Dogs in cafes/pubs

[AutumnEve]

I was in a cafe for lunch today and the people next to me had large dog which tried sniffing my food when it was served to the table. The owners apologised but then didn't make any extraordinary effort to make sure it didn't happen again.

I don't mind dogs but DH doesn't like them. Why must people bring their dogs into these places and then not be sensitive as to whether the people around them feel uncomfortable?

Personally I think there should be laws about this.
AIBU?

I am attracted to dog friendly places. Happy to be sniffed and share my sandwich. 😊

I am scared of dogs so wouldn't go somewhere where they were buy I can't see why a dog café would be less hygienic than any other (necessarily). I wouldn't like it if dogs were in every café but I doubt that's ever going to be the case.

"And try not to give your DC fear of dogs, it's definitely a learnt-from-parents thing"

It's definitely NOT!!! We don't have a dog (but both DH and i did growing up), my DS loves dogs and loves playing with the neighbours dogs, but my DD is petrified due to several bad experiences with big dogs charging up to her, or barking aggressively at her. It's more a 'learnt from useless dog owners not controlling their dogs" thing....

I wouldn't be bothered if dogs were in pubs/cafes etc, but i live in NZ and can honestly say i've never experienced a dog (with the exception of service dogs) in any place i've eaten! Sitting outside yes, but never inside. Dogs are not allowed on certain areas of the beach too here, where there are lots of people e.g. near a surf club or touristy part.

A dog friendly cafe sound great fun!! Isn't there a cat cafe in London?

Dogs used to be banned by food hygiene regs from places serving food. Has the law changed?? Apologies if already answered as i haven't read the whole thread!

"Dogs used to be banned by food hygiene regs from places serving food."

Really? I don't think so.

I have always know of eateries that allowed dogs. I don't ever remember a time when there was none.

It's up to whoever owns it, as long as the follow food hygiene rules (such as no animals in food prep areas).

I don't like dogs. I can tolerate ones who are in the extended family for a while but they just aren't my cup of tea, I'm not an animal person really. However I wouldn't moan if there was a dog somewhere like a cafe - I just wouldn't go there!

When we had our last dog, we regularly walked her then went into the pub for a drnk. Then one day we were told to take the dog out as they now served cooked food. There seem to be lotsxof places now that you can't take dogs ond lts of areas in parks which are now dog free or dogs on leads.

Yanbu. I don't want any animals around food I have paid for and am going to eat.

I feel the same about small children

Our town is slowly becoming super dog friendly. All the good pubs allow dogs and the business is booming. If you don't like dogs, don't go to the establishments that say 'Dogs welcome'.

madcatwoman I agree.

My fave cafe is dog friendly but they have to be well trained and quiet. If not they are asked to leave.

I dont mind them in this situation but i would mind a dog getting close enough to sniff my food but thats down to crap owners.

Place i work in doesn't allow dogs. Up to the establishments owners.

Maybe you should have said something before it got that close? And definately had a word with stafc before you left about the proximity of the tables combined with dogs being a complete turn off now.

Yeah because dogs wandering sniffing people and food are just the same as children crying. What a ridiculous comparison.

OP, I totally agree with your point that people need to be considerate - not letting their dogs wander off, sniff people's food etc. I wouldn't mind them being in the pub, just for their owners to make sure they aren't bothering people, especially as people are scared/dislike/have had bad experiences with strange dogs. Letting their dog roam around to other people is poor form.

I’m with you OP. It really pisses me off when I’m having a nice meal and someone’s dog will sniff my table, me or my toddler. I don’t want a dogs nose that’s potentially sniffed another dogs bum anywhere near my food, my hands or those of my toddler. I find it disgusting. I’m an animal lover and have no probs with well behaved dogs (and children for that matter!) in pubs, cafes etc... But it’s not really the dog that’s at fault here is it. It’s the inconsiderate owners that think everyone is as happy as they are to be slobbered over.

Dogs are not usually allowed in places that serve food,unless they are an 'assistance dog'. But you know what,I think I'd rather see a dog in a cafe or pub than some of the ghastly,badly behaved children that I regularly see in them nowadays. The dogs are usually well behaved and unobtrusive. Parents of said children just sit there gawping at their phones while their little darling runs around screaming and getting under people's feet. I know I'll get flamed for saying this.

I guess if you don't like dogs you should check ahead and only go to places where they aren't allowed?

This is getting harder and harder to do. Our girl is terrified of dogs and has been since about birth. In fact, she is terrified of all animals. We have no idea why but apparently it’s common in children with mobility issues, so our OT tells us. We have worked really hard to get her to the stage where she is now comfortable with dogs she can see but are on leads. The number of places which allow dogs is increasing which is great for dog owners but a nightmare for us. It’s not always obvious that places accept them so we’ll be happily having lunch and a dog will come in and sit right next to us. Thankfully most owners are nice enough to keep the dog over the other side of the table. But some make no allowance for folk who are afraid of dogs and that’s just mean.

Ultimately it's the proprietors' choice. You don't have to go to that café/pub. Presumably the café owners either just love dogs or think that they will get more custom by allowing them than by banning them. Where I live (Lake District), almost all cafés and pubs seem to allow dogs, presumably because it's such a mecca for walkers that banning dogs would lose you a lot of custom!

YABU.
I dont understand why people are saying dogs shouldn't be around places where there are food. What exactly is the risk? What is going to happen to you?
You don't like someone elses' dog trying to sniff your food- fair enough. Neither would I. Nor do I like being near loud children or people who smell whilst i'm eating. But get over it, nobody's going to get ill or die, there are more important things in life to worry about.

YABU, no one forced you to eat at one of the few places that allows dogs.
We have recently been away for the weekend with our (exceptionally well behaved IMO) dog and being able to take him into cafes and pubs made our time there so much more enjoyable. He literally just sleeps under the table the entire time... to the point that people get a fright when they notice a huge white dog under the table!
If he hadn’t been able to go into the cafes/pubs it would have meant having to travel back to our friends house every meal time to drop him off, just so he could be with us the majority of the day (which we spent at markets, beaches and coastal walks).

Yanbu. Ime you don't know which places allow dogs until someone brings their smelly shitball in and by then it's too late because you're already eating.

Anyway, threads like this are always amusing because of the shut ins queuing up to say how they don't like children and that taking them into cafés (ie built environments created for people, of which children are a subset) is the same as taking animals into them.

So yanbu again.

I think it is disgusting. Was once in a pub with a restuarant section and a dog (seemed to be the pub dog) csme into the restaurant area and peed on the carpet. The landlady came round and mopped it up with a bar towel. Thankfully we hadn't ordered. Needless to say, we left.

I like a good dog friendly cafe. In my experience I've had to search specifically for one. Devon is particularly good. My dog just lies under the table, I wouldn't want to see what would happen if anyone dropped a sausage though...he's a lab after all.

Dog does a very impressive sit and then swing round to heel which has seen us invited into lots of shops I was I tending to wait outside of (for DH and DC). I usually pass if they sell a lot of ceramic...enthusiastic wagging tail.

I feel a little bit guilty because I did comment on this knowing that it was a ZOMBIE THREAD because the post of the person who resurrected it amused me. However, as everyone is still replying to the OP, I feel obliged to point out again that this is a ZOMBIE THREAD.

ZOMBIE THREAD

Can dogs become zombies?