Dogs in restaurants - I am done!

[Doseofreality]

The hill that I will die on. Dogs should not be allowed in eating establishments.

Just had another lunch spoilt as a family came in with 3, yes 3, large dogs and sat down at the table beside us. It’s gross, unhygienic and anti social. If I wanted to eat surrounded by animals I’d grab a takeaway and go and sit in a vet’s waiting room.

Close to £100 wasted on a lunch where I had a dog licking it’s bumhole in my line of vision.

Completely agree, sick of going into cafes with dogs barking or thinking you want to fuss them - I don’t, especially when eating or drinking, hate that this is becoming the norm everywhere.

I think a pub garden is an entirely different scenario to some of the small London cafes I go to that allow dogs inside!

I love my dog. I quite like other dogs but I don't really want them around when I am eating. I was at a family get together recently and it was in a dog friendly pub, didn't realise til we got there. Didn't bother me too much until the two servers greeted two dogs as they came in, patted them, rubbed their faces etc, then picked up our plates of food from the bar and handed them to us. I am not a germ phobe, but I thought this was gross, especially as they had to idea of where those dogs had just been, or what they had been doing. Yuck.

You could equally say the same about those who don't want to see a dog when they're eating.

The world is full of other people (and if you think people are more hygienic than dogs I have bad news about just how many people DON'T wash their hands after using the loo, and also about how dirty the phone you're typing on is) and we all have to rub along together.

There are plenty of establishments that don't allow dogs which those who don't like animals could patronise.

There's also plenty of dog-friendly establishments for those that want to take their dogs with them.

There's room for both, it's a big enough world.

You absolutely can do something about it. Complaint to the council food hygiene team. A cafe local to me has had to ban dogs inside because of food hygiene violations.

When I was in Pret yesterday, the server started cuddling a large dog that came in. I just had to turn the other way. I didn’t want to see whether or not he washed his hands before preparing my drink. I felt that ignorance was bliss…

Maybe to you but it is a question I wanted to ask

I am really surprised it’s allowed. I thought there would be some health and safety rule about hand washing after touching animals.

🙄

Grew up with dogs, love em. Never would we have taken them to a cafe or anywhere that sells food, or for that matter, insist they go with us everywhere, visit friends etc.

We occasionally took them to the pub, but us kids would stay outside in the beer garden with the dog. Dogs are members of the family but no, they shouldn't be treated as a human!

So you must think that all blokes wash their hands after they've been to the toilet then.. otherwise you'd never go out in public of course.

I've just spent the day at a tourist attraction where they only allow dogs on 2 days of the week - today wasn't one of them! I thought that was a great compromise. It was wonderful to roam around without having to worry about being tripped over by a dog who suddenly changes direction or having to share eating areas with dogs. Don't get me wrong, I like dogs. But I'm definitely of the belief that they don't need to go everywhere. And I take a very dim view of people who allow their dogs to sit up at pub/restaurant tables. On the floor under the table is where they should be if they are allowed in.

Perhaps because it's almost impossible to find somewhere that DOESN'T allow dogs these days?!

Luckily we dog owners don’t care about your whinging. Find a place that doesn’t allow dogs or stay at home if you don’t like it. 🐕

Our dog is our 6th family member. And we treat her as human. She is the best dog.

Well that’s because the majority want their dogs with them. Supply and demand

I own a dog and I agree with you.

I do sometimes take my dog into certain cafes and into our local pub. The pub allows dogs in the bar area(wooden floors) but not in the restaurant area which I think is fair enough. There is no way dogs should be allowed on carpets or soft furnishings in pubs and they shouldn't be in restaurants

Cafes are slightly different I think. Where I live, some cafes are dog friendly, others aren't. And so there are choices. I often go for a dog walk with a friend and we'll have a coffee at the end. If at all possible we'll sit outside.

I've never taken my dog into a restaurant and really wouldn't want to. He'd be bored stupid and I wouldn't enjoy my meal as I'd be worrying about whether he's behaving.

I totally agree that some dog owners are ridiculously entitled.

Ours is too and she loves coming out and about with us. That usually includes lunch in a pub or cafe during a long days walking.

I assume that restaurants and cafes that allow dogs are just responding to the market.

There's a cafe / restaurant near us that has 2 floors. Dogs aren't allowed on the top floor. First floor if you like. We went there once (without dog that day obv) as downstairs was full. it was so dull and lifeless. It felt stilted and stuffy. Downstairs is a much nicer, happier atmosphere, whether dogs are there or not.

Quite a selfish view. Many people have serious allergies to dogs and it's becoming harder to find places like holiday homes and cafes that don't allow dogs. It's beginning to feel like disability discrimination.
Adding a caveat that I like (well trained) dogs but dh is severely allergic and it's limiting where he can go in public now. There was a dog in a shop we were in trying to buy a coat last week. A coat I'd have to wash and hang outside before I could wear it to get rid of lingering dog dander, etc.
There is another side to it, not everyone concerned about dog-friendliness is a miserable animal hater.

Never used to really notice til I went to a bar a few weeks ago that has a couple of little pet dogs. It also serves food. They normally just wander around on the floor, no trouble and pretty cute, so I didn't think much of it. But I saw at one point one of them jump up and sit on a vacant table which had already been cleaned and set for the next customers. I went and found a staff member to clean it again, so no harm done, but the thought occurred that if I hadn't happened to notice, someone would've been eating off that. I decided not to go again.

But but the poor fur babies can’t be left out of anything 😢😢😢
about time people realised they’re animals !!!

I don't like it when cafes have food on the counter without covers. That is gross, being breathed on by all and sundry.

Agreed.