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?

You are being a bit judgy about the parent. Maybe he was trying to help her deal with her fear and if so perhaps he thought just being in the same space was a good start, without bothering other customers or introducing a level of interaction with dogs he didn’t know. Maybe he didn’t realise quite how dog friendly the cafe was, maybe she’s usually fine but she’s recently had a bad experience with a dog, maybe she needed the loo and it was the closest place? I have a dog, love dogs, still get fed up of them in cafes but I expect it’s a business decision.

These tiny places with an owner trying to run a business needs custom! They need the dog owners! It’s just how it is now!

@KimberleyClark

yeah, the father was ridiculous, taking her in to not just a dig friendly cafe. But a 'dog encouraging' cafe. (It sounds fab! ) then doing nothing to help her engage with you/your (neighbours) well behaved dogs.

obviously any dog thread attracts all the 'bloody dogs' posters🙄you don't need to intend a thread to be goady, to get them posting!!Enjoy your visitors!

Yes this is just the world now and if anything it’s only going to get worse or better - depending which side of the fence you are. Reducing birth rate and increasing popularity of pets as surrogate children of sorts as well as changes to the renter bills re pet ownership all mean that all places are likely to become increasingly pet friendly. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if like the old smoking and non smoking splits, places like hospitals even may have dog/dog free designated waiting areas such is their prevalence and acceptance as an therapy aid for so many people also.

Thank you! Little one is asleep on my lap as I type.

Pick meeee pick mee ooh please pick me!!

I'm not sure why you feel sorry for the little girl. She has probably not been around dogs much and when she has, it bas been a bad experience.

My DCs were scared of dogs when they were little. Nobody in our family has a dog and then we went to stay with some friends who had 2 large dogs who were very jumpy and barky. The owner came out with the classic line "they are more scared of you than you are of them."

Pick me. Love me. Choose me.

Dogs do not belong in places that serve food imo. The man probably didnt have much choice because everywhere is dog friendly.

Unfortunately it is very hard like others have said to find places that don't allow dogs. I am guessing many places now allow them as they need as much custom as possible. I can't think of any cafes near me that aren't dog friendly and most have dog treats for sale (some will give out for free). The only times I can think of some of these places not being dog friendly is around this time of day when they switch to being more of a bar (other cafes will close).

This exactly. The idea that a stranger telling a child “ it’s ok they’re friendly “ will immediately cure said child of its fear of dogs is ridiculous.

Have a long look at yourself. How on earth can you judge this man without knowing why he took her there. Everywhere is bloody dog friendly, what is he meant to do? Is it because it’s a man? How do you even know what the situation is

Just tie the buggers (the dogs that is) to the lamp post outside or leave them at home. The 70s was good for some things, and the lack of dogs in cafes was one of them.

We have made the mistake of going into cafes or restaurants away from home not realising that they encourage dogs. It's fair enough if you are local and it's well known that somewhere is likely to be full of them. I don't think dogs should be in places that serve food and wouldn't deliberately go somewhere that is "dog friendly".

I go for lunch to a dog friendly place that I like but I leave my dog at home and walk her when I come back home.
I actually took her once and even though she sat under my chair the whole time, it wasn’t really fun for her, so for that reason she’s left snuggged up on the settee at home.
Just realised I haven’t answered the Op, so imo if your child is terrified of dogs, it’s not a great idea to take them to a dog friendly cafe.

I'd rather be sat next to someone's well behaved dog than someone's badly mannered children. Why people seem to think we are the only species with the right to roam the planet, baffles me.

I think everywhere should be dog friendly. Not because we need more dog friendly places but solely because the level of anger that the minority like you spew is fucking hilarious.

My elderly male dog likes nothing better than to lick his backside or testicles, as noisily as possible.The idea of taking him anywhere that food is served is ridiculous.
I don't go to any coffee shops or premises which actively encourage dogs.

Everywhere is sodding ‘dog friendly’ these days. And if you’re wondering why that’s a problem re-read your op where you say other folks should stay at home if they don’t like it. It’s becoming a dog-tatership. Not cool. And actually horrid for those of us with allergies, fears or just general not wanting to be around minging dogs and the arrogant entitled arseholes many of them are leashed to.

YABU

This child doesn’t need to be taught that she should be scared of going to every place that labels itself as dog friendly. She’d grow up believing that there is valid reason to restrict her life and never go to parks if they avoided ever being in the same space as
dogs.

Much better for the parent just to be matter of fact about the dog being there and show her it was no big deal with his own behaviour.

Except they’re not except for service dogs. I suppose you think they shouldn’t b in food especially either. Plenty of dog free cafes about.

Well “stay away , it bites!” wouldn’t be very helpful either , would it?

It is EXTREMELY hard to find non dog friendly cafes these days, even restaurants that are dog free in the dining hall are often in hotels which actively welcome dogs in the lobby.

I was unable to find a local afternoon tea place that was special but also fully dog free for an elderly rellie who is both allergic and afraid of dogs. In the end I booked one of the dog friendly hotels but asked specifically that we be seated on arrival in the dining hall not initially in the lounge, which was indeed full of dogs.

Believe me I TRIED. Really hard. It just didn't exist within a reasonable drive!

Op I agree with you but dog haters out in force as usual. It’s funny because I have been in loads of places both indoor and outdoor that don’t allow dogs but clearly I must be imagining it.

No there aren't. You obviously haven't tried to cater for people who can't be around dogs for whatever reason.

Unless you think they should have a special brunch somewhere like the Asda cafe!