Service dogs in restaurants. What’s your opinion?

If they are actual service dogs, I do not mind at all. Those dogs are very well-trained to behave in situations like that.

If they are somebody's pet dog and they are passing the dog off as a service dog, or they are an emotional support animal, I do mind. Far too many people pass their pets off as service dogs/emotional support dogs. Service dogs are actual working dogs, not just pets we love.

I have been asked to bring my dog somewhere at which no dogs were allowed, and I said no. My dog was highly trained and everyone at the location loved him. But he was not a service dog. He was a working dog, though. He took that upon himself. He was my children's protector and nanny.
 

Last edited:
Service dogs, called assistance dogs in Australia, - and in Australia is legal requirement that they can go anywhere their owners go

However as I said in previous thread on this
Assistance dogs in Australia are distinct in their level of training and the rights afforded to them. Unlike pets or emotional support animals, assistance dogs must go through rigorous training to meet specific standards that enable them to work effectively in public and private spaces. These dogs have legal access to public places, transport, and accommodations, rights that are not universally extended to pets or emotional support animals.

Other dogs in restaraunts is up to restaruant owner - If they want to have a dog friendly area they could, as long as away from food preparation area - but have never known anywhere to do so.
Outdoor alfresco areas of cafes - you do see dogs there and I have taken my non assistance dog to them. She is small and well behaved and never had a problem with that.

on a side note, she also is part of a dog therapy team and we visit people in nursing homes every month.
 
Service dogs always. They are there for a reason. That being said around here a lot of restaurants allows dogs in the outdoor seating areas. We take Thunder every time we can. We were at a restaurant early this summer and the gals next to us asked to hold our dog even. He is very well behaved. I usually just plop him in a chair and he lays down. No begging at all. This was one of our dining experiences.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20250710_174042034_HDR_AE.jpg
    IMG_20250710_174042034_HDR_AE.jpg
    124 KB · Views: 9
  • IMG_20251029_162343_1.jpg
    IMG_20251029_162343_1.jpg
    75.3 KB · Views: 9
Since I eat every day at home with a dog, then I'm not sure I have much of an opinion. :D

Service animals are perfectly okay. It's not about the dog as much as it is the human who is in need of it's service.

Emotional Support Animals.... less so. But it would depend on the venue. A lot of people eat in pubs these days, and I'd be fine there. However, a high end restaurant then it's a no.
 
I don't have a problem with dogs who behave being out with their people any where. I do have a problem with people who claim their animal is a service dog when they are not & try to take that dog places they don't belong.

My friend was given a service dog & the woman who trained the animal is clueless. I'm not sure if this was through the VA or an organization, but the dog doesn't have the right temperament & not responsive to his commands. He has had him now for almost a year. :(

There shouldn't be a problem to come up with national standards so trained dogs can go to any state to someone who needs them. Once the animals pass those standards, they should be issued a vest & an ID that shows who the dog belongs to that is recognized by all states.
 
jlhog said:
Service dogs always. They are there for a reason. That being said around here a lot of restaurants allows dogs in the outdoor seating areas. We take Thunder every time we can. We were at a restaurant early this summer and the gals next to us asked to hold our dog even. He is very well behaved. I usually just plop him in a chair and he lays down. No begging at all. This was one of our dining experiences.
Click to expand...
Omigosh, he's darling! I love the red bow tie. 😎
 
Service dogs wouldn't bother me, but I wouldn't go along with emotional support dogs. Also... anymore people don't stop at just emotional support dogs, they have emotional support pigs, goats, donkeys, etc, etc...It's got out of hand.
 
January said:
Service dogs, called assistance dogs in Australia, - and in Australia is legal requirement that they can go anywhere their owners go

However as I said in previous thread on this
Assistance dogs in Australia are distinct in their level of training and the rights afforded to them. Unlike pets or emotional support animals, assistance dogs must go through rigorous training to meet specific standards that enable them to work effectively in public and private spaces. These dogs have legal access to public places, transport, and accommodations, rights that are not universally extended to pets or emotional support animals.
Click to expand...
Yup, it's the same here in the States (i.e., legal obligation, strict training).

I used to commute in DC with a woman who had a hearing dog, a fully trained, legal service animal, beautifully behaved (as service dogs are), and she'd get pushback from bus drivers and people on the subway because they didn't think a hearing dog was a "real" service animal. I felt bad for her. It sounded like a frustrating situation.

My son used to work as an assistant manager in an ice cream shop and had to deal with a woman who repeatedly would come in with her iguana draped over her shoulder!
 

Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top