Taking a child scared of dogs into a dog friendly coffee shop

[KimberleyClark]

DH and went to a local dog friendly coffee shop this afternoon with our neighbour’s two dogs, a golden retriever and a terrier cross who are staying with us for a few days while their owner is away. At a nearby table there was a father with his little girl of five or six who was obviously very scared of the dogs, who are both sweet natured and were just minding their own business and not wandering about or anything. When we got up to leave the little girl ran away into a corner. I suppose he might have been trying to acclimatise her, but if he was he wasn’t going the right way about it, having a chat with us, asking the dogs’ names etc might have been better. AIBU to think that if you know your child is that scared of dogs,a dog friendly cafe is not the best place to take them?

If I don’t take my kids to dog friendly places there’d be hardly any places left to take them! Bloody dogs are bloody everywhere nowadays. They shouldn’t be in food establishments I don’t think.

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Practically every fucking cafe and shop is “dog friendly” these days. Dogs ruin the experience on loads of places - barking at each other because they are so many of them, coming up to strangers and bothering them etc. Even the “good” dogs will just get in the way and they or their leads become a trip hazard.

There is no need for all these dogs to be everywhere and you thinking that just because a cafe is “dog friendly” that means that dogs must take priority there over humans who don’t like dogs is outrageous.

I’m amazed at your entitled attitude, especially as they’re not even your bloody dogs!!

(And were you even there or not? You initially say DH took them, but then you keep saying “us” and “we.”)

The trouble is, every bloody cafe lets dogs in these days so where else is he supposed to take her?

This. And I’m a dog owner. I hate it, tbh. Outside is fine.

OP you know this is going to cause a stir 😆

As pps have said everyehere is bloody dog friendly these days. Its a nightmare. Even places that supposedly aren't, like beaches which have restrictions, there will always be some entitled arse with their dog. If you say something, however politely, you get abuse. I used to be a dog lover but its really out of hand now and actually limits our enjoyment of going out.

I accidentally left the word I out of my first sentence. Which should be clear enough, reading the rest of the post,to any one with half a brain.

People who take their dogs to dog friendly places are not doing anything wrong. Incidentally this coffee shop is one of a local chain which is partnered with Guide Dogs and part of their profits goes to them. They have a sign on the door saying “Don’t leave your best friend at home” and sell dog treats. How much more dog friendly could they be?

It's very rare to find dog-free spaces these days.

I went to a dog-free event at the weekend and it was LOVELY. We could sit on the floor and eat a picnic which is almost impossible to do these days. Can't see it being rolled back though - everyone's got a dog.

It's very rare to find dog-free spaces these days.

I went to a dog-free event at the weekend and it was LOVELY. We could sit on the floor and eat a picnic which is almost impossible to do these days. Can't see it being rolled back though - everyone's got a dog.

I have two dogs and one of my grandsons' is terrified of the puppy so we go to them rather than vice versa. He's be frightened in our home once so now we'll keep them apart. As they both get older, grandson is 4 and autistic while puppy is 7 months old and thinks everyone loves him, we will reintroduce them outside on a country walk or something similar.
I also would never take them into a coffee shop, it can't be very hygienic surely. If we get thirsty on our walks I normally wait outside while my DH goes in to buy the drinks. If I'm alone I wait until I'm home for a hot drink.

I think there’s a difference between going to a cafe that happens to /might allow dogs and to one that actively encourages the presence of dogs.

It wasn’t meant to be goady, I was genuinely sad for the little girl.

Yes, its dreadful for children who are scared of dogs and the very unhelpful attitude of so many owners (oh he's just being friendly) makes it worse.

Yes there is. This particular chain is very popular and very successful and always busy even on Sunday afternoons.

Dogs shouldn’t be in cafes at all. So YABU.

I think the father is more likely than you to know what is best for his daughter.

The problem is, people have been convinced (probably by TikTok) that dogs can't be left alone for 5 minutes or you're an irresponsible dog owner, they can't just be taught to play quietly in a secure garden nowadays for some reason, so they think they must take the dog everywhere like it's a newborn baby. So places have to either cater to them or be over a barrel with awkward conversations with deluded people.

It's sad these days, but you know what people are like in here.

🤣🤣

Please direct me to a cafe/pub that is not spoons so that I don’t have to endure everyone’s dogs!

Not necessarily. A parent can easily misjudge a situation (deliberately or not) , as anyone else.

This ^ 100%
outside area is fine but not inside.

I prefer dogs over children so I'm pretty biased in saying I don't think you're unreasonable.

But seriously, if the kid is scared, exposure works and if it doesn't, take them to where dogs aren't allowed for a coffee.

Doesn't seem fair to the kid or the people with dogs, otherwise.

This x1000. The idea of a stranger knowing how to fix a child’s fear over her parent…