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?

All those posts are exactly the same.
When its not cyclists its dogs or runners...
It gets boring now.
People exist, dogs exist, kids exist, if you have everything just live in the desert or stay at home.

Agreed I live in a very small town and all the eaterys allow dogs and allow them on the seating etc. I find this totally unacceptable. Not to mention the million times dogs come up to me and touch me.
We stopped going out to eat local now and so we no longer are able to support our local businesses.

We stopped going out to eat local now and so we no longer are able to support our local businesses.

Obviously the dog owners continue with their support.

@SurferDog

absolutely! But most people will clean their teeth not long after. Dogs cannot clean their own teeth. Nor can they wipe their own bum hole 🤷‍♀️

Let's hope the kitchen staff also wash their hands. Honestly being dirty can extend to anyone.

Yes, the businesses are obviously making more from dog owners, because as a previous poster said, dog owners are out walking with their dogs and welcome a coffee/ cake / lunch or even dinner en route.
It’s huge group of people who’s needs were previously ignored and it’s now been found to be quite lucrative.

My local cafe even has a doggie menu including dog friendly ice cream.

It makes good business sense when you think about it.
And I’m no longer a dog owner. I have cats but love dogs too.

It's not a competition!!! Both are equally wrong.

absolutely! But most people will clean their teeth not long after. Dogs cannot clean their own teeth. Nor can they wipe their own bum hole🤷‍♀️

Most people? I think you have way too much faith in people.
And you and many others on this thread seem very worried about germs. Our bodies are pretty good at protecting us so there's no point worrying about any of it whether it's from human or animal.

My local cafe even has a doggie menu including dog friendly ice cream.

Ours does too. Our dogs love going there.

One of mine takes photos of visiting dogs and puts it on social media.

Many people seem to think that the owners of cafes etc are begrudgingly allowing dogs because of the canine £.... when the reality is that they allow dogs because they love having them there.

I'm always surprised at people saying to just go somewhere where dogs aren't accepted.

I've done a scan of all the cafes and restuarants in my local town and the nearest larger town and not one of them has any indication from the outside, or a glance through the door, that dogs aren't welcome.

I stopped counting at 23 local cafes and every single one definitely welcomes dogs.

I'd better put up with dogs or not eat or drink out, I suppose.

On MN, it seems that anywhere dog friendly is heaving with dogs. That has never been my experience. I have rarely seen more than a couple of dogs in dog friendly places at any one time.
So, these places are not out of bounds to you. Just sit away from the dogs, or ask to be seated away from any booked tables where dogs are due to be.

I agree it is a lucrative market. People are keen to buy doggie treats. And they do not bring in a packed lunch for their dog.

One of mine takes photos of visiting dogs and puts it on social media.

Love that! 😊

Many people seem to think that the owners of cafes etc are begrudgingly allowing dogs because of the canine £.... when the reality is that they allow dogs because they love having them there.

In our local one, the owners of the cafe often have their 2 dogs with him. They are definitely dog lovers.

I love seeing resident dogs. They are pretty much staff!
My partner goes to a barber who has a resident dog. He is called Buzz, which seems an appropriate name 😁

Totally agree. I grew up with dogs and loved them dearly but we never would have considered taking one into a restaurant. Seems extremely selfish to me. Even the dog isn’t going to enjoy it.

What is the difference between a dog under a table in a café, and a dog under a table in a restaurant?
Will the dog somehow know it is in a fine dining establishment, and have a flush of guilt about being there?

You clearly don’t live in the Lake District!

Nope, I would never take them in either personally. But taking them in nice restaurants is particularly unfair on the other customers.

No, but I can understand the Lakes/Peaks having lots of dogs everywhere seeing as both are very popular places for people to take their dogs on holiday.

My best friend moved there for that very reason.

How? If the dog is having a snooze under a table, then what issue is it causing other people?

Yes, this is a problem for us too. DS2 is severely allergic and consequently can't be around dogs. We can't just sit away from the dogs; one dog several metres away in an enclosed space has resulted in a serious asthma attack for him in the past. A sign on the door is so simple, would take all of five minutes to print one out and put it up and then we'd know that place isn't safe for him to be in. We're ok in our local area, we know a few places but making it obvious whether dogs are allowed or not would be helpful when we're visiting areas we don't know well.

Unfortunately that isn’t my experience of the vast majority of dogs in restaurants. As I said, it’s not good for the dogs either.

We went to a popular pizza restaurant on holiday in Wales and a dog was at the table next to us, I had to seat my 2 autistic sons as far away from it as possible as they hate dogs. From now on I'm putting on reservations "please don't seat us next to a dog"

My dog is fine in cafes etc. I do think it is crap when someone literally drags their unhappy dog somewhere, and it ends up with the dog being distressed and causing issues. Same could be said for some kids too.
When my dog was a pup (acting like a teenager), she would not settle if we stopped in a cafe or pub. Too much puppy energy. She only annoyed us though, not other people.
Any upset, take them outside and/or go home.