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...

There is a very large coffee shop in my town that actively encourages dogs so the majority go there fortunately. The local Weatherspoons still has assistance dogs only signs as does my fave local cafe.

I think people that actively dislike animals are pretty dreadful but on the opposite end people that prefer and can only like animals, very odd. A dog cannot choose to get away from someone, it relies on its human to feed them and care for them, the poor thing doesn’t have a choice.

Our friends run a cafe. Since allowing dogs, they’re much busier. It’s as simple as that.

We take our dogs there after a walk a few times a week. There’s a dog menu, the staff fuss them and then they have a snooze.

If you want a dog free cafe, open one, and all the people who moan about dogs in cafes, try using it more often. That way, the owners won’t need to let dogs in to increase business.

Dog anus, dog testicles, dog penis/sheath, dog vulva:

Should not be on chairs,sofa, supermarket trolleys, pub chairs, benches or anywhere /surface humans sit, and/or eat. Just because they lick these places themselves does not mean they are hygienic & clean.

You would not be happy with these human parts on these surfaces, and also not rats & mice wiping their bottoms across surfaces.

Keep the dogs on the floor or inside your handbag.

I'm sick of all the dogs everywhere. I don't like watching people bending over and picking up their shit and then carrying it around until they find a bin.

Why can't people have their dogs shit in their own gardens instead of our pavements, parks and public spaces?!

I think people that actively dislike animals are pretty dreadful but on the opposite end people that prefer and can only like animals, very odd.

Agree with this. When people say "I much prefer dogs/cats to humans" it makes me 🙄tbh. In most cases it's because the person is too lazy to form decent relationships with humans (it's easy to make a dog like you!), ir possibly because the other people dislike their badly behaved pet.

As they say, if you encounter one asshole in a day, they're an asshole. If everyone you meet is an asshole then maybe the problem is you!...

There's a difference between dog friendly and just accepts dogs when they shouldn't. It's similar to when places advertise as kid friendly but when i turn up with a baby don't have any baby change, high chairs etc. Just say if you aren't set up for it!

Yes I agree. The dog friendly cafe I mentioned is quite well set up, except when a large group of mums with pushchairs come in and cluster around a small table in the middle, remove chairs from other tables and make it difficult for people to walk up to the counter to place their order.

Or just have one long whingy thread rather than asking the same fecking question every week?

I was queueing in a coffee shop recently when the dog attached to its owner behind me decided to have a go at the dog attached to it's owner in front of me. Fortunately there was room for me to turn round and leave.

Surely that's the same for an awful lot of threads on MN, though? There's at least one "what breed" / "how often do you leave your dog alone" / "tips for training my dog" / " show us a picture of your dog" thread every day, just like there is for plenty of other topics.

For me the annoyance isn't with the op, but the fact these threads become really odd and just become a shouting match. There's one from July still rumbling on also in active atm

We've already hit some of the predicatable bingo

• I'd rather dogs than kids

-how dare you compare dogs to kids -life threatening allergy

• there's no possible reason why dogs would be in public
• I saw a dog in a trolly, licking a plate
• my dog would never do that/ has never left the house it's all these new owners
• dogs smell, dog people smell
• dogs shouldn't be allowed in public at all
• dog people are weird and incapable of human relationships

By the end it will just be a thing about how all people with dogs are crazy, smelly and that dogs shouldn't be anywhere

It starts with a reasonable thread about dogs in cafes and poorly behaved dogs (which is completely fair) but gets derailed by the same users often so no actual conversation is possible

I don’t think it’s unreasonable to dislike the smell of a dog. If you live with dogs, I imagine it’s not something you notice much. Similarly, if you smoke or live in a house with smokers, you’ll notice that smell less, but many people find the smell of cigarettes unpleasant.

I prefer not to have dogs in places where I want to enjoy a coffee and slice of cake or sandwich. If they’re dog friendly, I’ll look for an alternative.

I have ASD and for me the ‘normal dog smell’ causes a severe reaction. I have to totally avoid anywhere with dogs luckily we have local cafes that are dog free.

I love dogs and mine are my world but there’s a time and a place for them and that’s out in the open for exercise or training. Definitely shouldn’t have dogs in shops of any sort

I think there's 2 sides to this. On one hand, having dogs in such places does aid them in being more socialised which is ultimately what we want: socialised dogs. However, we have a massive problem with dog owners (of ALL breeds) not training their dogs. And I think its got worse since we've demonised some breeds because now people think their *insert "harmless" dog breed" doesn't need strict boundaries like an XL bully or a rottweiler might.

They very much do.

I have a neighbour who introduced me to "gentle training". It's basically like gentle parenting (all the worse stereotypes). She won't say "no" to her dog or correct bad behaviour ("mistakes"). She only praises good behaviour when the dog spontaneously displays it. Needless to say, the dog has wrecked her house, jumps all over everyone and pulls her down the street. She says it's youth.

You're right, it's very predictable! I guess what i meant though is that much of the derailment is started by "dog people" (for want of a better expression!) coming on the thread and saying things like dogs are better than children/go somewhere else/oh another dog hating thread etc. I think the reason these particular threads come up so much is that people who aren't that keen on dogs will often(not always!) keep their views to themselves irl as they don't want to upset their friends etc. And then when they come to vent here they post a lot of bit of hyperbole to let off steam! Hence the thread then goes from sensible objection to tall tales about stinky dogs everywhere and counterarguments about out of control toddlers.

That's just my take, anyway

YANBU. Dogs are a pain. I'm sick of them everywhere and entitled owners dragging them around shops and restaurants like little babies expecting everyone to swoon over them. Not everyone loves dogs. I'm highly allergic to dogs. I've gone to restaurants and been told to sit outside while the dogs are inside having a nice time. Unbelievable.

So the sight of someone being a responsible owner and cleaning up after their pet, makes you feel sick?! Oh lordy 😂

Sometimes dogs can't hold themselves (just like humans), so will need to relieve themselves when out and about!

I've had dogs all my life and I've never had a dog that would just relieve itself where it stands. For instance, just stand up among the chairs and tables outside a restaurant or cafe and have a shit right there. They'd make it known they need to walk a bit away by fussing and do it away from the crowd so to speak.

However, I see dogs do this all the time now. I think its because there has been a real regression in house training dogs not unlike there has been with potty training.

I have a friend who is quite a renown dog trainer and behaviourist and he says that if you don't have outside space for toileting and you're not prepared to take them outside up to 10 times a day for frequent toileting, then you can't have a dog. Even if you have a balcony with that fake grass stuff that can work but you can't have dogs that do most of their business inside your flat like a cat. People do nowadays though..

So the sight of someone being a responsible owner and cleaning up after their pet, makes you feel sick?! Oh lordy 😂

Sometimes dogs can't hold themselves (just like humans), so will need to relieve themselves when out and about!

I said I don't like seeing it.

Shall we allow toddlers to use potties in the middle of pavement then? Yeah?

I'm sure you would hate it even more if the owner didn't pick up the mess 😂

I'd much rather see a toddler using a potty if caught short (and the parent responsibly disposing of the waste) than toileting just anywhere - ie at the side of a bush, or on the beach, which the parent then buried in the sand 😷

You can train your dog to only go on grassy areas. There's no need for your dog to be shitting on the pavement bar lazy dog ownership

I was in a local cafe and watched as as couple at the next table lowered her plate onto the floor for the dog to lick. I was intending telling the manager but before I had chance he came over and sat with them.
Needless to say I put my fork down and made a quick exit.
Who wants to eat from the dog’s bowl? Not me for sure.

I do agree, but sometimes dogs do get caught short! I'm sure most dog owners have had an unexpected pavement poop incident at least once! As long as it is cleaned up and put in a bin, then no harm done!

I was in the local chemist earlier and a lady brought her dog in, before the staff could say anything it had taken a shit. In a chemist. 🤦🏼‍♀️

Dogs don't get caught short, their owners have failed to consider their needs as a priority. That's all.