Dogs everywhere

TG Rosie can’t read

I’m sure some owners think they can, probably the ones who give them Christmas presents to open, take them into cafes with dog menus, …..

Last night I was at a local retail park . I watched a couple and dog come out of Pets at Home which ,understandably, allows dogs in. They then tried to enter Hobbycraft, Dunhelm Mill and Poundland and were refused entry . I am not sure why they thought taking a dog shopping at 7pm was a good idea !

I hope having a rant about dogs has made some people feel better.
But they didn’t ask to be petted and babied by their indulgent owners, taken into pubs or shops or all the things moaned about.
They’re just a dog and in my experience, trusting, loyal,a source of comfort when grief is around and for the lonely, someone to come home to and who doesn’t give you a earful when you pour out your woes.
Compared to Trump, ICE, the economy, the weather and all the awful things happening at home and all round the world,dogs are hardly the main issue - or are they?
TG Rosie can’t read.

Totally agree! Poor dogs in busy places. Owners think it is funny when their dog jumps up or begs for food in restaurants. Dogs are tolerated more than children. Train them to be alone for short periods! Leave them at home.

We have avoided our local pub for the last few years because of their dogs can go anywhere policy, possibly not so bad in the bar, but horrible in the restaurant..
We went to another pub in the nearby town with our grandchildren, they has a whole dog area with revolting looking sofas, and an actual dog menu!
I’m sorry, I don’t hate dogs, but I don’t love them either, and I object to having to negotiate them wherever I go.

Ridiculous comments about how much dogs smell. And the one about them sniffing eachother because they smell🙄
It’s because their sense of smell is far, far superior to ours.

Well now you do OldFrill, so glad your pet didn't run up huge bills on the Amex card, or use more data and minutes than allowed on your mobile plan. Obviously you have brought him/her up well, congratulations 🥂🥂🥂

We leave our dog home with an Amex card and a mobile phone when we're cruising the world. . . . If only we'd known about kennels.

People that have cats as pets don't take them on holidays etc they pay to board them at excellent catteries., a sort of 'hotel' for cats where they are cared for. It may come as a huge surprise but there are places called kennels that are 'hotels' for dogs while their owners are absent. A relative has often availed themself of this facility. While their much loved pet is at the facility they get daily videos and updates about his day, feeding and exercise routine etc. They even occasionally use 'doggy daycare' if they are needing to be absent for the best part of a whole day. It's a bit like using childcare facilities for a much loved child when one is unable to provide personal care.

I agree that there are too many dogs particularly being treated as though they are human. Taken everywhere on those extending leads.

I suppose I would be more annoyed if the same dogs were left at home and barked all day.

My father's family were farmers. Dogs were working dogs who sleep in kennels, not in beds in bedrooms.

I volunteer in a community café. A couple of years ago it was decided to allow dogs inside in one area on a trial basis.
They are still allowed and now the special area is for those who don't want dogs!

Recently a couple came in with a dog the size of a small pony.

I was bitten at the café by a dog. The bite became infected and I needed 2 courses of antibiotics. The owner was very upset and apologetic. She was told to muzzle the dog and I haven't seen it since. But one of these days a small child will be bitten which would be dreadful.

Like others here, I don't dislike dogs but I feel dog owners entitled attitude has gone too far.

ViceVersa

*bikergran*, I've already said I would never do that, but I do have a friend who has two Shih Tzus and she does exactly that - lets them sit at the table in cafes and eat from her plate. It's completely wrong and something I hate to see. She takes them everywhere with her (yes, into shops too - even sitting in the supermarket trolley), dresses them up and treats them like babies. It does my head in.

She takes them everywhere with her (yes, into shops too - even sitting in the supermarket trolley), dresses them up and treats them like babies.
I'd be complaining to the manager.
It's bad enough seeing children sitting in the trolleys (not the toddler seat). Yuk.

Tenko - You sound very considerate for a dog owner and appreciate others don't feel the same way but sadly you are in a minority. Most dog owners seem to think everyone should love their pooch and cannot understand that it's unhygienic to have them in places that serve food. And they always say, " He/She is friendly and won't harm you." I have no desire to be friends with the dog and I am absolutely terrified of them not just uncomfortable around them.

bikergran, I've already said I would never do that, but I do have a friend who has two Shih Tzus and she does exactly that - lets them sit at the table in cafes and eat from her plate. It's completely wrong and something I hate to see. She takes them everywhere with her (yes, into shops too - even sitting in the supermarket trolley), dresses them up and treats them like babies. It does my head in.

Last year was in LLandudno, there was a cafe towards the end of the pier. Woman who was having some toast or something , put the plate down on the floor for her dog to finish off!
Yes the same plate that someone has to eat off later!! This was out side where you could sit.

Needless to say we did not use that cafe.

I have seen others where the dog is sat on a chair almost eating from the table( not at the same cafe)

Bukkie

I am terrified of dogs and my life has been really restricted in recent years by the influx of dogs in shops, cafés and pubs. It's no good saying don't go to places that allow dogs because it is virtually impossible to find somewhere that is dog free. And it is increasingly difficult to find holiday cottages that are dog free.

I love dogs and currently have a Labrador and sometimes struggle to find hotels and accommodation which is dog friendly. I put pets allowed on various websites and the list of properties gets halved .
Dog owners get charged extra per dog , for the extra cleaning .
Dog friendly hotels often don’t allow dogs in dining rooms , so we eat in the bar area . You’re also not allowed to leave your dog in your room alone , ditto for cottages or static mobile homes . So if you’re on holiday you have to take your dog with you , hence so many dogs in tourist areas .
Our dog is well behaved and goes into pubs if we’re out for the day or in our local pub after a walk . In pubs he sits under a table and doesn’t bother anyone. Often other pub customers have been surprised to see him as he’s so quiet.
I don’t take him into shops or on public transport as I’m aware not everyone likes dogs .

I am terrified of dogs and my life has been really restricted in recent years by the influx of dogs in shops, cafés and pubs. It's no good saying don't go to places that allow dogs because it is virtually impossible to find somewhere that is dog free. And it is increasingly difficult to find holiday cottages that are dog free.

I have a dog and am a dog lover and I completely agree with this post. I remember the campaign back in the seventies to keep dogs out of shops that sold food and cafés and restaurants, except for guide dogs, of course. It would have been unthinkable for dogs to go into clothes shops. I avoid “dog-friendly” cafés where possible. One time l was with a friend and we were in a queue at a café when a man with a young, boisterous and unruly husky type of dog was in front of us. It had already messed around with other dogs in there then turned round to greet me by jumping up at me and putting its paws on my shoulders, which I did not appreciate. My friend and I left at this point. I also think dogs are happier at home or on ordinary walks rather than being dragged around shops and cafés. If they are not capable of being left on their own for a couple of hours, the owners have not trained them properly.

Lathyrus3

We’ll move carriages.

Totally messed up that story by omitting an apostrophe 😬

How strange, I actually read your original post as 'we'll' not well. I suppose I got the sense they were trying to be considerate, as were you.

Thank you for that explanation. I wasn't looking for an argument, by the way. I was genuinely interested in how people cope, especially as I have a visually impaired friend who has just got her first guide dog.

ViceVersa

If you - or someone you know - has an allergy to dogs, what do you do if you happen to go out and encounter someone with an assistance dog, given that there is a legal requirement for those dogs to be allowed access to almost every facility from hospitals and business to shops and cafes?

I carry strong antihistamines always, which I take immediately.

I then explain my allergies and ask to be moved if in a medical setting.

In a cafe or restaurant I ask to be moved or leave explaining why.

Very seldom do I use public transport. I always take antihistamines before going on mainline trains, do not use the underground or buses.

We’ll move carriages.

Totally messed up that story by omitting an apostrophe 😬

It used to be easy to give precedence to people with assistance dogs and just move away, wait or whatever because you could be sensitive to their need and there were very occasions when that happened and usually there was mutual understanding and tolerance.

I was on a train once when a couple got on with a dog in harness. The woman was obviously partially sighted or maybe blind.

I got up from my seat fairly hurriedly and moved down the train but still started coughing and sneezing. The nan followed me and said “Are you allergic to dogs?” and I grinned in between achoo,achoo and said “yes, afraid so”.
“Well move carriages” he said and I replied “No, I’m getting out at the next stop”.

That’s all it takes. A bit of tolerance on one side, consideration on the other.

Not “don’t go on trains then if you can’t be with dogs”

Our daughter has a severe allergy to dogs and she loves dogs. Her in-laws used to have one and when DD visited she would be in am awful state with swollen, streaming eyes, sneezing etc. Consequently she couldn't visit often as MIL thought she was making it up. As for assistance dogs she has to avoid them as best she can.

If you - or someone you know - has an allergy to dogs, what do you do if you happen to go out and encounter someone with an assistance dog, given that there is a legal requirement for those dogs to be allowed access to almost every facility from hospitals and business to shops and cafes?

The human race would survive without dogs, it will not survive without children. Worth considering by those who prefer dogs to children especially those they label 'feral', a word that should never be applied to a child, they're human not animals.
I have had a dog in the past and cats. One of my sons developed a severe allergy to both involving (like GrannyGravy) blue light life-saving trips to A&E. Apparently he, and presumably GG13, should just put up with limiting where they can go because dog owners think their dogs take precedence.