To dislike the increase in dogs in shops/cafes

[amymel2016]

I’ve recently noticed a huge increase in non-service dogs in cafes and shops. I was in Joules earlier today and there were 3 in there, two of which were barking and growling at each other. I was in a cafe last week with 2 in there. Surely it can’t be fun for the dog having to sit under a cramped table?

I’m very allergic to dogs and the smell absolutely sets me on edge. I don’t understand why they are allowed in? I’m not about to walk in with a cat or a rabbit so why dogs? It’s also the attitude of most (sweeping generalisation!) dog owners which annoys me, no, I don’t want to talk to your dog or about your dog. I don’t care if you say he’s friendly I don’t want it anywhere near me.

Goes without saying that service dogs are bloody amazing and they should absolutely be welcome everywhere.

There was absolutely nothing to indicate your post was ironic. 🫣

Dogs in shops and restaurants = revolting.

Don’t give these businesses your custom!

Neither.

Neither should be permitted to disturb others.

My dog never gets bathed

You, your clothes, your house and your car smell delightful, I'm sure.

I get seriously tucked officially i take my kids out to dinner and we get sat near a bloody dog, my youngest son hates dogs so it ruins the experience

So your puppy didn't stink today. Well done.

And tomorrow?

Imagine sharing a cubicle with someone with hygiene problems. And having to have your sandwich there, because there's no other option.

Now imagine paying for lunch somewhere, and the next thing you know, there's that smell.

My dog never gets bathed either. Bathing them too much strips the oils from their coat and affects the weatherproofing properties. If they are brushed regularly that is enough to keep them clean.

I imagine you, your clothes, your house and your car all probably stink of some migraine inducing perfume. So I would hate your life just as much as you'd hate mine 😁

See it's all relative. I couldn't be in the same room as you for more than 5 minutes without getting migraine from your scented products that are laden with chemicals.

and yours probably smells of BO and feet.

How is it a fact? My dog doesn’t moult and literally doesn’t smell! I accept some dogs do smell and I know that smell!

Calling bullshit. There are plenty of places not dog friendly and it's not hard to find them. Much harder to avoid horrific and strong perfumes and aftershaves.

Fenwicks being dog friendly is interesting though, I've never seen a dog in one.

It really depends on area. I don’t know where pp lives, but in my local town there’s M&S and a couple of (expensive) restaurants that aren’t dog-friendly and that’s it.

If you live in an area where there’s more choice, I understand why you don’t see it as an issue.

Some strange posts on this thread! When did people become so intolerant and mean spirited? The owner offered to pay for another, what’s with wanting someone to be “cowering with embarrassment”?! Get over yourself.

Also telling dog owners their houses smell is SO rude - and true in some cases, not in others no doubt.

I think you shouldn’t be allowed to enjoy public spaces if you have an intolerant, rude attitude toward others. If I eat in a public cafe, I know that I can’t control the general population around me so that may include children, loud eaters, teens making too much noise, large groups of pensioners who hog tables, people working on laptops, dog owners, people with prams, people who take telephone calls… it’s not my home and I have to accept the doors are open to all.

It is absolutely frustrating for me. I have an Assistance Dog (Hearing Dog for the Deaf) who is an absolute star. I have to take him with me to shops and appointments as he'll alert me to fire alarms, emergencies etc.

The issue for me is, most of his training has taken place in shopping centers and supermarkets, where there are no dogs (normally). And now all of a sudden, these places are letting dogs in, and it is having a big effect on my dog. He has started to sniff at corners and lose focus on his task at hand because there's dog piss/smells, and sometimes other dogs lunging or barking at him - it's particularly confusing for him as he's used to his working environment to being dog-free.

I am part of a forum for other Hearing Dog owners and many feel the same. A lot of other dog owners allow their dogs to approach ours in shops even when asked them not to.

It's also frustrating that I've spent years being challenged for taking my dog into shops - whether by random members of the public, security guards, or shop owners - and I've had to advocate for myself and the dog.

I don't mind them in cafes/pubs , as you could be on a dog walk and fancy a pint or latte and there's usually adequate room, but not in a proper restaurant for a full meal, or in shops. Why do you have to take your dog to the local shopping centre? My tolerance for the shops is a couple of hours plus maybe a coffee/snack and then back home so 4 hours maximum!
My DH had a dog growing up and he said they left him for a big part of the day if they all went out (MIL didnt' work so I expect this wasn't that often) and he was fine. Lived to a good dog age.

Excellent post and I really feel for you @WonderingAboutBabies

I agree with you OP. I avoid pubs/ cafes / hotels which market themselves as dog friendly. For every business which welcomes dogs, I wonder how many customers they are losing who actively go elsewhere?

We have a local coffee shop chain who are partnered with GuideDogs. Being dog friendly is their USP and raison d’etre. Dog treats available at the counter. Their logo is a line drawing of a dog and they have a dog breed name in their name. Sign in the window reads “don’t leave your best friend at home!” So really easy for non dog lovers to avoid. They are really successful,open 7 days a week and always busy even on Sunday afternoons. So there is certainly a demand. I’ve never seen any dogs in there doing anything except chilling, certainly not jumping up and slobbering.

I think pubs, fine but arguably there ought to be a dog-friendly area so allergy sufferers can avoid. Dogs in shops is weird and I find it so gross in cafés! Really unhygienic.

I get that pubs serve food as well - I think if it was a pub that was more heavy on serving food I'd object more to dogs being inside instead of in a pub garden or something, but if it was one that was more focused on just pints and crisps, I suppose dogs in pubs is something I've seen for longer and the hygiene thing seems like less of an issue.

Yanbu. I hate it. I really dislike dogs (this now makes me a weird and horrible person in today’s dog-obsessed society) and I hate that nearly every place I used to enjoy visiting, I now have to share the space with dogs or miss out altogether.

@DillyDallySal
Some strange posts on this thread! When did people become so intolerant and mean spirited? The owner offered to pay for another, what’s with wanting someone to be “cowering with embarrassment”?! Get over yourself.
Oh dear! You missed that it was a light-hearted post - a little bit of humour went over your head, eh?

I find people who can't go anywhere without their mutt very sad indeed.

Totally agree. In our neighbouring small market town that we visit most weekends, there are about 12 cafes in total. Only one does not accept dogs and it’s the one with crap coffee! I wouldn’t mind so much if there were plenty of places that weren’t dog friendly to even things out, but for us it’s not the case.

Loads. Mine, and many of my friends. And many on Mumsnet. I pretty much avoid eating out now. I will go to Wagamamas, as they clearly state no dogs, and generally Indian/Thai restaurants don't seem to invite dogs. but general cafes are heaving with the horrible hounds, and thus, avoided. It is a shame. I don't know why people can't just let dogs stay at home, and not impose them on the rest of us in human-centred settings like cafes.