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?

YANBU.
"Bone Appetit" 😂🙄
FFS.

But don’t you see that’s exactly the problem? They never would have bothered to ask in the past because it would be ridiculous. Now the default assumption is that they should they be able to bring a shedding, drooling, shitting animal into places where people eat.

It is not a problem. It is simply asking for clarification. You are not responding in good faith anyway with your little rant about dogs.
I have never seen a dog shit in a cafe. People shed hair too, and if drool is contained to where the dog is then I do not see the issue. Not all dogs drool anyway.
Some cafe owners want dogs there because they actually really like dogs and want them there.

YANBU.
I find it extraordinary that dogs have infiltrated everywhere now with no regard for hygiene or for the comfort of others.

Dogs have shitty arses, they lick their genitalia ... and yet it is now considered to be fine that they are in food shops, cafes, sitting on seats in restaurants. It is frankly revolting.

I am trustee of a village hall and people keep asking to bring their dogs in to run around and pester people who are there to pursue activities. Unbelievable ....

If you can't be parted from your dog for 5 minutes then you must stay at home and not inflict it on others. Your dog, your responsibility. Your dog is not for me so keep it away .... whyever might you imagine I want it anywhere near me? Just because you want it with you all the time does not mean that others do.

It is the height of selfishness.

How about I bring one of my sheep into a restaurant? Makes equal sense.

Why are people who hate seeing dogs out in public so obsessed with their anuses?

I don't get it either. Well behaved dogs are fine.

People who can't control their dogs or keep them on the floor shouldn't take them into public buildings IMO.

Im not sure anyone has suggested dogs shouldnt be out in public?
But theres a difference between being in a park, a field, a footpath or 1 or 2 dogs in a country pub than encountering several dogs in shops and cafes. Apart from service dogs
I dont think its unreasonable to have a dog free area.
I posted earlier about a pub where multiple dogs were reacting and barking to the point we couldnt really have a conversation. Thats just not enjoyable. Id feel the same if it was babies, children or adults being so noisy it was impossible to hear anyone else....
When our DC were babies/toddlers, if they made a noise that would disrupt other people we would leave or at least take them outside

There are dog friendly cafe's and restaurants, and there are equally cafes and restaurants where dogs are not permitted.

There's your choice.
Check on entry and make your decision to eat there accordingly.

It IS a problem for many people including a lot of people on this thread. Your dog being somewhere makes it worse for a lot of other people. But as I have already said, because dog people are generally bullish, pushy and confrontational they have managed to get things to suit them and the rest of us are expected to put up and shut up

That’s not true at all - they all seem to allow flipping dogs now

I can assure you I am none of those things, and I do not even have a dog anyway.

Don’t put up and shut up then. Do the same thing you accuse dog owners of doing. Reply to the Facebook posts saying you won’t go if dogs are allowed. If a few comments on FB is enough to make a business change their model you should soon see less dogs in places you don’t think they should be.

Dogs have shitty arses

So do people. We also have shitty hands and shitty phones that we put on tables and touch door handles with. Seriously, don't Google how dirty your phone is. Or your handbag.

they lick their genitalia

I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you are a) an adult and b) have had some form of a sex life. If not I have bad news for you about the activities of quite a lot of human beings. And you will have shared cutlery with them!

people keep asking to bring their dogs in

As long as they're asking politely, what exactly is the problem with asking?

you must stay at home and not inflict it on others

Where is this written, please? Because there's an awful lot of things some people don't like which we could say that about. Generally going out in public requires a certain level of tolerance of things we don't personally like or approve of.

How about I bring one of my sheep into a restaurant?

If you can find a restaurant that allows sheep inside, I say crack on. It's up to the restaurant what they allow, not me.

I googled food/drinks places in Clarks Village.

Wagamama not dog friendly inside
Pizza Express not dog friendly inside
Prezzo not dog friendly inside
Slim Chickens not dog friendly inside
Pret A Manger not dog friendly inside

Bills, dog friendly inside.

5/1 and the OP is grizzling.

Probably less people too.
Places allow dogs because it attracts more people. It is a business decision.

Why is it then that the plastic surgery team in the hospital where I work spend so much time dealing with dog and cat bites to reduce the risk of infection? And I think the ew is fully justified myself

Human bites are just as bad.

You’re right that humans can be disgusting too, but that still doesn’t explain why we should raise the disgusting levels with hairy shedding animals in the place.

Normal kitchen hygiene and good practice in wiping/cleaning areas that human hands touch should be sufficient - but introducing dogs brings a whole other level of it. Not to mention the discomfort for people or children that don’t want to be around them.

Funnily enough I'd say it's rare for the owners not to have them on a lead inside (though they can be on those extendable ones which are a nightmare).

But I did go to a garden centre cafe with my mum about 3 years ago and the owners had two dogs off-lead which were wandering around the cafe begging. I did mention it to a waitress who took them out but it was an electric door so as soon as they walked near it, it opened again. My mum and I have not been back.

On the hygiene thing I think it's a matter of taste! Some MNers get very pearl-clutchy if people don't change their bed sheets/bra/jeans/towels after x days. Others don't like the idea of eating next to a dog. Swings and roundabouts. However, there is a difference between what you do in your own home and what you expect outside.

As for getting help for a scared child - maybe dog owners could keep their pets under control and then people wouldn't be scared. If you go out and are ok 9 times out of 10 that's no good if on the 10th time a dog bounds up to you and licks your face.

Actually I tell a lie about the garden centre. We did go back as my mum wanted to buy something there a few months later. We didn't go into the cafe but one of the dogs was near the till where there was a big sign along the lines of if you don't like dogs, we don't like you.

I think that takes things rather too far. The non-dog-owning £ is worth something too!

Have you any statistics that prove dog-friendly environments are the cause of greater infections or illnesses directly relating to the presence of dogs than those where dogs are not allowed?

I admit I'm not aware of an epidemic of dog-related illnesses sweeping the land now that so many places are dog friendly. But I could be behind the times.

Dogs are on the floor, along with people's mucky shoes.

Why would the dog be bored in a restaurant when it is with their owner and not bored at home alone?

We take our dog to restaurants. He doesn't really like being left at home and will pace until we get back whereas in a restaurant he lays quietly

Actually they are increasingly on owner’s laps with paws on the table, or sitting on a human seat. It’s absolutely vile.

The table gets cleaned though. Not that I think it is acceptable to have dogs paws on tables though.