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?

Maybe!
He didn't really look that dirty - just a normal Alsatian colour. But he was a type of breed with masses of fur and I assume his undercoat had never seen water in his life!

Yes bizarre behaviour. You sound like you are doubting me - not sure why. London is not a homogeneous place. My local cafe is perhaps half to three quarters of a mile from the biggest dog walking area in the borough so I expect some people go in there on the way back from a dog walk . Although I
do go to other restaurants fairly often.- the hand licking incident was in a pizza place in the high st.

I think anyone with any experience of restaurants would find it hard to believe that there is usually a dog in every establishment and about 4 times out of 5 they are either not on the lead or on an unlocked extending lead.

I’m not sure why your experience is evidence that what I have told you didn’t happen. You have obviously had very different experiences to me for all sorts of reasons but that doesn’t mean mine are some kind of fantasy. You’re absolutely welcome to disagree with my opinions but not with what has happened
to me.

I'm going to guess that you have zero knowledge of dogs! Mine loves the pub - he gets so much fuss from the staff and customers along with treats and, if I let them, people's dinner. If you gave most dogs a choice of sitting at home or being somewhere with people, other dogs and treats, they'd choose the pub. Dogs are mostly very sociable animals, they (mostly) do not get bored in pubs.

Also, it isn't for the dog owner to concern themselves with other people's allergies or preferences. That's on the restaurant/cafe/pub's owners and the allergic person.

Finally, how stupid would you have to be to go to a dog friendly place if you're allergic to or scared of dogs? There's as many dog-free places as there are dog-friendly. Just go to the dog-free places.

Going to a dog-friendly venue and whining about dogs is as idiotic as a dog owner going to a dog-free place and whining that they're not allowed in.

The posters you’re responding to didn't mention pubs.

YNBU. As pp below - please leave a review. They may be under the impression they have more customers when allowing dogs but when more people tell them they are not going back because of them they may reassess.

Also, surely having to clean after dogs is an extra expense restaurants would prefer not to have. As well as all the extra equipment and hygiene requirements for having to cater for animals.

I have four large breed dogs and bloody hate dogs in shops and restaurants, I have zero issue with a smelly wet proper country pub. But in towns leave the darn things at home and go and eat food.

OP I would have felt the same and I love dogs, I did watch a corgi shit in a clothes shop the guy was clearly waiting for his wife sort of near the doorway and this dog just did its business on the wooden floors of the shop. Revolving.

That’s the last time I go in Bill’s. Usually go two to three times a year and never seen dogs in the local one as I usually go at night. I make a point of avoiding eateries that advertise themselves as dog friendly, but wasn’t aware of it at Bill’s.

Leave a review on their tripadvisor op

Parents need to be a little bit 'entitled' as they are responsible for safeguarding another vulnerable human.

A child is 'entitled' to be part of society.

Yes of course you're right. Approx 4 out of 5 restaurants have dogs roaming free or on extended leads being ignored by their owners.

I dont mind the odd one but when about 3 dogs were barking at each other in an enclosed space it had got ridiculously out of hand

I suspect if it was somehow limited to one dog per establishment it wouldn't be as bad. It's when one dog barks and then all the others start barking that I hate it. It's a horrible noise indoors.

Also fuck off with witty comebacks about noisy babies and children. Babies and children are a real part of human society with the potential to grow into decent adults. Dogs are just dogs and will always behave like dogs.

Nothing wrong with doggy behaviour in the park but I don't like it when I'm eating inside.

I used to own a dog and yet I would not go to a restaurant that lets dogs go along. There is a time and place for pets and wanting a dog free meal is not an unreasonable situation. I would never have taken my dog into a restaurant. People do seem to be entitled. I would say to restaurant staff Sorry I won't be eating here if a dog was there. If it impacts on the place financially they will soon stop dogs from being allowed in. People need to stand up to this situation.

I have a dog but I’d prefer a separate area tho we only take him with us if we were on holiday. Also what about allergies. Dogs definitely should NOT be allowed on furniture.

Slightly off topic but I can see this becoming more of an issue travelling, particularly on planes. Knew someone with severe dog allergies who got on a plane with multiple dogs on board.
she was placed next to a man with a dog and explained she would become really unwell if left there. They found her another seat but what if the plane had been full?

I emailed Greene King about this. Had a meal in one of their pubs and there were dogs everywhere. My friend is severely asthmatic and we had to leave before she had an attack. She didn't realise dogs would be everywhere, or it a dog friendly pub, so she didn't have an inhaler. They've gone too far with this, bending over backwards to please the minority.

Really?! Do you not think that they have looked at their accounts? They're not 'under the impression' they literally have the numbers in front of them to prove either way whether allowing dogs is better or worse for them.

Even without the figures in front of you, surely the fact that so many allow dogs these days tells you that it is financially advantageous.

They're not 'pleasing the minority'. They are looking at their accounts and realising it is more cost effective to allow dogs than not. It's simply about profit which is what all businesses are there for. If your friend is so allergic she needs to do more to avoid dogs. It's up to her, not the pub. Neither she nor you have a right to tell a business how it should be run. Just go elsewhere.

I don't see why it can't be done in places where there is sufficient room. They used to do that back in the day with smoking areas.

I live near a farm that has its own TV series and they have space for two cafes - one dog free and one dog friendly. It's a win win for everyone.

I won't use any eatery that allows dogs. It's gross.

Agree. Bloody dogs everywhere.

It’s a business decision. They want dog owners money so it’s on you to work out where is dog friendly and where is not.

It isn't always obvious until you have sat down and ordered.

Maybe more cafes could put notices on their door and direction and signs inside to show which areas are dog free/friendly?