I think allowing dogs to be present when people eat "outdoors" (and perhaps get a bite or two) is just fine.
I think that several rules regarding this need to be made .....
1) It should be posted for everyone to see that "dogs are allowed there."
2) Individual restaurants can choose to allow dogs or not.
3) Restaurants reserve the right to ask dogs to leave - if they are not well
behaved or cause any problems at all...barking, growling, aggressive
behavior, etc. etc. etc.
I think it is an intelligent decision trying the three-year pilot program.
Unfortunately - too many people think their dogs are just "little angels" regardless of how they act (the same way many people feel about their children) -
Can you imagine hearing that "My dog is tired ... and needs a nap." "My dog is having a bad day." "It's the other customer's fault - wouldn't you bark too?"
I think that dogs that are well socialized and used to being around other dogs and people will probably behave very well. I'm not sure that dog size is an issue. Some of the larger dogs are the best behaved --
Overall, I think it is a great idea - let's see how it works. I know a lot of places already do this - and it seems to work just fine.
Carol Jean |