To be annoyed by the number if dogs in local coffeeshops

[Hocuspoc]

I really like dogs - sounds like I am a hypocrite here, but hear me out. I do, really, however...
I go to a local coffeeshop for 20 mins early morning before work and just want to enjoy a cup of coffee. Is it the time of day - don't know, but literally every table has at least one dog sitting still or barking or trying to walk around while the owner/walker is struggling. And this is a small space. I can always smell the animal next to me and not my coffee - there is a distinctive and not a pleasant smell.
Go to another place I hear you say - I try but it is the same in the few local coffee shops with decent coffee.
Once I tried politely asking a lady who joined my table just to steer her 2 huge dogs away from me, as one was waving his tail over my pastry brushing it in process - the looks I got, and also from the neighbouring table.
These places are dog friendly yes, but they are not dog only.
I apologise if I offend anyone here, I know very well they are a part of the family for all of their owners, and dogs actually like me, often try and squeeze in and sit on my feet or just next to me (maybe part of the issue here) and if I was on a bench in the park fine, but I am eating or drinking coffee and the smell is just offensive.
I don't know how other people feel - both dog owners (are you aware that this may be inconvenience for some people) and the rest who don't own...

Yanbu, OP. Dog owner here (but one who likes well mannered/trained dogs 😃) World's gone (dog) mad.

I have stopped to places like this. It isn't worth it.

There's two sides to this. Yes, dog owners need to manage theirs dog's behaviour, absolutely they should. But the fact that the place is full of dogs tells you that A). it's good for business for the cafe owner and B). plenty of people do not mind loads of dogs in a cafe. You're on a losing battle here. If you don't like it, don't go.

I actually stopped going to my favourite bakery style coffee shop (a bit futher from our home and has a small seating area) where we used to go on weekends. I used to love having a cake with a coffee there, but after 2 times when there was literally more dogs than people sitting in this closed stuffy space, just stopped going all together 🤷🏼‍♀️

It's the fact that so many of the dogs are clearly not happy being there that gets to me. There's nothing fun for them in a coffee shop!

I don’t like dogs and I don’t want them anywhere near me in food places.

Honestly it os not just about the behaviour, it is the amount of dogs that creates the smell, you enter a coffee shop and it smells like a dog nursery, as I wrote above - yes I stopped going to a favourite spot for this reason...but am I really the odd one out?

I'm not a fan of indoor eating with dogs. There are places I don't go to now for this reason but it's obviously popular with lots of people.

It's not that hard to teach them to lie under the table. They shouldn't be waving tails in food.

Oh yuk OP you're not wrong. A tail that's been goodness knows where coming in contact with your food? Must be a giant dog. Poor beasts, these are cramped spaces not designed for them.

Can we ever go a full week without a dogs in restaurants thread? You'll find many threads about this op

It always turns into an unhinged rant about about how dogs are disgusting, owners never had a single braincell and everyone will die of dander allergies.

Same here, I have a severe allergy to animal hair (airways close and face becomes swollen) it’s put me off going out for coffee and cake and even some pubs are letting them in and let them sit on the chairs.

I can just tell if I’m sitting next to or near someone who has a dog at home as I’m so sensitive.

I agree and I'm a dog owner. Too many people can't and won't control their dogs properly.

I don’t mind extremely well behaved dogs in coffee shops. I wouldn’t take my young dog because he’s too keen to say hello to everyone and he’d definitely be the one wagging his tail all over the place.

Rightly or wrongly, dogs seem to be welcome absolutely everywhere now and I can’t see it changing.

I love dogs but dislike them being allowed in cafes, restaurants and shops. It was only ever guide dogs and we all understood that. Now, I can't get a scone without tripping over a beautiful lab sprawled across the gap between tables.
Give me a dog lolloping around on the beach and the owner with a takeaway coffee in their hand any day.
The number of times my friends who work in retail tell me about dogs peeing on stock....

I’m just pretty sick of dogs in general to be honest. Constantly getting in the way in streets, cafes, shops. There seems to be ever more dog shit on the pavement and in parks and hanging from little bags. So gross. I get that people like their dogs, it’s just the way they encroach on my life (in the way other pets do not) which is annoying.

So don't click on the thread, then? Is it really that different from scrolling past the multiple "what breed should I get?" threads that always appear in Active?

You’re not alone. A very quick search would show you that there are plenty of threads full of people who agree with you. Not sure what else there is to be said, this thread will go the same as all the others.

For what it’s worth I have zero issue with dogs being in places that allow dogs.

Save money, have coffee at home.

Because there's many ongoing threads that are still being commented on in the exact same thing

It's also just the increasingly hysterical nature of them. It always starts with some well rounded comments, and ends up with basic bullying, shouting down of entire groups of people as stupid, and by the end the actual point of the thread gets lost.

Dogs don't drink coffee AFAIK. So why are they even in a coffee shop. Have a word with the owner then stop going.

I was in a coffee shop the other day. Woman brought in 2 large dogs. I literally had no room to move (tiny area by the till) and actually trod on one of the poor dog's trying to get out with my tray. Luckily for both of us the dog was very chilled about it. Nearly lost the tray and contents. Zero apology/help from the owner. Nada.

I agree with you. Absolutely sick of it here (Norfolk). Almost every single pub / cafe / restaurant is becoming dog friendly and it’s just horrible. My son has autism and really hates loud, sudden unexpected noises and we’ve had so many experiences where we’ve gone to a nice cafe in a garden centre or somewhere and someone’s dog is barking. Shouldn’t have to put up with it.

I agree to a point, but I do think people on these threads over-egg points around the smell, barking etc. Ultimately I'd rather have a thriving local independent cafe that allows well-behaved dogs (ones that are actually well behaved, not just whose owners merely identify as having a well-behaved furbaby dog!) than one that has to close down for lack of trade.

If there are concerns around hygiene (dogs being allowed on the furniture, licking tables etc) then that should be flagged with a member of staff. If they don't deal with it adequately then I'd be wondering how good their hygiene standards are generally, irrespective of the presence of a couple of dogs!

I love dogs - I think it's nice to have them in a country pub, or see them out and about on a walk. But small cafes aren't really the place for them, like you say, it smells horrible. I think a PP has it though, clearly it works for the cafes, so I don't think it's going to change anytime soon. So many people have dogs now and majority rules, I suppose.

I was in John Lewis at the weekend though, and was surprised to see quite a few dogs walking around. One had its nose in the children's shoes, then stopped to forcefully scratch itself all over the prams. I didn't see any cocked legs, but it must happen. Dogs really shouldn't be in shops (unless service dogs) and I doubt very much it's good for the animal.