Wetherspoons is a dog-free pub

To me this is a non-problem.

As I said, I have never eaten anywhere “surrounded by dogs”
I have no desire to go to a Wetherspoons anyway.

If one of the old codgers in the village stops off at the Rose and Crown with his little old dog (on a lead) by his side, who am I to object?

As so often happens the arguments for or against have been escalated to the point where we are talking about being terrified of dogs, attacks on children, slavering bloodhounds, or XL Bullies.
Teacup, storm.

Oh RosiesMaw I don’t like disagreeing with you but there many, many “grown women” who are afraid of dogs, and with good reason. I have been bitten twice, once as a child and once as an adult, both times by Jack Russells. I am therefore wary of JRs. Some “grown women” have had much worse experiences than mine and are therefore actually afraid. I am a dog lover and have always had dogs till neither of us was able to walk them. What I object to are people putting their dogs before human beings, either in restaurants or on beaches or paths which clearly state that all dogs must be kept on a lead. Some of the latter owners seem to see something on the sign which I fail to see - “except your dog of course”. I think there is only one cafe in our small town where dogs are welcome and there is a separate area for them. There has been a certain amount of snarling at other dogs, as well as barking, whining etc. It doesn’t put me off going there. I would not however like to go to a small restaurant with tables close together and pay a lot for a special meal.

Everything has a place in the circle of life, though. Even crocodiles and alligators, I dare say. That doesn't mean people want them in their line of sight when relaxing though.

As I say, I love dogs, but even I would prefer not to have to smell them when eating. Some are better behaved than others, and some can be downright aggressive, so I do understand people not wanting them around. Is it fair to dogs to bring them into pubs anyway? An older one might be happy lying under a table, but (much like children) I'm not sure that all of them will like being surrounded by people and other dogs in a confined space for any length of time and expected to behave.

No spaghetti
I agree with you there is nothing nicer than seeing happy nicely behaved children chatting with their parents over a meal or a snack. Unfortunately that is frequently not the case
Dogs belong in back of car when weather permits or at home but sometimes it is unavoidable to take your dog
There is a cafe in town that brings out sausages if you go in with a dog UCK just causes over excited dogs The staff will feed your dog if you don’t stop them
Don’t go in any more used to pop in occasionally to socialise a pup as I wanted to train him to behave if the need arose

Why is anyone terrified of anything? People can't help what they are afraid of. I too am a grown woman who is terrified of dogs after a few incidents. Good for Wetherspoons not giving in to pressure.

Oh rosiesmaw where’s your empathy ? people can be scared of all sorts of things for no logical reason if you are completely fear free good for you but I ve seen a senior businessman close to fainting when showed a photo of a snake luckily he was sitting down
Fears aren’t logical surely you know that

Crocodiles or alligators - - never know the difference- are wild creatures and killers. Fido on his lead is not in the same league.

I’ve never ridiculed people “terrified” of minute spiders. These people aren’t expected to eat at tables surrounded by spiders
Why on earth would anybody be terrified of spiders?
Unless you're in the Australian Outback where they breed them brown and lethal!
Spiders fulfil a useful function in nature and eat flies which are more likely to spread disease than your average pooch.
I have never in my 76 years eaten at a table surrounded by dogs either.

Why all this fuss anyway? Grown women “scared of dogs” - what is that about?
Rosie occasionally lies under the table if I am having lunch in the village pub, but this is the country and we’re not too precious about that here.
I'm not scared of dogs, but my BIL is, and he was a Para reservist, so not a scaredy-cat. It's just one of those things, sometimes based on experience, and sometimes not. I've never met a crocodile so have no rational reason to fear them, but used to have nightmares about them as a child, and look away when they come on TV. The chances of bumping into one locally are remote, but if this chap and his reptilian chum came into anywhere I was sitting, I'd make straight for the nearest exit. What's the difference?

That was a reply to Mogsmaw

Agree wholeheartedly. I was about 6 when I was surrounded and jumped on by a pack of ‘friendly’ dogs. A traumatic experience which still makes me wary of dogs. Wetherspoons has its faults, the owner being one, but I will gladly go there for a good, cheap cup of coffee, muzak and dog free.
And I don’t appreciate posters belittling other people’s fears and phobias.

That’s ok Doodledog.
No problem as everyone these days says!
I may pop in one in the near future. It’s the only way to tell for sure isn’t it, and, unless the one we pick is really grim, the pluses outweigh the negatives for me.

Apart from the fact that he supported Brexit I’m just wondering why folk dislike the owner so much.

ixion

I'm penning a letter to our local Environmental Health department.
I object to dogs being allowed into the butcher's in our village.
He also proudly displays his 5 ⭐️ hygiene rating in the window.

AIBU?

I think it depends on the butcher. Most butchers I go into have all their products refrigerated behind glass so even if the dog shakes, they are unlikely to get their germs behind the glass. I've also seen people in Butchers who look far less hygienic than dogs!

As a dog owner, I feel there is room for eateries with well behaved dogs allowed and those without. I like children but can see why people would prefer to eat without them around. We went to Nando's to eat and there was a table where children were shrieking noisily with the parents ignoring them. We left but before we did, we told the staff why. They did offer to move us but there was no escape. However, during the Christmas period there were restaurants with loud celebrating adults and they were equally disturbing. In one restaurant we asked to be moved to another area as it was so uncomfortably noisy and it was amusing to watch other diners follow our actions until this one table was all on its own!

No dogs, no football matches. Sounds good to me. I’m not anti-dog but they are a trip hazard for me and they do seem to be everywhere these days.

I'm a dog owner however taking her into pubs or restaurants is a big NO. Occasionally on holiday we may sit in a pub garden but that's it. A good walk, a bowl of water, a pigs ear and a comfy bed and shes as happy as larry to be left while we go out to eat.

Another thumbs up for Wetherspoons, good coffee, very reasonable alcohol prices, plenty of clean toilets.

Good on you ixiom, I'm never without my little fellow around town and my bakery and butcher are very happy to come and serve me at the door way. Green grocer is good too.

Why all this fuss anyway? Grown women “scared of dogs” - what is that about?
Rosie occasionally lies under the table if I am having lunch in the village pub, but this is the country and we’re not too precious about that here.

RosiesMaw
I am sick to death of dogowners belittling me for a phobia. Although I’m not sure it’s a phobia if you still have the fang marks on your body. I still have nightmares about the teeth inches from my face.
It wasn’t the dog’s fault according to everyone including my parents, I had an ice cream. I was four years old.
I’ve never ridiculed people “terrified” of minute spiders. These people aren’t expected to eat at tables surrounded by spiders.

Hooray, about time. I will frequent more. I don't dislike dogs but a cafe, restaurant or any eating establishment is not the place for them.

Callistemon21

I've seen a couple of dogs lifted on to their owners' knees and eating off plates on the table in cafés.
Yuk.

That's just wrong. With you on that one. As much of a dog lover as I am, I really hate the current trend for some people to treat them as their 'babies' - or some kind of toy or fashion accessory. Yes, our dog is as much a part of the family as any other, but he's still a dog.

Witzend

*I remember that, RosiesMaw.

What did surprise me, not more than 10 years ago, was coming round a corner in Oxford’s covered market with a Singaporean sister in law, to be confronted by a huge wild boar, hanging intact, upside down, outside a butcher’s shop!

Picking a chicken in Hong Kong market which wasn't yet ready to be hung .....
Or a fish for dinner which was still swimming in a tank 🤔

Witzend

ixion

I'm penning a letter to our local Environmental Health department.
I object to dogs being allowed into the butcher's in our village.
He also proudly displays his 5 ⭐️ hygiene rating in the window.

AIBU?

TBH I don’t really see the problem, unless the butcher or his staff are habitually dropping unwrapped steaks or sausages on the floor, before handing them to customers. That is, unless any dogs present have thought ‘Hooray!’ - and wolfed them down within 1.5 seconds.

Well it’s a huge problem Witzend dogs sometimes drool especially around food they shake themselves and fur flies but it is simply not hygienic to have ANY animal in a food shop or eating place and the sooner it’s stopped the better
Good for you ixion

There is a beautiful eating place here who has recently started having dog birthday parties for crying out loud they re not humans STOP IT

*I remember that, RosiesMaw.

What did surprise me, not more than 10 years ago, was coming round a corner in Oxford’s covered market with a Singaporean sister in law, to be confronted by a huge wild boar, hanging intact, upside down, outside a butcher’s shop!

I see a problem. Dogs are not supposed to be allowed in food shops for reasons of hygiene. Dogs carry bacteria, that’s why if you’ve touched a dog (or any animal) you’re supposed to wash your hands before eating. For the same reason I don’t want them in restaurants where I am eating.

Coronation

Weatherspoons is always busy here. Friendly and quick service, the conversations and people talking create the buzz.

This ⬆️ is worth a hell of a lot. Especially for misophonic people and people who don't want dogs around when they're eating (which includes some people who like dogs).

One can have a conversation in Spoons. Many pubs and eateries are horribly noisy, with added rubbish muzak.

ixion

I'm penning a letter to our local Environmental Health department.
I object to dogs being allowed into the butcher's in our village.
He also proudly displays his 5 ⭐️ hygiene rating in the window.

AIBU?

TBH I don’t really see the problem, unless the butcher or his staff are habitually dropping unwrapped steaks or sausages on the floor, before handing them to customers. That is, unless any dogs present have thought ‘Hooray!’ - and wolfed them down within 1.5 seconds.