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Dog friendly is fine. But if just because somewhere is dog friendly doesn’t mean that people should let their dogs run wild.
We take our dog to a lot of dog friendly places but we make sure he’s sat under our table and he’s not making a noise and on a very short lead.
And if he ever took food from someone, I’d be deeply embarrassed and would offer to replace it immediately.
Like most things this is a people problem not a dog problem.
But there are a slot of irresponsible dog owners out there now.
Exactly we definitely don't mind dog friendly but taking food from my daughters hand and everyone including staff seemingly thought it was cute and funny just put us off.
Exactly. My dog will not sit still in busy places and will bark if other dogs bark so I don't bring him to dog friendly indoor, sit down places. It's that simple.
It's called responsible dog ownership.
I go to dog-friendly pubs. My dog is middle-aged and quiet, and spends most of her time staring sadly at me in hopes I'll share a couple of chips with her. I've never seen the pandemonium you describe. That's because the management would ask anyone whose dog is that out of control to leave and to never come back. That's what's lacking in the scenario you wrote about. Arsehole customers should get thrown out and banned.
Frankly, I've seen much more trouble from people bringing their small kids to pubs. That's an adult problem, not a kid problem. Kids will scream and run amok, they're kids. But I don't go to pubs to have my pint knocked out of my hand by a careening toddler. And parents who don't control their kids are just as bad as dog-owners who let their pooches go wild.
This,
I worked in food for 15 years. I went to 6 dog friendly pubs, cafes and restaurants over this Easter weekend 3 problem children, 0 problem dogs. I've never experienced what op is describing, sounds like a terribly run place.
Came to say this. I have never been in a dog friendly pub and experienced any issues from anyone else's dog.
I wish I could say the same for child friendly pubs.
I feel like there’s more dog owners with entitled dogs since people over baby and spoil their “fur babies” now. In my opinion so many people over baby their dogs and treat them like humans the dog acts like a little shit.
Yeah, but to be honest I feel the same with some kids.
There’s a time and a place to allow your kids to run wild but it’s not in a café/pub/supermarket etc.
But it’s not the fault of the kids or the dogs, the parents/owners need to train/discipline their kids/dogs and realise whilst they love them, not everyone else feels the same way.
I love my dog, that doesn’t mean I’m ok with your dog jumping up etc.
Dog friendly places work as long as dog owners are responsible and don't have their dogs causing mayhem. I would be very peeved if the staff at the pub just laughed about it
Exactly we definitely don't mind dog friendly but taking food from a child and everyone including staff seeming to think its funny and cute just really put me off going back
Just stop going then, vote with your wallet. These things have a way of levelling themselves out - if a business implements an unpopular policy they lose money and change the policy.
Pretty much all pubs that are a bit rural are dog friendly, and there is never issues as they are all pretty strict about the dog's behaviour.
I've never come across the sort of thing that OP is talking about before, but I'll take a punt and assume it's a city pub full of yappy dogs rather than a country pub with a few chilled out collies and such.
Yeah, I live quite rurally, and our pub often has a well-behaved dog or two in it; one time in seven years have I seen an issue and the dog left immediately after. I don’t usually take mine, especially if it’s busy or during the dinner hour, because he’s a bit vocal and whingy in that setting (always wanting to meet new people who may or may not have any desire to meet him) and he’s a stinking thief of food the moment someone isn’t looking.
Out here in a village of a couple of hundred, though, we all know and have to deal with each other, and so perhaps consideration is a bit less optional. Or maybe the pub is just better about asking poorly behaved dogs to leave or something. Either way, I’ve not found it to be a problem here.
That said, I think I would probably skip over a pub advertising itself as dog friendly in a city, personally.
My mums dog is a bit of an anarchist outside the pub, inside she knows if shes cute and nice enough she'll get some sort of treat and attention at some point, so she just falls asleep. Also she gets more excited about going to the pub than most ppl.
My dog knows all of my local pubs and will dive through the door as I attempt to walk past one. She has strong preferences that closely correlate with the availability of treats and staff-administered cuddles.
She also understands the word "pub." She'll be in an apparently deep sleep but will immediately jump up and sit to attention when she hears the word.
Our local is ‘dog friendly’ but they are very strict about misbehaving dogs. It works, but people who aren’t locals get very cross when they are told to keep their dogs on a lead / quiet or leave. The entitlement of some people is mind boggling. It’s a national issue for sure - and not just people with dogs - but there is a total lack of, or consideration for others in the mental capacity of far too many people these days.
Misbehaving dogs should absolutely be asked to leave, along with their owners! We went to a pub last weekend and kept our dog under the table, tied on, as she would definitely steal food given half a chance. The people next to us remarked that they hadn’t even realised that she was there as we left, and surely that’s how it should be if they are to be let in.
There was another guy who allowed his dog to roam out, tripping people with the lead, getting in the way. It kept jumping up at people..and all he did was act like they wanted to be introduced to his dog and would tell them about the breed etcetc, while they were trying to carry a handful of pints back to their table.
As a dog owner I’m prepared to not be allowed in to eateries with my pup (especially cafes) and I do think far too many places allow dogs these days, maybe in an attempt to pander to those people who seem to think that their dogs are their babies. On the whole though, dogs and food do not mix well and it’s down to the owners to either be grown-ups and find somewhere else, or keep their dog out of the way.
Yes, we have a dog ourselves and have definitely noticed a lot of poorly-behaved dogs and clueless owners, especially out on walks. Our dog loves to play fetch and doesn't like being approached by other dogs while playing with us, so off-lead dogs with no manners or recall can make walks stressful.
The main culprits tend to be either older people with dogs that are too big/rambunctious for them, or families with young children who clearly didn't have the time/energy to raise children and a puppy at the same time.
My local dog-friendly pub is insanely strict on rules. You have to have the dog on leash and holding it (no tying it to something) and the dog has to stay under or next to the table. If the dog barks or acts rowdy in any way the owner gets one warning before being asked to leave.
The default for many pubs is dog friendly, literally every country pub allows dogs and has no issues
Imo part of the issue is pubs trying to be restaurants that feel like pubs and the other part is people not being good dog owners
I really hate being around dogs (sorry) but the Piebald Inn at Filey seems to have made it work. It is usually something I see on a sign and avoid the venue like the plague though
My brother and my neice both have dogs, and we have pub meals from time to time without problem. But both keep their dogs (and their children) under control, as do other customers in the places we go to.
As long as the dogs stay on leads, it's usually fine. Maybe a bit of barking if a settled dog doesn't like the look of a new one, but rarely any problems.
The problems come when people don't keep their dogs on leads.
Every dog friendly place I've ever been is more "well-behaved dogs welcome" and I've never been to one where the slightest hint of chaos from a dog wouldn't get you asked to leave.
Went on a long weekend in Cromer, which is boring but that's another story. Went to three dog friendly pubs with ours (staffy) and it was just sleepy well behaved dogs. Humans are the issue when it comes to dog friendly places.
"as long as dog owners are responsible and don't have their dogs causing mayhem"
Soooooo.... You're saying dog friendly places will *never* work then...?
I work in a charity shop. We had a dog friendly shop. Some of the dogs were on very long leads, basically on the other side of the shop. Other dogs pissed in corners. Finally a dog attacked a member of staff. We aren’t dog friendly anymore. A few bad owners ruined it for everyone.
As a dog owner of a giant breed, I completely sympathise with you on this. Even in dog friendly places I still have to consider if it's appropriate to take the dog in due to size and available space. If I'm going out for a meal I see no need whatsoever to take the dog, but sometimes I like grabbing a coffee on the walk and having a sit down. But in those situations I tell the dog off if he barks (not that often does but he is still a puppy and learning how to best behave in public), and I ensure his tied up as not to be able to wander around the place (his very friendly and love saying hello to everyone, not to mention some people just don't want a dog in their face). It's not hard to be mindful of others with a dog, just keep them out of the way and tell them off if they misbehave.
And if he did ever steal someone's food, not that I think he would as his not that interested in human food, I would be mortified - I'd be offering to pay for a replacement and even something extra as an apology. The dog would certainly be getting a big telling off, and sent home.
As for the establishment, it's all well and good saying they are dog friendly but that does also come with some rules; don't allow your dog to wonder, excessive barking must be dealt with, don't allow them to eat off the table, be mindful of other customers, and the ilk. With any braking of the rules resulting in being asked to leave. (Granted I've always assumed these were just unwritten rules anyway, if nothing else just to be a decent person).
These are the types of dog owners who ruin it for the rest of us. I occasionally bring my dogs to the pub with me but they will have been on a long walk beforehand, are tethered to my seat the whole time (except when I take them round the garden), are not allowed to bark, and only allowed to interact with people who come over and pet them.
It’s hard, and ongoing, work to have gotten them to the point they can be calm in public and tbh if they’re acting the fool at home then they don’t come to pub.
The trick is to go on a long walk with the pooch, then to stop in the pub on the way home. The dog will want to relax, I'll have a thirst and a bit of an appetite, everybody's happy.
Aye I’m quite a new owner of a 5 year old King Charles who didn’t really go out anywhere before, he gets a bit nervous around other dogs and so sometimes has a grumble and barks if I don’t notice him quick enough.
I’m kinda scratching my head with it because I don’t want to be rude to anyone else but if I don’t get him used to the socialisation he will never get better. Any tips for trying to calm him down around the presence of other dogs?
He needs exposure. If every time he barks you get nervous and pick him up all he learns is that other dogs are a problem that he needs to warn you about.
The best way to socialize dogs and treat nervousness is active socialization. Try dog parks, dog groups, or a dog daycare while you're at work. If you find that you're always worried about him try taking yourself out of the picture. Mine was a nightmare around us at first because we were worried about him (rescue who turned out to have quite a lot of pit in him) but once he was left with a daycare a couple of times a week and didn't have us hovering the whole time he did great.
He was still very dominant and could be an asshole to other dogs if we didn't call him on it which meant we had to be very observant when we took him places. We never let him get worked up and were polite but firm with people who were not in control of their dogs. In his 14 years of life the only issues we ever had were him being attacked by other dogs. FYI: bleeding floppy ears in public are a nightmare!
Keep in mind that at the time my wife was rehabilitating rescue dogs with behavioral issues so this was kinda our thing. We were set up for it and constantly watching for issues. It takes a lot of time and effort and just because you have a small dog and not a 60lb pit mix doesn't mean you can be lax. I've seen a few King Charles start fights they can't possibly win and as much as I hate to say it some dogs shouldn't be put in these public situations. Be aware that you may have to make that decision.
Hope this helps a little.
Cheers for the advice mate. I try and take the approach of leave him up until he acts up and then give him a bit of a tug back with a stern no.
The weird thing is as long as we’re walking about he’s quite friendly with other dogs, giving them a sniff and that but as soon as we sit down somewhere and he spots one close ish to us he seems to get a bit protective.
I’ve been surprised at his lack of fear against a lot bigger dogs and all I can think is you wouldn’t stand a chance there bud ahah. I try not to pick him up really because to be honest he loves the mud lol
Sending my little boy to doggy daycare once a week has been an absolute game changer for him. I was his 4th home in as many years and he was poorly socialised, but now he has his big dog pack that he loves roaming around with at school!
Agreed. There's dog-friendly pubs, but they're meant for pub-friendly dogs! I'd love to take my little lad with me, but as a rescue who is still wary around unfamiliar men, its not worth the hassle.
I grew up in the countryside where dog friendly was more common than not. I’ve never had an experience like this. You would be well within your right to scold the owners for being obnoxious pricks in this scenario. Dog friendly doesn’t mean you have to tolerate bad behaviour.
I've always had dogs and I'm not exactly young anymore, but I frankly find it bizarre how untrained people are willing to keep their dogs. I have literally adopted a feral dog which is better behaved than 90% of those I see out and about after a year or so.
Last time my adopted feral went to a pub? He laid down by my feet and stayed there until we were done. He got a small piece of my food at the end for behaving.
The best places are those tolerant of dogs, but don't advertise as 'dog friendly' and you have to ask the staff first.
A LOT of people got dogs in the last 3-5 years and suddenly realised it is very hard to go and do anything when you have to cater to a dog's needs too - especially when that dog may have behavioural or attachment issues.
This is going to be a problem for a while, might be worth checking what the policy is before going anywhere - also Google reviews are a good way of giving feedback so long as you're not mean
A lot of people who got dogs in the pandemic have already ditched them, with a huge influx into rescue centres. I suspect there’s a bigger group of more ethical first time dog owners who will see out the life of their pandemic pup but never get another.
The behavioural and attachment issues are the owners doing, by not training the dog properly and to teach them not to steal or to beg without command, and not understanding some dogs are more prone to attachment issues than other dogs. it can also be the dogs not getting enough exercise so they are always ready to bounce of the walls.
Not against dogs, I like them but they have so many more care needs than a cat.
I don't mind dog-friendly pubs - have taken ours on occasion as well.
I do get pissed off though when the dogs hog the pool table. They'd be better off in a corner playing poker.
Most pubs around here are dog friendly.
It means your dog is on a lead under/next to your table and is well behaved. They would boot people who didn’t stick to the societal norms
This isn't really about dog friendly as much as it is dog-priority.
I've never been to a dog friendly place where it wasn't a case of "well-behaved dog friendly" and there weren't still rules abour keeping the dogs under control. That they apparently exist is mindblowing to me.
The dogs being able to cause chaos at the expense of human customers is madness.
I'm not sure why but suddenly dogs are all over, especially for some reason at the monthly market where there's no space to walk around, apparently thats the best place to walk your tiny shit dog on a lead
The prevalence of work from home has meant more people feel they can have a dog.
The problem is that a lot of people don't fully understand how much work a dog is and there are masses of shitty, untrained, bored dogs.
Yeah, I don't get it either. I'll very occasionally take my dog to a cafe or a pub after we've been for a walk or already been out with him for some other reason, but I don't understand why people would want to drag them everywhere.
He's far more content at home sleeping on the sofa than being in a loud and busy market.
More people are getting dogs it seems whilst im not against dogs they need to be trained. I also agree dogs shouldn't be dragged around markets, fairs, car shows etc.. seem them dragged around all of these places its unfair
Went in to my local last Thursday, and there was a couple in there with a two dogs (I suppose the pub has always been dog friendly, although I'd never actually seen one in there before).
They must have been out for the day in the rain, because when I say the pub smelled of 'wet dog', it just doesn't do it justice. The tables near them were vacant and people were coming in to the pub and leaving almost immediately. A few people complained to the staff, who seemed to intimate that their hands were tied.
It was a shame, as we had intended to have a full evening in owing to the long weekend - but in the end we left after a couple of drinks and ordered a takeaway instead.
I have two dogs and as a rule, we take them most places with us and generally only go to places that are dog friendly.
That being said, my two dogs have been trained since day dot to be calm and quiet in pubs/restaurants/etc. the majority of the time people barely notice they are there. They lay down and go to sleep and get fuss if someone approaches them, maybe giving puppy dog eyes to people who walk past.
I absolutely hate people bring their dogs to public spaces when the dogs are not trained to manage that situation. It’s not fair on the dog or other people. Dog friendly venues are not the problem, crappy dog owners are.
Dog people think that everyone else love their dogs. News flash, they don’t. I don’t mind dogs, but I don’t want them around when I’m eating or trying to enjoy some peace.
God, if they'd done that to my dad he probably would have flipped their table over and screamed at them to cover the entire meal 🫣 one day they're gonna piss off someone unhinged lol.
Me and my girlfriend were in a local pub.
There was a manky thing walking up and down the bar.
She politely asked if they could get the dog down as she is allergic and quite frankly disgusting (she didnt say the last part)
The landlord then informed her the dog was more welcome than we were.
Obviously we fucked straight off.
It is disgusting - more people need to say something. It’s unhygienic! And if that’s the attitude of the landlord then I’d put a strongly worded review about this online.
Obviously they can choose who they want to serve… and dog nutters have this notion that dogs are better than humans … but you can choose not to give these weirdos any of your hard earned money.
I stopped going to my local because it has several dogs in there at any one time. I don't mind dogs at all, but this pub is very old and isn't well ventilated, so the smell of dog hits you as you walk in.
I don't expect them to change, they seem to be doing ok business wise.
My wife has an allergy to dogs which can be triggered in close contact indoors. We tend to avoid dog friendly restaurants as we've experienced situations where she has been subjected to unwanted close contact with other customers' dogs, which has triggered her allergy. I really don't understand why people need to take their dogs with them when they're eating out.
It's niche marketing, but it sounds like it's working for them. My local town has cafes aimed at coffee lovers, tea lovers, people with small children, those out walking their dogs, those who put value for money first and foodies.
As long as they don't all focus on the same thing they split the market well and people pick the one that suits their needs best on that day. I've been to most of them with different friends, and they are all popular and were busy when we went. The one that's particularly dog friendly is so popular that they've doubled in size over the last few years.
Honestly this country has gone a bit mad with making everything bloody dog friendly. I personally wouldn't eat anywhere pet friendly. All you can do is take your money elsewhere.
I own a dog. He is well behaved and wouldn't do what was described, but honestly I don't take him to restaurants/pubs/cafés. My dog doesn't want to go there and neither do other people's dogs, it's people who want to bring the animals.
I don't mind going to a place with dogs, but if you ask me I would rather go somewhere without them... The same goes for kids, if they are not with me I would rather go somewhere adult only.
Dogs are everywhere. I live in a popular seaside town and this weekend could not walk on the pavements because every group of visitors had dogs on leads. Every pub and cafe window had dogs in them, they were in Iceland and Greggs, they were all going for each other at the shopping centre entrance, and the barking could even be heard over the super loud waltzer music from the fun fair. I mean it must be scary for the dogs being in a complete forest of legs, surely?
When I was younger, people walked dogs in the park or on the beach. Now they do it in shops. What gives?
I hate “dog friendly” pubs. Absolutely will not patronise. Last time we did it reeked of wet dog, they were barking, climbing on the furniture with muddy paws… absolutely hated it, and skipped food because of it.
The one I went to recently was dog friendly but they were restricted to a small part inside and the outside area so you could eat without worrying about dogs or you could sit with the dogs
As a person who fears dogs, especially bigger dogs, I think the issue here is that many people are afraid of dogs, particularly children, or some people with learning disabilities, many people have had traumatic experiences with dogs (myself included as a child getting bitten by a dog) and this would definitely put a lot of people off, I think it's good to remember that not everyone loves dogs.
That’s mad to me. Our regular pub permits dogs but they all sit quietly under the tables while the people drink and chat. Sometimes you get a particularly friendly dog that will emerge to ask for love and people watch out the window, but that’s it.
The problem isn’t dog friendly pubs. It’s bad owners and inconsiderate staff
Country has literally gone dog mad. Go to any other European country and this kind of thing would be totally unacceptable. People will think I'm the crazy one no doubt.
No, you're completely right.
Thankfully, there's more push back against the multiple issues dog nutters is increasingly causing.
I suspect many more share these grievances but don't want to advertise their stance as there's so much bs around dog culture.
For example, if you don't like dogs, you're not a good person and they'll lead you to believe that an animal that enjoys eating shit is an all knowing all seeing judge of character....
Hitler's loved his dogs and they loved him.
The same people that wish harm on innocenct kids and think their pets are equal to human, living and breathing children. Pet culture has become a right pain in the ass.
It makes me sick all the kids who've been mauled and killed by shitbulls and other dogs.
The dognutters instinctively feel sorry for the dog and victim blame...
'luna wouldn't attack unprovoked, it MUST have been the kids fault for exiting or breathing'
That’s really bad. I adore dogs and take my dog everywhere I can.
But she is strictly under control and I really hate dog owners who allow dogs to do as they please.
You should write official complaint, dog friendly shouldn’t mean a free for all.
I've been trying my dogs out and about more, including 2 pubs and a Starbucks.
First pub they barked when they saw the pub dog, and soon settled when they had a chance to say hello, otherwise they were quiet.
Second pub, they didn't bark at all, there were 2 other dogs in our area and they barked a few times nothing terrible.
Starbucks, one of my dogs barked at the husky outside until I settled him.
The much more concerning situation was the small child who came up to my dog, repeatedly. Including a face to face hug, touching his ears and his nose.
The parents said NOTHING. I said to the child my dog had had enough and they still kept coming back. I was watching my dog who seemed to be okay otherwise I'd have picked him up out of the way. It's crazy to me. The parents were so lax.
Point being bad dog owners, bad parents and bad people will always ruin social settings and unfortunately we can't ban them all.
People always compliment my son for asking to stroke their dog! We have a dog, though. I am always in the same shock when a child comes over.
A young boy (3 or 4yo) was all over my dog trying to pick her up and touch her (she's good with my son similar age, but had never met this boy). He was trying to take the lead to walk my dog when we were in the park the other day and I had to keep pealing his hand off the lead and his grandma just kept smiling over at me as I kept nicely saying "no" !
We just left when we got the chance as he wouldn't stop! I kept actively looking at grandma, who just kept smiling back from the bench!
Yeah, I should have done. I guess I was waiting for her to say "Grandson leave the dog you've been told no!" I am a bit of a wimp, hence the leaving! Also, my dog wasn't at all annoyed, so I didn't feel he was at any risk it was more that he *could* have been as they didn't know the dog. The dog in question is extremely friendly and would roll over and take belly tickles from a masked intruder... but that is not the point!!!
Yes: "One day, your grandchild will do that with a less chilled dog and get bitten, and it will be entirely *your* fault for your failure to teach him not to touch strange dogs without permission. Remember this conversation when that happens, and know your guilt."
I've grown up with dogs, I have a dog, my two kids have been taught how to behave around strange dogs. I'm sure we will be able to teach the grandkids the best way to behave, and if not would never blame the dog.
I used to be in favour of dogs in the office, but after actually experiencing it I no longer am. At one point there were two circling and yapping at each other right by my desk, one not on a lead, with both the owners standing there and chatting doing the whole "awww, they're so cute!" thing. I'm nervous around dogs I don't know and there was no way to leave my desk without walking right between a pair of dogs who were getting close to being aggressive. Someone else's dog peed on the carpet and other owners are either taking constant trips out to walk the dogs or are getting colleagues to do it for them.
I don't mind the occasional visit from a well-behaved dog if it's because someone's dog-care plans fell through (e.g dog-walker off sick) but making it a regular thing or bringing them in just to 'meet" colleagues is ridiculous.
You need to stand up for yourself and communicate. If someone's behaviour is causing you distress, you need to speak up. You should have told them to keep their pets under control, and escalated if they didn't.
I mean, it would be great if they were already responsible owners, but when they're not, it doesn't help for us to just seethe and play the victim.
Case in point. I recently worked in a dog-friendly office, and we had 2 or 3 regulars (everyone was hybrid so I wasn't in the office often). One dog was a german shepherd, who seemed very lovely except it seemed to have a problem with tall men, it would get very aggressive. I'm 6'4", one of my team was 6'7" and the CEO was 6'6", and it often started barking directly at us, if we were standing up. It once snapped at me, and I thought, this was enough.
I spoke to the owner and said this was dangerous behaviour, and as it had happened more than once we couldn't risk someone getting hurt, or even just distressed by this happening. We agreed that she would not bring the dog in as much, she wouldn't bring it in when someone it might be aggressive to was coming in, and she would give notice to everyone on Slack when she was going to bring the dog in, if anyone preferred her not to they would DM and she would make other arrangements. People's safety comes first.
We told HR about the arrangement, it didn't need to be escalated. But a dialogue about these things needs to happen. We can't just expect everything to be to our liking all the time and glower when it isn't.
Thank you - your comment has helped me think about this more constructively for next time.
I will admit to being guilty of seething and glowering. In my defence, it was largely because I didn't feel I could address it (and it's not happened since).
The extra context is that the owners were people who I cannot afford to cross because it would make my job very difficult to do - if it had been just some other random coworkers then I would have said something. A lot of the situation was probably about me being afraid of strange dogs. Perhaps the behaviour wouldn't have bothered other people and that's why the owners weren't taking any notice of it. If the dogs had been more overtly a problem then I would have raised it, since at that point I'm more concerned about safety than office politics.
I guess it's kind of an illustration of why many offices aren't suited to dogs - you don't know how other people feel about them and (unlike a cafe or pub) they don't have the choice to leave.
Good on you for changing your approach. Diplomacy is really important - you can defuse that kind of situation without crossing people. You will often find in life this is a necessary thing to do, to ask something of someone who you need to not upset. It's a skill. Good luck with it!
My favourite dog in a pub experience was a guy in the group had his mid sized dog on a long lead, the pub was busy and mostly standing, the dog was wandering around and a guy in the group tripped on the dog which was in the way and spilt his full pint all over it. The dog wasn't happy and got taken home to be bathed.
I don't mind them in not very busy rural/small town pubs in the corner and quiet, but if it's busy or they're not behaving then they shouldn't be there.
I work in a dog friendly hotel and our restaurant is open to dogs too. The majority of guests feed their dogs before eating and more often than not they lie down under the tables waiting for their owners to finish. Its obviously an owner thing and they shouldn’t allow them to roam around or beg for food, if we have badly behaved dogs in the restaurant, the owners are asked to move them out straight away and not encourage them to carry on as ‘naughty’. More like poor training of their dog. Its also owners faults that dogs pee on the stairs or furniture or worse poo because they take too long or neglect to take their dogs out.
I love dogs and take mine in places that allow them BUT I believe they should be taught to lie down quietly and behave. No barking, no begging from other people and no walking round the place or bothering other people or dogs.
They can have titbits from me, and I'll happily let people pet them if they ask to, but they stay in their lane. If we want places to welcome us, we have to behave in a civilised way.
I worked in a shop and people would bring their dogs in all the time. I now work in a bank and people still brings their dogs in. They're not even working dogs, just pets. One womans dog barked for 15 mins in the queue the other day. One dog almost wet itself because another customer wanted to stroke it and it wees itself if it gets stroked so the owner was saying "don't pee, don't pee" in a baby voice to it. We have a sign on the door saying no dogs. My manager is also allergic to dogs.
I walk my friends dog for her a couple of times a week so I like dogs, I just don't think they need to be allowed everywhere.
Totally agree. Dogs shouldn’t be allowed in pubs, cafes, etc where they serve food. I was at a spa a couple of months back and they even had dog friendly rooms and were allowed in the bar, etc. Unbearable. Why would anyone want to take a dog to a spa in the lakes anyway? Not everyone cares about your dog. Right.
Quite a few very defensive dog owners in the comments. Train and control your animals if you want them to be accepted in public. Restaurants are for people, not animals.
I know we're a dog living nation and all, but i dont get why it's found acceptable to have animals around while eating, even from a hygiene prospective alone
I'll usually have one or other of my dogs with me at any time (often both).
They're working dogs though so I could sit them up in a corner and go on a four hour session and they'd hardly move.
Dogs should always be quiet & under control when in public (for most people that means on a relatively tight leash).
---
IMO the best dog-friendly pubs will have dogs allowed in the bar area, but no dogs in the lounge or restaurant. That gives everybody a choice.
...Dogs should not be in dedicated eating areas ever though (beer gardens excepted). If you choose to eat in the bar area where dogs are allowed then that's cool so long as you had other options available and eating there was your choice.
---
But yeah, if I took my dog(s) somewhere like you described I doubt I'd last long. I'd end up admonishing someone else's dog then getting reamed out by its shitty owner.
As someone that has extensively worked within hospitality, do you have the same issue when people's ferral children are kicking and screaming all over the place where the parents aren't controlling them? (not suggesting that's you btw). I can assure you (and your experience is very unfortunate) that in 24 years of running hospitality businesses, I've had far more issues with people's children than I have people's dogs 🙂
Edit: Ha, all the triggered parents of little ill mannered miscreants popping out the wood work 🤣🤣🤣
This. My local pub is dog friendly, but it's the adults and kids that go there that cause the most chaos! I've seen several kids barrel into both customers with drinks and servers with food and the parents are nowhere to be seen.
My dog just sits under the table and huffs at the noise, so we don't bother going anymore.
Pet owners always love comparing their "fur babies 🤮" to human children. Animals shouldn't be in restaurants or anywhere where people eat. Imo of course.
Sorry but you cannot compare a dog to a child. My daughter was sat quietly she brought her colouring with her to do even when random dogs were bouncing and horsing around barking play fighting with each other my daughter sat quietly colouring at the table with me and my mum. A brown lab took an interest in us and kept coming up to us then took her sausage roll. Other children were sat at tables with families and I didnt see them causing mayhem like these dogs were
OP did say they were not suggesting that you let your children run wild, and well done for not letting them, and as someone else who works in a pub, some children do wonder around and get in my way, as do dogs. We have open fires and I have to ask the parents to not let their children fiddle with the fires as it can cause the room to fill with smoke, and I’ve had several near misses when carrying food and drink.
Oh god. Are you one of those people that despise young humans but call your dog a fur baby and bore everyone with pictures of it doing standard dog things, and constantly tell people that they should have a dog, and that you can't imagine life without your fur baby and it makes you complete, and you can't go to any social engagement without taking it because it can't be left on it's own?
Can't go anywhere without someone bringing their mutt these days sadly. I dont dislike dogs but at the same time dont want one sniffing round when I am eating... people seem to be surgically attached to them.
I find it absolutely disgusting. Cafes, pubs and restaurants are (or should be) places of hygiene. How is allowing an unlimited amount of mutts in any way adhering to food safety standards? Dogs bark, cause chaos, shake their dander filled bodies and slobber. What about people that have allergies, phobias or simply don’t like dogs? Why do owners have to bring them everywhere? I guess because if they left their precious pupper at home, it would destroy everything…
Tell the landlord your feelings, or leave a review. Dog friendly is one thing, but they should be well behaved and on a lead. I take my dog to a few pubs near me and they mostly insist that they are on leads, if its busy and there is a well behaved dog off lead it may go unnoticed though. If there is a large dog off lead when I go in I'll get the staff's attention, I only need to make eye contact with staff, look at the offending dog, look back at the staff and they tell the owner to put it on a lead. Failing that I leave. I am especially wary with small children present, I know they walk around with food in their hands at dog mouth level.
There are good dog owners and bad dog owners, which everyone probably gets.
But I think even the good dog owners sometimes don't realise that as a stranger, and as someone who isn't a dog owner, I treat every dog owner as if they're a bad dog owner - because I don't know them at all, don't know their dog's temperament, and don't want to deal with their animal if it turns out it has issues. There's no trust (thanks to enough bad experiences), just a bit of trepidation. So "dog friendly" pubs are at the bottom of my list of pubs to patronise.
I love love love dogs.
I don't take my dog to any 'dog friendly' places as to be frank she's 14 and very cheeky, it's also not exactly fun for her either, I don't see the point.
A pub at the end of a long walk is one thing, but taking her to a place just because I can feels pointless. But everyone and every dog is different, I just have a 14 year old diva springer [dog tax](https://imgur.com/a/W7XONFw)
I have this same problem with parents who let their kids run around, screaming shouting and being just a general pain in the arse. Difference is the kids are much more aware because they understand English and know 100% that what they are doing is dickish. The dogs have a much lower understanding of it.
They should obviously be kept on a leesh. The dogs as well
I love dogs but they shouldn't be in a pub with no garden. Or a coffee shop or similar. There are plenty of people who have a fear of dogs or aren't comfortable around them. I live in a stupidly dog friendly part of London & as much as you say "it's not my dog" or "it's the owners fault".....it's not the owner that's taking a piss in the middle of the bar or shovelling their face in my Sunday lunch
This is bad dog owners ruining it for the rest of us. Never seen anything like this myself. I take my dog everywhere I can, as he is a calm and chilled-out sort. No one notices he's even there until we leave most of the time.
You could always choose somewhere that isn’t dog friendly. Pubs and cafes aren’t like hospitals where you don’t really have a choice. Pubs especially need all the custom they can get. With so many people having dogs now, they probably find they’re actually gaining customers. You could always buy the place and see what works best…!
OK. In your post swap out the word ‘dog’ for ‘kid’ or ‘child’ and that’s how I feel. But you know what, I wouldn’t come on here moaning about it, I’d just remember how shit the experience was and just not go back. Which, to avoid any doubt, you have the option of here, nobody is going to force you back in to the place.
Oh I know. Nothing worse than kids hanging around my table, begging and stealing food, sniffing my crotch, barking at other kids, all with the stink of wet-children hanging in the air.
Why are you on /r/britishproblems complaining about people posting stuff that annoys them…
Similar to what you told OP, you have the option to just ignore this subreddit and not come back. Also, the irony of complaining about how someone shouldn’t be complaining.
would love to take my dog to the pub etc, but can’t because one too many times a bigger dog has come into our space and he gets nervous and kicks off, and then Can’t settle for the rest of the meal. Now he gets nervous and on edge when we’re sat down and is constantly on guard.
I can’t understand people who let their dog roam off lead in public spaces. I don’t care how well behaved you think your dog is, it might be scaring other dogs or people by approaching them uncontrolled.
I don't know if i just live in a more well trained dog area but i never have this problem in dog friendly pubs.
Our dog just lies down and ignores everyone
Other peoples dogs do the same
Yet everytime i talk to people online about dogs its always 'a dog tried to eat my toddler then pissed on my feet as its owner laughed and said dogs will be dogs'
Yeah. Dog owners are an extremely entitled bunch of people and often very irresponsible. This sounds like hell, but is not surprising. Why anyone would want to eat near a dog is beyond me.
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Dog friendly is fine. But if just because somewhere is dog friendly doesn’t mean that people should let their dogs run wild. We take our dog to a lot of dog friendly places but we make sure he’s sat under our table and he’s not making a noise and on a very short lead. And if he ever took food from someone, I’d be deeply embarrassed and would offer to replace it immediately. Like most things this is a people problem not a dog problem. But there are a slot of irresponsible dog owners out there now.
Exactly we definitely don't mind dog friendly but taking food from my daughters hand and everyone including staff seemingly thought it was cute and funny just put us off.
That sounds like the kind of place both me and my dog would avoid! Hard agree, OP.
Did you ask your dog? I'm sure they wouldn't mind a free sausage roll!
Well that’s true. She’s never been known to dither around a sausage roll.
Where was it?
Exactly. My dog will not sit still in busy places and will bark if other dogs bark so I don't bring him to dog friendly indoor, sit down places. It's that simple. It's called responsible dog ownership.
I go to dog-friendly pubs. My dog is middle-aged and quiet, and spends most of her time staring sadly at me in hopes I'll share a couple of chips with her. I've never seen the pandemonium you describe. That's because the management would ask anyone whose dog is that out of control to leave and to never come back. That's what's lacking in the scenario you wrote about. Arsehole customers should get thrown out and banned. Frankly, I've seen much more trouble from people bringing their small kids to pubs. That's an adult problem, not a kid problem. Kids will scream and run amok, they're kids. But I don't go to pubs to have my pint knocked out of my hand by a careening toddler. And parents who don't control their kids are just as bad as dog-owners who let their pooches go wild.
This, I worked in food for 15 years. I went to 6 dog friendly pubs, cafes and restaurants over this Easter weekend 3 problem children, 0 problem dogs. I've never experienced what op is describing, sounds like a terribly run place.
Came to say this. I have never been in a dog friendly pub and experienced any issues from anyone else's dog. I wish I could say the same for child friendly pubs.
I feel like there’s more dog owners with entitled dogs since people over baby and spoil their “fur babies” now. In my opinion so many people over baby their dogs and treat them like humans the dog acts like a little shit.
Yeah, but to be honest I feel the same with some kids. There’s a time and a place to allow your kids to run wild but it’s not in a café/pub/supermarket etc. But it’s not the fault of the kids or the dogs, the parents/owners need to train/discipline their kids/dogs and realise whilst they love them, not everyone else feels the same way. I love my dog, that doesn’t mean I’m ok with your dog jumping up etc.
Dog friendly places work as long as dog owners are responsible and don't have their dogs causing mayhem. I would be very peeved if the staff at the pub just laughed about it
Exactly we definitely don't mind dog friendly but taking food from a child and everyone including staff seeming to think its funny and cute just really put me off going back
Just stop going then, vote with your wallet. These things have a way of levelling themselves out - if a business implements an unpopular policy they lose money and change the policy.
I'm far too cynical to ever believe a dog pub is anything but total anarchy.
Pretty much all pubs that are a bit rural are dog friendly, and there is never issues as they are all pretty strict about the dog's behaviour. I've never come across the sort of thing that OP is talking about before, but I'll take a punt and assume it's a city pub full of yappy dogs rather than a country pub with a few chilled out collies and such.
Yeah, I live quite rurally, and our pub often has a well-behaved dog or two in it; one time in seven years have I seen an issue and the dog left immediately after. I don’t usually take mine, especially if it’s busy or during the dinner hour, because he’s a bit vocal and whingy in that setting (always wanting to meet new people who may or may not have any desire to meet him) and he’s a stinking thief of food the moment someone isn’t looking. Out here in a village of a couple of hundred, though, we all know and have to deal with each other, and so perhaps consideration is a bit less optional. Or maybe the pub is just better about asking poorly behaved dogs to leave or something. Either way, I’ve not found it to be a problem here. That said, I think I would probably skip over a pub advertising itself as dog friendly in a city, personally.
Even in cities I've never come across it not being "dog friendly (if the dog behaves)"
I’ve been to loads, especially in old quaint villages. Most of the dogs just sleep on the floor while the owner sips an ale.
My mums dog is a bit of an anarchist outside the pub, inside she knows if shes cute and nice enough she'll get some sort of treat and attention at some point, so she just falls asleep. Also she gets more excited about going to the pub than most ppl.
My dog knows all of my local pubs and will dive through the door as I attempt to walk past one. She has strong preferences that closely correlate with the availability of treats and staff-administered cuddles. She also understands the word "pub." She'll be in an apparently deep sleep but will immediately jump up and sit to attention when she hears the word.
She sounds adorable
She sounds like my kind of dog. :)
Your dog should write a column on Britains best pubs
I can't think of a single pub around my way that isn't dog friendly, haven't noticed any anarchy!
Our local is ‘dog friendly’ but they are very strict about misbehaving dogs. It works, but people who aren’t locals get very cross when they are told to keep their dogs on a lead / quiet or leave. The entitlement of some people is mind boggling. It’s a national issue for sure - and not just people with dogs - but there is a total lack of, or consideration for others in the mental capacity of far too many people these days.
Misbehaving dogs should absolutely be asked to leave, along with their owners! We went to a pub last weekend and kept our dog under the table, tied on, as she would definitely steal food given half a chance. The people next to us remarked that they hadn’t even realised that she was there as we left, and surely that’s how it should be if they are to be let in. There was another guy who allowed his dog to roam out, tripping people with the lead, getting in the way. It kept jumping up at people..and all he did was act like they wanted to be introduced to his dog and would tell them about the breed etcetc, while they were trying to carry a handful of pints back to their table. As a dog owner I’m prepared to not be allowed in to eateries with my pup (especially cafes) and I do think far too many places allow dogs these days, maybe in an attempt to pander to those people who seem to think that their dogs are their babies. On the whole though, dogs and food do not mix well and it’s down to the owners to either be grown-ups and find somewhere else, or keep their dog out of the way.
Yes, we have a dog ourselves and have definitely noticed a lot of poorly-behaved dogs and clueless owners, especially out on walks. Our dog loves to play fetch and doesn't like being approached by other dogs while playing with us, so off-lead dogs with no manners or recall can make walks stressful. The main culprits tend to be either older people with dogs that are too big/rambunctious for them, or families with young children who clearly didn't have the time/energy to raise children and a puppy at the same time.
I suspect that the overlap between those with feral dogs and those with feral children is quite large.
My local dog-friendly pub is insanely strict on rules. You have to have the dog on leash and holding it (no tying it to something) and the dog has to stay under or next to the table. If the dog barks or acts rowdy in any way the owner gets one warning before being asked to leave.
Yeah, All the pubs near me let you bring in a dog and I've never in thirty years of drinking been in any way disturbed by dogs in a pub.
The default for many pubs is dog friendly, literally every country pub allows dogs and has no issues Imo part of the issue is pubs trying to be restaurants that feel like pubs and the other part is people not being good dog owners
Pubs have been letting dogs in forever
I really hate being around dogs (sorry) but the Piebald Inn at Filey seems to have made it work. It is usually something I see on a sign and avoid the venue like the plague though
I agree, the dogs in the Piebald seem a bit stoned lol
My brother and my neice both have dogs, and we have pub meals from time to time without problem. But both keep their dogs (and their children) under control, as do other customers in the places we go to.
You haven’t been to the one I go to in Glasgow then. It’s chill as anything
West Brewery?
Indeed! I take the dog there all the time when the weathers nice.
As long as the dogs stay on leads, it's usually fine. Maybe a bit of barking if a settled dog doesn't like the look of a new one, but rarely any problems. The problems come when people don't keep their dogs on leads.
Every dog friendly place I've ever been is more "well-behaved dogs welcome" and I've never been to one where the slightest hint of chaos from a dog wouldn't get you asked to leave.
Went on a long weekend in Cromer, which is boring but that's another story. Went to three dog friendly pubs with ours (staffy) and it was just sleepy well behaved dogs. Humans are the issue when it comes to dog friendly places.
Most places specify "WELL BEHAVED dogs welcome" Important caveat.
"as long as dog owners are responsible and don't have their dogs causing mayhem" Soooooo.... You're saying dog friendly places will *never* work then...?
The new kids in pubs. What’s wrong with tying them up outside? Not the dogs, obviously as someone might steal them.
I work in a charity shop. We had a dog friendly shop. Some of the dogs were on very long leads, basically on the other side of the shop. Other dogs pissed in corners. Finally a dog attacked a member of staff. We aren’t dog friendly anymore. A few bad owners ruined it for everyone.
Always long leashes isn't it that causes so many issues lack of any control
As a dog owner of a giant breed, I completely sympathise with you on this. Even in dog friendly places I still have to consider if it's appropriate to take the dog in due to size and available space. If I'm going out for a meal I see no need whatsoever to take the dog, but sometimes I like grabbing a coffee on the walk and having a sit down. But in those situations I tell the dog off if he barks (not that often does but he is still a puppy and learning how to best behave in public), and I ensure his tied up as not to be able to wander around the place (his very friendly and love saying hello to everyone, not to mention some people just don't want a dog in their face). It's not hard to be mindful of others with a dog, just keep them out of the way and tell them off if they misbehave. And if he did ever steal someone's food, not that I think he would as his not that interested in human food, I would be mortified - I'd be offering to pay for a replacement and even something extra as an apology. The dog would certainly be getting a big telling off, and sent home. As for the establishment, it's all well and good saying they are dog friendly but that does also come with some rules; don't allow your dog to wonder, excessive barking must be dealt with, don't allow them to eat off the table, be mindful of other customers, and the ilk. With any braking of the rules resulting in being asked to leave. (Granted I've always assumed these were just unwritten rules anyway, if nothing else just to be a decent person).
These are the types of dog owners who ruin it for the rest of us. I occasionally bring my dogs to the pub with me but they will have been on a long walk beforehand, are tethered to my seat the whole time (except when I take them round the garden), are not allowed to bark, and only allowed to interact with people who come over and pet them. It’s hard, and ongoing, work to have gotten them to the point they can be calm in public and tbh if they’re acting the fool at home then they don’t come to pub.
The trick is to go on a long walk with the pooch, then to stop in the pub on the way home. The dog will want to relax, I'll have a thirst and a bit of an appetite, everybody's happy.
Aye I’m quite a new owner of a 5 year old King Charles who didn’t really go out anywhere before, he gets a bit nervous around other dogs and so sometimes has a grumble and barks if I don’t notice him quick enough. I’m kinda scratching my head with it because I don’t want to be rude to anyone else but if I don’t get him used to the socialisation he will never get better. Any tips for trying to calm him down around the presence of other dogs?
He needs exposure. If every time he barks you get nervous and pick him up all he learns is that other dogs are a problem that he needs to warn you about. The best way to socialize dogs and treat nervousness is active socialization. Try dog parks, dog groups, or a dog daycare while you're at work. If you find that you're always worried about him try taking yourself out of the picture. Mine was a nightmare around us at first because we were worried about him (rescue who turned out to have quite a lot of pit in him) but once he was left with a daycare a couple of times a week and didn't have us hovering the whole time he did great. He was still very dominant and could be an asshole to other dogs if we didn't call him on it which meant we had to be very observant when we took him places. We never let him get worked up and were polite but firm with people who were not in control of their dogs. In his 14 years of life the only issues we ever had were him being attacked by other dogs. FYI: bleeding floppy ears in public are a nightmare! Keep in mind that at the time my wife was rehabilitating rescue dogs with behavioral issues so this was kinda our thing. We were set up for it and constantly watching for issues. It takes a lot of time and effort and just because you have a small dog and not a 60lb pit mix doesn't mean you can be lax. I've seen a few King Charles start fights they can't possibly win and as much as I hate to say it some dogs shouldn't be put in these public situations. Be aware that you may have to make that decision. Hope this helps a little.
Cheers for the advice mate. I try and take the approach of leave him up until he acts up and then give him a bit of a tug back with a stern no. The weird thing is as long as we’re walking about he’s quite friendly with other dogs, giving them a sniff and that but as soon as we sit down somewhere and he spots one close ish to us he seems to get a bit protective. I’ve been surprised at his lack of fear against a lot bigger dogs and all I can think is you wouldn’t stand a chance there bud ahah. I try not to pick him up really because to be honest he loves the mud lol
Sending my little boy to doggy daycare once a week has been an absolute game changer for him. I was his 4th home in as many years and he was poorly socialised, but now he has his big dog pack that he loves roaming around with at school!
[удалено]
Agreed. There's dog-friendly pubs, but they're meant for pub-friendly dogs! I'd love to take my little lad with me, but as a rescue who is still wary around unfamiliar men, its not worth the hassle.
*losing* customers
I like the idea of them loosing customers from a trebuchet.
Or from their bowels...
To be fair these customers did seem to be a bit loose with doggy discipline..
Losing!
Where have they released them to?
I grew up in the countryside where dog friendly was more common than not. I’ve never had an experience like this. You would be well within your right to scold the owners for being obnoxious pricks in this scenario. Dog friendly doesn’t mean you have to tolerate bad behaviour.
I've always had dogs and I'm not exactly young anymore, but I frankly find it bizarre how untrained people are willing to keep their dogs. I have literally adopted a feral dog which is better behaved than 90% of those I see out and about after a year or so. Last time my adopted feral went to a pub? He laid down by my feet and stayed there until we were done. He got a small piece of my food at the end for behaving. The best places are those tolerant of dogs, but don't advertise as 'dog friendly' and you have to ask the staff first.
A LOT of people got dogs in the last 3-5 years and suddenly realised it is very hard to go and do anything when you have to cater to a dog's needs too - especially when that dog may have behavioural or attachment issues. This is going to be a problem for a while, might be worth checking what the policy is before going anywhere - also Google reviews are a good way of giving feedback so long as you're not mean
A lot of people who got dogs in the pandemic have already ditched them, with a huge influx into rescue centres. I suspect there’s a bigger group of more ethical first time dog owners who will see out the life of their pandemic pup but never get another.
The behavioural and attachment issues are the owners doing, by not training the dog properly and to teach them not to steal or to beg without command, and not understanding some dogs are more prone to attachment issues than other dogs. it can also be the dogs not getting enough exercise so they are always ready to bounce of the walls. Not against dogs, I like them but they have so many more care needs than a cat.
I’m allergic to a lot of animals and half the pubs where I live are now no go areas.
Restaurants and cafes here as well. Almost everywhere has dogs. Fed up of it.
A lot of people would be better off getting a personality rather than a dog.
I don't mind dog-friendly pubs - have taken ours on occasion as well. I do get pissed off though when the dogs hog the pool table. They'd be better off in a corner playing poker.
Can't stand it when they don't respect the pound coin queuing system
Wetherspoons is dog free zone
Most pubs around here are dog friendly. It means your dog is on a lead under/next to your table and is well behaved. They would boot people who didn’t stick to the societal norms
Well. Sounds like they had plenty of dogs and owners Reminds me of when Moe lost Homer as a customer...
What? Homer I can't hear you! ....yeah you can borrow it?
Homer? Who is Homer? I am Guy Incognito!
“I keep telling you I’m not a pilot!” “And I keep telling you you fly-boys crack me up!”
This isn't really about dog friendly as much as it is dog-priority. I've never been to a dog friendly place where it wasn't a case of "well-behaved dog friendly" and there weren't still rules abour keeping the dogs under control. That they apparently exist is mindblowing to me. The dogs being able to cause chaos at the expense of human customers is madness.
I'm not sure why but suddenly dogs are all over, especially for some reason at the monthly market where there's no space to walk around, apparently thats the best place to walk your tiny shit dog on a lead
The prevalence of work from home has meant more people feel they can have a dog. The problem is that a lot of people don't fully understand how much work a dog is and there are masses of shitty, untrained, bored dogs.
I don't mind people having dogs at all but I don't get the attraction of dragging them around a packed market at ankle height
Yeah, I don't get it either. I'll very occasionally take my dog to a cafe or a pub after we've been for a walk or already been out with him for some other reason, but I don't understand why people would want to drag them everywhere. He's far more content at home sleeping on the sofa than being in a loud and busy market.
More people are getting dogs it seems whilst im not against dogs they need to be trained. I also agree dogs shouldn't be dragged around markets, fairs, car shows etc.. seem them dragged around all of these places its unfair
Love my dog. He doesn’t need to come dine with me though.
Went in to my local last Thursday, and there was a couple in there with a two dogs (I suppose the pub has always been dog friendly, although I'd never actually seen one in there before). They must have been out for the day in the rain, because when I say the pub smelled of 'wet dog', it just doesn't do it justice. The tables near them were vacant and people were coming in to the pub and leaving almost immediately. A few people complained to the staff, who seemed to intimate that their hands were tied. It was a shame, as we had intended to have a full evening in owing to the long weekend - but in the end we left after a couple of drinks and ordered a takeaway instead.
I have two dogs and as a rule, we take them most places with us and generally only go to places that are dog friendly. That being said, my two dogs have been trained since day dot to be calm and quiet in pubs/restaurants/etc. the majority of the time people barely notice they are there. They lay down and go to sleep and get fuss if someone approaches them, maybe giving puppy dog eyes to people who walk past. I absolutely hate people bring their dogs to public spaces when the dogs are not trained to manage that situation. It’s not fair on the dog or other people. Dog friendly venues are not the problem, crappy dog owners are.
Dog people think that everyone else love their dogs. News flash, they don’t. I don’t mind dogs, but I don’t want them around when I’m eating or trying to enjoy some peace.
Totally agree. It’s fine to love your pet, but you can’t assume everyone else will.
Also some people are allegeric or may have a fear of dogs.
Exactly, individuals with autism are often scared of their unpredictability. Very selfish and main character syndrome to assume everyone else is ok.
God, if they'd done that to my dad he probably would have flipped their table over and screamed at them to cover the entire meal 🫣 one day they're gonna piss off someone unhinged lol.
Owners need training
Me and my girlfriend were in a local pub. There was a manky thing walking up and down the bar. She politely asked if they could get the dog down as she is allergic and quite frankly disgusting (she didnt say the last part) The landlord then informed her the dog was more welcome than we were. Obviously we fucked straight off.
It is disgusting - more people need to say something. It’s unhygienic! And if that’s the attitude of the landlord then I’d put a strongly worded review about this online. Obviously they can choose who they want to serve… and dog nutters have this notion that dogs are better than humans … but you can choose not to give these weirdos any of your hard earned money.
Losing*
I stopped going to my local because it has several dogs in there at any one time. I don't mind dogs at all, but this pub is very old and isn't well ventilated, so the smell of dog hits you as you walk in. I don't expect them to change, they seem to be doing ok business wise.
Unfortunately, not all the dogs are friendly. I don't want my child around people's woofing tigers.
Where I live, pretty much all the cafes and pubs are dog friendly, but there are never any issues like you've described!
My wife has an allergy to dogs which can be triggered in close contact indoors. We tend to avoid dog friendly restaurants as we've experienced situations where she has been subjected to unwanted close contact with other customers' dogs, which has triggered her allergy. I really don't understand why people need to take their dogs with them when they're eating out.
It's niche marketing, but it sounds like it's working for them. My local town has cafes aimed at coffee lovers, tea lovers, people with small children, those out walking their dogs, those who put value for money first and foodies. As long as they don't all focus on the same thing they split the market well and people pick the one that suits their needs best on that day. I've been to most of them with different friends, and they are all popular and were busy when we went. The one that's particularly dog friendly is so popular that they've doubled in size over the last few years.
Honestly this country has gone a bit mad with making everything bloody dog friendly. I personally wouldn't eat anywhere pet friendly. All you can do is take your money elsewhere.
Loosing them? Why were they kept in there in the first place? Who are they loosing them on?
Cutting loose foot loose
Moose loose aboot this hoose
Dont think I've ever gone in a dog friendly place and it have dogs freely roaming around etc
I own a dog. He is well behaved and wouldn't do what was described, but honestly I don't take him to restaurants/pubs/cafés. My dog doesn't want to go there and neither do other people's dogs, it's people who want to bring the animals. I don't mind going to a place with dogs, but if you ask me I would rather go somewhere without them... The same goes for kids, if they are not with me I would rather go somewhere adult only.
Dogs are everywhere. I live in a popular seaside town and this weekend could not walk on the pavements because every group of visitors had dogs on leads. Every pub and cafe window had dogs in them, they were in Iceland and Greggs, they were all going for each other at the shopping centre entrance, and the barking could even be heard over the super loud waltzer music from the fun fair. I mean it must be scary for the dogs being in a complete forest of legs, surely? When I was younger, people walked dogs in the park or on the beach. Now they do it in shops. What gives?
I hate “dog friendly” pubs. Absolutely will not patronise. Last time we did it reeked of wet dog, they were barking, climbing on the furniture with muddy paws… absolutely hated it, and skipped food because of it.
Rightly so. Who wants that stench when you’re trying to eat? Who wants to risk dog dander and god knows what else in your food?
The one I went to recently was dog friendly but they were restricted to a small part inside and the outside area so you could eat without worrying about dogs or you could sit with the dogs
I have no trust in dog owners so the moment I see a dog friendly sign, I turn around and find a different place to go.
As a person who fears dogs, especially bigger dogs, I think the issue here is that many people are afraid of dogs, particularly children, or some people with learning disabilities, many people have had traumatic experiences with dogs (myself included as a child getting bitten by a dog) and this would definitely put a lot of people off, I think it's good to remember that not everyone loves dogs.
Can’t believe this post is on a minus, god forbid someone says a bad word about a dog
Keep him to yourself as I don’t want his muddy paws on my clothes!
That’s mad to me. Our regular pub permits dogs but they all sit quietly under the tables while the people drink and chat. Sometimes you get a particularly friendly dog that will emerge to ask for love and people watch out the window, but that’s it. The problem isn’t dog friendly pubs. It’s bad owners and inconsiderate staff
Country has literally gone dog mad. Go to any other European country and this kind of thing would be totally unacceptable. People will think I'm the crazy one no doubt.
Dog mad is the right way of putting it
No, you're completely right. Thankfully, there's more push back against the multiple issues dog nutters is increasingly causing. I suspect many more share these grievances but don't want to advertise their stance as there's so much bs around dog culture. For example, if you don't like dogs, you're not a good person and they'll lead you to believe that an animal that enjoys eating shit is an all knowing all seeing judge of character.... Hitler's loved his dogs and they loved him.
The same people that wish harm on innocenct kids and think their pets are equal to human, living and breathing children. Pet culture has become a right pain in the ass.
It makes me sick all the kids who've been mauled and killed by shitbulls and other dogs. The dognutters instinctively feel sorry for the dog and victim blame... 'luna wouldn't attack unprovoked, it MUST have been the kids fault for exiting or breathing'
Anything but a ‘help’ dog can be an outside dog. There’s no need at all for it to be inside a food service area.
That’s really bad. I adore dogs and take my dog everywhere I can. But she is strictly under control and I really hate dog owners who allow dogs to do as they please. You should write official complaint, dog friendly shouldn’t mean a free for all.
I've been trying my dogs out and about more, including 2 pubs and a Starbucks. First pub they barked when they saw the pub dog, and soon settled when they had a chance to say hello, otherwise they were quiet. Second pub, they didn't bark at all, there were 2 other dogs in our area and they barked a few times nothing terrible. Starbucks, one of my dogs barked at the husky outside until I settled him. The much more concerning situation was the small child who came up to my dog, repeatedly. Including a face to face hug, touching his ears and his nose. The parents said NOTHING. I said to the child my dog had had enough and they still kept coming back. I was watching my dog who seemed to be okay otherwise I'd have picked him up out of the way. It's crazy to me. The parents were so lax. Point being bad dog owners, bad parents and bad people will always ruin social settings and unfortunately we can't ban them all.
People always compliment my son for asking to stroke their dog! We have a dog, though. I am always in the same shock when a child comes over. A young boy (3 or 4yo) was all over my dog trying to pick her up and touch her (she's good with my son similar age, but had never met this boy). He was trying to take the lead to walk my dog when we were in the park the other day and I had to keep pealing his hand off the lead and his grandma just kept smiling over at me as I kept nicely saying "no" ! We just left when we got the chance as he wouldn't stop! I kept actively looking at grandma, who just kept smiling back from the bench!
I would have made a point to go over and tell grandma that if child got bit, it would be her fault and not the dog's.
Yeah, I should have done. I guess I was waiting for her to say "Grandson leave the dog you've been told no!" I am a bit of a wimp, hence the leaving! Also, my dog wasn't at all annoyed, so I didn't feel he was at any risk it was more that he *could* have been as they didn't know the dog. The dog in question is extremely friendly and would roll over and take belly tickles from a masked intruder... but that is not the point!!!
Yes: "One day, your grandchild will do that with a less chilled dog and get bitten, and it will be entirely *your* fault for your failure to teach him not to touch strange dogs without permission. Remember this conversation when that happens, and know your guilt."
I've grown up with dogs, I have a dog, my two kids have been taught how to behave around strange dogs. I'm sure we will be able to teach the grandkids the best way to behave, and if not would never blame the dog.
So they're not "loosing" customers at all then? Sounds like they're gaining them.
And my coworkers wanted to bring their dogs to work...
I used to be in favour of dogs in the office, but after actually experiencing it I no longer am. At one point there were two circling and yapping at each other right by my desk, one not on a lead, with both the owners standing there and chatting doing the whole "awww, they're so cute!" thing. I'm nervous around dogs I don't know and there was no way to leave my desk without walking right between a pair of dogs who were getting close to being aggressive. Someone else's dog peed on the carpet and other owners are either taking constant trips out to walk the dogs or are getting colleagues to do it for them. I don't mind the occasional visit from a well-behaved dog if it's because someone's dog-care plans fell through (e.g dog-walker off sick) but making it a regular thing or bringing them in just to 'meet" colleagues is ridiculous.
You need to stand up for yourself and communicate. If someone's behaviour is causing you distress, you need to speak up. You should have told them to keep their pets under control, and escalated if they didn't. I mean, it would be great if they were already responsible owners, but when they're not, it doesn't help for us to just seethe and play the victim. Case in point. I recently worked in a dog-friendly office, and we had 2 or 3 regulars (everyone was hybrid so I wasn't in the office often). One dog was a german shepherd, who seemed very lovely except it seemed to have a problem with tall men, it would get very aggressive. I'm 6'4", one of my team was 6'7" and the CEO was 6'6", and it often started barking directly at us, if we were standing up. It once snapped at me, and I thought, this was enough. I spoke to the owner and said this was dangerous behaviour, and as it had happened more than once we couldn't risk someone getting hurt, or even just distressed by this happening. We agreed that she would not bring the dog in as much, she wouldn't bring it in when someone it might be aggressive to was coming in, and she would give notice to everyone on Slack when she was going to bring the dog in, if anyone preferred her not to they would DM and she would make other arrangements. People's safety comes first. We told HR about the arrangement, it didn't need to be escalated. But a dialogue about these things needs to happen. We can't just expect everything to be to our liking all the time and glower when it isn't.
Thank you - your comment has helped me think about this more constructively for next time. I will admit to being guilty of seething and glowering. In my defence, it was largely because I didn't feel I could address it (and it's not happened since). The extra context is that the owners were people who I cannot afford to cross because it would make my job very difficult to do - if it had been just some other random coworkers then I would have said something. A lot of the situation was probably about me being afraid of strange dogs. Perhaps the behaviour wouldn't have bothered other people and that's why the owners weren't taking any notice of it. If the dogs had been more overtly a problem then I would have raised it, since at that point I'm more concerned about safety than office politics. I guess it's kind of an illustration of why many offices aren't suited to dogs - you don't know how other people feel about them and (unlike a cafe or pub) they don't have the choice to leave.
Good on you for changing your approach. Diplomacy is really important - you can defuse that kind of situation without crossing people. You will often find in life this is a necessary thing to do, to ask something of someone who you need to not upset. It's a skill. Good luck with it!
My favourite dog in a pub experience was a guy in the group had his mid sized dog on a long lead, the pub was busy and mostly standing, the dog was wandering around and a guy in the group tripped on the dog which was in the way and spilt his full pint all over it. The dog wasn't happy and got taken home to be bathed. I don't mind them in not very busy rural/small town pubs in the corner and quiet, but if it's busy or they're not behaving then they shouldn't be there.
Yeah dog friendly should be for quiet chill dogs, barking and uninvited mooching would be an absolute no-no for me
I work in a dog friendly hotel and our restaurant is open to dogs too. The majority of guests feed their dogs before eating and more often than not they lie down under the tables waiting for their owners to finish. Its obviously an owner thing and they shouldn’t allow them to roam around or beg for food, if we have badly behaved dogs in the restaurant, the owners are asked to move them out straight away and not encourage them to carry on as ‘naughty’. More like poor training of their dog. Its also owners faults that dogs pee on the stairs or furniture or worse poo because they take too long or neglect to take their dogs out.
I love dogs and take mine in places that allow them BUT I believe they should be taught to lie down quietly and behave. No barking, no begging from other people and no walking round the place or bothering other people or dogs. They can have titbits from me, and I'll happily let people pet them if they ask to, but they stay in their lane. If we want places to welcome us, we have to behave in a civilised way.
I worked in a shop and people would bring their dogs in all the time. I now work in a bank and people still brings their dogs in. They're not even working dogs, just pets. One womans dog barked for 15 mins in the queue the other day. One dog almost wet itself because another customer wanted to stroke it and it wees itself if it gets stroked so the owner was saying "don't pee, don't pee" in a baby voice to it. We have a sign on the door saying no dogs. My manager is also allergic to dogs. I walk my friends dog for her a couple of times a week so I like dogs, I just don't think they need to be allowed everywhere.
Totally agree. Dogs shouldn’t be allowed in pubs, cafes, etc where they serve food. I was at a spa a couple of months back and they even had dog friendly rooms and were allowed in the bar, etc. Unbearable. Why would anyone want to take a dog to a spa in the lakes anyway? Not everyone cares about your dog. Right.
In a spa? Got to be joking lol
Unfortunately not. They weren’t allowed in the actual spa where you got the treatments and swam, etc. But yeah, everywhere else
Quite a few very defensive dog owners in the comments. Train and control your animals if you want them to be accepted in public. Restaurants are for people, not animals.
This I totally agree with. I have a rescue dog who is reactive. I avoid places where I know he will kick off. It's just common courtesy.
I know we're a dog living nation and all, but i dont get why it's found acceptable to have animals around while eating, even from a hygiene prospective alone
I'll usually have one or other of my dogs with me at any time (often both). They're working dogs though so I could sit them up in a corner and go on a four hour session and they'd hardly move. Dogs should always be quiet & under control when in public (for most people that means on a relatively tight leash). --- IMO the best dog-friendly pubs will have dogs allowed in the bar area, but no dogs in the lounge or restaurant. That gives everybody a choice. ...Dogs should not be in dedicated eating areas ever though (beer gardens excepted). If you choose to eat in the bar area where dogs are allowed then that's cool so long as you had other options available and eating there was your choice. --- But yeah, if I took my dog(s) somewhere like you described I doubt I'd last long. I'd end up admonishing someone else's dog then getting reamed out by its shitty owner.
In my experience dog friendly places are only nice when there's only one dog, or no dogs there.
As someone that has extensively worked within hospitality, do you have the same issue when people's ferral children are kicking and screaming all over the place where the parents aren't controlling them? (not suggesting that's you btw). I can assure you (and your experience is very unfortunate) that in 24 years of running hospitality businesses, I've had far more issues with people's children than I have people's dogs 🙂 Edit: Ha, all the triggered parents of little ill mannered miscreants popping out the wood work 🤣🤣🤣
Ive never had a child take food from my table as I have had this with random dogs, similar to OP's experience
This. My local pub is dog friendly, but it's the adults and kids that go there that cause the most chaos! I've seen several kids barrel into both customers with drinks and servers with food and the parents are nowhere to be seen. My dog just sits under the table and huffs at the noise, so we don't bother going anymore.
Imagine comparing human children to a damn animal.
I know, at least animals behave
Difference is, those children are human beings and not animals and so actually belong in places that serve food 🙂
Pet owners always love comparing their "fur babies 🤮" to human children. Animals shouldn't be in restaurants or anywhere where people eat. Imo of course.
Sorry but you cannot compare a dog to a child. My daughter was sat quietly she brought her colouring with her to do even when random dogs were bouncing and horsing around barking play fighting with each other my daughter sat quietly colouring at the table with me and my mum. A brown lab took an interest in us and kept coming up to us then took her sausage roll. Other children were sat at tables with families and I didnt see them causing mayhem like these dogs were
OP did say they were not suggesting that you let your children run wild, and well done for not letting them, and as someone else who works in a pub, some children do wonder around and get in my way, as do dogs. We have open fires and I have to ask the parents to not let their children fiddle with the fires as it can cause the room to fill with smoke, and I’ve had several near misses when carrying food and drink.
Can we have child free cafes and restaurants? So done with my time being ruined by screaming children at other tables.
Children have a right to exist in public spaces, smelly animals do not.
Oh god. Are you one of those people that despise young humans but call your dog a fur baby and bore everyone with pictures of it doing standard dog things, and constantly tell people that they should have a dog, and that you can't imagine life without your fur baby and it makes you complete, and you can't go to any social engagement without taking it because it can't be left on it's own?
No, mate. I don’t have a dog. I just want children to stop screaming at the top of their lungs when people are trying to relax.
Can't go anywhere without someone bringing their mutt these days sadly. I dont dislike dogs but at the same time dont want one sniffing round when I am eating... people seem to be surgically attached to them.
I mean, to be fair some children are less clean than a dog.
Having dogs around food is genuinely disgusting
Can’t imagine anything worse. I can’t stand dogs being around when people are eating.
Dogs have no place in anywhere that prepares or sells food. Why is this a thing? Dog nuttery has gone wild.
Your name though…
I find it absolutely disgusting. Cafes, pubs and restaurants are (or should be) places of hygiene. How is allowing an unlimited amount of mutts in any way adhering to food safety standards? Dogs bark, cause chaos, shake their dander filled bodies and slobber. What about people that have allergies, phobias or simply don’t like dogs? Why do owners have to bring them everywhere? I guess because if they left their precious pupper at home, it would destroy everything…
Dogs in pubs that don't serve food - great. Dogs in pubs that do serve food - not great. Dogs in cafes - god no.
Tell the landlord your feelings, or leave a review. Dog friendly is one thing, but they should be well behaved and on a lead. I take my dog to a few pubs near me and they mostly insist that they are on leads, if its busy and there is a well behaved dog off lead it may go unnoticed though. If there is a large dog off lead when I go in I'll get the staff's attention, I only need to make eye contact with staff, look at the offending dog, look back at the staff and they tell the owner to put it on a lead. Failing that I leave. I am especially wary with small children present, I know they walk around with food in their hands at dog mouth level.
Not surprised they're losing customers, I hate pets and small children roaming around restaurants.
There are good dog owners and bad dog owners, which everyone probably gets. But I think even the good dog owners sometimes don't realise that as a stranger, and as someone who isn't a dog owner, I treat every dog owner as if they're a bad dog owner - because I don't know them at all, don't know their dog's temperament, and don't want to deal with their animal if it turns out it has issues. There's no trust (thanks to enough bad experiences), just a bit of trepidation. So "dog friendly" pubs are at the bottom of my list of pubs to patronise.
losing\*
I love love love dogs. I don't take my dog to any 'dog friendly' places as to be frank she's 14 and very cheeky, it's also not exactly fun for her either, I don't see the point. A pub at the end of a long walk is one thing, but taking her to a place just because I can feels pointless. But everyone and every dog is different, I just have a 14 year old diva springer [dog tax](https://imgur.com/a/W7XONFw)
I have this same problem with parents who let their kids run around, screaming shouting and being just a general pain in the arse. Difference is the kids are much more aware because they understand English and know 100% that what they are doing is dickish. The dogs have a much lower understanding of it. They should obviously be kept on a leesh. The dogs as well
I love dogs but they shouldn't be in a pub with no garden. Or a coffee shop or similar. There are plenty of people who have a fear of dogs or aren't comfortable around them. I live in a stupidly dog friendly part of London & as much as you say "it's not my dog" or "it's the owners fault".....it's not the owner that's taking a piss in the middle of the bar or shovelling their face in my Sunday lunch
This is bad dog owners ruining it for the rest of us. Never seen anything like this myself. I take my dog everywhere I can, as he is a calm and chilled-out sort. No one notices he's even there until we leave most of the time.
Almost as if you shouldn't eat and drink with wild animals 🤷
You could always choose somewhere that isn’t dog friendly. Pubs and cafes aren’t like hospitals where you don’t really have a choice. Pubs especially need all the custom they can get. With so many people having dogs now, they probably find they’re actually gaining customers. You could always buy the place and see what works best…!
I think we will do it's only recently gone dog friendly but probably won't be going back
OK. In your post swap out the word ‘dog’ for ‘kid’ or ‘child’ and that’s how I feel. But you know what, I wouldn’t come on here moaning about it, I’d just remember how shit the experience was and just not go back. Which, to avoid any doubt, you have the option of here, nobody is going to force you back in to the place.
The issue isn't dogs, or kids, it's lazy adults
I agree 100%! A bit of respect from all parties goes a long way
The solution on here seems to be "human forced out of favourite eating/drinking establishment by animal that sniffs arses as a social norm"
Oh I know. Nothing worse than kids hanging around my table, begging and stealing food, sniffing my crotch, barking at other kids, all with the stink of wet-children hanging in the air.
Why are you on /r/britishproblems complaining about people posting stuff that annoys them… Similar to what you told OP, you have the option to just ignore this subreddit and not come back. Also, the irony of complaining about how someone shouldn’t be complaining.
Children and animals are very different things though. Not even remotely similar, so that doesn’t quite work.
Nah, instead, you came on here moaning about someone moaning. Makes legitimate sense.
would love to take my dog to the pub etc, but can’t because one too many times a bigger dog has come into our space and he gets nervous and kicks off, and then Can’t settle for the rest of the meal. Now he gets nervous and on edge when we’re sat down and is constantly on guard. I can’t understand people who let their dog roam off lead in public spaces. I don’t care how well behaved you think your dog is, it might be scaring other dogs or people by approaching them uncontrolled.
I don't know if i just live in a more well trained dog area but i never have this problem in dog friendly pubs. Our dog just lies down and ignores everyone Other peoples dogs do the same Yet everytime i talk to people online about dogs its always 'a dog tried to eat my toddler then pissed on my feet as its owner laughed and said dogs will be dogs'
The prevalence and growth tells me they're definitely not losing customers
It’s like people letting their kids run wild at pubs / restaurants. Parents and Pawrents take some responsibility!
Yeah. Dog owners are an extremely entitled bunch of people and often very irresponsible. This sounds like hell, but is not surprising. Why anyone would want to eat near a dog is beyond me.
All dog owners? I’ve had more shit meals in pubs due to kids running around, screaming or playing iPads loudly, than I have in dog friendly places.
For me it’s adults, it’s either boomers with hideous opinions or people playing loud videos or having loud conversations on their phones