Dog friendly? What would you do?

They were wrong not to have chosen to eat where you could have been included with your dog. I don't think I'd consider them friends after this.

The thing is undines, if everyone wants to eat in the restaurant except one person and that person gets their way, that’s not really compromise is it.

It’s one person getting it all their way.

I wouldn’t have taken my dog.

I’d tell them clearly “I going home because I can’t bring my dog in”! I hope they might think that over as they eat.

I think you’re pretty much in the minority Lathyrus (great username btw). I’m not a dog owner but I wouldn’t take a dog into a restaurant if I were. But that’s not the point here, the point is that it appears not to have been made clear to the OP what the restaurant’s dog-related policy was. If my friends walked away from me, when they could have compromised about where they ate, I’d be hurt too.

georgia101

They were wrong not to have chosen to eat where you could have been included with your dog. I don't think I'd consider them friends after this.

So like I said, the dog and it’s owner must come first, regardless of how anybody else feels about eating in the Conservatory with animals.

Let’s just be honest about this. They are not wrong. The dog owner assumed that everyone should fall in with her wishes and they didn’t.

Should we always fall in with what other people want? Or are we allowed to have a choice without being told we are wrong and bad friends and really not worth knowing.

Let’s remember this was the OPs choice. Is she the only person in the group who should be allowed on?

Saddens me that 'friends' decided to eat in an area that excluded you and your dog. Wouldn't have happened if I had been there I can tell you!
I do wonder though if there was a conversation about whether to take the dog or not if you were eating out. I have doggy friends and if we are all meeting up for a walk and a meal they would check first to see if it were doggy friendly occasion.
If it were me I would probably have said I can't take dog in restaurant does anyone want to join me in the conservatory? If the answer was no I would say, I'm off home then I'm hungry and don't fancy eating on my own.
I'm hoping the cars were at the venue and you didnt have an hours lonely walk home.

IrishDancing

I think you’re pretty much in the minority Lathyrus (great username btw). I’m not a dog owner but I wouldn’t take a dog into a restaurant if I were. But that’s not the point here, the point is that it appears not to have been made clear to the OP what the restaurant’s dog-related policy was. If my friends walked away from me, when they could have compromised about where they ate, I’d be hurt too.

Thank you for being pleasant in your post ?

Actually if you read all of the thread (it’s got a bit long I know) you’ll see that the OP knew all about the three dining areas, considered taking her car for the dog to sit in, so that she could eat anywhere and then decided not to. And just took it for granted that everyone would fall in with what she had decided.

Then she was miffed when other people said they were going to eat in the restaurant.

It’s actually not the doggy bit that’s getting to me, but the entitlement of you will all do what I want or you bad, bad people and no good friends.?

Find some doggy people to go walking with instead of this very selfish bunch who know that you bring the dog (who I am sure enjoyed every sniff of the walk) yet not one of them would keep you and your furry friend company, lots of cafes and restaurants have dog friendly areas and any real friends would have joined you and the dog.

I agree with your POV, Lathyrus. The OP’s way is the ‘tyranny of one’ overruling everyone else.

Maybe my view is coloured by having had lunch last week in a restaurant that is divided into dog-free/dog-friendly, but no physical barrier We had to put up with someone’s pooch barking and whining all the way through our meal. The owner even got a waitress to hold the dog and mind her other, non-barking dog, while she disappeared off somewhere! That took a serve-person off doing her job and we had to wait ages for our food.

I like many dogs, have been a dog owner twice myself but they’re not more important than humans.

I think I would have gone home. Then cried ?

I would have found out the lie of the land before setting out, ie how many would be taking dogs and what were the rules re dogs in the place chosen to eat, then planned accordingly. Not everyone is a dog lover and some people are allergic to them.

No question about it! A big fat 3!
Even if I didn't like dogs (I do and I have one), I would not have expected a member of the group to not be included in the meal. So would have happily comprised and sat in the dog-friendly section.

Very rude bunch of people. My dogs are everything. I’ll bet they enjoyed the company of your dog on the walk!!! I would definitely have gone home as you did! Well done!!!

Not everyone enjoys the company of dogs. I don't. My daughter likes dogs but suffers a severe allergy if she goes near one.

Copper3

No question about it! A big fat 3!
Even if I didn't like dogs (I do and I have one), I would not have expected a member of the group to not be included in the meal. So would have happily comprised and sat in the dog-friendly section.

It’s not a compromise ?????

It’s a concession

Only one person would have got what she wanted.

And her compromise would have been?

57VRS

Very rude bunch of people. My dogs are everything. I’ll bet they enjoyed the company of your dog on the walk!!! I would definitely have gone home as you did! Well done!!!

I bet they didn’t?

The assumption of a dog lover that they bet they enjoyed the company of the dogs. We don't all think alike.

This reminds me of how one smoker in a group used to just assume that everyone else would be happy to eat in the smoking area of a restaurant.

I wouldn't be at all comfortable eating in a restaurant with strange dogs all around. Many people would feel the same. Presumably your friends did. I think they're getting very unfair criticism on here.

I don't want dogs anywhere near me. I am afraid of them but as I said, I wouldn't have left the OP out.

Your friends were unkind, but perhaps they didn't want to eat next to the dog? It's not the best weather to eat outside either.
Saying that, I would have sat with you.

Anyhow we don't have all the facts. Did OP say 'can we sit in the conservatory?' And everyone said' no we want to go inside'.
Or did OP just assume everyone would eat in the conservatory and then realise they'd all gone inside?

Also had she just brought the dog along, again assuming everyone would sit in the conservatory? Or had she agreed in advance the dog would come?

Would have sat with my dog, probably better company!!

Perhaps they don’t like eating with dogs.

Dianehillbilly1957

Would have sat with my dog, probably better company!!

A dog - any dog - would be better company than some of the posters on here, that's for sure! No wonder I prefer dogs to humans any day of the week - they're far less judgemental, for one thing.