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.

😂😂

😂sure. Don't see it it never happened. Lovely!

'Me and DH have had dogs for almost 50 years and for most of those years dogs were not allowed in cafes or restaurants nor in most hotel and often not in pubs'

Well there you go, you managed fine.

I have dogs. I love dogs. And yes - I'd rather eat somewhere where dogs are allowed, than be subject to screaming kids, or kids running around. Or where I have to smell cigarette smoke. Which is, in fact, actually bad for your health.

Edited to say: we don't take our dogs to eating places because it's easier for us not to, and the dogs would rather be at home.

I do. I don’t want your feral, screaming brats running around but I don’t have any say in that.

QED

Shitty bastard?? That's what I say about babies 😂

I have both dogs and children. I rarely take mine out to eat (the dogs) - only if we are actually away and they’re with us.

However, I can say honestly that if I was giving a rough percentage, 90% of dining out issues I have experienced - noise, mess etc - have all been from kids not dogs. And that’s being kind because I can’t actually think of a single time a dog has spoilt or interrupted a meal in a restaurant or cafe (other people’s dogs). Children on the other hand…

Stupid comment. My dog is a rescue and no way would he cope in a kennel. No family member can look after him as most have cats and/or live too far away.

The vast majority of restaurants don’t allow dogs, so just don’t go to dog friendly ones 🤷‍♀️

Tbh I would much rather sit next to a table with dogs minding their own business than 3 kids each with an iPad on full blast, which was my last experience eating out.

What you say about people being unable to leave dogs at home - so true! I had a friend who refused to leave her dog for one moment, and if she had an appt she would get the dog a babysitter! Suddenly all our outings were curtailed and had to be organised around the dog. We couldn't go to our favourite restaurant, to the theatre, to the cinema, all because of her obsessive dog behaviour. She became what I call a Dog Pain. Not the dog's fault, of course, who was lovely. We don't have that problem anymore since the dog sadly passed away, but I haven't forgotten how unreasonable she was. People do seem to be reluctant to leave their dogs now. Just another tenet of common sense that's disappeared.

Exactly - why is it OK for ill-mannered kids to be there, or for smokers to be there, but not dogs?

I’m allergic to dogs so hate this too ( thankfully not seriously but I don’t want to be sneezing through my meal). Though where are you going, because most places I’ve been to either only allow dogs outside or have a separate section that allows them.

'I love these threads. All the foaming at the mouth when there is nothing you can do about it'

Oh but there is. If you complain businesses change their policies. People have been too polite but this trend for taking dogs everywhere is getting out of hand so complain people, lets put a stop to it!

Sit them in outdoors areas of which most cafes or restaurant provide.

Don't think there is anything wrong with fur babies, just people that don't realise the doggy version of fur baby shouldn't be in shops, restaurants or the ladies loos! (There were two little yaps so they were not assistance dogs).

@Miyagi99 Do you take your dogs into restaurants?

People who take their dogs into restaurants etc, what would they do if their dogs started fighting with another dog in the same restricted space? Especially if a person got bitten as a result. Worth the risk of your family member being euthanised?

Can we not aim for a world where people are considerate? No dogs and no feral kids and no loud tablets blaring noise? These aren’t mutually exclusive. Twenty years ago this was largely possible.

That’s disgusting and exactly why I move away from dogs I see on trains and cafes.

I was staying at a premier inn at the Lake District. premier inn is advertised as no dogs allowed. Saw not one but two dogs with “assistance animal” vests.

I am all for proper service dogs like the ones that were commonly seen in the 90s - usually guide dogs for the blind . They are impeccably trained and doing such a noble job! 🐶

But these “assistance dogs” were pulling at their leashes, barking and being petted by waitresses in the hotel restaurant 🤢 I wonder what service they were providing?

I mean anyone can slap a service dog vest on so I’m a bit sceptical.

I’ve never seen a dog in an eating place in this country (save for maybe assistance dogs?). Maybe it’s more popular in some areas than others. I wouldn’t mind a well behaved dog that’s just chilling by its owner but loud lairy dogs would be very annoying.

"The mindset of these types" Oh get over yourself. It must be so grim for all the customers of the cafes, coffee shops and restaurants we take our dog to that speak to us and tell us how gorgeous our dog is, ask to stroke him, ask if their child can stroke him, ask what breed he is etc etc.

I don't have any screaming feral brats? I have a lovely dog though, she does not come to cafes or restaurants as I'm a sensible and considerate owner.

So don’t go on holiday then. You chose to get a dog. Your decision. You need to deal with the consequences of your decision. Bother members of the public didn’t make that decision so why should they have to suffer the consequences?

Do these restaurants have a sticker or something that says they're dog friendly, or will I need to check now before entering?

We were in a gorgeous pub last weekend. Family of 4 with toddlers sat next to us. What had been a peaceful gorgeous lunch ruined... became an earache and really rather painful. I was annoyed. However I also understand this is a free country (for now), and they were entitled to be there. As were we. As was our dog. who was impeccably behaved as always. We'd been on a long walk, he'd eaten and everyone was happy. until the peace was ruined. c'est la vie. People are so miserable... Usually (not always) ones that don't have pets, I've noticed

Dog are entitled to be in dog friendly restaurants. If having dogs in the same venue as you while you are eating is not acceptable to you (and I have some sympathy with that stance), then the onus is on you to search out a dog free venue.

Good luck with that.