Page 7 | Using public toilets when out alone with dog?!

Moirarosesgarden · 2023-09-08T12:14:41+00:00

I’m going on a daytrip next week on my own but taking my dog with me. The weather will be much cooler by then so one option is to leave him in car in shade while I nip to the loo, but not ideal. Do you take your dogs in to public toilets?! Or dog-friendly pub toilets?! He can be reactive to a few other dogs so I’d rather not leave him with a member of staff for example. I’ll be out all day mostly in small villages so not motoway services type facilities. I don’t fancy a she-wee either! 🤣

Batatahara · 09/09/2023 16:50

I guess we just need more clarity and for organisations to state 'no dogs' in certain places.

It makes no difference. Dog owners just don't seem to care. I have seen dogs in every "dog free" space in our area of London.

WetBandits · 09/09/2023 17:05

Flossflower · 09/09/2023 16:09

You don’t know me! My husband worries someone is going to get nasty when I confront them.

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Ooooh, you’re hard.

Well, I’ve never taken my dog into a public toilet before, but if I found myself in an ‘I’ve got the dog with me but am literally about to shit myself’ situation (as can happen to any of us) and you ‘challenged’ me for just wrangling him into a cubicle with me in a grotty public toilet instead of wasting time hunting for somewhere to safely stow him, I would completely ignore you. What exactly would your next move be? Physically blocking my access to the toilet? Offering to wait outside with him? ‘Reporting’ me to whoever might care?

Me trying to cram my gangly dog into a tiny cubicle with me in this hypothetical situation has no bearing on you being able to use the facilities yourself. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that someone who is taking a dog into a cubicle with them might be out of other options and wouldn’t be doing it for fun.

Do you often find yourself bossing strangers about if it’s got to a stage that your husband thinks you might be harmed based on how you interact with people?

Flossflower · 09/09/2023 17:15

WetBandits · 09/09/2023 17:05

Ooooh, you’re hard.

Well, I’ve never taken my dog into a public toilet before, but if I found myself in an ‘I’ve got the dog with me but am literally about to shit myself’ situation (as can happen to any of us) and you ‘challenged’ me for just wrangling him into a cubicle with me in a grotty public toilet instead of wasting time hunting for somewhere to safely stow him, I would completely ignore you. What exactly would your next move be? Physically blocking my access to the toilet? Offering to wait outside with him? ‘Reporting’ me to whoever might care?

Me trying to cram my gangly dog into a tiny cubicle with me in this hypothetical situation has no bearing on you being able to use the facilities yourself. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that someone who is taking a dog into a cubicle with them might be out of other options and wouldn’t be doing it for fun.

Do you often find yourself bossing strangers about if it’s got to a stage that your husband thinks you might be harmed based on how you interact with people?

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What I would do would depend on the size of your dog😂
When a woman refused to take her dog out of the children’s playground. I told her I would take it out. She took it out.
I don’t boss people around. I have a very strong dislike for people who think that rules and decency don’t belong to them. This unfortunately applies to a lot of dog owners. My husband shares my views on this. My brother once picked up after an owner who left his dog mess. He ran after the man and returned the dog mess on his back.

Mygazpachoistoocold · 09/09/2023 17:31

Clymene · 09/09/2023 13:46

Has anyone who finds the idea of dogs in cubicles in public toilets ever seen a dog in a public toilet? Ever?

Yes I have at a National Trust property. The dog barked every time someone used the hand drier. The woman was with a group of people so could easily have left the dog with someone else whilst she used the toilets.
The same dog also whimpered the whole time through lunch in the restaurant too.
I don't think the dog was particularly enjoying the trip. It's a shame the owners didn't recognise that, mostly for the dog but also for the other visitors too.

Batatahara · 09/09/2023 17:36

Well, I’ve never taken my dog into a public toilet before, but if I found myself in an ‘I’ve got the dog with me but am literally about to shit myself’ situation (as can happen to any of us) and you ‘challenged’ me for just wrangling him into a cubicle with me in a grotty public toilet instead of wasting time hunting for somewhere to safely stow him, I would completely ignore you.

And this is why dog owners think everyone is ok with their dogs all the time. Just because no one has said anything doesn't mean they're fine with it, they just know you won't listen to them so what's the point?

Saw a miserable dog at a kids splash park yesterday... no one challenged the owner but clearly an inappropriate place for a dog

Balloonhearts · 09/09/2023 17:50

@Flossflower You know dogs are considered property right? So you'd essentially be mugging someone.

Tbh I think taking people's dogs will get you bitten, punched, arrested or any combination of the above but clearly you think you're a hardnut so crack on and I dearly hope to see you on youtube. 🤣

WetBandits · 09/09/2023 17:51

Batatahara · 09/09/2023 17:36

Well, I’ve never taken my dog into a public toilet before, but if I found myself in an ‘I’ve got the dog with me but am literally about to shit myself’ situation (as can happen to any of us) and you ‘challenged’ me for just wrangling him into a cubicle with me in a grotty public toilet instead of wasting time hunting for somewhere to safely stow him, I would completely ignore you.

And this is why dog owners think everyone is ok with their dogs all the time. Just because no one has said anything doesn't mean they're fine with it, they just know you won't listen to them so what's the point?

Saw a miserable dog at a kids splash park yesterday... no one challenged the owner but clearly an inappropriate place for a dog

Dog at splash park vs. dog in cubicle with desperate owner who was in serious danger of shitting their pants…one is clearly not acceptable and one is something most reasonable people would choose to let slide.

If someone told me I couldn’t use the toilet when I was desperate then yes, I would ignore them. You know that I don’t expect people to be okay with my dog ‘all the time’ because I said it in the rest of my comment which you chose to leave out.

WetBandits · 09/09/2023 17:53

Flossflower · 09/09/2023 17:15

What I would do would depend on the size of your dog😂
When a woman refused to take her dog out of the children’s playground. I told her I would take it out. She took it out.
I don’t boss people around. I have a very strong dislike for people who think that rules and decency don’t belong to them. This unfortunately applies to a lot of dog owners. My husband shares my views on this. My brother once picked up after an owner who left his dog mess. He ran after the man and returned the dog mess on his back.

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He’s medium sized. Are you saying you’d only play the hard nut if someone had a teacup dog with them 😂

If I saw someone leave their dog shit, my first thought would be to either call out to them and if they ignored/didn’t hear, to bag it myself and hand them the bag. I wouldn’t smear shit on their clothes because I am not a fucking heathen. Sounds like you come from a really lovely family.

Batatahara · 09/09/2023 18:01

I looked up dog theft stats out of interest.

11 million dogs in the UK. About 1,500 dogs stolen in a year. Half are stolen from back or front gardens.

So your chances of having your dog stolen if you tie them up outside a toilet for 5 mins are miniscule. I make it about 0.007% and that's an overestimate really

https://gathercover.co.uk/guides/pet-theft/

UK Pet Theft Statistics (Updated For 2022) | Gather

Pet theft is on the rise in both cats and dogs. Find out what the stats say and how you can protect your pets both in and out of your home.

https://gathercover.co.uk/guides/pet-theft

marymungoNminge · 09/09/2023 18:03

'Who on earth is going to be unhappy at a cute doggie face popping under the door to say hello? That would be compensation alone for having to use public toilets 😝'

@Poshjock

Someone who is seriously allergic to dogs, or someone who is incredibly scared of dogs. With nowhere to get out in a small locked cubicle door, I would imagine to be very frightening. Especially if they were elderly and saw a bit dogs face come under their door.

(And I say this as a dog lover)

Laboheme78 · 09/09/2023 18:03

I take my dog into the cubicle if I have to. I do try to sneak her in tbh. No way I’d leave her tied up outside. She is cleaner than a lot of the public toilets I’ve used, and some of the people in them.

InTheFutilityRoomEatingBiscuits · 09/09/2023 18:05

I don’t have a dog right now but when I did I would tie them up outside the shops, outside the play park, outside the toilet whenever I needed to leave them. As does every other dog owner I know, and there are always plenty of dogs tied up outside the shops and the market in our town. There is a dog attached to every second lamp post.

How else would I go in the shops?

gravitytester · 09/09/2023 18:07

Batatahara · 09/09/2023 18:01

I looked up dog theft stats out of interest.

11 million dogs in the UK. About 1,500 dogs stolen in a year. Half are stolen from back or front gardens.

So your chances of having your dog stolen if you tie them up outside a toilet for 5 mins are miniscule. I make it about 0.007% and that's an overestimate really

https://gathercover.co.uk/guides/pet-theft/

Great. Let's start leaving children tied up outside too- there are approx 12.7million children and only 70,000 kidnapped. 🤨

Batatahara · 09/09/2023 18:11

gravitytester · 09/09/2023 18:07

Great. Let's start leaving children tied up outside too- there are approx 12.7million children and only 70,000 kidnapped. 🤨

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Dogs are not children however much dog owners think they are

BlossomWood · 09/09/2023 18:15

Today I've been to a shopping outlet and popped to the loo, a lady came in with a dog and for a brief second I thought what an odd thing to do, but then logic kicked in and concluded why the heck not! Better than the dog being tied up outside where you can't see it.

DailyDriver · 09/09/2023 18:15

So your chances of having your dog stolen if you tie them up outside a toilet for 5 mins are miniscule. I make it about 0.007% and that's an overestimate really

That probability would only be true if everyone left their dog tied up outside shops. Since you have no idea of the number of dogs tied up outside shops (and I think in reality it's a very small minority) in the first place calculating the probability of them being stolen from outside a shop is impossible

Batatahara · 09/09/2023 18:41

DailyDriver · 09/09/2023 18:15

So your chances of having your dog stolen if you tie them up outside a toilet for 5 mins are miniscule. I make it about 0.007% and that's an overestimate really

That probability would only be true if everyone left their dog tied up outside shops. Since you have no idea of the number of dogs tied up outside shops (and I think in reality it's a very small minority) in the first place calculating the probability of them being stolen from outside a shop is impossible

Yeah it's hard to calculate because also the theft stat is for the whole year not 5 mins so I probably shouldn't have tried to put a number on it but basically it is a very low probability.

Maireas · 09/09/2023 18:44

Also, don't they want cute dogs? Particular pedigrees? Not your average pooch?

neilyoungismyhero · 09/09/2023 18:48

I have a small terrier and take him in with me if it's an outside facility. Country park/seaside/Park location. No way I'm leaving him outside on his own. I'm as discreet as you can be hauling him in.

onestepfromgrace · 09/09/2023 19:00

I have a springer puppy, having a wee in the woods has proved tricky as he comes to investigate unless I throw a ball and hope he doesn’t find it before I finish my wee.

I have taken him in a cubicle and he tried to climb on my knee and then put his head in my knickers.

Much easier to leave him in the car and I’ve always found if it’s too hot in the car it’s too hot for a walk so it’s only been on cooler days.

I would never tie him up outside including outside the cubicle that is so wrong for him and for others who want to use the loo.

andrainwillmaketheflowersgrow · 09/09/2023 19:14

Batatahara · 09/09/2023 18:01

I looked up dog theft stats out of interest.

11 million dogs in the UK. About 1,500 dogs stolen in a year. Half are stolen from back or front gardens.

So your chances of having your dog stolen if you tie them up outside a toilet for 5 mins are miniscule. I make it about 0.007% and that's an overestimate really

https://gathercover.co.uk/guides/pet-theft/

Assessing risk doesn't just mean looking at probabilities, though. It's also the impact if the worst does happen.

Theft isn't the only risk of leaving a dog unattended in public, either. They could panic and escape their collar or harness. Someone could feed them something toxic, or hurt them, or approach them and frighten them.

I know the risk of theft is tiny, but the impact if my dog was stolen would be massive, so it's not something I'm going to chance.

Newpeep · 09/09/2023 19:14

This thread reminds me of quite a few years ago, trying to get money out of my banks (remember those?) cashpoint on the way back from a dog walk (on foot). Note to say call in for cash as machine broken. Sensible adult dog then. Well trained. But nowhere to park her safely. Very narrow pavements. So I went to the bank door, put her in a stay and called and asked if they could take my card and give me money please. They told me I was welcome to bring my ‘beautifully trained’ dog in as long as it didn’t want to make a deposit 😂

Random789 · 09/09/2023 19:21

This thread is batshit. Perhaps it is different in 'that London' and similarly congested places but I have never, ever (whether alone or - in very rare cases - with my dog) seen any difficulties ever arising with the small number of dogs coming into public loos. Neither 'entitled' dog owners accessing the facilities in an unreasonable way to the disadvantage of other users, nor sensitive non-dog-owners displaying any kind of unreasonable panic/distress/annoyance at the presence of a dog.

And to those who say that non-dog-owners are 'too polite' to object, I'm guessing that what you mean is that they are 'too polite' to object in cases where they are vaguely annoyed by the presence of a dog but have no genuine reason for objecting. In other words, they are 'too polite' to rant gratuitously.

This is how it would likely go (in 99% of cases) if they did have a genuine reason to object:

"Sorry, but my DS is really scared of/allergic to dogs and he can't use the toilet if you are in here."
"Oh, sorry. I'll wait outside until you have finished."
"Thanks. That's great."
"Don't mention it. You are welcome."

Newpeep · 09/09/2023 19:33

Random789 · 09/09/2023 19:21

This thread is batshit. Perhaps it is different in 'that London' and similarly congested places but I have never, ever (whether alone or - in very rare cases - with my dog) seen any difficulties ever arising with the small number of dogs coming into public loos. Neither 'entitled' dog owners accessing the facilities in an unreasonable way to the disadvantage of other users, nor sensitive non-dog-owners displaying any kind of unreasonable panic/distress/annoyance at the presence of a dog.

And to those who say that non-dog-owners are 'too polite' to object, I'm guessing that what you mean is that they are 'too polite' to object in cases where they are vaguely annoyed by the presence of a dog but have no genuine reason for objecting. In other words, they are 'too polite' to rant gratuitously.

This is how it would likely go (in 99% of cases) if they did have a genuine reason to object:

"Sorry, but my DS is really scared of/allergic to dogs and he can't use the toilet if you are in here."
"Oh, sorry. I'll wait outside until you have finished."
"Thanks. That's great."
"Don't mention it. You are welcome."

Over the summer, we took our puppy into a local known to be very dog friendly ice cream shop. As we walked in a little girl in the queue started screaming hysterically. She was terrified. So we took our pup straight out well away from the shop.

It’s just what you do as a responsible human being. Turns out it was the daughter of a colleague who came to see me the next week to say thanks and sorry for not saying it at the time.

vancouvertrip · 09/09/2023 20:27

I always take mine in with me. It's never occurred to me not to to be honest.

Service stations on the motorway require more planning... I have snuck one of them into a service station under a scarf before 😂