Ireland equals DOG UNFRIENDLY country

newdogowner

Couldnt believe what happened when we dropped into Kildare Outlet on the way home from a trip to Cork.. a man actually chased me into the mini open air village asking me to remove my dog even tho i was well equipped to scoop up after him!! what discrimination... guide dogs are allowed into these places so its not as if they are anti-dog per se...
it really peed me off as i sat outside with a few others who had also been told to keep the dogs outside....

come on ireland....wake up a little....

FunkZ

Sure ya weren't bringing the dog into actual shops.

I'd have eaten the head off the fcuker!

Edit: Sure most dogs are better trained than most of the people in this country haha

Qualitymark

My son was told to leave a *hardware shop* because he had his dog on a lead the other day. I don't think they understand the difference between food and hardware. "Spanner sandwich and a bag o' nuts, please."

jelfs

Ireland= unfriendy to dogs.
unfriendly to children.
friendly to adults only.

anniehoo

I wouldve non politely told him to FCUK OFF!Seriously...

Tootle

Thats true. I kind of test the waters in shop with my small dog. I hold him in my arms and nobody says anything. I've even had him inside on the ferry and on a tourist bus tour. I think if he was a bigger dog it wouldn't be the same.

Zapperzy

I think there should be some kind of system whereby if your dog passes an obedience test (is there something called the good canine citizen award already in place?) it should be allowed the same privelages as a guide dog. If they were to just anounce tommorrow that all dogs were to be allowed in shops there would be war, because you'd get all sorts of dogs coming into small cramped shops and next thing you know there'd be people being bitten by unsocialised dogs.

There are dogs trained just as well as guide dogs that are just ordinary pets but not allowed to enter shops or go on public transport. My mind just boggles when I hear of dogs not being allowed into shops for health and safety reasons (if there is food being served), these places cannot refuse entry to a person with a guide dog, so is the guide dog not also a health and safety risk? Are guide dogs cleaner or do they carry less germs than your average pet dog? I too have also seen dirtier humans and it's such a pity we cannot just say ''Im sorry it is a health and safety risk if I allow you into this shop, please go home and wash yourself before coming back''!

We'd also have happier, better socialised dogs if they were allowed into shops. They'd spend more time with their humans out and about instead of being left at home cooped up alone.

morganafay

Zapperzy wrote: »

My mind just boggles when I hear of dogs not being allowed into shops for health and safety reasons (if there is food being served), these places cannot refuse entry to a person with a guide dog, so is the guide dog not also a health and safety risk? Are guide dogs cleaner or do they carry less germs than your average pet dog?

I guess they have to say it, because some people might have very dirty dogs or disobedient dogs and it'd be a bit of a nightmare then . . .

morganafay

I used to always bring my cat on the luas and trains and nobody ever said anything He was too cute, and was in a cage too.

There was a guy on the luas with a ferret up his sleeve one time too . . .

And I saw a kid walk into a supermarker holding a baby lamb.

The cuter the animal, the less likely someone is to complain probably . . .

Qualitymark

It's all fairly recent, this. Twenty years back it was perfectly normal to bring your dog on the bus, for instance - though only if you sat upstairs.

A lot of people wouldn't bother to have a car except for bringing the dogs for walks - busmen are going to burn in Green Hell.

mathepac

morganafay wrote: »

... There was a guy on the luas with a ferret up his sleeve one time too . . ..

Be wary of guys inviting you to play "hide the ferret" or "find the ferret" on or off the luas ...

morganafay wrote: »

... And I saw a kid walk into a supermarker holding a baby lamb. .

Excellent, fresh meat delivery. BTW a grown-up lamb is called a sheep...

morganafay wrote: »

... The cuter the animal, the less likely someone is to complain probably . . .

True but I can't see myself shopping for leg of ferret or cat steaks mind you.

BostonB

Qualitymark wrote: »

My son was told to leave a *hardware shop* because he had his dog on a lead the other day....."

Is it ok off the lead then???

antomagoo

mathepac wrote: »

Be wary of guys inviting you to play "hide the ferret" or "find the ferret" on or off the luas ...

In Munich last year and people are allowed to bring dogs (on leash) into shops, seen a woman with a massive GSD in a fancy department store

adser53

i was in bruges last year and I couldn't get over how dog friendly it was. Everyone had a dog and they could go in and out of shops as they pleased. Like the post above, saw a few large dogs in a fancy shop. All the pubs and cafes etc had bowls of water and such left out. Every dog I saw was really calm, well socialised and happy. AND i didn't see a single piece of crap on the footpaths or grass areas. It looked like heaven for dog owners

Ireland is very dog unfriendly IMO, between the lack of dog friendly facilities and the fact that bringng a dog anywhere other than a generic walk in a quiet place outside is frowned upon. I cant beleive you were stopped in the open air part of Kildare village, what a load of crap!

Just edited to add that the more I think about it, I reckon the reason bringing dogs anywhere in Ireland is frowned upon is probably because, as a nation, we have a pretty ****ty (pardon the pun) record when it comes to cleaning up after dogs. You cant go to the park or walk down a footpath here without having to hop over a few turds. I'm not saying that makes it ok but as alwyas the few bad owners make it more difficult for the rest of us. A lad on another forum explained how at the pet expo, some woman's dog poooped on front of his stall INSIDE the exhibition hall on the carpet and she trust walked on ignoring peoples calls to come back to pick it up. Now thats why we cant go into Brown Thomas with our furry buddies :D:D

Mr. Presentable

Dogs are territorial.

So, a dog is in your shop, no biggie. But the next dog in will get the scent and mark the territory as his. And the next.

So you end up with a wet floor and sticky shovels.

BostonB

antomagoo wrote: »

In Munich last year and people are allowed to bring dogs (on leash) into shops, seen a woman with a massive GSD in a fancy department store

Yes but over there they shoot the dog and the owner if theres a problem.

seamus

nipplenuts wrote: »

So, a dog is in your shop, no biggie. But the next dog in will get the scent and mark the territory as his. And the next.

So you end up with a wet floor and sticky shovels.

Very outside risk tbh if the dog is being properly controlled. As said, many other countries have no problems with dogs being allowed in - and in clothing stores, where they should be most worried about dogs peeing on stuff.

Your main problem with supermarkets is that you will have people not paying attention while their dogs are on 5m extendable leads, licking any exposed goods, tripping people up and dragging merchandise around the place.

It's not just that Irish shops are animal-unfriendly, but many Irish pet owners treat their animals like they treat their kids - i.e. do whatever the hell they want and scream at anyone who says anything.

barbiegirl

I'm sorry, I love my dog but a shop is NOT the place for her. She is well behaved and trained, but I still would NOT dream of taking her into a shop. Doggie noses on clean clothes, merchandise, meeting other dogs etc. plus in Ireland so many owners have not socialised their dogs properly and were I a shop owner, a slim chance of a dog fowling is too big a chance.

doctor evil

seamus wrote: »

but many Irish pet owners treat their animals like they treat their kids - i.e. do whatever the hell they want and scream at anyone who says anything.

Crux of the problem! I often think it is unfair to bring a dog into a crowded area.

There is also the danger of guide dogs being ruined by other badly trained dogs. How many thousands do it cost to train a guide dog?

MsFifers

I love dogs but I don't think its appropriate to bring them into shops & restaurants. One over-excited toddler and things spiral.:D

Also - as a lot of people in Ireland are soooooo bad at cleaning up after their dogs, then places just have to put a blanket rule up because otherwise the bad owners will take the p*** and leave a mess for other people to clean up.

FunkZ

I was in Paris in April and any shop you went into you'd see at least one dog, granted they were all small breeds.

FunkZ

barbiegirl wrote: »

I'm sorry, I love my dog but a shop is NOT the place for her. She is well behaved and trained, but I still would NOT dream of taking her into a shop. Doggie noses on clean clothes, merchandise, meeting other dogs etc. plus in Ireland so many owners have not socialised their dogs properly and were I a shop owner, a slim chance of a dog fowling is too big a chance.

In fairness now, we're talking about an outdoor outlet.

homerhop

FunkZ wrote: »

In fairness now, we're talking about an outdoor outlet.

With indoor shops

adser53

I agree dogs IN shops here isn't a great idea but the OP was stopped going into the retail outlet, not the shops themselves which was OTT in my opinion. And I don't see the harm in sitting outside a pub, cafe etc with your dog. Again, having them inside isn't a great idea but only because of the owners not having their dogs under control and trained. You have to ask yourself though how the dogs are so well behaved in other countries and it's because they're used to these circumstances. I'm sure if it was allowed here it'd be anarchy at first but given time, it'd work as well as it does in other countries. I could be wrong here but I remember a friends cousin lived in Germany for a year or two and he was telling us about pubs not only being tolerant of dogs, but some of them actively encouraged dogs. Kind of like socialisation classes with a few pints

average_runner

I am a dog lover but sorry kildare retail centre is no place for a dog.
There are small kids there walking around and not one owner can say you are 100% sure that your dog wont do something if a little kid smooth it going by.


Dogs should not be in clothes shops as people dont want dog hairs on new clothes, especially people with allergies. Aisles in shops are also not wide enough for people with dogs and kids.

As said, I have my own dog and think the world of him but i know the limits. As for people who have the dog off the leash in the park and not under control, they should be fined.

Too often a dog has jump the park wall and run in front of my car, last time i gave out crap to the owner as they will cause an accident and if so it should be man slaughter charge for the owner!

convert

I think the biggest problem is the owners and not the dogs. As a few of you have mentioned above, there are some people who don't watch their children's behaviour, so if they don't do that the chances are they won't mind their dogs, either.

I wouldn't be a big fan of having dogs in shops or restaurants. My mum is asthmatic and allergic to most animal hair, but especially dogs and cats. The last thing somebody with allergies wants is to go into a shop to buy clothes, only to come out with streaming eyes and nose, or wheezing because of it. Moreover, if she did buy an item of clothing, it would mean that she'd have to wash it or have it dry cleaned before she could even wear it! Moreover, as mentioned above, most shops and restaurants barely have enough space for customers to move around freely, let alone for customers and their dogs, especially those dog owners who insist on leaving their dog on the full length of the extendable leads.

Outside shops is fine, so long as people clean up after their dogs, which, in fairness, isn't very common in this country (even though there are many responsible dog owners out there).

Wolfe Tone

I am a dog lover but sorry kildare retail centre is no place for a dog.
There are small kids there walking around and not one owner can say you are 100% sure that your dog wont do something if a little kid smooth it going by.

Dunno about anyone else but I am 100% sure my dog would not do anything.

Golden Retriever.

homerhop

MUSSOLINI wrote: »

Dunno about anyone else but I am 100% sure my dog would not do anything.

Golden Retriever.

There is no such thing as being 100% sure, all dogs have the potential to bite.

easyeason3

MUSSOLINI wrote: »

Dunno about anyone else but I am 100% sure my dog would not do anything.

Golden Retriever.

So if a child stuck it's finger in your GR's eye or started pulling on it's ear then you don't think your dog has the capacity to bite?

Every dog can bite regardless of training or gentle nature.

And for the record I wouldn't bring my dog into Kildare Village because of the amount of children that are running around. I hate when people think that because you have a dog that you will stand there like a grinning idiot, entertaining their kids while the little angels make my poochs lovely coat all sticky & just generally annoy me & him :mad:

Rant over.

seamus

Yes, when provoked. I would be 100% sure, without any hesitation that my dog wouldn't suddenly lash out and bite any person just walking by. Being touched or poked by a child is a different story, but that's something you can control.

morganafay

mathepac wrote: »

Excellent, fresh meat delivery. BTW a grown-up lamb is called a sheep...

Oh yeah . . . but I meant a really young lamb, as opposed to a child lamb or a teenage lamb, a baby lamb . . .