Should dogs be allowed in bars and restaurants?

... And it's funny (and sometimes embarassing!) how they sit under the table nearest the person who drops the most...

We have a 'no feeding the dogs at the table' rule, but my father always thought he'd secretly ignore that when he came for a meal. The dogs soon gave the game away, though!

 

Homer used to a a bit of a nuance as he'd insist on sitting in the most awkward spot where people need to walk past. However much we lured him to sit closer to us he'd come up then move further way. At first we chose less busy times and spots to sit so we'd be as much out of the way as possible, usually next to the toilets. I'm not sure how, but recently the penny has dropped that it's best if he lies under the table, possibly due to him having his tail trod on one to many times, or that he gets a sneaky treat, oops, some crumbs might drop.

 

I'm joining in now as I have made the final decision that Dexter is definitely coming to England with me for July and August.........he will be coming EVERYWHERE with me.I won't have any support system for dog care to fall back on so he will just have to come with me or I can't go .::
I'm so excited about that as he really is so limited here ....there are open air parts of the city where he isn't even allowed to walk on a lead .We've trained hard together in the establishments that do allow dogs ( outside only ) I cannot tell you how tough it has been having to sit there with my dog and drink coffee :: Joking aside, I have really tried to prepare him for life outside his restricted experiences to help him to be able to cope. He manages great,but he's usually the only dog ....it will be interesting to see how things pan out when he isn't.....maybe he won't be able to cope and behave well so then we won't do it .....I wouldn't put him or the other patrons through it......
I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to lovely green walks with him and friends and then being able to stop for a coffee or pub meal when all you have had is sand,sand and more sand ........you just watch,he's going to be a numpty isn't he? and it will be Angela and Dexter sat in the car with my chips on my knee!

 

Don't forget the mud Dexter, don't forget the mud!!

 

Can't wait! Remind me of that in a couple of months when I'm wailing!

 

HeeHee, Angela, you might change your tune when you've washed mud off your dog for the 4th time in a day!

Dex will be fine. And so what if it takes him a few goes to settle in a pub? We've all been there with wriggly puppies learning to settle. Just choose your pub carefully at first, quieter ones where you can sit out of the way of other people and dogs until Dex gets used to it. No-one has ever even lifted an eyebrow at Charlie, even when he couldn't sit still for love nor money! And Dex sounds like a much calmer dog than Charlie has ever been.

 

I think you'll be amazed how quickly he settles.

Tatze had never been in pubs until we went on holiday to Northumbrerland, with Tatze and Gypsy, where everywhere is dog friendly. She was absolutely fine and took it all in her stride.



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I don't think pubs are all that difficult, really. They are just like a busy house.

Charlie wasn't great when I first went into pubs after dog training with other dogs. Having said that, he was much better than the other dogs we were with! But dogs are a distraction for him in a pub, I've got to sit far enough away so he knows he is not going to get to say hello/play otherwise he fusses. Nothing that a kong won't sort out though!

 

Dexter will settle If he is just with me.....I make myself very boring and play with my phone and he just flops down,he's pretty good with dogs he knows too but untested on dogs he doesn't know....there I foresee trouble! Well not trouble but I think he'll be restless / fuss until he catches on.Flies bother him here so he jumps up all the time if one lands by him so I'm hoping we won't have that to distract him ....I've started letting his Kong defrost too because he tosses it round like he does at home to get the filling out and it lands in places it shouldn't ...like the flower beds.....
This is not a 'settle' Dexter!