To think dogs shouldn't be in pubs?

[Orangesinthebag]

Yesterday I went to the pub for an afternoon NY Eve drink and couldn't believe the number of people who brought their dog (sometimes two dogs!) with them.

Why is this such a thing now? Can't dogs be left alone any more?
A couple of the dogs were growling at each other and owners were having to drag them apart.
It happens all the time these days - pubs, cafes, restaurants, shops but only a few years ago it would have been so weird and only guide dogs were allowed into places, especially places serving food.

I love dogs but I know several people who are scared of them & find it difficult to have to encounter them everywhere these days.

Is it unreasonable to think dogs should be kept at home?

(Sorry could add a poll for some reason)

I see a number of dogs in very crowded places, and actually feel quite sorry for them; they are surrounded by legs, their leads get caught up, and I have seen dogs being trodden on as they can't always be seen. I really don't think that just because a venue accepts dogs, that it is always wise to take them there.

🙄

My last DDog as much as I loved him couldn't cope with being taken anywhere like a pub, he got over excited as was a pain for me and everyone around him ans so I never did it again.

However new DDog has been taken places with me since she was a tiny pup (in a sling) and is very quiet and well behaved and so I do take her with me to dog friendly places (not all the time).

My problem though is she is a very nervous dog who doesn't want to be petted by strangers and it is an issue as not everyone asks if its OK. She won't bite she is just scared and so many people just grab at her as she's a very cute dog. I was in a pet shop the other day paying for something and a man let his toddler just lunge at her and then was annoyed that she was barked at! Dont let your kid grab at my dog then!

We took both our dogs (we have an elderly shihtzu.as well) to a dog friendly light trail the other night. Young DDog walking along nicely and elderly dog in his pram we were enjoying yhe lights but the whole thing became a nightmare as people were letting their kids rush up to my elderly dog who is blind and deaf and grab at him, I just managed to stop one kid doing it and I warned the parent if he's startled he will snap! She looked at me like I was an asshole and pulled the kid away. Had she just bloody asked I'd have said no he's not OK to stroke if he's not expecting it!

Also same elderly dog being walked on a lead at the weekend another parent with a toddler let him rush at my dog and grab at him and I had to shout no please don't and pick my dog up.

Neither of my dogs are nasty and are very sweet and gentle but other people just assuming it's fine to approach them is making it difficult if we want to take them anywhere, its such a shame.

Dogs have been allowed in pubs ever since pubs existed.

In reference to the title whislt dogs have always been in pubs historically it was only alcohol. Whoch is generally no longer the case.

I don't like dogs in shops and restaurants but dogs in pubs is fine - they have always been allowed in most pubs.

@Kaleidoscopic101 that is absolutely hilarious! I would have loved to have seen that.

Proves my point though, where does it end?! If you allow dogs, why can’t a cat or a rabbit or a horse come in? Then you end up feeling like every outgoing is a trip to the vets.

Would much prefer a well behaved pooch to share a meal with rather than a feral toddler

Well I'd prefer a well behaved toddler to a feral dog.

Dogs aren't comparable to most children though. The dogs I know love to roll around in every dead decaying thing they can find in the undergrowth, they lick each others bottoms and then their owners hands, they produce far more saliva than even the snottiest kid (who absolutely should be at home when they're not well).

Just to clarify - it was a very busy city pub that serves food.
To my mind that's very different to a country pub with lots of space.

This. ^

I come across infinitely more brattish kids left to run amok in pubs by lazy arsed parents than I do badly behaved dogs.

Our local has one, dear thing. She’s a very old pub cat who has only half a tail and is ever so friendly. She lies on top of the glass washer because it’s nice and toasty.. im not a cat person at all but she’s fantastic and you’re right, there should be more pub cats!

WRT the op, dogs have always always been in pubs. But then, I tend to be around country pubs and as you say that’s somewhat different. I don’t really care about them being there and have taken my own many a time, although it annoys me when they don’t know how to behave due to useless owners! Dogs in cafes and shops and whathaveyou on the other hand, that’s ridiculous and annoys me intensely!

Exactly, there's a limit to the harm a toddler can cause. And some people are literally allergic to dogs, nobody has an allergy to toddlers.

Pubs have allowed dogs in bar areas since as long as I can remember, but not in the restaurant bits. And I think that's fine! Obviously well behaved ones only, but pubs are often rural or village based a lot of the time so you get dog walkers etc

Completely agree, my dog is very small and well behaved and is also a security blanket for me i have a chronic illness and she gives me comfort and confidence.

I think as long as a dog is very well trained and will sit quietly, it's OK to take them on a nice walk with a country pub stop at the end. I don't think it's hugely unexpected that you'd find a dog in that scenario either.

Absolutely not in restaurants or in a scenario where they've just driven to the pub for the pub. I completely agree dogs are increasingly everywhere and I really don't like it. Especially when people think its ok for their dog to come up to you. Or bring them when they aren't OK with other dogs.

I agree with everyone who is saying that they much prefer to have dogs in pubs rather than children. It's incredibly irritating being in a pub with little children running round and shrieking, babies crying, and having to dodge prams.

The bag o' nails in Bristol has pub cats. One has its own box at the end of the bar that says I'm not pregnant just fat.

The pub doesn't do food so no problem with cat hairs in food.

I agree that pubs have accepted dogs for years. My friend's dog used to come to the pub with us in the early 80s.

I think it would be better if they were just allowed in pub gardens. That's the way I remember it being in the past, although you didn't tend to see that many dogs in pubs at all until more recently.

I would rather have dogs in pubs than kids running amok!

Bore off

Yes and quite frankly not fun for the kids either...it's like parents don't know where to take them and put their own needs above the kids...plenty of places that don't cost any money they can burn off steam

I've shared this story before.

DH and I were in our local pub. We live rurally - it is a pretty country pub with a good sized garden. Sunny day. Everyone outside enjoying the weather. DDog was asleep by our feet. A child, who has just been removed from the chicken run by the landlord (as they weren't allowed in there and had been terrorising the hens) came over to our dog and spat on her.

I know who I think should be banned from pubs.

Thats kind of a silly comparison. I think most would prefer well behaved anything over badly behaved anything. I'd personally prefer a well behaved child over a well behaved dog and I'd rather neither a badly behaved child or dog.
For what it's worth I think the problem in either case is the adult/parent when they're not doing their duty and ignoring either child/dog which I've experienced more and more the past few years.
I don't mind a dog just chilling there but dogs growling at each other and putting their heads on the tables etc I'd rather avoid.

Pubs have always had dogs in them. Lots of them had dogs that lived there when I was growing up and would greet all the drinkers. If you don't want dogs around then drink in the many bars that don't let them in.