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?

and there are equally cafes and restaurants where dogs are not permitted.

I don't think that is the case. I live in a rural area and just about every cafe is dog friendly. I don't have a problem with it, but I feel for people who are allergic to dogs.

Not consistently in between users they don’t!

I also think dogs shouldnt be taking up a seat on public transport. The other day there was quite a massive dog sitting on the seat on quite a busy commuter train

(Although i did go on a steam train once and it was £3 for a dog ticket, so in that case I guess they might have a point! )

If you don't pick up illnesses from the many, many people who leave phones, keys, bags on the table then you'll survive the occasional dog paw.

Dog paws are probably cleaner to be honest.

Our shitty arses are cleaned, our hands washed and the bum covered by clothes.
After licking genitalia, humans do not then go to a restaurant and lick other people or tables.
You choose to have a dog ... you do not have the right to inflict that dog on others. It is your choice to have one.
Dogs sniff up pissy lampposts and poke their noses in shit then you want them in a restaurant?!

That is down to the staff, and not the customers. People don't tend to eat directly off the table either.

It is tricky with public transport, as if the dog was on the floor instead then people would still be complaining about that.
When I went on the train, I would sit on the flip up seats next to the toilets. Lots of floor space for my dog.
Trains don't seem to have seating like that anymore, so she would have had to be in the aisle, and piss people off too.

I can understand people having small dogs on their laps on public transport.

Why would you want to eat at a place if you don’t trust their hygiene standards? Cleaning tables between customers should be standard, dogs or not.

Another person obsessed with dog bums and genitals. It really does seem to be a regular thing on here.

Don't be so confident that people have clean hands. During Covid, people had to be told and shown how to clean them.

Possibly worse but less likely overall

In parts of Denmark dogs aren't allowed on public transport at all in the rush hour. On trains they aren't allowed in the quiet carriage.

Small dogs have to be in a carrier or bag, can't be on seats. Large dogs have to have their own ticket. Pets only allowed on rear section of buses. They also are not allowed on some designated seats for those with allergies. I am unsure what is wrong with designated areas like the OP is asking for. A pub near me has recently done this as they have taken on the feedback which means they 'are' loosing customers. It's a city not a rural location and many dogs have behaviourial problems that presumably comes from a stressful environment in a loud, busy pub.

Losing not "loosing'.

What's the percentage of injuries per population from human bites compared to dog bites! Equally, the statistics don't even paint the full picture as we all know loads of dogs 'nip'.

That sounds reasonable to me.

Our shitty arses are cleaned, our hands washed and the bum covered by clothes.

Your faith in other people is touching, if misplaced. A sizeable number of people do not wash their hands after using the toilet for starters.

After licking genitalia, humans do not then go to a restaurant and lick other people or tables.

No, they just go and lick the same cutlery and glasses that you'll later be putting in your own mouth.

you do not have the right to inflict that dog on others

You don't have the right to impose a ban on dogs in venues you don't own. You also don't have the right not to be bothered by a dog or not to see or hear dogs.

Dogs sniff up pissy lampposts and poke their noses in shit then you want them in a restaurant?!

What I want is irrelevant, given I don't own a restaurant / cafe / pub. What is relevant are the wishes of the venue owners.

Another reason to avoid Bills. One of the reasons I stopped going was because tables were too close together. Felt like you were dining with strangers.

Went in the tiny chemist yesterday and there was a dog stinking the place out in there that had just pissed all along the wall!!! Owner gave it a cursory wipe and wasn’t embarrassed or anything and made the bare minimum effort to clean up the piss leaving it to the staff to do it! Absolutely disgusting and unacceptable

What cleaning supplies do you expect someone to carry?

A chemist?! How can anyone not think that’s completely inappropriate? I bet the dog owner just brought it in and the poor pharmacy assistant isn’t paid enough to enter into a confrontation

If you're going to take your dog in shops like that then yes you should be fully prepared to clean up after them.

Same with a child then. Because some parents leave an absolute bomb site when they leave cafe.

Ah, so you are one of those parents. The type that leaves all their detritus all over the table and floor because of kids.
I bet you are the sort to change a nappy in a cafe too.

I've never seen a parent let a child piss all over a wall in a shop.

I have seen people change nappies on a cafe table.
Also saw someone let their little boy take a piss into a potty in the middle of a cafe too.