to think it’s time to ban dogs from shops and cafes?

[timetoban]

I’ve just read a BBC article about the increase in dog attacks in the UK.

Dogs seem to be everywhere now. Cafes, shops, even places where food is being served. I’m not anti-dog at all, but I don’t really want to be eating or shopping surrounded by them.

It’s not just about preference either. Some people are allergic, some are genuinely scared, and others just don’t want to deal with barking, smells or dogs getting under their feet. The BBC piece even mentioned people feeling like they have to avoid going out because dogs are everywhere now.

I also don’t really get how it’s hygienic in places serving food. I know people say “well-behaved dogs are fine” but not all dogs are well-behaved, and staff aren’t exactly going to challenge every owner.

Before anyone says it, yes obviously assistance dogs are different and should be allowed. That’s not what I mean.

I just feel like we’ve swung too far the other way where dog owners expect to take them absolutely everywhere, and everyone else just has to put up with it.

Surely it’s not unreasonable to have more dog-free indoor spaces again?

I love an EBT. My grandad used to call them bullet heads.

I have seen several mums change nappies on tables in Costa

That's disgusting as well. I've never seen that happen but I do believe it.
Doesn't take away from the fact that dogs shit on the floor in shops.
Neither scenario is acceptable.

There's a gorgeous English bull terrier near us called King George the Third.

I can't think he'd take kindly to Asda.

Yawn.

We went into an almost empty cafe with our dog, when we were on holiday. We were turned away and sent in the direction of another cafe that did allow dogs. The dog cafe was so busy, we had to wait for a table.

A mature and informative answer.

On a normal temp day the car is fine; if it’s warm then use the cage. Not hard.

Thanks for that, Einstein. What exactly is a ‘normal’ temp day in your expert opinion?

Sadly, can confirm that people do change nappies on restaurant tables, and are brazen about it! - even though where I worked at the time, had changing facilities.
Can also confirm that on several occasions, we have had to clean up human (adult) poo from not only the entire mens toilets, ( including the ceiling but none in the actual loo!) but from the restaurant floor as well. We have had children announcing they need a poo, Mummy has ignored them, so they’ve dropped trousers and pooed where they stood!
Mummy wasn’t interested in cleaning it up either!
In 20+ years in hospitality, I’ve seen every human bodily fluid, drugs, illicit alcohol and the worst of human behaviour.
I like dogs.

I think the bigger picture is that, over the last 30 or so years, shopping and cafe going have become major leisure pursuits at the same time as vastly more people have bought dogs.

Once dogs were either working dogs: sheepdogs, police dogs, gun dogs etc or family pets, but there were far fewer of them and owners didn't expect to take them absolutely everywhere with them (even in handbags, God help us!).

This is what has changed: a massive increase in dog-owing, often by people who prioritise their lifestyle over the needs of their dog, and the love of visiting cafes and shops instead of taking these critters for proper walks.

So not true. The service industry is on its knees as is the high street.

One where the temperature of the interior of a parked car doesn’t exceed 19’C

I do not give custom to eating places that allow dogs or buy goods from the shops. Like many many others, I just go elsewhere and the business loses the money. Dogs owners are very vocal as soon as they cannot take their animal somewhere, but businesses under estimate the trade they unknowingly lose.

'This is what has changed: a massive increase in dog-owing, often by people who prioritise their lifestyle over the needs of their dog, and the love of visiting cafes and shops instead of taking these critters for proper walks'

This. A lot of dog owners just do not understand that dogs like walks, sniffing, being outdoors playing. They don't like crowded noisy areas, being stood on, tripped over and being treated like the nuisance they are fidgeting and whining in coffee shops.

Walk them, play with them and them leave them happily at home while you go for your cake and coffee.

I'm off now for a brisk walk and guarantee the sensible dog owners I see out will not be crammed indoors later with their poor pooch getting stood on in a Costa or similar. Likewise the coffee shop goers never seem to be out walking!

Never? Are you stalking them or just making shit up again?

If your evidence for this is simply anecdotal you are obviously wrong.

The sheer quantity of people on this (and other) threads wailing about how dogs are wall to wall in every cafe, shop, and town (the ‘rivers of shit’ and ‘puddles of pee’ brigade) would suggest that businesses know full well where the money is coming from.

And it ain’t you.

visiting cafes and shops instead of taking these critters for proper walks

Walk them, play with them and them leave them happily at home while you go for your cake and coffee.

These two things are not mutually exclusive.
I live in a small town where there are a lot of dogs.
It's a daily routine for most dog owners to have a couple of good walks on the beach, in the hills or moor and then to end up at the dog friendly cafes.
The cafes are dog friendly where I live because these day in, day out, all weather dog walkers keep them commercially viable during the long out of tourist season months.

When the holiday makers are here they do the same walk and coffee. They often can't leave the dog happily at home as they are in tents, caravans and holiday accommodation which does not allow you to leave the dog alone.

Nobody every says how lovely it is for dogs to have such caring owners that they give them full lives, full of fantastic walks and company. That's a helluva gift for an animal - that life full of care and fun.

Which bit isn't true?

I love the cafe culture which has grown up in the UK over the last few decades.

But take your dog for a proper walk where it wants to go (countryside, park) and THEN go shopping and sit over your coffee. And accept that, if you've chosen to own a dog, just as if you've decided to have kids, there might be some curtailments to your absolute freedom of choice.

It's not fair on dogs. I bet they just get dragged around shops and made to sit in cafes by a lot of selfish owners. Yes, I get that some people will walk a dog (with the dog's preferences coming first) and THEN stop at a pub or walkers' cafe - that's different. But I get the impression some people are unable to leave their dogs at home for any length of time. If they've been properly exercised, then why not?

Also, from a human point of view, dogs smell. When they scratch they release quantities of skin flakes into the air. I don't want this when I'm in a cafe or restaurant. And I certainly don't want dogs sitting where I'm going to sit, or (as happened once) coming over to bother us and scratching my husbands shoes while growling menacingly!!! Owners just pretended not to see and then laughed.

Oh, and if you are unable to properly exercise a dog you shouldn't have one!

The problem with saying assistance dogs only is that there is no official scheme. Anyone can claim their dog is an assistance or emotional support dog. It used to be official guide dogs for blind only, I think a lot of people have it in their head we would go back to that. I have a disabled DH, and I have had people say I should get my dog a vest and claim she's an assistance dog. She isn't and I wouldn't but others would.

I take my dog to pubs, cafes, NT, attractions with outdoor space when we are on holiday, She is a big dog so takes up room. Outside is preferable.

As an aside I don't object to being banned from Wetherspoons, I would be worried about what my dog would catch from the humans who inhabit our local one!

I know my dog likes and needs walks and he gets them every single day no matter what the weather. He go for long long walks with him allowing him to sniff as much as he wants. We take him to enclosed dog areas so he can run around and play.

We then often take him to somewhere we can eat and/or drink. He has never been stood on or tripped over (not sure what sort of idiot would stand on a dog but there you go). He also has never fidgeted or whined while in an eating place or anywhere else.

No point driving home to leave him alone and then going back to eat. He can be left alone but is much happier being with us.

I see lots and lots and lots of sensible dog owners every day and quite a few of them are in the pubs, cafes, coffee shops and restaurants we all go to.

Unless you are following the dog owners around how on earth would you know if they walk their dogs and how long for?

We might walk for 3 hours and then go to a coffee shop where our dog will lay down and have a sleep. I really don't see how that is a problem for any normal person

Impossible to predict this. NEVER risk leaving your dog in a car apart from in winter.

How are people using ‘I bet’ and ‘I get the impression’ to try and back up claims. Weak! Your imagination isn’t facts.

And accept that, if you've chosen to own a dog, just as if you've decided to have kids, there might be some curtailments to your absolute freedom of choice.

Dog owners fully accept they cannot take their dogs in cafes and pubs that do not take dogs. Have you ever seen a dog in Wetherspoons. Just think of all those dog owners who'd love a pint but happily walk on by because they have Fido.

I get the impression some people are unable to leave their dogs at home for any length of time. If they've been properly exercised, then why not?

Because luckily for dog owners lots of shops and cafes allow dogs so it's possible to take them with you.

Also, from a human point of view, dogs smell. When they scratch they release quantities of skin flakes into the air. I don't want this when I'm in a cafe or restaurant.

Then go to dog free places. There are millions of them everywhere. Dog owners know this as they happily walk on by or sit outside of them with their coffee because they're not allowed in.