I’ve joined the “why are there dogs everywhere” Club

[BananaBum]

I’ll start things off by saying I have a dog myself and normally scoff at all the people rolling their eyes over dogs in pubs and cafes. Can even forgive younger, less well behaved dogs because they have to learn and be exposed to different situations.

HOWEVER

Today I went to get in a lift in John Lewis with my DC and a woman with a pushchair and TWO massive labradors asked if I wouldn’t mind waiting because one of her dogs were nervous about being crowded.

Why are you in John Lewis then?
Is it really necessary for the dogs to come out with you?
Did they come in the car especially or do you live in town?
how does it all work logistically?

So many questions. And also just a bit annoyed I had to wait for the next lift

I'm thinking about starting to take my cats with me !

Guy was shopping in aldi today with his dog just a normal jack Russell mooching along the manager asked him if it was a service animal when he said no he made him leave

Why would you think its ok to take your dog into a supermarket? Just why?

Someone in my home town used to have two poodles who she took everywhere with her including supermarkets, both used to wear “seizure alert” vests. I don’t believe for one minute they were any form of seizure alert dog. Dd asked me why she needed two and I said it was for cpr, one does chest compression and one does breaths 🤣. I found the exact same vests for sale on Etsy.

Oh gosh! Did the dog receive communion aswell? 🤣

Good for the store manager! So many people seem to pussy foot around dog people being entitled and it’s making the problem worse - the more the get away with it the more they will push their luck. Personally I think service animals should have to carry some sort of ID card to prevent all this “emotional support animal” nonsense and other fake service dogs

They are not fake. You dont know what you are talking about you heartless twit

But some of them ARE fake and it would be incredibly easy to fake as @YanTanTetheraPetheraBumfitt has demonstrated you can just buy a vest on Esty. It needs to be more robust than that.

I am a in awe of dogs and their loyalty and intelligence and prefer them to a lot of people! I cannot understand why these owners think that dragging their poor dogs through busy shops is a good idea. Do any of them really stop to consider what misery this must be for the poor animal. Too many people consider their dogs as an accessory/surrogate baby/ some other selfish need or whim and have little understanding of what the poor dog is feeling or requires to lead a fulfilled life. If their comeback to this is to say ' well I can't leave it shut in the house all day' then my answer to that is, pity you didn't think dog ownership through fully before you took on the responsibility. They are probably the same types that hang bags of dog poo on trees - but don't get me started on that one! Dogs deserve better!.

There is a lady in my town who has 3 dogs with her, all with service dog vests on. Two frequently start fights with each other. She never gets asked to leave anywhere as to be honest, she is a pretty scary lady.

Went to a party recently. Two different people brought their dogs. Both lived walking distance away

I don't think there are any supermarkets that allow dogs.
John Lewis but no other department type stores, a couple of outdoor type shops, a couple of clothing shops. The vast majority of shops do not allow dogs.

I can't imagine armies of people are doing that. Stop exaggerating..

Love dogs, have one myself. Would never take them into a shop. A pub or cafe - fine in the daytime or early evening. There again, there are some children and parents I'd happily see ejected from shops and replaced by dogs!

Haven’t read the full thread, but I have a dog and I agree. Dogs belong in your own house and garden, parks, woods etc. They don’t belong in shops, restaurants (bar relaxed pubs), entertainment venues etc.

Also think it’s nuts when people are invited places and automatically expect the dog to come with. They should be capable of staying at home for a few hours! They’re not small kids ffs.

So does mine! 😂 I can't imagine taking my dog though!

😂😂😂Oh this is so bloody wonderful!!!
Thanks @Paganpentacle for making me laugh so much!!

Oh god yes, the lift thing drives me mad. It’s always the “my dog’s nervous” excuse. Like… if your dog can’t handle a John Lewis lift, maybe don’t bring it shopping 😅

Couldn’t agree more with this 👏. Dogs are amazing — the loyalty and love they give is honestly unmatched. But dragging them round crowded shops where they’re clearly stressed just feels cruel. It’s like people forget they’re not handbags. Mine’s happiest tearing around the park or flopping on the sofa after a long walk — definitely not dodging shopping trolleys in John Lewis 😅.

Yes, no one should be dragging around a stressed dog. But some dogs are fine with going into shops.
A PP mentioned about seeing dogs at an air show. I know a couple who are into re-enactment (I can't remember the era but there are cannons and weapons using gunpowder, so lots of bangs). They take their dog (the events are usually over a weekend) and have done so since he was a puppy. He is fine with all the bangs.
People tend to know their dogs and what stresses them out.

Dh, dd and I didn't go into a restaurant today due a huge aggressive dog by the door stopping access. I waiter seemed shocked when I said sorry we go somewhere else. Just one man and this dog in the restaurant the rest of it was empty. Yanbu. I dog sit for a poodle mix dog and he hate shopping so we don't take him.

How was the dog being aggressive?

How on earth do you know the dog was both taken at 4 weeks old and hit and used for hunting? Did the rescue tell you that to excuse a spooky dog with a nice sob story? If you rescued it privately from said hunter that removed it at 4 weeks they wouldn't tell you they hit it, if you rescued it from a rescue group they'd never know it was removed at 4 weeks, if you rescued it from someone who rescued it from the hunter they'd still have very little chance of knowing it was removed at 4 weeks. Maybe she's jumpy because she should be out hunting and she's a house pet with no substitute for her real outlet that a walk or lure coursing or gundog training can't itch.

Growled when we opened to the door to the restaurant. It was literally the first table so by the door. Dd refused to go in and she very used to dogs.

Very irresponsible of the owner to have a reactive dog in the restaurant then. I don't blame you for leaving, but the staff should have got them to leave. It sounds like they were losing business due to it.

From @Izzywizzyletsgetbizy ‘s post (great user name by the way!)

“Too many people consider their dogs as an accessory/surrogate baby/ some other selfish need or whim and have little understanding of what the poor dog is feeling or requires to lead a fulfilled life. If their comeback to this is to say ' well I can't leave it shut in the house all day' then my answer to that is, pity you didn't think dog ownership through fully before you took on the responsibility.”

Amen! I remember quite a few people who owned/had owned dogs saying to me when I was growing up in the 90s that dog ownership wasn’t a light commitment and did carry lifestyle adaptations, which could be inconvenient. In fact one or two went further and said they wouldn’t have a dog again because of this. It was eye opening and helped me realise dog ownership wasn’t for me.