its owner's car as we arrived. They had actually driven to the pub and brought the dog with them. I mean, calling in while on a walk is one thing but actually driving a dog to the pub??? Incredible.

Presumably driving back from a dog walk? Especially if muddy paws. People drive to different spots to walk their dogs (in fact it's recommended to walk in a wide range of places), and might be driving back over dinner time. It would be The death of a lot of country pubs in people had to drive on, drop their dog off and drive all the way back. It's the same reason they often have a muddy boots welcome sign (for people on the way back from walks)

Most dogs behave, some don't. Those that don't are 99 times more noticeable than those quietly under a table. Same with children, I could recount lots of noisy kids stories because those drew my attention.

Not all kids are incapable of sitting politely in a restaurant (some absolutely are), not all dogs are.

No one would disagree that if your dog isn't able to behave then it shouldn't be there, but I suspect people will just have different lines as to where that is.

OMG, what did the police say?