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 am often in central London and can honestly say I have rarely been to a place with fewer dogs. I'm a country dweller and the lack of dogs was really noticeable to me.

Bath is essentially a small city in the country so I'm not surprised you saw dogs there, but in the centre? Not really 'loads'.

Places in Bath that won't allow dogs
Sally Lunn
Wetherspoons
The Olive Tree
Premier Inn
Browns (indoors)
Pret a Manger
The Pump Rooms

Just an example, I'm sure there are many more.

Me too, and my dog died in Jan.

You really don't need to be a 'frothing dog hater' to not want dogs in cafes.

You absolutely should let business owners know @dooradadooradeh , but let’s hope you also keep those cafes etc going in the dead of winter, when it’s often just dog walkers who are actually spending money in them.

A lot of cafes simply wouldn’t survive without dog owners and they know it.

I really wish we went back to assistance dogs only in cafes and shops. Cafes especially for hygiene reasons.

The main reason for this is due to the huge number of poorly trained dogs and dogs not kept under appropriate control. There are swathes of very poor owners who have no idea what a properly in control and well trained dog looks like and it is creating issues for other dog owners.

There needs to be a huge undertaking of education or dog owners of what a properly in control and properly trained dog looks like. Dogs that paw/ jump/climb or think they can sit on furniture are not well trained. Dogs that beg for scraps and for fuss are properly trained. Dogs that bark or react in any way to another animal, human or wheeled vehicle (pram/ pushchair/ cycle/ children's scooters/ motorised vehicles)are not properly trained. Dogs that cannot pass other animals, humans or wheeled vehicle are not properly trained. Dogs that pull on leads, scent mark in inappropriate places and do not have instant reliable recall are not properly trained. Dogs that approach random strangers without direct instruction from their owners are not properly trained.

There are far too many dogs sitting on cafe chairs, standing on cafe tables, licking plates in cafes clean, begging for scraps and fuss, barking for attention, scent marking soft furnishings and clothing, trailing around cafe's on long leads, approaching people/ animals/ wheeled vehicles without owner instruction, barking or reacting to other animals/ humans/ wheeled vehicles, pulling on leads, jumping up at strangers. This is poor behaviour and shows poor ownership behaviour.

I'm talking about my Zone 2 neighbourhood rather than Leicester Square or Soho etc. It's hoaching with them.
I don't know why you're trying to say I didn't see loads of dogs in Bath. Why would I lie?
I didn't say I saw them in cafes etc; I meant just around town. As a tourist, I was largely in the centre, and yes, believe it or not, there were a lot.

Vote with your money and tell businesses why

I have a hotel booked in a couple of weeks for a short holiday in the UK.
I injured my knee recently and can't manage stairs so rang said hotel to ask for one of their downstairs courtyard rooms. They told me it would be £20 extra per night for a dog. "A dog? I haven't got a dog!" Oh, she said, she thought I was asking for a courtyard room because downstairs rooms are their dog friendly rooms. I said I didn't want to stay in a room where a dog had been so I'd have to cancel. She said it was too late to cancel and I'd be charged the first night.
I said I won't be paying that. Two weeks notice should be enough if they can't guarantee a dander/hair free room. Anyway, manager later agreed it was fair comment. I do, however, have to now find another hotel.

Don’t go where they allow dogs. Just like I can’t go where people take small children unless I want a splitting headache for the rest of the day.

Not sure of the issue.

You know you can scroll right on by?

i do t think it’s feasible to cater to everyone’s fears/ phobias or allergies. Where would the line be drawn? A dangerous dog, however, shouldn’t be inside or outside a cafe, or anywhere at all.

I’m so sorry @YeOldeGreyhound , it’s just hideous, isn’t it?
I still keep a collar and lead on the coat rack belonging to a very good girl who died nearly two years ago.
I do pity these dog haters, really I do. And ‘frothing’ is absolutely the right word.

I agree. You always used to see dogs tied up outside shops when I was a kid, you never see it now.

A dog tied up outside is not in control by its owner.

You're right @ConstanzeMozart.

There are two camps here.

People who don't want dogs in cafes. Fair play.

Then there are spitting mad, hateful anti-dog posters Mainly a handful of regular haters and the odd specially-designed-user-name provocateur. Frothing.

Dear god, @Icecreamandcoffee , all that judgement. How do you get through the day?!

But could you do that @Gingercatlover if nearly every day you encountered threads saying such terrible things about cats? E.g. that the are anti-social shit?

Yawn 🥱

It seems everywhere I go there are massive dogs in cafes and bars. Ok as well behaved. But what I really dislike is the young waiting staff petting them and then serving food/ handing out cutlery without washing their hands. Some may and I don't see them perhaps but the speed of petting and then serving makes me think not. So for me it's a hygiene peeve.

We could scroll on by and dog haters could go somewhere without dogs. Yet here we all are. Again.

I agree with Icecreamandcoffee's post. Dogs shouldn't jump up at people, or climb or sit on furniture in public places. They shouldn't beg/bark/react. They should be trained and handled sufficiently well that they don't pull on the lead or scent mark in inappropriate places, or approach strangers.
I'll say it again: I like dogs. None of these behaviours are a dog's fault. It is down to owners who don't know how to or don't seem to think they need to train/socialise/handle them.

I’d sooner avoid both. But I accept that parents have to take their kids everywhere. Dogs can be left. 🤷‍♀️

Why won't dog owners accept that the reason these threads pop up all the time is because there is a large percentage of animal owners who have incredibly badly-behaved dogs?

Dogs who jump up, bark, beg for food at tables. Dogs who have no recall. Owners who see no need to remove their pets when they are getting in other people's personal space and just smile on indulgently saying "he's just friendly".

Nobody has an issue with an ancient, biddable labrador snoozing in front of the fire at a country pub, as it used to be 15 years ago. People do have issues with poorly-behaved and poorly-trained animals which cannot be left on their own so their useless owners think they have to take them everywhere with them.,

I am the same with pubs that have dozens of massive screens showing sport. I don't like it. I don't like the noise, the big, loud, boozy groups of blokes it tends to attract or the fact that try as I might my eye is repeatedly drawn to some bloody darts match/minor football game that I would never normally look at.

Perhaps like the dog thing, more pubs now have big screens because I've read it makes them more money. It's harder to find pubs without screens now so I go out of my way beforehand and whilst I'm out and about to find pubs without them. I make an effort.

I don't begrudge the pubs making money, I don't begrudge the people who like watching sport - good on 'em. I just steer clear.

So you are admitting your dog is poorly trained. Our entire family have had dogs for years, well over 30 dogs. Every single dog in our family is properly trained. Most have been working dogs but are family pets when not working.