Do you remember back in the 1970,80s, smokers could go anywhere and smoke anywhere, in hospitals. Some wards even had moking areas. Offices, shops, it didn't matter what the situation the smoker smoked. Thank goodness that has ended now,
But I am now beginning to feel like that about dogs. There seems to be no public place that people cannot take their dog, no matter how much other people may not like it.
Today we went out to lunch. We went to our local branch of The Lounge group. The lounge was full and as we waited for a table to clear, three tables of people walked out, all accompanied by dogs, 5 in all. I then saw the waitress picking up dog drinking bowls and putting them on the dog drinking bowl rack. later I saw another serving staff member stroke a dog with her hands near its mouth.
Staff clearly had had no guidance on touching dogs and serving food. More to the point. Assistance dogs accepted, what are dogs doing in places where food and drink is being sold?
In the past I seem to remember that people did not take dogs in to restaurants and to do so was considered bad form but now it seems to be accepted that dogs can go anywhere regardless of hygiene or the possibility that other people really do not want dogs sniffing around when they are eating.
I am not anti-dog, but I am curious about the way dogs have taken over from smoking as being an activity whose practioners expect to do/take something everywhere regardless of hygiene, other people'ss preferences, or fears. Why are dogs allowed in restaurants?
PernillaVanilla
John Lewis allow dogs. I don’t take my dogs out shopping or to restaurants much but I am always happy to see other people’s. There is too much obsession about hygiene these days, as my grandma used to say “you’ve got to eat a peck of dirt before you die”.
Hear hear.
Personally I actively prefer pubs that allow dogs.
As for ‘hygiene’ and the obsession with it, it’s not so bad on GN but on MN it’s got to the stage where whenever I see the H word, I think ‘OCD clean freak…’.
Funnily enough I was discussing this topic yesterday. In our local area a Valentines glo up is advertised for your fur baby.
A special groom, nail polish and so on.
Doggy Day Care, dog grooming, dog walkers, dog behaviourists seem to be thriving.
It perplexes me really.
33% of the population probably don't give a shitzu
How can you possibly know what is in their minds!
Could be either way!
33% of the UK are dog owners, so are happy with the situation
There are some posters on here who are dog owners, who disagree!
Well done!
RosiesMawagain
ROMILO
The trouble with this and similar previous threads is there are two very entrenched camps, those who think dogs are a smelly, unhygienic nuisance and those who think they are a loving and loyal family member.
Every now and then someone pops their head over the parapet to fire an arrow and start the war all over again.
Why? When does it start to get boring because it will never be resolved.Absolutely, my point upthread too.
( When does it start to get boring ?
3 pages ago)
At least Harry and Meghan regularly bring NEW items to the table for people to chew over on GN. The dog threads are just rehashed discussions of the same growling comments, leading nowhere.
Some crude maths here .......
33% of the UK are dog owners, so are happy with the situation
33% of the population probably don't give a shitzu
33% are fiercely opposed
This, in my opinion, is the best quote of the thread, so far, Luckygirl,
There will always be those who like dogs and those who don't. Their needs seem to be irreconcilable.
But I do think that those with dogs should take on board the duty not to allow them to inconvenience or endanger others. Many do this of course.
You win the award and the biscuit!
I’m with you on this one. I love dogs but hate having to put up with other people’s dogs.
I’m eating and I don’t want them anywhere near. Leave them at home.
At one time you could smoke in pubs restuarants ect there was no ban nowadays there are even pub gardens where you are not allowed to smoke.
It's not the same with dogs we eat out quite a bit and I have yet to find somewhere where dogs are allowed or have even seen a dog.
I actually have no objection to dogs whatsoever if they are well behaved and lie under the table.
My sons dog loves the pub but he is certainly not allowed in the restuarant area even though said pub is dog friendly.
There will always be those who like dogs and those who don't. Their needs seem to be irreconcilable.
But I do think that those with dogs should take on board the duty not to allow them to inconvenience or endanger others. Many do this of course.
ROMILO
The trouble with this and similar previous threads is there are two very entrenched camps, those who think dogs are a smelly, unhygienic nuisance and those who think they are a loving and loyal family member.
Every now and then someone pops their head over the parapet to fire an arrow and start the war all over again.
Why? When does it start to get boring because it will never be resolved.
Absolutely, my point upthread too.
( When does it start to get boring ?
3 pages ago)
Dogs have a harder time here than they used to. They have to be on a lead all the time except in a few designated areas. No more wandering free across fields. When they brought that rule in we stopped having dogs ( after our beloved dingo cross died ) I think that is why they are more aggressive now, sheer frustration. We live in a semi rural area , not as if it is in the middle of a city.
As the the resolved bit
Well see above a bit.
People change.
Laws change.
Attitudes change 
???
staff should not touch the dogs and should wash their hands if they do; fouling should be cleaned up speedily... jeez, what are we coming to!?
3rd world in my opinion.
Examples everywhere.
That was to ROMILO.
Or anyone.
MayBee70
PernillaVanilla
John Lewis allow dogs. I don’t take my dogs out shopping or to restaurants much but I am always happy to see other people’s. There is too much obsession about hygiene these days, as my grandma used to say “you’ve got to eat a peck of dirt before you die”.
“Babies exposed to dog allergens in the home have a lower risk of developing asthma by the age of five years, according to research that will be presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands [1]. The researchers also studied babies’ exposure to cat allergens but did not find the same protective effect.”
I remember reading about this years ago. I was actually thinking about it today as I’ve been listening to ZOE podcasts about the gut biome which say we need to be exposed to a wide variety of bacteria. Having said that I do agree that it’s wrong for staff to be stroking dogs and then handling food etc.
I was raised with dogs, unfortunately my allergies increased as I grew up.
First hospitalised (blue light, resuscitation etc.) aged 15.
We also had a cat and I spent hours at the stables, I am not allergic to cats or horses.
Not sure I have seen a thread about dogs on here before.
Except in the pets forum or whatever it is called.
Didnt see the one two weeks ago, as far as I know.
Not sure I would be called a regular on this forum[prob am], but this forum is changable.
When old threads are resurrected, it astounds me how much the names have changed. Even in one year.
As the the resolved bit.
Well see above a bit.
People change.
Laws change.
Attitudes change.
If say there is an incident of a dog biting a baby in a cafe, that would change somethings somewhere.
etc
I met up with friends for coffee last weekend.
Quite a large, spaced out area (indoors) to sit with your drinks.
Several people were in with their dogs (not any of our group).
By the time we left, the place smelled of dogs.
There wasn’t a specific area for dogs, as it was fairly roomy, but could definitely smell them.
But obviously good for business.
The trouble with this and similar previous threads is there are two very entrenched camps, those who think dogs are a smelly, unhygienic nuisance and those who think they are a loving and loyal family member.
Every now and then someone pops their head over the parapet to fire an arrow and start the war all over again.
Why? When does it start to get boring because it will never be resolved.
I saw a dog in our M&S Foodhall yesterday. Admittedly just by the checkouts but I don’t really think it should have been there at all.
I looked up the rules. Basically dogs are not allowed in food prep areas.
All the other rules/recommendations around dogs in the seating areas are virtually unenforcable: staff should not touch the dogs and should wash their hands if they do; fouling should be cleaned up speedily... jeez, what are we coming to!?
I would really like it if dogs in eateries became unacceptable.
There is no doubt that there are now more dogs in eateries. Some people will think that is great, others will not and will wish they could find somewhere to eat that is dog free.
I do think that there need to be some stricter rules, both for hygiene reasons and for the peace of diners.
Eateries are regularly inspected for hygiene.. I wonder what rules they follow?
I make no bones about the fact that I do not like dogs ... for good reasons based on experience ... and for me this increase in their presence in so many places us a backward step and not something I welcome.
The other day two absolutely massive dogs found their way into my back garden and leapt about trampling on plants and left behind a massive turd which I cannot bend to remove. I can see no good reason for me to have to tolerate this.
Erstwhile dog owner here, and I cannot see the logic in the argument that there are smelly badly behaved people whom are every bit as bad or worse than dogs. This could well be true but restaurants are for people whether smelly or badly behaved or otherwise and not for animals that have no wish to stay in an alien place full of strange smells without being able to wander around and explore, quite often showing signs of distress as I have witnessed on more than one occasion. Dogs belong in the great outdoors or familiar surroundings at home, they are pack animals who see their owners as ‘the pack’, to be protected, and will regard other diners with their dogs in a restaurant as a possible threat and so will be anxious and on high alert.
People do not do their dogs a favour by humanising them in this way expecting the animal to enjoy what they enjoy.
Of course this is just my opinion but I think it is a biological fact that whilst we regard our dogs as members of the family, we did this also, they are still animals whose nature and needs should be respected.
Did you mean to call Monica … Moan ica Mae
I m happy for you to like your dog more than you like people but do your liking at home Mae
I don’t want to sit next to a table where they are feeding their big dog off their plate (which happened to me ) lick lick or slurping up a saucer of tea again this happened at a table next to mine
Dogs are NOT people, they can smell especially if it’s a wet day, they lick their bums, they can slobber, they can be noisy, they can be aggressive or they can be playful and an eating place is not right for them
And don’t get me on cat cafes !!!
A timely Mark Twain quote: "the more I learn about people the more I like my dog."
Says it all, MOanica.
We were once in a restaurant where a customer brought in two enormous dogs. I'm not a dog lover so I don't know the breed, but these two dogs never shut up their loud barking throughout our meal.
If dogs are disturbing other customers, they should, like children, be taken outside so that members of the public can enjoy their meals in peace.
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