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 was in a shopping centre last week and there were dogs in it.

They may well have a point, @ConstanzeMozart , I just lost the will to live half way through.

Right, so you're making your own judgment on what the poster said based on reading about half of their post.
Got it.

Yep.

Not all breeds of dogs,not if you’re not staying in your own home and not if you’re out all day.

Was it a shopping centre that allowed dogs? Some do, some don't.
Most shopping centres have security staff who will chuck people out if they're not following the rules. I'm made a mistake myself in the past (when the rules had changed to no dogs) and I've been asked to leave which is fair enough.

I' m not sure @PottingBench as it wasn't local to me. I just don't see the need for dogs to be in shopping centres at all, apart from assistance dogs.

Oh yes what a good idea to leave your dog outside unattended. Ever heard of dog thefts?

If they are ever introduced can we also have the screaming pain in the arse children tied to them as well?

I know Bath very well. I am there one day a week, every week in the city centre and until recently worked there for 30 years. There are reasonable number of dogs, but not 'loads'. As I say, it's a country town really -there are going to be dogs. Lots of dog free places there though.

Yes, I have been on Mumsnet for years and can say I have seen one previous post about dogs, not that I go looking for them.

But folks can start threads about whatever they want really.

Other people clearly do see a reason though including the business owners.

Not in my experience. Most local cafes allow them as do shops.
It's unusual to find somewhere where dogs are not allowed

There are hundreds of them. Multiple times a week.

I didn't say it wasn't a country town or there 'shouldn't' be dogs. As for 'loads' versus 'reasonable number', I don't know what the metric is for that. All I can say is that I was very much in the minority not having one.
I don't know what else to say.
I don't know why it seems to matter so very much to you.

Me and DH take our dog to cafes, coffee shops, restaurants, garden centres and some shops. We think it is great that we can do so. We had over 30 years of having to sit outside to eat with our dog when on holiday even if it was freezing cold or pouring. Now we can be inside in the warm.

We go out for breakfast at least once a week, lunch at least twice and week and evening meals probably every other week. We have never ever seen a dog sitting on a chair. We also have never seen a dog wandering around not on a lead or doing a pee or poo. Either some people are liars or they have just been unlucky

Anyone saying they’re seeing them in shopping centers when I’ve just named the 4 BIGGEST in London that dogs aren’t allowed - NAME them.

This will do 2 services - it will let the dog hating lobby know where to go for a day out

and the dog loving lobby let them know where they CAN’T go

Because the VAST majority of shopping centers are not dog friendly

FYI - the ONLY one in the capital city is BATTERSEA power station where dogs are allowed - dogs are allowed in certain parts only

It matters, @ConstanzeMozart , because we always end up with vicious hyperbole on these threads (and there are many). You did not see ‘loads of dogs’ in Bath, and zone 2 has a perfectly normal quantity of dogs. Much like a pp did not see ‘rivers of shit.’ It is lazy commenting, better suited to the fag end of Reddit.

Yes, dogs make people very happy but it doesn't mean they have to be in every bloody establishment! OP is not being unreasonable.

We have never ever seen a dog sitting on a chair. We also have never seen a dog wandering around not on a lead or doing a pee or poo. Either some people are liars or they have just been unlucky
I'm not a liar and I'm not sure anyone on here who's described those things is either
I've seen multiple dogs sitting on a chair in cafes.
I frequently see dogs off-lead in my local cemetery, as mentioned above (yes I know it's technically allowed, but I think it shows a staggering amount of entitlement and/or lack of common sense to let your dog wander in a cemetery and bird reserve).

I also frequently see them off-lead in my neighbourhood on the streets, which are not central-London busy but can be quite busy, and are in places narrow.

I was recently at a cafe with outdoor seating and there were at an estimate seven dogs wandering around between the tables, on a long dragging lead or not on a lead at all. Some were barking/growling in reaction to each other while owners did nothing but carried on eating and chatting.
I don't know what you mean by 'unlucky'.

We went to a cafe last week with our dog who laid under the table quietly and was no bother at all. A couple at another table had 2 children who were screaming and running round getting under the staff's feet and generally being a pain.

When the couple left their table and the floor were absolutely covered in crumbs, smears of sauce, bits of food. It was absolutely disgusting. The poor staff were not happy. One said to us that they would rather have 10 dogs like ours in than 1 child like the awful illbehaved brats

Yeah they are not allowed in our city shopping centre either.

The smaller retail parks and the stores outside of the mall then yeah often dogs.

Though regarding what I said about dogs should be outside at pubs I take it back if it’s a proper country pub in the countryside then I must admit nothing like seeing a sleeping pooch in front of a proper wood fire. I expect to see dogs in countryside pubs.

Actually saw a dog in an arcade the other week. That also seemed odd to me. Since they are very busy noisy places with lots of people moving about. I’d worry about the dog getting stepped on and then biting out.

You did not see ‘loads of dogs’ in Bath, and zone 2 has a perfectly normal quantity of dogs

Sorry, what?
Where do you get off trying to tell me how many dogs I saw or didn't see? Do you generally speak to people like that?
What's a 'perfectly normal quantity of dogs'?
Why do you feel that my comments are the same as saying I've seen ‘rivers of shit'?

It doesn't matter to me at all, it's a discussion, but as I say, I know Bath well and those without dogs are never in the minority.

Less than half of Bath households own a dog.
At any given time Central Bath is at least 50% tourists, most of them from overseas, so they don't have dogs.

Visitors to Bath come to visit museums, go to the theatre, visit the pump rooms, thermae spa, No1 Royal cresent etc. They can't take dogs there. They don't have dogs with them.

You were not in a minority.

10 dogs like ours sure. I'm happy to see well-trained and well-handled dogs in public too.
Sadly IME many owners are not as responsible and capable as you are.

I mean you must be unlucky that you see dogs on chairs, barking, wandering around not on a lead because I have never seen it even though we go to eating places a few times a week and have done for quite a while.

We also regularly walk our dog in 2 local cemeteries and, again, have never seen a dog offlead. Maybe we just live in an area with a better class of dog owner!