Dog Friendly? - Enough Already

If I ran a bar my dog would live there. It would also be in an area where dressing up means throwing a T-shirt over the bikini.

 

I wouldn't subject my dog to a human bar. He's a big old rawboned Treeing Walker **** Hound that howls and bays, and people love him. He would want to meet everyone, or at least talk about it. I walk him twice a day, take him to a dog park three times a week, so he most likely sees more people than he would like as is. Some of the comments that I've read here are disturbing, some are flat disturbed!

 

First of all my wife and I take our dogs with us to pet-friendly places. Our dogs (two labs) are very well-behaved, completely non-aggressive, obedience-trained, and we trust them completely. Dogs are social animals and they enjoy being with their "pack" so I don't agree that it's always better to leave them at home, but a dog-owner has to make their decision about having a dog in public based on what's best for the dog, not simply whether the establishment is "dog-friendly." I have a few opinions...

1. It's the business owner's decision if they want to allow dogs or not. If you don't like the dogs around go somewhere else. I don't see dogs being present as all that different than choosing whether or not to drink a beer at a place that allows smoking, has TVs, is family-friendly, etc. No one is forcing you to stay in a place with dogs around. You are free to leave and you can respectfully inform the manager why you are leaving if you want. They might even appreciate the feedback and change their policies.

2. Even though I said above my dogs are well-behaved, when we take our dogs to a public place they stay on very short leashes and we make sure to sit somewhere where we can control the interactions our dogs have with others. If the owner can't reasonably control who their dog interacts with they have to be willing to walk away from that place. This could include overly crowded places, tight seating, loud music, too many distractions for your dog, or other people not behaving correctly around your dog. Owners should not put their dogs in situations where the dog can't resist bothering people (licking, begging, bumping, etc.), partly because it is rude to the other person(s), but also because it's a negative situation the owner should to protect their dog from. Also for the sake of your dog don't put them in situations where they could be hurt by people stepping on them, people pet them without permission (major pet-peeve of mine), surprising your dog, people giving your dog food without permission (another pet-peeve), etc. All of this can be exacerbated in places where drinks are being served. For the sake of others and your dog, you must make sure the setting is appropriate, and a business saying they are "dog-friendly" is not enough.

3. Non-dog people can lighten up too. If the the place allows dogs (see #1), the dog is well behaved, and the owner is keeping them in-check, then let the dog be. That dog-owner and others with that person probably get enjoyment by having their dog with them, so why is your hang-up about a dog being in your line of sight more important than their happiness? The people who look down on dog-owners are probably the same grumpy curmudgeons who look down on parents who bring a child to a kid-friendly bar. Lighten up or leave.

4. Related to #3, I'm not sympathetic towards people with irrational fears of dogs, because like them or not dogs are very common in our society. The irrational fear is the issue, not every dog in the world. IMHO, an irrational fear of dogs is the equivalent to an irrational fear of spiders, germs, clowns, meteor-strikes, ghosts, chem-trails, the boogie-man, etc... get therapy or stay home, don't force everyone in the world to bend to your irrationality.

5. There are people who are simply bad dog owners who don't take enough responsibility for their dogs. They give their dogs too much free reign, overlook their pet's behavioral/obedience problems, and/or put their dog into bad situations (see #2). These people suck, but sometimes you have to deal with sucky people in life. Whether you address them directly, simply leave the situation, or grumble and bear it, that's on you, but I can say that whining about it online is probably the most ineffective course of action.

 

You're lucky if I wear flipflops.That's formal wear where I live.

 

Thank you. Very well put. I wish I had the patience to put it so well, but really, I'm kind of a dick. So again, thank you.

 

I've been a few places where you can't distinguish between the dogs and women.I didn't know if i was petting someone's dog or thier wife.

 

Well, did the guy take offense? If so, it was probably the dog.

 

To add to the flip-flop conversation, 3 Stone Brewing sandals:

http://www.sanuk.com/search?q=stone brewing

I'm guessing they are acceptable attire at the brewery.

 

My wife and I don't go out to bars very often, as we enjoy time with each other at home (it's cheaper and we can imbibe together). However, on the occasions we do go out, it's to have a good time and socialize with family and/or friends. Should there be dogs everywhere, it's most likely going to be a no-go for me. I'm just of the opinion, dogs don't belong in bars.

I posed this to my wife, and she's of the same mindset.

 

Love dogs- hate when you have to climb over them in the middle of the place, you disturb the dog and the ass hole owner then gives you crap/ crappy look for disturbing the dog.

I tend to like the dogs more than the owners.

 

Dogs belong on the front porch of your home or your couch, not in a bar. Leave your pooch at home!

 

, > -

 

I do not have dogs, I have cats but I do agree, please keep your dogs contained in one area and do not give them free range........Please understand, I am a huge animal lover, just please make it comfortable for all others !

 

Never seen a dog in a bar. I fucking love dogs and welcome them into nearly any business. If the business owner is okay with it, that's their decision to make and you can in turn decide not to go there if it really bothers you.

I would be a little concerned about a dog (especially a small one, or multiple ones) in a crowded bar on a Friday night. They could get hurt by the crowd. But the occasional dog rolling in on a Friday afternoon for lunch, hell yeah. So I guess just use common sense, people. There are certain times where bringing your dog might not be a good thing for people or the dog, and just because you can doesn't mean you always should.

 

excellent thread @Mantooth

Though, I dislike dogs so you are the more appropriate person to make a thread like this.

 

Well said.

Unfortunately the new trend is to bring non-service dogs into places with a dog free policy and force the store employees to say something. Several employees at various places have informed me they are not allowed to ask them to leave, or to ask if the dog is a service animal (liability involved in asking whether or not someone is disabled, apparently, somehow...).

 

The step beyond crocs are those foot glove things with the toes built in. Stupidest fucking things ever conceived. I've observed them out in public a handful of times. Dirty Harry would cry if he could see what we've become.

 

If you go to Sante Adairius on the weekends there will be a 1:1 dog to person ratio inside of the tiny taproom, guaranteed.

Oh, and they are all wearing flip-flops too.

 

All the more reason to wear flip flops!

 

People should leave their fuckin dogs at home