Dogs in public - Ya or Nah?

[doglover102]

As an assistance dog handler I can see both sides of the argument. Personally, so long as the dog can execute a loose lead walk down aisles, not sniff anything, or pee or poop or bark, and he can completely ignore my working assistance dog (no pulling, sniffing, barking, lunging ect) I don't have an issue with it.

What do we all think about extremely well behaved dogs in public?

Happy to take and do take my dog into dog friendly cafes , restaurants and pubs ( the former two usually sit outside ) but no to shops as she's a ' food fiend ' - eating out she knows she won't get treats so just lies down quietly although in pubs occ tries to get on the leather sofa or chair like she does at home . Occasionally ' freaks ' women out if she touches their bum while having a sniff - they're usually reassured when they turn around to see a hound not a man up to no good

Personally, I don't go to places where I think dogs will have been. Be that hotels, restaurants and sadly friends houses.

But guide dogs are allowed in all of those places by law.

I said up thread that I totally support all assistance dogs and get that their users needs trump my own and my sons.

Obviously I can't know if an assistance dog has recently been at a place I'm staying or eating at. If I start to feel ill and get a whiff of dog then I either leave the restaurant or ask Reception for a different room.

If an assistance dog enters somewhere when I'm there, I leave, discreetly without fuss or attention.