For The Dogs
After reading an interesting discussion on a Dutch forum, I wondered how other people felt about this issue; Dogs in restaurants.
What do you think of dogs in restaurants, should they be allowed or should they be denied? And if you want to allow them in restaurants, under what circumstances or rules? If you want to deny them, why do you feel that way and should there be any exceptions?
My opinion; allow them but only with certain rules in place. We have a dog, his name is Butler and he generally stays at home when we go out for dinner. After all that’s where his food is and where he feels most comfortable. But when we’re on holiday, we can’t always leave the dog in the hotel room or the apartment, and we most certainly won’t leave the dog in the car when we go out for dinner.
The first thing we do is have one of our party go in to ask if dogs are allowed, if not, no problem we’ll search on for a restaurant that does allow it. Even if that means we end up eating at a take away or junk food place.
If he’s allowed in he will stay on a leash and kept short while walking to our table (which we prefer to be out of the walking way of waiters and visitors). Once we sat down, Butler will lay down under the table and fall asleep, only to wake up again when we leave.Most of the time people don’t even notice there’s a dog with us.
Mind you, I’m not talking about fancy 5 star restaurants but lunchrooms and diners. If we were to go to a fancy restaurant like that we do leave the dog in the hotel room or apartment.
I feel that all dogs in any restaurant, should be well behaved, quiet, under the table, and not fed from the table. No one in the restaurant should be bothered by someone else’s dog. As long as the dog is not stirring up things and hardly noticed it’s fine by me. However, I don’t think a dog should walk around the restaurant, bark, beg for food, on the owners lab (or on the table or a chair!) or cause trouble in any other way. People come to a restaurant to enjoy their food and have a nice meal out.
Some people are afraid of dogs. That’s understandable and generally I’m one of them except when it comes to Butler. Does this mean that you should leave your dog at home though? – No! I can completely understand someone who fears dogs, but they also have to understand that a dog is an animal that you can run into anywhere in public, and if the restaurant allows them in, that’s the way it is, and it’s a public place too. Besides, if the dog is on the leash, under the table and out of your reach there is nothing to be afraid about.
Now what if someone is allergic? Very uncomfortable, but again it’s a public place where they allow dogs. If I have to keep looking out for other people all the time I might as well stop living my life. After all, one also could be allergic to my wool sweater instead of my dog and I bet no one thinks of that when going to a public place…
What I find more annoying in restaurants is kids running around and screaming about, therefor disturbing someone else’s dinner plans. Don’t get me wrong I like kids, but when they come to my table with sticky hands and runny noses I’m done eating. Most of the time their parents don’t really care, as long as their peace and (temporary) quiet is not disturbed.
Kids are fine if they are somewhat behaved and stay at their own table. Don’t run around and scream in my ear. I’ve seen parents take drawing paper and pens to restaurants to keep their kids entertained during dinner; a perfect solution. No one is bothered by them and they have a nice family outing.
So in a nutshell; dogs should be well behaved and not making a scene (as should kids) and dogs should be under the table (somewhat out of sight). If that’s the way they behave no one is bothered by it and there are no problems. In any other case; leave them at home (dogs and kids alike!)
Plugged: Amber, Kat, Penny, Amanda, Anne, Jessica, Nikki, Hannah, Natalie, Crystena, Nan
8 Comments on "For The Dogs"
It’s just… The hygiene issues that bother me. I would hate to have a dog around when I’m out eating, and it would make me feel really uncomfortable. It’s also not fair for them to not be able to move while their owner eats. Rather they are stuck there with no option.
The point really is; dogs are allowed in, except when the restaurant has an open kitchen due to hygiene regulations. So people can agree or disagree with it, it’s allowed to a certain extend. Restaurants can have their own policies though.
I wouldn’t want to see a drooling dog while I’m eating either. I can totally understand that. But if the dog is invisible (so to say) under the table and not making any noise or drooling, just sleeping, I don’t see the problem.
[quote]I can’t compare a child to a dog. A child is a person and a dog is not[/quote]
I feel differently; dogs and other animals have characters too, humans just fail to see it as they feel superior to other animals.
Also the only way to teach a dog (like children) how to behave is take them out in situations where they need to behave.
Our dog; a Labrador, only comes with us when its allowed / appropriate when we are on holiday. If we go out in the area he stays at home. So far we only had good responses and compliments about his behavior. Maybe that’s because we only go to hotels / restaurants that have a dog policy, and are somewhat known for it. But I think it also has to do with the way he was trained.
It’s interesting to see how other people feel about it.
It’s illegal here, for hygiene reasons, regardless of an open kitchen or not. Dogs aren’t even allowed in OUR store, due to the fact that we’re attached to a mall, and there are food places in the mall.
I don’t really know how dogs are so unhygienic that it’s dangerous to have them in the general vicinity of a food place, but, um… yeah!
I tend to agree with you. As long as they’re behaving and not bothering any of the other customers, then it’s fine. I kind of feel the same way about little kids.
I’m a huge dog lover, though, so I’m very biased 
As for my own dogs, I would never take them with me to a public place, because they act like unruly toddlers most of the time.
No way! For sanitation purposes, although the same could be said for kids… I like dogs but I just don’t think they should be in restaurants. Unless it’s a dog restaurant, yes there are dog restaurants, I was surprised to hear about that too.
But… maybe they can go in if the owner has a certificate saying the dog is perfectly trained? Like they’ll listen to all commands from the owner without hesitation, will sit perfectly still or lie down under the table until called on etc. Imagine if parents had to have certified behaved kids, LOL!
I feel the same way too.. Dogs are like kids . They are like your family members.. ANd if they are under the table, then one should not have any problem with dogs being permitted in resturants
We always ask if we may bring our small dog in a pub or cafe,if the answer is no we dont allow them in so be it.I’m amazed at how many food premise owners are under the impression its against the law.There is NO law governing this ,its soley at the dicretion of the ower & if they dont want us in because of the other customers then I except that but if they are adamount that its the law then I quietly point it out to them & go elsewhere.
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I don’t think dogs should be allowed in restaurants. I can’t seem to fit a drooling Labrador into my candle light dinner fantasy. And I really love dogs – especially Labradors. When it comes to kids – I actually agree. I don’t get annoyed at kids – or dogs – but of the adult responsible person who brought them there and failed to control the situation.
That being said – I can’t compare a child to a dog. A child is a person and a dog is not. There is only one way to learn how to behave around other people and that is not by sitting at home but to test your environment and understand that what you do – no matter what will cause a reaction and a consequence. Don’t forget how it was being a child yourself – it was all the forbidden fruit that was also the most tasty ones. There is places where adults would like to meet and I am sure that responsible parents can “smell” when it’s fine to be a little louder and when it’s not. I can – but of course there will always be those who can’t.
I find adult loud and perhaps drunk people as annoying as drooling dogs and children – old people who takes out their fake teeth’s grosses me out too – and I know it might be necessary at times – but I don’t ask them to stay home. Pretty much every group of people can annoy me somehow in different situations.
Blind people’s dogs should be allowed at restaurants though and blind people’s children too…