AIBU to expect a dog-free area in a restaurant?

[Diorling]

Hi,

I recently met up with my family for lunch at Bills at Clark’s Village in Somerset. It’s not an area I know, but looked to be good for a meet up. it was a lovely sunny warm day and folks were out enjoying their shopping. It was a great atmosphere.

It was pretty empty in Bills as we were early. The waiters were lovely and showed us to a table, and we were busy looking through the menu when I smelt a fairly unpleasant smell. I looked up, and a family were being sat at the next table. The smell was coming from their dog, which was being sat right next to me, rather than on the other side where there was an empty table. It wasn’t a dog that sat nicely on the floor and went to sleep either - it kept on trying to move towards me and the family.

Now I like dogs, grew up with them, and have had my own, but one of the children was attacked at the park by a random one once ( it ran up to him), and he is now terrified by dogs. The dog kept edging towards him, and he kept trying to shrink away along the long bench seat as far as he could. Not only that, but frankly the smell was appalling.

i spoke quietly to the waiter, explained the issue, and he moved us to another table in the opposite corner. It’s a large restaurant, so problem sorted. Except it wasn’t. Within 5 minutes they had shown another family to the table next to us - despite most of the spaces still being empty. They too had a dog, but this time it was lifted onto the seat (and later laps of the family). Again it was right next to us. Whilst I love dogs I don’t expect to have their nose by my elbow and frankly don’t think it’s very hygienic.

I complained to the restaurant but they explained they were dog friendly, and even had a dog menu (‘Bone Appetit’).

Now that’s fine - if I had known it. But as I pointed out, there were no signs anywhere to that effect, nothing on entering - and apparently no dog free area for those who prefer not to eat near dogs. Obviously we won’t go there again (a pity, as staff are lovely and the food was good - if you have dogs, and are round there, it’s a great place to go.)

But for the rest of us, I just don’t like dogs around when I eat out - and if they have to be there, then surely their place is sleeping quietly on the floor?

AIBU?

People will feel differently but I've really cut back on cafes and eating out because I don't enjoy spending time indoors with dogs. It's often not worth paying that much for food when you've got to eat it in a room with dogs barking at each other.

I agree that seperate areas would be good option. Everyone gets what they need.

That is disgusting. Why are dog owners so selfish. A restaurant is not a suitable venue for the dog. The dog will bored. No thought for the dog, other customers, or people with allergies.

This hygiene thing is nuts IMO. Unless the dog is rabid or seriously ill with a zoonosis you aren't endangered by being near another animal any more than you are being near a human. If It's just 'because ew' then yes ask to be moved problem solved.

Cafes and restaurants will do what makes them the most money, they obviously feel letting dogs in increases their profits, they’re not going to have dog friendly areas just so people are happy. I agree a dog free area would be nice, but there not going to do it.

Ridiculous that there is no “dog free” space. I was at a cafe rouge a couple of weeks ago and someone had their dog sat on the bench seat with them. Gross! I say that as someone sleeps face to face each night with a hound that spends a lot time licking his own butt.

They are in an area where lots of people are on holiday or travel a distance to go for the day so yes people have dogs with them. Restaurants don’t all allow dogs so if you have a bee in your bonnet issue with dogs check their website or ask when you book. Ps far nicer places to eat near there, try an independent pub next time

Pet owners are so entitled it beggars belief.

Humans don't rub wet slathery mouths and noses on you. Or lick their own arses.

OP You're definitely NBU and I think you and your family were treated poorly on this occasion.

Agree with you OP.
I don’t think a restaurant is the right place for any dog; it isn’t fair on the other customers. I mean if they are a dog friendly restaurant, they could seat dog owners together, away from others, maybe? But unless the dog is going to obediently lie on the floor and sleep, it’s still unhygienic and annoying.

I love taking my dog out to eat with me but even I want to be in a dog area so there is choice for other people.

I do agree that bringing a smelly dog in to a restaurant is inconsiderate in the same way it’s inconsiderate to have a child with a smelly nappy sitting there (obviously not a problem if changed immediately) or a smelly person. Dogs should also be well behaved in the same way children and adults should be well behaved. Unfortunately, nobody is policing children’s or adults’ behaviour so dogs’ behaviour, within reason, won’t be policed either.

Personally, I love dogs in restaurants but accept others don’t. However, I’ve never encountered a particularly badly behaved dog in a cafe or restaurant.

One thing you’re being particularly unreasonable about is describing your child’s encounter as “being attacked by a dog” if, as you say, the dog ran up to him. Dc got a fright and the dog owner was inept and inconsiderate to allow it but that is not an attack.

Completely agree. I’ve said it before, dogs are the new smoking. An obvious compromise is to have dog and non-dog areas (or for people to leave their precious fur babies at home!)

Completely agree as an allergy sufferer - it just makes everything worse. And staff don’t challenge inappropriate behaviour either like dogs on seats so they continue to get away with it.

Not as entitled as parents

True, but dogs cleaning by licking their rectums does not make them a hygiene risk to humans. It's a non-scientific myth that it somehow does, because (some) humans cannot comprehend that other animals bodies work differently to our own. Unless the dog has actual feces on their tongue and licks you in a mucus membrane, there's no risk. Even then, the risk is low unless the poo carries a disease incapable of being destroyed by stomach acid and/or the human has cuts on said mucus membrane. Dog slaver is not a risk to humans. Again, scientifically proven.

Again, 'because ew'.

I would prefer dogs not to be in restaurants at all - they smell and have some rather disgusting microbes in their mouths if they have just been licking poo or eating a dead body or rubbish or whatever. However, I can live with it if they sit quietly at their owners feet ….. but they rarely do. I cannot tell you how many times in my local cafe I have had to tell dog owners to keep their dog under control because their dog is not on the lead and is coming up to me. There was even one idiot who had is dog on an extending lead. He was sitting across the gangway from me and allowed his dog to come over to me so that the lead was across the gangway and would have tripped up the staff coming out of the kitchen with trays of hot drinks and food.

So yes I would like restaurants to have separate dog and non-dog areas if they are large enough, and for all of them to insist that dogs are on a short lead at the owner’s feet or under the table. The latter is just common courtesy and also preventing accidents.

It is not 'entitled' to have a dog in an establishment that allows them, any more than it is entitled to walk down the street with one or have one in a house where they're welcome, or have a child in a child-friendly pub/house/restaurant.

I think there should be a separate area for dogs.

i have an allergy to animal and can tell if someone has a dog when I meet them , I sense the animal hair, so we are pretty selective when eating out and going to hotels too.

it affects my skin and my breathing and it’s pretty unpleasant.

YANBU.

And if the person the dog licks has a cut, eczema, is immunocompromised? The dog bites? I got licked on the hand the other week by a dog in a restaurant. I had to stop eating my meal and go on a long trek to the loos to wash my hands.

We stopped going to our favourite brunch place it was like eating in Battersea dogs home. All the dogs were barking at each other 🙈. I’m not that bothered by the hygiene aspect but the racket was just unpleasant.

Dogs are not allowed in shops unless an assistance dog. Restaurants should be the same.
It is not hygienic to be trying to eat while someone else's dog is shaking fur, slobbing, licking its bum etc. Or in a case witnessed by a family member, dog taking a shit on the floor beside her.

It’s so true. My husband can feel it if he spends time in an enclosed space with someone who has a pet at home not even with them. There really is a complete lack of consideration for how this impacts peoples’ lives.

It’s definitely an attack when a scar is left on your hand from the bite.
The dog ran up to him as he was in the park. He was running to the kids area. We adults were just following behind him, close, but the gap was widening as he ran. He did nothing to the dog, didn’t even notice it at first. The dog ran away from the owner and ran up to him and bit him. The police were involved and took it very seriously.