The dog was on the floor and “free” but not roaming (ie she was staying by the owners’ legs). I consider it unacceptable personally, and don’t think passengers or crew should need to rely on the owners’ perception that this was (I suspect) a well behaved dog which probably wouldn’t have started running around or bitten anyone, especially when we are all locked in a metal tube 35k feet above the ground. I personally think that in this case dog owners should simply abide by the rules and I thought that the cabin manager’s point that not doing so risked encouraging airlines to simply play it safe by discontinuing allowing small pets in the cabin was spot on.