Forget Kids

[PrincessFiona]

Should people be allowed to take their yippy dogs out in public places like restaurants?

Last night, we went to the Harry Potter party at Barnes and Noble and then waited for our book after midnight.....we had to park pretty far away and walk to the store. On the way, we walked by a restaurant with tables outside. There I was with 5 kids walking after dark and a black poodle lunged out from under a table and barked at me like he was going to eat me right there. I nearly peed my pants. Shortly after passing there, I realized I forgot my camera in the car and we had to walk back...the same dog barked like crazy again AND again when I had retrieved my camera and walked by one last time.

The owner? All she did was say "Lucas, stop that" in a sweet little voice.

I felt like kicking the dog.

Of course, if I was going to follow the logic of the previously discussed article, I might add "it's people like that that make me not own a dog....dogowners are evil....dogs are evil" :> but....of course I have a dog, so that point is lost :> I would just never take my barking fool out to a restaurant.

[DCJenn]

The thing in San Antonio are those mini chihuahuas- like they fit in people's shirt pockets- and all the poor things do is sit and shiver. Can't be fun for the dog, that's for sure.

there are a few restaurants in town that let you bring your dog to the outside seating areas- Petey used to go and get his Friday night burger at Blue Star back when he was the only 'child'.

I'm sure some people would have preferred that he be a tiny little yappy dog rather than a 45 pound burger-eating dog.

Jenn

[PrincessFiona]

Actually, I think that's cute.....as long as he wouldn't lunge after my hamburger!

[SuzySunshine]

More and more restaurants are allowing dogs in their outdoor seating which I think is great - but again, bad dog owners give all dog owners a bad name. Take your dog to obedience class and if they can't behave in places like that don't take them.

We've taken Molly once and she did just fine. However she has a thing with men, barks at them non-stop so I'm not sure how she would do in a busier seating area. She also LOVES kids but sometimes they get scared of her because she gets so excited.

But some owners don't care.

[DCJenn]

Yeah- I was nervous the first time we took Pete but he's really well-trained and he's not a barker. He usually sits under the table and waits for his treats.

Jenn

Take your dog to obedience class and if they can't behave in places like that don't take them.

Yup. I don't mind friendly dogs at all.

We've had two run-ins with unfriendly dogs in the last week. It's weird.

Last week, I took the kids out to lunch. We were looking in a bookstore window and a group of guys passed us, fired up about something. I soon realized it was the dog outside the restaurant. Moments later, Bryn was walking in front of me to the restaurant and a dog that was leashed to and sitting under a bench lunged out at her, hackles up, barking fiercely. I think she about peed her pants too, Kris! The guys who walked by saw this and one said "that's it" and went back into the restaurant. I don't know what they said to the dog's owner. She came out and apologized (sort of) saying the dog was "just protective" and friendly. About all I could muster was that the dog didn't look or sound friendly.

We went in the restaurant and the dog owner asked for the check. The waitress asked her why, owner said she needed to take her dog home. I don't think the waitress connected Bryn still crying with the dog incident because she went on and on about how she hoped the dog would be ok.

Then a few days later, we went to a friend's soccer game (adult team, not many kids around). There was a guy visiting with the opposing team who had two husky-type dogs and one leash (wth?). He had one on leash and one off. The one off ran over to our kids kicking the ball back and forth. I knew he would scare Anna so I went to pick her up but he seemed friendly enough...and then looked not so friendly and started jumping up on Bryn's back. That was Monday and she still has light scabs from the scratch marks. The dog wasn't really menancing but he wasn't acting very playful, either.

Anyway, all of this has brought dogs onto my radar a little more and reminded me that some people don't use much discretion in deciding if their dogs should be in public places.

[PrincessFiona]

And when we were in WI, we went to the open air movies one night and ended up sitting next to two guys with dogs. They were well behaved enough, but one of them kept....sniffing at me and Zoe while she was sleeping. It was both embarassing and annoying and the dog owners did nothing.


kris

Same as with kids - dog owners need to be responsible for what their dog is doing. Those sound like AWFUL experiences Nellie. Poor Bryn. Good thing she has Ned around or she'd probably end up fearful of dogs in general!

I don't really love it when there are dogs in restaurants -- seems like a health violation to me. And as Jenn said, those tiny purse dogs never seem very happy when they're being dragged around Beverly Hills in and out of shops.

But I do enjoy meeting up with a well-behaved friendly dog in public. I still remember an enjoyable wait time on the Plaza, b/c the kids and I got to play with a sweet lab named Kona.

[Sheherezade]

Where is Heidi? I'm ready to get a second bus to come rescue her!

[peggyfromwastate]

Re: Forget Kids

The owner? All she did was say "Lucas, stop that" in a sweet little voice.

The dog owner needs rehabilitation. Someone call Cesar Milan!

Where is Heidi? I'm ready to get a second bus to come rescue her!

I think she's heading back to SC today. She's been in Utah for a couple weeks.

[pstone]

Dogs should NEVER be in public eating areas, or EVER off a leash except in dog parks!

I am a dog owner, but some people and kids are scared, allergic, or both.

And I don't want your dog panting, barking, or yipping at me either.

Grrrr....

Wondering if I should get started on "vanity dogs"....could tie in with the biological clock thread....or perhaps a personality disorder thread.

I do love dogs however, and don't get me started on cat owners.

I do love dogs however, and don't get me started on cat owners.

Whoa, Peter! What's wrong with cat owners? You'll never see us toting our precious fur balls in public places.

As for dogs in restaurants, I think it's fine as long as it's the patio area, the dog is on a leash, and is very well-behaved. The behavior part is exactly how I feel about children too...if they can't behave in a restaurant, then don't take them.

Dog owners need to be very considerate of the people they are imposing their dogs upon. Their dogs should ALWAYS be on a leash unless at a dog park or a park with a dogs-off-leash area. I'm terrified of big dogs that I don't know. I appreciated when I was walking on the sidewalk and the couple coming towards me with a large dog (on a leash) noticed me stiffen at the sight of their dog. The woman said in a quiet voice to the man, "She's afraid of our dog." They immediately moved off the sidewalk onto the grass and kept the dog on the far side of them until I passed. I appreciate people who are considerate in that way.

Dogs wearing clothes...I think it's completely ridiculous! If I had a friend who dressed up her pooch, I would definitely talk about her behind her back! :>

The bottom line is there are rude people with dogs, rude people with kids, and rude people with cell phones.

I used to live the bi lifestyle, until we had kids and all that. We're considering going back to it though.

[DCJenn]

We're a bi-animal family also-

three cats, one dog, although the three outdoor kitties are bucking to become indoor kitties but my husband threatened to go back to Iraq if there are any more beating hearts in the house upon his return.

and I WILL be the crazy cat lady- it's my destiny.

Jenn