Dogs everywhere

I agree with Romilo

We have always had dogs until a couple of years ago and never took them into pubs or restaurants. Very occasionally we took them to a beer garden but they were very well behaved and just settled down under a bench.

My friend and I popped into quite a posh seaside cafe one rainy day and it absolutely stank of wet dogs and some were drooling or shaking their wet coats everywhere. Horrible!

Not many on here have spoken about the joy and companionship dogs give to owners who live alone . My neighbour rehomed a dog after her dh died very suddenly . This little dog has been a godsend for her. He gives her a reason to get up every day and walk him . And being outside is always good for your mental health. She’s met and made friends with other dog owners. She’s healthier and fitter due to daily walks . The dog knows when she’s sad and grieving and jumps up for a cuddle. There’s a reason why dogs are called man’s best friend.
Tbh I really wonder where you all live , as my market town and the surrounding woodlands and heath lands are nothing like some of you describe. We have a lot of horses and deer where I walk my dog and the dogs are either on leads or well trained in their recall . My dog is trained to the whistle with high value treats and turns on a sixpence when I call him .
And I’d ban extendable leads as theyre dangerous . Ditto ball chuckers . I know two dogs who’ve had spinal surgery due to jumping up and twisting to catch a ball from a ball chucker.

I think Tenno, it’s dog owners insistence that we all share in the “joy and companionship” of their dogs that causes the problems.
😬

Lathyrus3

I think Tenno, it’s dog owners insistence that we all share in the “joy and companionship” of their dogs that causes the problems.
😬

'Some' dog owners, perhaps. It's certainly not all of us.

I stopped at the Tebay service station a couple of months ago. I wanted to buy some of their excellent sausages and more, also to eat in the cafe.

I was pleased to see the now restrict dogs to the foyer and outside areas, not the restaurant. the sign said this change was because they’d learned not all dogs like each other 🤣

I live near a very popular beach and there are often FB posts with pictures of dogs that are allowed to run wild on the beach terrorising other dogs, children, and sea birds, while their owner is on their mobile or just scrolling. Or, indeed, not even to be seen!

Iam64

I stopped at the Tebay service station a couple of months ago. I wanted to buy some of their excellent sausages and more, also to eat in the cafe.

I was pleased to see the now restrict dogs to the foyer and outside areas, not the restaurant. the sign said this change was because they’d learned not all dogs like each other 🤣

Just like people then 😂

Lathyrus3

I think Tenno, it’s dog owners insistence that we all share in the “joy and companionship” of their dogs that causes the problems.
😬

Yes exactly.

Up until the late nineties my H and I jointly ran restaurants and hotels. At that time the law was that dogs,with the exclusion of guide dogs, were not permitted in any establishment serving food. I am not aware as to when this legislation lapsed. I personally wish that it was still enforced.

It was a bit tongue in cheek Oreo.

I’ve given a wry smile at some of the posts that have said, but everybody loves my dog when I take him along. 😬

It happens with grandchildren too. And partners.

They are sooo lovely you must love them too 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I guess th

Oreo

Iam64

I stopped at the Tebay service station a couple of months ago. I wanted to buy some of their excellent sausages and more, also to eat in the cafe.

I was pleased to see the now restrict dogs to the foyer and outside areas, not the restaurant. the sign said this change was because they’d learned not all dogs like each other 🤣

Just like people then 😂

Yes, it’s amazing that anyone thinks you can take several dogs, who don’t know each other, have just spent hours travelling in a car, take them into a totally new area, teaming with people, small children and food …….. And be surprised if a few dogs lose their composure.

I stopped at a busy service station during the storm last week. Dogs in the foyer, food area, shops etc with owners letting them meet other dogs on lead. I left my dog in the car ….

Lathyrus3

I think Tenno, it’s dog owners insistence that we all share in the “joy and companionship” of their dogs that causes the problems.
😬

Yep........

...and, if we're a bit of a forager, = another reason I don't want other peoples dogs around.....as they "go to the loo" everywhere and they may have just "used" a bit of land we are about to forage from to go to the loo on (as so many dog-owners let their dogs run freely around where we are about to go food-picking).

gangy5

Up until the late nineties my H and I jointly ran restaurants and hotels. At that time the law was that dogs,with the exclusion of guide dogs, were not permitted in any establishment serving food. I am not aware as to when this legislation lapsed. I personally wish that it was still enforced.

It was illegal to have dogs in food preparation and storage areas, but not illegal to have dogs in public areas such as restaurants. It was at owner/manager discretion as to whether they allowed dogs on their premises, or not. Owners/Managers often said it was illegal rather than discretional as it made their lives easier (or they believed they were right). This was the case before the Food Hygiene Act 2013 and remains the case now.

gangy5

Up until the late nineties my H and I jointly ran restaurants and hotels. At that time the law was that dogs,with the exclusion of guide dogs, were not permitted in any establishment serving food. I am not aware as to when this legislation lapsed. I personally wish that it was still enforced.

I just checked on that - to see whether pet dogs are now allowed.

It seems they basically are these days - BUT:
"Businesses that allow dogs must ensure:
- no contamination risk
- dogs are well-controlled
- hygiene standards are well-maintained".

So that's something that could be quoted if a bad dog-owner is letting an untrained dog get up to all sorts and the member of staff one tells about it doesn't react appropriately (ie stands there and looks dumb instead).

CariadAgain - I'm the original poster for this and previously owned dogs and don't hate them. But I'm so sick of the lack of social skills and understanding of "some" - not all - dog owners. On Sunday we went to a local pub to meet with friends for Sunday lunch. Two seperate groups of people near us had yapping whining dogs and both let the dogs sit on the bench/ seat next to them. Dogs' faces were on the tables. They fed them off their plates at the table. A bar man on his break came over and hand fed the dogs some treats, stroked them and spoke to the dogs in a baby voice, and then went back to handling glasses and serving drinks.

If I had been a hygiene inspector I would have raised this issue with the company who run the pub and would have issued a fine.

It is not the dog's fault if the owner or staff treats them like a human. I don't blame or hate the dogs.

But oh and wait a minute.... we don't get fed treats and we don't get brought water to drink while we are deciding what to order - so that is people discrimination isn't it?
I asked at the bar if a dog sausage meal was £1, what was the difference beween a dog sausage and a paying customer sausage? Bar attendant said they are the same type of sausage.
So I said - brilliant, can order a £1 dog sausage with my drink and they said "no" . Go and figure that one out!!!!

I live in a popular seaside resort and lots of people bring dogs on holiday with them, I get that, but it is January and these people are locals. They could walk their dogs and then leave them at home. They don't have to take them to places where we eat.

I've ranted enough now and I know there are mostly good dog owners reading this who agree with me. So I still think I'm not being unreasonable.

Thanks for the good discussion so far. And I don't hate dogs at all. Just don't want to eat and drink with badly behaved spoiled dogs.

I know there are mostly good dog owners reading this who agree with me

No longer a dog owner but yes, I agree.

I don't hate dogs at all. Just don't want to eat and drink with badly behaved spoiled dogs.

Well said.
Dogs are dogs, not fur babies nor are their owners Mummy and Daddy.

Oreo

Lathyrus3

I think Tenno, it’s dog owners insistence that we all share in the “joy and companionship” of their dogs that causes the problems.
😬

Yes exactly.

Sitting in a cafe this morning, soaking wet, 2 adults, 3 dogs (I walk somebody else's), dogs were all sitting quietly when someone (who'd just had a very loud chat with a stranger 2 tables away from them for 10 minutes) decided to disturb the dogs because they were so lovely! I didn't want to share her joy and companionship.

When in a public place, we must all be aware of the irritation we cause others. (Don't get me started on people who expect me to walk in the road because they don't want to interrupt their 'walking two abreast on a narrow pavement' conversation.)

Just back from lunch with a couple of friends and we had lunch in a Cuckfield Village tearoom, which is clearly a dog owners meet up.

It was delightful with the dogs wandering around greeting everyone and each other, and sharing lunch.

I am sure everyone on here would be horrified, - I loved it.

Chardy

Oreo

Lathyrus3

I think Tenno, it’s dog owners insistence that we all share in the “joy and companionship” of their dogs that causes the problems.
😬

Yes exactly.

Sitting in a cafe this morning, soaking wet, 2 adults, 3 dogs (I walk somebody else's), dogs were all sitting quietly when someone (who'd just had a very loud chat with a stranger 2 tables away from them for 10 minutes) decided to disturb the dogs because they were so lovely! I didn't want to share her joy and companionship.

When in a public place, we must all be aware of the irritation we cause others. (Don't get me started on people who expect me to walk in the road because they don't want to interrupt their 'walking two abreast on a narrow pavement' conversation.)

Very true and sympathies on that.

Yep....also to the two abreast walkers. The answer to that - if they are walking towards you - is to just stand stock still very obviously and then they have to break the "pair" and one of them walk around you.

If they're walking in the same direction and ahead of you - I will just say "Excuse me" in French - not English and I don't know Welsh (ie this is West Wales here). Yep...I am thinking "Two can play at that game - ie of being rude and unthinking" - hence I deliberately put my request in French and, if need be, repeat once or twice more and at a louder volume (still in French). Slaps wrists - I'm being naughty I know to do that....but they started it....

Not all problems are caused by the owners. Nest to us is a dog friendly cafe. Where the serving staff offer the dogs treats. It’s very hard for a dog to remain quietly under a table when they are sometimes given treats and pats by the staff. I won’t go in there any more. Absolutely no problem when the dogs are ignored by serving staff

Near not nest

Whitewavemark2

Just back from lunch with a couple of friends and we had lunch in a Cuckfield Village tearoom, which is clearly a dog owners meet up.

It was delightful with the dogs wandering around greeting everyone and each other, and sharing lunch.

I am sure everyone on here would be horrified, - I loved it.

If it's advertised as a dog tearoom or café that's fine.
People who are frightened of dogs or allergic to them can avoid it.

I like dogs but don't want lots of dogs wandering around and coming up to me while I'm eating.

Whitewavemark2

Just back from lunch with a couple of friends and we had lunch in a Cuckfield Village tearoom, which is clearly a dog owners meet up.

It was delightful with the dogs wandering around greeting everyone and each other, and sharing lunch.

I am sure everyone on here would be horrified, - I loved it.

I’d love it too! And so would my dds and Gdcs.

Gwyllt

Not all problems are caused by the owners. Nest to us is a dog friendly cafe. Where the serving staff offer the dogs treats. It’s very hard for a dog to remain quietly under a table when they are sometimes given treats and pats by the staff. I won’t go in there any more. Absolutely no problem when the dogs are ignored by serving staff

Seems cause to me of sending the owners a letter (copy kept) stating the above restrictions on dogs behaviour. Hopefully at that point the cafe would click "Whoops better tell the staff not to do those treats and pats bit - in case the Council environmental health department get told officially".

I am sure everyone on here would be horrified, - I loved it.

Not everyone would and saying others would be horrified is rather judgemental.
Many would just prefer not to be pestered by other people's dogs when they are enjoying their lunch, even those who are dog owners themselves.