To dislike the increase in dogs in shops/cafes

I live in a town that has slowly become more dogcentric. Lots of dog walkers & people visiting for the weekend etc, so I think for business owners, especially cafes/pubs, it makes sense to be dog friendly or they’d potentially lose out on a lot of custom.

I think there should always be designated area though.
Not everyone likes dogs or wants them near their kids etc, some people are allergic, some people are genuinely scared of them. (I used to work with a woman who was bit as a child & still very fearful of them)
Those things should be taken into consideration.

I don’t mind dogs but I’ve lost track of the amount of times a dog has bounded up to me or my young dcs. The owners usually just laugh and say ‘oh, he/she is friendly’
I’m sure they are. Most dogs are, but they shouldn’t be doing that, don’t assume everyone is ok with it. Lots of people are too polite to say they don’t like it.

Nobody can change my mind on the silliness of dogs being in clothes or food shops though (Except service dogs obviously)

Next they’ll be letting cats, gerbils and pet rats come in….

I adore dogs but there are certain places they shouldn’t be unless they are true service dogs.

BTW, when I google “dog free cafe” with my town’s name, I only get a list of dog friendly places or ideas for great doggie days out

Same logic applies to dog owners and fireworks - they are asking everyone to avoid doing something that they are quite within their rights to do ie enjoy celebrating divali or bonfire night with legal fireworks.
Dog owners cannot have everything arranged to suit their mutts

I like dogs in that I'll give them a quick hello/clap but my partner is allergic to dogs and they are indeed everywhere now, most poorly trained. There's no need to have them in shops and restaurants so now I’m getting increasingly anti-dog.

It's all very well saying 'just go to dog free cafe/restaurants' but I can't be assed trailing round asking if they allow dogs. It used to be the assumption was dogs weren't allowed in, now it's the other way around. My local area is saturated.

I was dismayed to see that my local Cafe Andaluz (tapas chain restaurant) now allows dogs?! The only one out of all their restaurants. Just why?

And yes your house does smell of dog.

dogs will not pay your pension or care for you when you need it

You’re asking people with dogs to consider your feelings and avoid doing something they’re quite within their rights to do then insulting them. Do you not see why people aren’t that willing to change their plans for you?

I don’t like the sound of babies crying, the smell of their milky puke, their trip hazard buggy’s or the incessant need for mothers to dominate conversations about their little darlings. Don’t get me started on dirty cafe tables covered in half eaten food and snotty tissues. Dogs are just important to some people as kids are to others.

amymel2016, flipping hate that term !!!

Ok!

Yanbu I'm not a fan either. Too many dog owners have poor control and I'm tired of being pawed, sniffed etc by dogs I have no interest in or hearing the constant barking. I like dogs but I choose not to have one and I don't always want to engage. Well behaved dogs I'm OK with but it seems fewer and fewer owners can keep their dogs under control and just sort of smile and laugh helplessly and say shit like 'he won't hurt you' when actually the issue isn't fear but not wanting to have muddy paws and dog hair all over me!

We were in a lovely pub for lunch last month while on a trip away. A couple came in with two little dogs and sat close by to us in the No Dogs area. The dogs kept yelping / barking/ snapping at each other. Our toddler was upset by the continual loud barking and we had to wolf the remainder of our lunches to get out.

Yesterday we had similar but luckily they weren't as close to us, so we could distract.

In somewhere like the Lakes / Yorkshire Dales etc it's obvious there need to be sections where dogs can be taken in, as otherwise businesses would lose half of their customers. In town centres it is absolutely not necessary.

Please please complain to TKMaxx. I have done, and HQ don't want dogs in their stores. Sadly, the head security guard at my local TKMaxx doesn't care (dog owner himself).

I'm not fussed by it as long as they're well behaved. People with poorly behaved dogs infuriate me though.

I can assure you your dog smells. You are just inured to it. Your house reeks too. Again, you are just used to it.

It’s not bullshit. Come to Tunbridge Wells and see for yourself!

Loads. Mine, and many of my friends. And many on Mumsnet. I pretty much avoid eating out now. I will go to Wagamamas, as they clearly state no dogs, and generally Indian/Thai restaurants don't seem to invite dogs. but general cafes are heaving with the horrible hounds, and thus, avoided. It is a shame. I don't know why people can't just let dogs stay at home, and not impose them on the rest of us in human-centred settings like cafes.

Totally agree. In our neighbouring small market town that we visit most weekends, there are about 12 cafes in total. Only one does not accept dogs and it’s the one with crap coffee! I wouldn’t mind so much if there were plenty of places that weren’t dog friendly to even things out, but for us it’s not the case.

I find people who can't go anywhere without their mutt very sad indeed.

@DillyDallySal
Some strange posts on this thread! When did people become so intolerant and mean spirited? The owner offered to pay for another, what’s with wanting someone to be “cowering with embarrassment”?! Get over yourself.
Oh dear! You missed that it was a light-hearted post - a little bit of humour went over your head, eh?

Yanbu. I hate it. I really dislike dogs (this now makes me a weird and horrible person in today’s dog-obsessed society) and I hate that nearly every place I used to enjoy visiting, I now have to share the space with dogs or miss out altogether.

I think pubs, fine but arguably there ought to be a dog-friendly area so allergy sufferers can avoid. Dogs in shops is weird and I find it so gross in cafés! Really unhygienic.

I get that pubs serve food as well - I think if it was a pub that was more heavy on serving food I'd object more to dogs being inside instead of in a pub garden or something, but if it was one that was more focused on just pints and crisps, I suppose dogs in pubs is something I've seen for longer and the hygiene thing seems like less of an issue.

We have a local coffee shop chain who are partnered with GuideDogs. Being dog friendly is their USP and raison d’etre. Dog treats available at the counter. Their logo is a line drawing of a dog and they have a dog breed name in their name. Sign in the window reads “don’t leave your best friend at home!” So really easy for non dog lovers to avoid. They are really successful,open 7 days a week and always busy even on Sunday afternoons. So there is certainly a demand. I’ve never seen any dogs in there doing anything except chilling, certainly not jumping up and slobbering.

I agree with you OP. I avoid pubs/ cafes / hotels which market themselves as dog friendly. For every business which welcomes dogs, I wonder how many customers they are losing who actively go elsewhere?