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

This is so British. Jolly well done for apologising so well, both of you.

I like dogs but it's gone too far. A few weeks ago I was in a charity shop and a woman came in with 2 small dogs on fairly long leads. She was browsing and the dogs were running around with the leads becoming trip hazards.

The dogs were in the way of another lady who asked the owner to move them, lady then looked down and said excuse me, your dog has done something. Indeed, the dog had taken a dump on the shop floor. Lady scooped the poop up and made a sharp exit, leaving a streak of shit on the floor. Gross 🤢.

I’m with you. Near me, there are 4 piles of dog shit next to the swings in a park that specifically says dogs aren’t permitted in it. And if you tell people it’s a dog free park, they hurl abuse at you.

I'm an annoying person that has taken their dog into shops etc with them. I realise it's not ideal for everyone. I'm in a tricky situation with a rescue dog who can't currently be left for longer than an hour, so broadly am tied to the house as on my own, although I pay for dog sitting/walking etc when I can that mostly just covers times when I need to be in work/appointments rather than an ad hoc me realising last minute I need to pick up something up. I'm doing my best to work on her anxiety so that hopefully this will pass, and i try to avoid treating her like a baby but there's not a quick fix unfortunately

She also does a lot of normal dog activities. Long walks, playing in rivers, sniffing in woods , dog training classes, sleeping so I'm not neglecting her trying to manage a difficult situation.

That’s the same for us too. Ours is definitely not treated like a baby. He’s a dog and does lots of dog things. But for whatever reason, he hates being alone and it causes him massive distress so if appropriate he comes with us. If not, someone stays at home with him

YANBU.

That dog owner in John Lewis earlier is an idiot. She can’t have just realised today that the one dog doesn’t like being overcrowded. Taking the dog to a department store on a weekend day when the shops have shorter opening hours and thus are likelier to have more people in is a thick as shit thing to do.
It’s a prime example of what@ComtesseDeSpair put: “the fur baby trend, which ignores animals’ needs in favour of owners’ wants.”

Some of the examples on this thread illustrate that some owners are taking dogs to absurd places. A bar with flashing lights and loud music on a Saturday night?

As for dogs in cinemas, @Laiste The Guardian had an article about the rise of dog-friendly cinema screenings just today. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/aug/31/the-rise-of-dog-friendly-cinema-screenings-tim-dowling
I had the same thoughts as you and this is what the article said about dogs being sat on seats: “Some cinemas restrict dogs to the floor, but the Picturehouse chain allows them on the seats, as long as you use one of the fleece blankets provided.”🙄

I have no faith in the fleece blankets making a difference; I can guarantee those blankets will have dog fur from previous dogs on them, so it’ll be transferred to the seats when a blanket is put down on them. Bet it’s not being enforced routinely either.
Cinema screens are given a very quick once over between showings, so there will always be fur, dander, you name it present.
I saw someone had commented in the Guardian’s comments section that these cinemas ought to be displaying allergy warning notices, so people who are affected can make an informed choice. Seems very sensible to me if this practice is how things are going.

Yep. It's not necessarily ideal but we are just doing what we can to look after the dogs whilst also living as well, there's so much that I can't do at all while have this issue (and I accept that it's always possible with any dog and have made that commitment so am ok with it) but it does mean if a shop/cafe etc says they allow dogs ill utilise it just so I can get out of bloody house, as other than dog walks which I love my world is very small currently!

This is what I’ve long thought to be the case. When I was growing up (90s) I remember several adults who either owned or had owned dogs saying to me, “having a dog is a big commitment” and pointing out about restrictions on lifestyles.
There are obvious reasons why it hasn’t been a decades-long thing for dogs to be taken to department stores, shopping centres, bars/nightclubs, cinemas etc.
Similarly why it seems many people who have owned dogs for decades aren’t the owners you see taking their dogs to places like that now.

Dogs are wonderful I agree (I have one) but since the start of Covid a massive amount of people own them who really shouldn't. They don't have a clue about how to look after them. Poor Dogs. They're not a fucking fashion accessory.

It has to be different if you have a dog, though.
It's not a human.

I agree. You used to see them tied up outside shops, now they're in Clark's while the owner tries on shoes. It's very strange.

Of course. But most dogs are happy to chill at home after a decent walk for a few hours and/or there is more than one person that can care for dog in house so more flexibility. I got a dog cos I wanted my life to be different. It's just very limiting it you have a dog with separation anxiety. Like I say I'm ok with it, I made the commitment to get the dog, but doesn't mean I wont take the opportunity to nip into a shop with her her if I can to pick something up.

I was walking along a residential road near my house yesterday and a couple with a dog waited to the side with the dog as I walked along (there was plenty of room - they were just waiting a second to make more room), as I went past she sarcastically said 'thanks' in an eyerolly kind of way and I couldn't help thinking 'fuck you! - the pavements were built for PEOPLE to walk along - I'm got going to thank you for letting me go in place of your dog'.
I didn't say it though.

I really hate all the streaks of piss all over the pavements where dogs piss constantly. In some places there are like dozens of dog wee's against every corner/lamp post/signpost. It's rank and it stinks.

It annoys me that public grassy areas are now ALL just giant dog toilets. And dog owners EXPECT it - like every bit of grass can be pissed on. Sod the wildlife, other members of the public, kids or fresh air/clean grass. Dog toilets, everywhere.

grrrrrrrrr

It really is. The majority of shoe shops I’ve been in haven’t been anything resembling spacious, lots of room to manoeuvre around in either. Brantano branches in out of town retail parks were the only exception. Why take a dog wih you to go shoe shopping?!? Bonkers.

I don't think it's a problem to "nip to a shop", however, shopping as a leisure activity and taking it into whatever cafe or place you want to is a bit much.
You have a dog with separation anxiety - that seems very common nowadays. The solution can't be for it to lead a quasi human life?

We were in John Lewis in Southampton not so long ago and a woman tried to pretend her dog wasn’t shitting in homewear. She kept dragging it along so it left a trail of shit. She didn’t stop or ask for help or pick it up. She then went up the escalators to womenswear. Two shop assistants just stood over the shit until the cleaning staff came. Gross behaviour from the woman.

I watched one of those dog training programmes and there was a woman with an out of control dog, she'd bought in the pandemic. When the trainer suggested limits to where she took the dog, she said "but he's family!" which made me laugh.

I watched one of those dog training programmes and there was a woman with an out of control dog, she'd bought in the pandemic. When the trainer suggested limits to where she took the dog, she said "but he's family!" which made me laugh.

Nope that's not the plan. I'm following a behavioural plan with her to allow her to feel comfortable being alone. It's just a very very slow process. We're definitely nipping places rather than buying a whole new autumn wardrobe or whatever.

I sometimes wonder whether it’s an overflow from everyone getting a dog in covid and not realising it’s not like a large cat and you can’t leave them very long so they just take them with, however inappropriate. Luckily the good shops are in an mall near me and it’s strictly no dogs unless service dogs so you avoid the issue. Massive dogs on busy buses is another atory though. Especially when you are trying to get a pushchair on and they won’t move an inch 🤬🤬🤬

It’s the dog shit and urinating all over the streets that is just getting out of hand. Too many irresponsible dog owners.

I certainly believe that a significant proportion of people who got dogs in lockdown had some regrets at the amount of time, money and effort it takes to care properly for a dog and now can’t be bothered.

I was annoyed last week when we found a new local walk and there were dogs off lead, ignoring the very clear signs that they should be on lead, because sheep graze in nearby fields.

Right, that sounds like a plan. Such an animal needs a lot of work.

Someone was having a rant in my local Facebook group recently that the village pharmacy hadn’t let their dog in, to a chorus of “Well I shall certainly boycott that shop in future and collect my medicines from elsewhere”.

Sorry for the duplicate post, no idea what happened! Blame the dog 😉