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?

The dog beach ban is a funny one. Last year we were on a very sign posted think huge banner dog free between X and Y times of the year beach.

But owners were still bringing their dogs on. Annoying for those who had selected it for being dog free.

Not the dogs fault shitty owners.

The pavement isn’t a blank canvas for piss; if your hobby is painting the village with urine, that’s up to you.

Several tourists in our town got a hefty fine after missing the (prominent) No Dogs sign. The resultant kerfuffle in the press was one of the factors that lead to part of the beach being opened for dogs.

What a strange little way of looking at life you have.

I'm going to engage with you in good faith because this always comes up and I never know why.

I would 99 times out of ten prefer to walk past a dog with an owner

Ignoring all the risk to the dog themselves of people stealing them or causing them harm.....

I don't remember the good old days of dog ownership that fondly. As a kid there was far more poo on paths etc, and lots of my friends were chased etc by escaped dogs or dogs allowed to roam.

I could probably still tell you some houses on my school walk that use to have dogs that would throw themselves against the fence/wall because they were left in gardens all day

Then (and still now) dogs outside shops had zero supervision, were often barking for owners etc, would go to greet you with no idea if they are friendly are not, and often you needed to go past them to leave or get in the door.

I far prefer a dog under control

That’s handy you don’t enjoy grasping still warm turds, the world really doesn’t need you procreating and caring for small children in nappies.

You seem to think you are some kind of dog expert.

My "poor dog" as you insist he is likes going to cafes, pubs etc. You can tell by your dog's body language whether they are happy or not but maybe you can't?

Crowds and noise don't bother my dog in the slightest as long as he is with me and/or my DH. We have taken him to far noisier places than a coffee shop and he wasn't bothered at all.

If someone is in a coffee shop without a dog and is that bothered seeing dogs in there then I would suggest they find somewhere else next time they want coffee and cake. Not quite sure why the shock and horror of seeing a dog at the next table would bother them but some folks are strange. My dog lays quietly under the table so they likely would not even know he was there.

By dingbat! I think you’ve got it finally. It is up to us!

Paved with gold.

I'm sorry but I have to take issue with your comment

'(not sure what sort of idiot would stand on a dog but there you go).'

I recently boarded a train. I was, as I suspect a lot of people are, looking ahead to see what seating was available. I tripped over a large dog lying in the aisle.

I had no idea there was a dog there and I wasn't looking at the floor.

I would always be looking at the floor as there is likely to be a case or rucksack etc there. Also I have seen people sitting with their feet in the aisle

We were sitting on a bench minding our own business during a recent walk when a labrador type dog made their way to us and left drool on my partner's trousers. We made a noise of disgust and the owner looked at us and then just walked silently on.

Although the vast marjority of dogs are no problem we have nonetheless been approached by many dogs whilst having a rest on a bench because my partner cannot walk long distances without a breather. When we have asked the owners to take their dogs away the responses are literally never 'oh sorry' but a range of filthy looks, comments that their dog is 'friendly' or, on rarer occasions absolute hostility telling us that we are 'mental' or 'sad' for not wanting to interact with their dogs. Once upon a time I quite liked dogs but now I find myself avoiding some parks or open spaces because they have so many dogs running around.

A wee bit of understanding from dog owners would be nice now and again.

I'd hope that they majority are. Like any conversation the extremes often are the things that stick out in our heads.

Most people that don't like dogs remain perfectly reasonable. Most dog owners understand reasonable rules.

For what it's worth badly behaved dogs are usually far more annoying for dog owners then passers by. I have a good old mutter about a dog barking in a cafe, greeting everyone that goes past, kicking off, pinballing around off lead with no control because they are harder to manage with a dog in tow.

It annoys us too, and I don't think anyone would argue that dogs should be under control at all times and shouldn't be a nuisance to others.

The difficulty is that a dog like mine that's quietly under a table, on lead at all the right places etc is pretty forgettable as is the majority of owners going out for dinner without their dogs.

Something like half the population has a dog and there certainly isn't that level in cafes or restaurants. Most dogs are at home, some are tucked under a table and then there's one knobhead dog drawing all the attention

It's really not that easy these days.

Most eating and shopping places in my area (Cotswolds) must have done the calculations and it seems they must attract more profit if they allow in dogs (so fair enough). There's a brand-new shopping outlet/village nearby, for example, that announces proudly at the entrance 'THIS IS A DOG-FRIENDLY SITE THROUGHOUT!'

This is great if you ARE a dog-owner and for some reason you like to take them even to a coffee-shop or clothes-shopping, but not so great for those of us who don't want them everywhere we go.

I'm not a dog-hater and have fond memories of the three family dogs I've owned and loved over my lifetime, but I still don't want them in my way when I'm shopping and I can't see it's to the dogs' advantage either.

I can fully understand you not being happy at dogs coming up to you when you are sitting and wanting a bit of peace.

Sadly not all dog owners are responsible and as a responsible owner myself it annoys me. Why do people not pick up their dog mess? Why do people let dogs run around offlead when they have no recall?

We can't let our dog run offlead except in enclosed places as he has such a high prey drive and no recall. It annoys me when offlead dogs run up to him and then start hassling him. He doesn't like it at all and who can blame him and I have had rudeness from some of the owners when I ask them to get their dog.

It's a waste of time trying to argue with these people, they are entitled and think that everyone should accept their dogs in establishments even if they are scared / allergic and love their dog as much as they do.
In the 70's, 80's and even 90's, dogs in eating establishments were unheard of, but for service dogs. What's changed in that dogs can no longer be left alone? And are now dragged around shops / cafes etc.
Some of the dogs I see look totally pissed off and would probably prefer to be running in fields.
These entitled people, however, are the same people who complain about 'screaming kids'.

Entitled 😆

Well, I shall be going to a country park tomorrow to go for a walk with about 60 greyhounds. I can't wait 😁
The onsite café does not allow dogs, which is fine. Me and mum will go to our usual one on the way back. Her greyhound will have a snooze on his mat whist we enjoy tea and cake.

Yes, entitled. Well done.

The only people that need to accept dogs in establishments is the establishment owner.
If they allow dogs, then being entitled does not come into it. It is more entitled for people with views like yourself to stomp your feet and demand the manager changes things for you. You want them to change the rules for you. That is pure entitlement, and it honestly has me scratching my head when you can't see that.

There's multiple differences between now and the 80s

Firstly I've said above, dogs in the 80s weren't some weird paradise. They were frequently left in garden or roaming, shitting everywhere and terrifying local school kids walking past

There were frequently dogs in pubs etc near me.

People also used to leave them tied up outside, or in cars (all of which is now fraught with danger) or in general for long periods

In some ways it's because the rules have tightened up, people no longer leave their dogs for huge periods, and there's less places to leave them.

My childhood dog was left in the garden for whole days when we went out, or a neighbour would popin to feed it when we went away. He used to come to the beach with us, and we used to take it on the train on holiday sometimes and leave it in the caravan

Now I wouldn't be leaving my dog for 2 days in a garden or a neighbour popping in. That dog isn't beach friendly, I wouldn't tie him up outside and the accommodation doesn't allow dogs to be left

My dog is able to be left happily for pretty long periods but those things are no longer acceptable

To a certain extent lots of places have opened to dogs because they realise there's a sitting market.

If it's raining in a coastal town or the peaks etc surrounded by holiday cottages and campsites, every single person with a dog will be looking for an indoor place they can visit and they can't leave their dog in the accommodation

Thanks 👍

That's fair enough but we used to walk our dog and leave him in the house where he could find a comfortable spot to relax. He was never tied up outside or left to roam.

Entitled! They shout as they demand the world revolves around them.

"Genetically engineered frankenstein" 😂😂😂😂

We need to update the bingo cards @YeOldeGreyhound @Onleemoi

Not sure why my post was deleted for calling someone odd for implying that dog owners are lying about combining cafés and walks in the same outing, and stating that they cannot possibly know unless the interrogate owners in cafés.