Are dogs becoming the new smoking?

Whitewavemark2

Do we have data that evidences the level of illness humans have contracted from dogs allowed in eating places?

That would be the deciding factor I would have thought.

The previous thread had examples of people who had suffered severe reactions to dogs, and I think one was hospitalised?
I doubt whether there is recorded data, but maybe there is.

I wholeheartedly agreeMOnica I have seen this use of one cleaning cloth. Some time ago we went to a lovely restaurant, They had just started to accept dogs. There was just one there, a little thing sitting quietly under the table at the owner’s feet. Every time the waitress passed by she bent and stroked is. She did that and seconds later she brought our lunch to the table. I asked if she had washed her hands after stroking the dog. She blushed and looked very uncomfortable. We declined our meals and asked to see the manager. He was most apologetic and offered to replace our meals.But we had no idea what had been touched by’doggy’ hands so we declined.
We have never returned

But the previous thread was about exactly that. I quote from the OP. It's almost identical.

"AIBU to have a moan about dogs being everywhere and getting on my nerves? Well, not the poor dogs, they don't choose where they are but the current trend of owners expecting to be allowed to take dogs everywhere? They are taken into clothes shops. Ebay used to state "from a smoke free pet free home" on clothing sales. Now it seems to be acceptable to take dogs -even wet smelly dogs, into clothing stores. They are allowed into almost all pubs and resaurants. The only dog free zone here, where I live, is Wetherspoons. Enough said about choice. Waiting staff handle dog water bowlsand stroke dogs and then continue to handle glasses and food plates.
And trying to choose a dog free hotel seems impossible. I don't want a hotel room carpet smelling "doggy". "
Etc, etc.

The previous thread became wide ranging because it meandered as this one might do.

Do we have data that evidences the level of illness humans have contracted from dogs allowed in eating places?

That would be the deciding factor I would have thought.

I thought about that previous thread. but it was wide ranging and did not cover the specific narrow problem I faced today. I meant this thread to be entirely about dogs being allowed into eating places and other inapropriate places - hairdressers, shops selling clothing and other such areas. No further than that

I saw staff today handling dogs or equipment (dog bowls, that dogs had been using) and then serving food to customers, wiping tables and high chairs with damp clothes, same as they used to wipe the dog bowls. It came as a very real shock to me to see a restaurant making dogs welcome and essentially encouraging customers to bring them onto the premises.

This is why I was making the comparison with smoking in its heyday. Once smokers used to be able to smoke anywhere regardless. Now, no one stops people smoking, but smoking is not allowed in public enclosed spaces, unless in separately, designated spaces outside. I wouldn't ban dogs from all public enclosed spaces, but I am very concerned on public health grounds that they are allowed in covered spaces where food is served

I like dogs, I don't like or trust unknown dogs. I prefer no dogs near food where food is sold.

It's probable pub owners need to attract customers.

GoodAfternoonTea

And they smelllllllll! Nice sstench assaulting my olefactory sense when I am trying to savour some good food. Don't tell me they are allowed in top class restaurants as well?! That would really be taking the dog biscuit!

I’ve never seen a dog in the Ivy so you’re probably right GoodAfternoonTea

HOME

I only read the title and agreed with you
My dog is able to STAY AT HOy

MOnica , as others have pointed out (and I’m sure you aren’t aware ) the Dog Issue is a regular, divisive feature.
I’ll retreat my previous comments. I grew up with various dogs, in my 76 years, onky three of them have been years where I didn’t live with dogs.
I currently share my life with two, a spaniel and a Labrador. In the past I’ve had three and fostered for a specific breed charity. So there we have it, mad dog lady

I’m absolutely fed up with fur babies. They’re absolutely not. They’re domesticated (ish in some cases) they aren’t babies, children etc, they’re dogs. They need to be treated like animals, they need their breed characteristics responded to. They shiukd lie under the pub table, ignoring everything. They should learn to ignore other dogs and humans. This involves a novel idea for some, Training

Right, restorative glass of wine needed

Well said Merlot (and yes, I’ve got GCs).

Hospitality these days is a cut-throat business and if ‘dog parents’ are spending money, most establishments will welcome them. Our local garden centres have doggy areas set aside from regular seating.

Why not just go elsewhere if the dogs bother you? In Durham, a couple of the cafes are always packed with students, who occupy tables for hours, but spend very little. I give those a wide berth.

They are not more hygienic than children Merlotgran I ve never seen a kid lick its own backside

Whether Monica likes dogs or not is not the point I like dogs but I HATE having other peoples dogs in restaurants, cafes, coffee shops or the charity shop I work in.
People have humanised dogs they come in in pushchairs, one woman wears her dog round her neck (all the time), they growl at each other and moan cos they don’t really want to be there. They often smell depending on the type of dog. The puggy type ones, snuffle and snort their way round the shop One old lady bought a baby hat off me so she could keep her dogs ears warm!!!
Leave them at home in the warm.

Most dogs are better behaved in restaurants than some children.

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”.

MOnica
You have made it quite clear on previous threads, despite what you say about not being anti-dog, that due to some past trauma you really do not like dogs. Your choice. I think the general consensus from the previous thread was that dogs should not be allowed inside restaurants or food shops but it was allowable in outside areas. Why are we repeating this discussion. Make your feelings known to the restaurants you visit. Perhaps there would be a compromise to be made by having a no dogs area then everyone would be happy.

The reason dogs are now tolerated or even welcomed in places where they weren’t until fairly recently is because it is good for business. This is why many small shops eg book shops and many charity shops, will usually say yes.
Traditional “boozers” have allowed regulars/locals to bring dogs with them for donkeys years
Shopping centres will usually refuse entry even if you are just making a shortcut through to the other side but smaller high street shops might be less inclined to object if it encourages more footfall and spontaneous purchases. Same with some pubs-grub style premises during the day if they already welcome families with children. They need all the help they can get I suppose🤔

fwiw, I watched a tv progeamme I think it was a few days ago. The lady said that nowadays, every 1 in 3 homes in the Uk has a dog.
I was surprised it was as high as that.

I knew this thread may not go well.

Personally I was not on the last thread. Not even sure I saw it.

I like dogs.
Not in eating places though[thankfully around here I dont tend to see i]. At all. Though I dont go in restaurants a whole lot.

I like hygiene[hence I started a thread a couple of months ago about some takeaway places not using gloves[as it happens i was in a takeaway place this morning. Lady cleaning a stand. Not wearing gloves. It wouldnt have affected my hygeine personally, but even at home I often wear gloves. To protect my hands and not to contaminate myself with more germs than I need to].

And they smelllllllll! Nice sstench assaulting my olefactory sense when I am trying to savour some good food. Don't tell me they are allowed in top class restaurants as well?! That would really be taking the dog biscuit!

MartavTaurus

ViceVersa

Here we go again...

There was 18 pages on this subject two weeks ago.

... which would seem to indicate that it's a topic many are interested in - isn't that how it works?

There isn't an embargo on posters starting a thread on a matter that has already been discussed, witness the number of threads on Harry & Meghan, for example.

MartavTaurus

ViceVersa

Here we go again...

There was 18 pages on this subject two weeks ago.

My point exactly. This thread is just going to rehash all those arguments - on both sides of the fence.

I'm not a huge dog fan but I am happy to look after our daughter's border collie. I don't mind dogs in pubs and cafes if they don't annoy anyone but on the odd occasion I bother to get dressed up to go to a nice restaurant I prefer it to be dog free. There seem to be more dogs allowed in eateries since Covid. Maybe to attract more custom?

ViceVersa

Here we go again...

There was 18 pages on this subject two weeks ago.

* lixy* I think you’re totally correct in that assumption.
I hate it, and I like dogs but their hair floats all over the place in restaurants and pubs and cafes.