DOGGY ETIQUETTE

Only take my dogs to family and friends who also have dogs; how cheeky of your guests!

I love dogs and have always had them When I visit someone, even my DD, I always take a water bowl and food. If I go unexpectedly, I would ask for a water bowl, rarely food and certainly NOT from a serving dish. I wouldn’t even entertain it from those who aren’t family.! A water bowl, a little treat is ok. But the rest! Thoughtless guests, thoughtless dog owners.

I was brought up with dogs always had two dogs until recently. I would never take a dog to someone’s house if we have visitors the dog is kept out of the way. It would most certainly not be acceptable to take our dog when we go out to dinner.

The water is fine but my dogs wouldn't be allowed scraps from the table in a serving dish! For a start lots of things we eat are poisonous to dogs eg garlic, salt, currants, raisins, chocolate etc.
If there was anything suitable it could be put in the garden on a path, or the kitchen floor and washed the floor afterwards. To even suggest a dog eating out of a serving dish is not only v rude but also v unhygienic. Dog's mouths carry a lot of bacteria. I have 2 dogs and love them v much but they are dogs not children.

You’ve every right to be miffed! Perhaps when they are at home, don’t feed dog food but the owners own food ? They are your friends!

I also like dogs and I have one , I would of found a bowl for water . But if they asked for leftovers I would of put them in a bag for them to take home with them . Feel it’s a bit lax on the owners to forget to bring treats for their dog as a lot of human food isn’t good for dogs. I personally would prefer to leave my dog at home when we go out .

You’ve every right to feel miffed I think they have a nerve asking if their dog can eat from the serving plate. I’d said no but found an old dish of sorts to put the scraps in. Some people treat their dogs like children.

The couple said they had forgotten, and you were kind. I personally wouldn’t have fed the dog from the ‘humans’ serving dish, nor would I expect anyone to feed my dog from the ‘humans’ serving dish. Dog needed water, absolutely, but could easily have waited until he got home for food. Mostly people find a treat for my dog, if we are guests anywhere, which is always appreciated.

I tend to agree with NfkDumpling about her views on dogs. My additional proviso is that the guest dog is kept on a lead indoors and in the garden, unless we know the dog very well, so it doesn’t chase either our cat or dog!

They did say they forgot - not that they assumed the host would provide something.

I think we all just forget things sometimes

NfkDumpling

Am I too strict?!

Not at all. Your house, your rules.

And you seem to cater well for your four-legged guests.

As for the couple in the OP. Very thoughtless of them not to think of providing for their dog - I mean for the dog's sake as much as anything else. Perhaps they just assumed that their host would provide something?

I have a cat - fortunately you can leave them at home when you get a dinner invite, but I always make sure he's got his water and food on a regular basis - dogs also like to be fed routinely, and not rely on 'scraps'!

Dogs are very welcome in our house but our house and a few simple rules. I keep an old Pyrex bowl as a dog bowl as visitors often forget or don't realise that their dog sees itself as being included in the invite for refreshments. They expect to get fed and watered - although in our house they wait until after everyone else has finished. So, suitable scraps in the kitchen after we've finished in the Pyrex bowl which is then refilled with water. No dogs upstairs or on beds. I also have a couple of throws for the furniture for those dogs used to being allowed on the sofa, although I do expect the dog to sit and wait and ask to be allowed up. And they do. Even ones which aren't used to it cotton on very quickly! Certainly no dogs up the table. I'm afraid the elderly gentleman who let his dog eat from his plate would have been told off!

I also expect the visitors to clear up after their pooch when it poos in the garden. Am I too strict?!

I wouldn't object to a dog - or providing a water bowl. But a tin of dog food and a paper bowl (they are quite sturdy) - they should've cared enough about the dog to at least bring those with them. They must've known the animal would need to eat at some point.

Eating out of your serving dish? Absolutely no.

Friends of mine used to invite an elderly neighbour for Sunday lunch after his wife died. He brought his dog, too - no problem... until he sat the pooch on his knee towards the end of the meal and allowed it to eat the remains of his dinner off the plate - sitting at the table. They stopped inviting him for lunch and asked him to come round for coffee on Saturdays instead. The dog wasn't interested in coffee so curled up on their sofa .

It seems to be a thing now where people have to take the dog with them wherever they go.
You see them in restaurants, clothes shops, pubs.
Surely a dog can be left on their own for one or two hours?

Well they did ask - like any request, a person can ask, and you can say yes or no.

Providing a container of some sort for water for the dog doesn't seem a big deal to me, people do forget things, nor eating food which is going to be thrown out scraps.

Or if it wasn't going to be thrown out scraps, say No. Or put it in another container if you want to.
I personally think modern dishwashers do a good job and that wouldn't bother me - but if it bothers you, say No

Don't agree to things you do not want to do.

I never invite dogs and I wouldn't feed them scraps from the table.
I’d be a bit unsure about eating at their place if the let the dog eat from their own dishes, sterilised or not. I’ve got that joke stuck in my head about the old man’s crockery always being clean though he had no dishwasher or running hot water!

The dog was not invited! Your friends should not have asked. Say no next time.

I agree that they pushed your hospitality too far. I may not have brought a water dish, but certainly wouldn't have asked for food!

My dog stays home, unless we take her on vacation and then we take care of all her needs.

Scraps are fine imo - but in an old dish or icecream tub.

Really?? Water I understand but not the scraps. No, you are not being unreasonable - I would have been very wrong-footed by the whole situation.

I’d have left my dog at home. What a nerve these people have got.

Old icecream tubs are useful.

I would never allow an animal to eat from the serving dish, ugh!

Can't blame the dog obviously, but personally it is a cheek for them to even ask if they could take a dog ... yes I am a dog lover ... had them for years ... perhaps genuine about a bowl I would have found an old one , either keep it for next time ... or throw away ... regarding the food ... he / she should have been fed before coming, can understand giving some meat to the dog but nothing else, have to be careful what they have .

Just as well they don’t have children!

Rather cheeky of them, I’d say.

Daisymae

sounds good, tomorrow about 3 any good for you? X

Obviously I didn't mean to post this here ?