Dogs in coffee shops?

[fedupntired]

Is this a thing now? I've previously seen dogs in clothes shops and today am in a coffee shop (which sells food) and two dogs have been welcomed with treats from behind the counter.
I own two dogs - but ew!

Littlelongdog, I assume you have a miniature dachshund ? Cafe Nero don't mind dogs, we always ask if we're not sure.

Where are all these shops that allow dogs?
I live in the south east and rarely even see guide dogs in shops let alone regular pets

For the poster who wants to know how you find out if a place is dog friendly-
Word of mouth generally but they tend to have a sticker on the door and dog biscuits at the counter!
Our Starbucks is dog friendly but I tend to go a local cafe instead.
Be mindful some places tolerate dogs and some places are really dog friendly!
We have a fab country pub where the landlady gives all the dogs scraps on a Sunday 😍

Yes to dogs, I love it. Not so much the children fighting in a coffee shop sitting next to me and jumping all over the sofas whilst their mother was on the phone.

My dog particularly loves a pub and is always complimented on his behaviour, he lies under the table and doesn't move unless we go to the bar and he walks with us at heel (no lead) it's called training (hundreds of £'s and hours of it). Plenty don't allow dogs including all Wetherspoons, Costa coffees and chains in general. I don't take him shopping apart from the garden centre and pet shop as he's 20kg of hair - John Lewis officially welcome them now but town isn't for dogs.

Thanks LadyKalila. Yes a miniature dachshund - he’s still a puppy so I’ll wait for him to be reliably toilet trained first. But that’s good to know.

I love it. I wouldn't take my two unless I was out on a dog walk, because they're a bit of
a handful and it's not very relaxing for me, but I love to see all the other dogs.

The ones who don't allow dogs at all are usually aiming at a more family market, especially young children.

I avoid any cafe that allows dogs. In the past I've gone for a coffee and bite to eat in a 'dog friendly' place without realising. Five minutes later somebody has come in with their slightly whiffy dog, sitting right opposite me with their dog panting and drooling (yes it was a big dog with those drooly, dribbly jowels)- and worst of all, the owner expects me to start fawning over their lovely pet and doesn't make any effort to stop it wandering over to me. Which means I then have to ask them to move their dog away, and I look like the weird one - just for not wanting dog slobber and hair near my food.

(Some) dog owners mystify me.

@RangeRider
Why do dog lovers come onto a parenting site to disparage children particularly when the thread is about dogs.
Such twatery

I think the difference is if someone's child accosts you in a coffee shop (I've had children stick their fingers in my face etc) the parents seem to think you should be happy with that, dog owners usually accept that other people don't want their dog all over them. (I don't actually mind little children in cafes and chat to them if they come over, but not everyone likes it) I've never come across a dog wandering around - they are always on leads and usually lying down.

To the PP who asked how do you know - my local cafe has a big sign in the window 'dogs welcome' - and they sell dog treats and have a bowl of water outside on the pavement. Round here most coffee shops that are in the designated green areas/parks are dog friendly, or at least have outdoor seats so you can sit outside with your dog and your coffee.

The dogs I see in cafe's,pubs etc are always quiet and well behaved and I'd much rather sit next to them than some families who allow their dc to run around freely,screaming,skating,emptying sauce bottles,sugar packets into tables,tripping people up,throwing food on the floor ,having tantrums etc.

God yes.

Speaking here as someone who grew up with a serve phobia of dogs. Had it from as young as I can remember until the age of 19ish, due to being attacked by a dog when I was little. Luckily I worked super hard to overcome the phobia because it really did control my life.

I was terrified of all dogs. Didn't matter if they were cute/small/big/quiet/old etc. Being too near a dog would cause me to have a panic attack. I'd be in tears, couldn't breathe, and it was just the worst feeling ever, I would be completely terrified, even if it was a chiwawa.

Having a phobia of dogs is really tough, because they're everywhere! There were certain places I'd always avoid, like parks. And there were also places I'd feel safe, like a supermarket or a cafe. For me, there was nothing worse than finding a dog somewhere I thought was safe, as it would catch me off guard and I'd be even more panicked and stressed. Guide dogs are slightly different since there's usually only one of them at a time. So, if there's one guide dog in a cafe, I can sit as far away from it as possible, although I'd still be nervous. But a cafe with multiple dogs inside would be awful for me, even if they're under the table, it would be my idea of hell.

I don't mind dog-friendly cafes, so long as there's a clear sign somewhere indicating this cafe is dog-friendly. That way, dog owners know, and people like myself who were really phobic, or maybe someone who has an allergy, knows to avoid it. I'm not a fan if there's no sign, as I think it's important to remember that some people are terrified of dogs and others have serious allergies.

badtaste Pubs and cafes will make more money in some areas encouraging dogs, than any money they lose from customers like you.
In the same way I avoid anywhere aimed at parents with young children e.g. Hungry Horse. They make more money from those families than they lose from me.
It is about differentiating yourself. Nowhere can realistically cater to everyone. You have to decide who your market is. If you are in a popular hiking area, turning away dogs will most likely lose you money. If you are by a popular seaside area, turning away kids will most likely lose you money.

Several coffee shops in my town welcome dogs. It's great and it means that they get my custom.

mary yes that's fair enough - and I also avoid 'family' pubs & cafes now I no longer have very young children. Basically if I'm paying for the privilege of having a coffee, I don't want my personal space encroached by anybody or anything annoying!

It's gross.

Rather have a well-behaved dog than a badly-behaved child. My dog doesn't go to parks because we live in the country. She also doesn't chase livestock, only squirrels -- which are vermin. We choose our pubs carefully, and don't inflict ourselves on establishments which don't welcome dogs.

As long as they are sat still where people are not going trip over them and are quiet it doesn't bother me. A lot of coffee shops and pubs allow it where I live - rural north west england. It only annoys me when owners let the dog on the furniture or it constantly yaps and barks or it is moving around sniffing around other people.

Its defo Horses for Courses - if you like dogs (even if you don't have yours with you), go to certain places. If you don't, go somewhere else (there are still way more places that don't allow dogs than do).

@FrancisCrawford
I think everyone knows blind dogs are the exception

I used to take my small, friendly, quiet dog into a cafe that was dog friendly and I'm pretty sure a great many people didn't even realise she was there.

Where I live now very few places allow dogs but I don't tend to take her with me when I go into the shopping area anyway.

I was very surpised the other day though, to see a man in our, very small, local Boots with a dog. It was definitely not a guide dog and was clearly not very well trained either as it was trying to jump all over the other customers and given that it was quite a large dog and a small shop, it was very difficult to avoid it; nobody said a word to the man.

I've also seen a man in our local Waitrose with a small, well behaved dog sitting in the child seat of a shopping trolley. Some sort of instinct though made me think that one might be a emotional support dog.

Perhaps in some places it's just a case of being pushy enough to just walk in with your dog as if it's your right. You can get away with quite a lot if you act with enough confidence.

Why do dog lovers come onto a parenting site to disparage children particularly when the thread is about dogs.

The non-dog lovers started it Ghanagirl, complaining about "wandering dogs" etc - I think we dog-lovers just responded by pointing out that kids can be as bad, or worse, and that given the choice of sharing a coffee shop with a nice dog or a noisy kid, the dog will win paws down!

I still remember being in a restaurant in Italy where they allowed dogs (most do there), and watched in horror as a woman fed her little dog at the table. The dog then peed under her table, and came to us for a refill!
So no, I don't like dogs in coffee shops or anywhere that serves food.