I know that some dogs (and, presumably, some other types of pets) do suffer from separation anxiety when left at home alone, which can lead to destructive behavior.
I always ask, even if the dog is tiny, smiling, and displaying panting eagerness to have me say hello. And I always back off with a smile and friendly comment if the owner says no.
Similar.
I had a rescue Dalmatian. Was brought to the shelter because she was mean, bitey and had no self control.
I got her semi-trained. And she loved me, seemingly. She calmed down enough I could keep her with us, so I adopted her knowing no one else would keep her.
She was neurotic and possibly brain damaged.
Could not trust her, ever around others.
You could not make people understand she would bite their kids face or hand off.
She was classic, cute sweet looking 101 Disney Dalmatian dog.
I couldn’t take her very many places.
Once had a woman curse me cause her little 3 yo couldn’t pet sweet doggy.
“Just why was I so damn mean?”
I ask her did her cute little girl like to keep her face?
Maybe little kids oughta be kept outta places where dogs are? (I love kids, but they get away with things because of parents who do not teach them how to behave, in public. How can we expect, these same people to train animals?)
“I thought you said your dog didn’t bite!”
“He’s not my dog.”
I was in Italy recently. I stopped at a small restaurant for lunch. A family with a dog came in after me. As they were getting settled, rummaging through the menus, etc., their dog curled up under one of the chairs. It stayed there until i left.
I can see it working to have more dogs in public.
This.
Are you really that pathetic that you can’t bear to leave your pet home for a few hours?
Are you annoyed that your employer doesn’t let you bring it to work to keep you company?
Or, that your friends should let you bring it to their house for a party to which you’ve been invited?
What about a wedding? Reception?
Would you “feel better” if it was in the operating theater alongside you while you underwent surgery?
Indeed, I am.
I’m self employed, so I bring 1,2, or 3 dogs to work with me every day.
Most of the parties I attend are outdoor affairs centered around barbecue, beer, and cannabis. The odd man at the party is the one without a dog.
I do everything possible to avoid them. The few I’ve officiated, I was far too busy to also care for a dog.
No, they’d be frightened seeing me non-responsive.
Back in the '80s I was in a small restaurant in Amsterdam having breakfast and the owner’s cat was on my table. I know that there is a host of health issues possible with cats but I really enjoyed this.
And in Halifax in the '80s there was a store (Atlantic News for any Haligonians of a certain age) that used to have a cat in the store.
And then, of course, there are the cat cafes. I personally like having cats around but not dogs (personally) as I find dogs often too intrusive for my taste.
The library has cats. 2 beautiful, well cared for, long haired loveys. You can request their brush while you sit at a computer or read. The cats will come sit near you and you can brush them.
I don’t know how they’ve got away with it as long as they have.
Hair is everywhere.
I volunteered there for a few months. One of things I did was wipe hair off places.
Dogs are not allowed in. Big sign on the door.
So, just because some people don’t want to be constantly surrounded by dogs, they are “incompetent, whining, and useless”? Real nice. I could say that people who can’t go anywhere and do anything without having their dog with them are weird. I doubt you would appreciate that.
By the way, why DO you have to have your dog with you everywhere you go? Does he help carry groceries?
There’s a nasty dive bar I stop at from time to time. Really vile place.
On the door they have a sign:
Every single time I’ve been there there has been three or four dogs, all elderly, laying around.
ETA: I’d never bring one of our dogs there, out of fear for communicable disease.
I find it amusing how cats are treated differently. Yet pose the same (more?) health issues.
I’m a dog magnet; when any of the dogs in the neighborhood (being walked or in their yards) see me coming, they get excited – as if I am the only “company” they ever have (despite their owners often being on the other end of their leash).
Of course, I actively play with them, not just pet them or talk to them (e.g., get down on the ground and roll around with them). Our dogs would be really annoyed when I would return home and they smelled another animal on me/my clothing (as if I had been “unfaithful”).
A neighbor has a largish dog (resembles a standard poodle in hair texture and size but I am sure it is not that variety) that she walks regularly. I frequently encounter them while similarly walking. When the dog spies me, it freezes in place and fixes its gaze on me… anxiously waiting for me to close the distance.
Then, as I draw near, goes absolutely ballistic with excitement and drags its owner (on the other end of the leash) around as it bobs and weaves in our little gameplay. (how would it react if it saw me in a store?)
Our dogs were always well behaved. But, we would never think of taking them to another person’s house (its impolite unless THEY were explicitly invited). we’d never have them in a setting with food, etc.
A neighbor is a cat person. Cats climbing over everything. We routinely decline invitations to eat with them. But, I always engage in play with their dog (a small terrier mix) each time I visit.
You can’t control the experience sufficiently to know how a particular animal will react.
Our cat lady neighbor ended up getting her arms seriously clawed by one of HER cats… that was, apparently, not in a friendly mood at the time. And, she is the person who feeds, houses and cares for the animal!
It doesn’t take long for an unfortunate event to take place. What if your animal gets under the feet of an elderly person and they trip, fall, “break a hip”? “Gee, we’re AWFULLY sorry. He’s not usually LIKE that…”
Or, takes a nip at a kid who just wanted to pet him – but, perhaps, moved too abruptly?
Do you think other “strangers” want your cat rubbing its scent on their legs?
Would you let someone piss in your kitchen sink? After all, it ends up in the same drain…
Not always. Our dogs love to do stuff, and would rather be with us. Of course when we travel by plane, we board them. Sometimes long car trips as well.
Total strawman. And insulting as well.
I work from home now, but when my border collie had surgery and needed some care for a week I was VERY annoyed that I could not bring her into my quiet roomy cube at work. My wife sometimes takes her into work. She mostly sleeps under my wife’s desk. But will wander around and visit people. Her co-workers love it. So does the dog. A few extra scitches and scratches.
And It’s good for moral in the office.
That’s SOP with our friends. I wouldn’t bring them if I was not sure though. When my neighbors come over, the dogs outnumber the 4 of us.
Of course not. It would be very stressful for the dog.
Depends. These usually require a shit ton of planning and a bunch of stressed out people. It depends on the location too. Weddings and receptions would usually require my attention to people that I may not have seen in years, possibly decades. So a dog would not be appropriate for me.
Here’s the thing - every dog owner thinks that their dog is well-behaved. And from my experience, for every calm, well-behaved dog in a public place, there are going to be some yappy, stupid, bouncing, slobbering thing. Why should the rest of us have to deal with that?
Not my experience at all. And an animal (two or four legged) performing in that way should be removed from the establishment.
Sure there are idiot dogs and idiot people. But I’ve never experienced a a yappy, stupid, bouncing, slobbering dog in a public place.
In the end, this is a people problem, not a dog problem.
I love love all animals. Doesn’t mean I’d swim with hippos or sharks.
There’s no middle ground. You can’t ever assume your dog is always welcome.
If you’re situation allows it. If you trust you can control your dog. If you have friends who welcome your dog. I say, go for it.
This isn’t the case with, I’d say, with most people and their dog.
They just have no clue.
I don’t want to deal with their dog anymore than I wanna deal with the other crap in their lives.
Judgy? Yep.
You bring it out in public I have a right to judge it.
Actually you’re right. My post sort of degraded into a rant and, if I really think about it, in stores and restaurant terraces I’ve only seen well behaved dogs.
My apologies.
It was intended to be. Thinking the world should accommodate YOUR needs (or those PERCEIVED needs of your pets) is incredibly selfish.
Our dogs wanted to be with us 24/7/365. But, we’re responsible adults; we know that society can’t be expected to accommodate them, much as we would like it to! So, to be responsible pet owners, we conditioned them to tolerate our absences (and not get stressed out).
I’ve a friend who has a “pet” pig: “Oh, she’s very friendly…” Do you think diners at another table would welcome her? What about bringing a RABBIT – they are notoriously passive (which is why magicians pull them from hats)? Would you be able to eat the beans on your plate without thinking of “rabbit pellets”?
We, as a group, settle on rules governing our public behaviors. I can’t walk out the front door to pick up my mail in my BVDs – even though they cover just as much skin as my bathing suit would! (OhMiGosh – the double standard in that!) I am “forced” to slip on a pair of slacks to make that trip.
I can’t belch at a neighbor’s table while eating. Or fart. Or, laddle ALL of the gravy onto my meat just because I like it that way.
I can’t discipline their kids – regardless of how much I think they deserve it.
If I dislike these conditions, its up to me to avoid those situations; stay home with your creatures!
It’s insulting because there are ill people who need comfort and surroundings that make them feel safe.
I, hesitantly agree that maybe these people oughta stay at home where they feel safe and mentally healthy. With their comfort animal.
But that is not entirely fair and may be discriminatory.
The hope is they can have trained and safe dogs.
There’s apparently no way to lisc. or certify this.
So here we are.