Dogs Licking Plates

[Goldengirl123]

We were in a pub and there was a large group of people near us. One of the men didn’t finish his meal so he got the plate and gave it to his dog to finish. One of his mates said that was terrible but he couldn’t see why as the plate would be going in the dishwasher. I was disgusted

It is disgusting, but she’s small and quick and a bit obsessed with mouths…

Or you could just train your dog to not do this. I've always let my dogs eat from my plate and, GASP! fed them from the table, and not one of them has ever stolen food because they are well trained.

There are also viruses and other pathogens that humans can carry that are temperature resistant, how do we know Joe Bloggs who ate there before us didn't have some of those?

When I worked for the police, we had warnings on certain people's files about diseases, some of which I'd never heard of. There's a certain parasitic (I think) disease where if the carrier sits on a seat wearing thin trousers or shorts, the next person can contract the parasite. How do we know someone with that hadn't sat on a seat before us?

I wouldn't do it. I wouldn't like to see it, but I cant really say what's wrong with it, as the place will be cleaned between uses.

I'm not sure the fact that some horrible human diseases exist is a good basis for a logical argument as to why we shouldn't limit our potential exposure to horrible diseases from animals.

Our world today is strongly sanitised and we have a range of medicines to stop disease, which is why we have an increased lifespan. A dog bite 200 years ago was a serious issue and might well lead to death through infection.

I think the argument "we are not supposed to live in a clean world" is mostly rubbish - something that people say without thinking when they don't consider the effect that things like antibiotics and vaccines have on the treatment of disease/infection, and the fact before these things dying of infection was a regular occurance.

We can choose not to live in a sanitised world, if we are willing to accept the decrease in lifespan that goes hand in hand with that.

It is good manners if nothing else. Consideration for other people. You might do it, but you should acknowledge that others find it unacceptable. And therefore not allow your dog to lick a plate that is not even yours outside of the house that others will use.

But it's not rubbish, is it?
I mean obviously wound care, hygiene around giving birth, avoiding cross contamination by doctors washing hands between patients, yes.

But there is pretty good evidence that too clean an environment in early childhood can be a factor in the development certain diseases such as some autoimmune conditions and ALL leukemia. That our immune system needs priming. Dog ownership is a protective factor in the development of IBD, for example.

I wouldn't let my dog do that but it wouldnt actually bother me.
Think of the disgusting mouths that have been round every knife and fork you use at a restaurant. 🤢 Best not to think too deeply else you'd never eat out anywhere.

If I leave any meat or scraps I think dogs would like I simply scrape it equally into my 2 dogs bowls before rinsing the plate and loading into the dishwasher. It's really not difficult to do.

This is why I don’t eat in other peoples houses and very very rarely eat out.

I just don’t trust the cleaning practices of most people.

That’s what normal, sensible people do!

What do you think is on a dog's tongue? Cyanide? The plates will probably get a more dangerous substance on them from dishwasher tablets, but if it's the potential for infection that worries you, dishwashers will deal with it.

I wouldn't do it in a restaurant, but my dogs used to be allowed to lick plates clean. These days it's my cats, so it's not so much a case of being allowed as doing it anyway.

I'm wondering if the people who let their dogs lick plates, lick plates themselves.

Our dogs’ dishes go in the dishwasher but there’s no way in a million years we’d let them lick one of our plates. It just shows an appalling lack of manners.

I do, but not outside my own house.

I'd prefer my dogs didn't lick my mouth or the cutlery I am about to use, but yeah they lick plates.

I wouldn't do it in a pub, that seems rude, they're not my plates, although in reality, commercial dishwashers run hotter than domestic (or at least the ones I've used have) so it really isn't putting anyone at risk.

As far as feeding dogs from the table/plate go - it doesn't cause any behaviour issues if you're consistent with the rules. Mine are - dog furthest from me gets the goodies first - sitting on your bed = surprise treats.

So they're super eager to be as far from me as they can get and stay on their beds throughout human meals.

My mum did this all the time with her 3 spaniels. I think it's fine as a little family secret. Not in public or in front of guests though.

People who let their dogs lick their plates at home but wouldn’t let guests see or know… why?

If you are so sure and happy with it why the secret? Why hide it?

Well, let me let you into a little secret. My cutlery has also been in my mouth, and I also lick my own plates at home.

I have grown up with dogs and had my own. I have never become ill from something from my dog.

The thought of dogs licking shit and then someone’s mouth is so repulsive 🤢

Human sex lives can be pretty gross too. And they share cutlery with you.

I don’t lick shit!

Oh sweet summer child.

First time I’ve been called that!

I was on a public bit of land once where there was a water fountain. The kids often used to use it when we were out playing and they were thirsty. This time we walked past, and there was a Great Dane owner encouraging the dog to stand on it's hind legs and drink directly from the spout.
We haven't used it since, and won't be using it again. I can't understand people that do stuff like that.