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 don’t humans lick each other’s bums occasionally? I mean it’s not my sort of thing at all but does it make them a hygiene risk?

This comparison is so lazy.

I tend to avoid dog-friendly places because of allergies, but it can't always be done.

I once had Sunday lunch at an Italian restaurant where a nearby table was celebrating a dog's birthday. There was a sheet cake, party hats (including one for the dog) and a rendition of "Happy Birthday." The men looked mortified, and a couple of the women looked like they were just playing along. I assumed the owner was mentally fragile, because I couldn't imagine a sane person doing this in public.

I wish this were a joke, but judging by the look on the staff's faces, they were rethinking their policy.

I'm with you OP, I bloody hate dogs in restaurants. I don't eat in any that state themselves as "dog friendly". The only place in my opinion where it's acceptable to allow dogs is a country pub.

@SpikyCoconut I don't agree about the hygiene. I regularly see dogs sitting on seats in pubs/cafes/restaurants. I've never seen a dog wipe it's arse after doing it's business. Humans tend to both wipe their backsides and wear 2 layers of clothes between them and the chair. Humans also don't leave hair on seats. And I haven't seen many people putting their faces on the tables and slabbering - unlike dogs!
I don't haveca problem with dogs in most places but in eating establishments they should be on the floor and sitting/lying down.

Dogs shit and walk around with open arseholes that nobody wipes. I dread to think the faecal matter that gets deposited on seats. It’s a bit more than ‘ew’.

The problem I find, as a dog owner, is that it's not always possible to leave the dog at home or then find a shady parking area to leave her out of the sun. I once had someone freaking out at me about "leaving a dog in a hot car" when I'd parked in the freezing cold deep shade of a building.

So dog-friendly areas would help. But of course it's not always possible.

We actually don't bring her into pubs or cafes - and definitely not restaurants - because she won't settle, so we end up eating in the car. Being a dog owner can restrict your life!

People used to laugh at me when I said I could sense who had dogs at home until they realised I could!

I do take an antihistamine each day but it just ruins eating out especially in cafes and bars.

Yes, that is an attack but you didn’t mention the bite in your op. As you just said the dog ran up to him I assumed that’s all that happened. Apologies for misunderstanding and sorry to hear that happened to your ds. Irresponsible dog owners are the pits. You were absolutely right to get the police involved.

I think the restaurant might be at fault if they did not make it really clear they are dog-friendly so that other customers can make a choice. If they have a dog menu then they are obviously intending to welcome people with pets and maybe they advertise that on their website? So I am on the fence here - if there really is no obvious signage or up-front declaration that they welcome dogs then YANBU but if the information is there but you overlooked it then YABU.

Oh and I am not and have never been a dog owner. I don't mind well behaved dogs that sit quietly beside their owner (I sat next to one in a restaurant on holiday just over a week ago, lovely fellow you hardly knew he was there), but I can't stand the yappy sort who won't sit still. If I knew somewhere was massively dog friendly and likely to be overrun I would choose to eat elsewhere.

Looks like this particular Bills was out of line

See number 6

https://bills-website.co.uk/t_cs/dog-menu/

Animal lover but, personally, would prefer no dogs in restaurants but no problem with pubs or cafes. Think my favourite bar/cafe might lose a lot of custom with a dog ban

Happy enough, though, with enforced dog only areas anywhere. I like and use Bills restaurants regularly and have never had this issue.

Pretty much everywhere is dog friendly where I live.

I believe Wetherspoons is dog free.

If you want to be in a dog free environment it’s probably best to check in advance.

If dogs are allowed in restaurants and cafes at all, staff need to make sure that they don't pet dogs and carry on serving.

I've seen it the last week. 🤢

Unfortunately dogs are allowed in shops now and have been for a while. We were buying furniture in John Lewis and were busy reminding our toddlers to make sure their shoes didn’t touch the sofas we were trying out whilst another customer let their dog jump up and nestle into an armchair.

I do get it, and how tough it is especially in hot weather. I just think there is a time and a place for our pets. We love them - but understandably others just don’t share that.

Cool, well then I’ll give myself a rim job in a cafe and everyone will be like “this is fine”

This restaurant is a suitable venue though as it advertises it is so no , these particular owners are not being selfish . Op went to a ‘dog friendly’ establishment, albeit she didn’t know .

I’m a dog owner but I don’t take my dog to restaurants. I love her to bits but I understand other people won’t! It’s also not the same as children in restaurants as you can’t leave children home alone but you can leave dogs. Though given the choice between a kid on a loud iPad or running around a restaurant vs a dog. I’d choose the dog!!

I think that would only work if you were in possession of a dogs arsehole. I don’t know how human arseholes compare .

It would be nice, but apparently ‘fur babies’ 🙄. are too important to be segregated.

I try to find places that are completely dog free..

The only chain that has banned dogs inside and out, are Wetherspoons. 🤷‍♀️

Yes, you're right of course.

It never seemed to be such a problem in the past. Dogs weren't allowed in shops and eating places, and owners had to adapt.

Should I rim a dog in Nandos and see if everyone’s cool with it ?

That’s so interesting . Thank you for posting it.
I’ve been to my local Bills many times and never had problem - in fact never seen a dog there .

I wonder if they are a franchise, because at this one, at no point did the staff say they had a dog free area - despite me having three separate discussions about it, the first being to explain we had a child with us who was terrified of dogs. When at that point they offered us a change of table, it was their choice of table ( of 2) we were moved to. Even finally when I went to the till to pay, and raised our concerns at the end, they explained they were dog friendly, showed me the dog menu - but never said they had a dog free area. Not once.

Well obviously, thats the only way to find out ! Pick your dog wisely .

That’s worth knowing. Thank you.