Or was this bloke in the cafe totally over reacting

[NicoAndTheNiners]

I'm in a very dog friendly cafe with my well behaved dog. Who is on a lead and has spent 99% of the time under the table. She ventured out from under the table and sat between our table and the next table sniffing the floor.

Bloke at the next table jumped up, got right in my face and told me in a very aggressive manner to stop my dog sniffing round his table. I don't think she was but said sorry and pulled her under my table. He carried on and said it was the second time (it wasn't, though we had to walk past them at one point so he may have meant that).

He carried on ranting at which point I told him there was no need to be so aggressive and that he could have mentioned it in a far nicer manner. Which shut him up.

Photo so you can see the space dog had ventured into. Dog wasn't touching the woman's purple coat. Small spaniel who was sat in the middle of that space.

@alien Not all Dogs do those things? Mine does none of those things you listed??

Man WBU and completely OTT. No need to say anything at all, nevermind to be so rude. Your (adorable) dog was somewhat nearby and sniffing - hardly a doggy crime.

Some people are just ridiculous though. I got on a train once with my dog - similar size, friendly, well behaved - and a grown woman jumped up on the seat and started full on shrieking at us. We were nowhere near, at least 3 banks of seats away. My dog was probably more frightened of her.

He sounds like a complete knob!
Don’t be in a dog friendly cafe if you don’t want to be around dogs. Not rocket science is it?

Your dog is adorable and the man is an ass.

Took my Meg to a dog friendly cafe and had the opposite reaction
Everyone wanted to stroke her

I a cat person, but how can anyone object to a lovely little dog like that?
He needs to choose another cafe.

He is a prat, and shouldnt have been aggressive. Go in a dog friendly cafe and there will be dogs. Dogs sniff, it isnt going to hurt you whether you are an adult, a child, an oap or anything else other than a tosser....which I would have told him in no uncertain terms.

It's probably some weird bucket list.

1. go to a dog friendly café and have a go about a dog being there.
2. go Xmas shopping at 1pm the Sat before Xmas and whinge about queues and crowds
3. Go to a soft play area for coffee and moan to the staff about children laughing/fighting/running/eating/snot.

He just wanted to have a go at someone and picked on you. Good for you not putting up with his shit.

Cat person, but love dogs too. My DDs and I are always delighted to meet a friendly one. Might have to go find a dog-friendly café.

What a dick. If I had been on the table next to you, I would have actively encouraged your dog to come over for a fuss 😍. I must find out where this place is, sounds like my kinda place........

@NicoAndTheNiners I would have smooshed that little face up good and proper! He sounds like a dick, if you’re in a dog friendly place, expect dogs. At least you got a word in, most times you’d have been left stewing after they’d gone x

Your dog is gorgeous!! Hardly threatening and no where near his table.

Horrible man, people like that are enough to spoil a nice day out! Hope your words about saying it in a nicer way made him reflect on his unpleasant attitude, glad you got that in! xx

If the bloke is that touchy I'd be tempted to tell him to go elsewhere to have coffee/lunch if he doesn't like dogs and is aware this is a dog-friendly cafe. Your dog sounds well behaved, has done her best to stay out of the way and not touch anything that isn't hers etc so top marks and a gold star to the dog and detention/nil points for the twat in my book! Oh, and he is lucky that the dog didn't bite or take offence at his aggressive behaviour - some dogs are very protective and may well have growled or bitten when they or their owner is threatened - so again the dog showed restraint - good girl :)

I would’ve accidentally (not) made sure he tripped over the lead

Some people are only happy when they're complaining.

Honestly if anyone spoke about my dog in such a vile manner in a dog friendly place I would have lost my s#*t!

Sorry this halo to you OP and hope you have a good holiday.

PS my friend owns a cat cafe in Cumbria if ever get this again can suggest they go there as no dogs allowed 😂

He was in a dog friendly cafe for goodness sake! What is the matter with people?

Tbh I would have wanted to scoop your wuffer up & have a snuggle 😁

YANBU - your dog is gorgeous!

I’m not a dog person but pushed for us all to go to a dog friendly pub to see the dogs.

I’d be honoured if your fancy coated dog wanted to come and say hello to me.

This thread is mostly wonderful! Pictures of lovely dogs, all the dog love, and now a mention of a cat cafe!

Years ago I was at the Rio cinema in Dalston to see Around Midnight, a jazz themed film. I love jazz so was happy to be there. I didn't know that the cinema had a cat. About two minutes into the film I found out when he found me and spent the whole film curled up on my lap. Best cinema experience ever!

I realise I'm going against the grain but...

I feel sorry for him. I don't feel comfortable with "dog friendly" places. I was a caterer, and the food hygiene issue makes me twitchy. I am similarly twitchy at cat cafés (I had 3 cats. )

As a mum of a someone who has a phobia of dogs following some horrible altercations as a toddler, I understand that having dogs sniffing at you can make people distressed. My son can't visit his grandparents because of a badly behaved resuce dog.

So I understand that it was distressing for you. I also recognise that for people anxious about dogs who find themselves at dog-friendly venues unexpectedly, they might react with force if the dog approaches

He's a nob jockey. She's a princess.

People always say 'don't go to a dog friendly cafe then' it's not that simple. I don't just want to go to chains all the time (even some of them are dog friendly) and it seems like every independent cafe is dog friendly these days and very few don't roll there eye when you walk in with a toddler.

I used to work in catering too StroppyWoman seeing animals in cafes makes me itchy.

*their eyes

He was in a ‘dog friendly’ café and clearly hates dogs so YANBU. He’s a knob! Anyone that hates dogs is a knob and anyone that hates dogs and goes to a ‘dog friendly’ cafe is a massive knob! 🐶