Really don't like dogs being in virtually every cafe now

[Wishididntseemsogrumpy]

I know another one, and yes this is quite trivial really.

Last week we went to a gorgeous new cafe, sat down, and within a minute I realised a large dog had appeared and was licking dds outstretched hand (she was delighted of course) then we had to get up and go and wash before eating, only to see the dog licking her hands again. Argh. Then it turned around and was wagging it's tail into me (I'm unfortunately allergic to fur and would rather not have to have fur on my clothes) - we werent even that close to the other table. It's just so annoying and I know I can ask it's owners to keep it away from us but seems a bit cruel to the dog and I jolly well shouldn't have to, they should be keeping an eye themselves without me having to have an awkward chat. Manners are meant to make everyone feel comfortable and not force people into seeming unreasonable because they don't want to get involved with the animal.

Then this afternoon, different cafe, on my own this time and got the fright of my life when all of a sudden a dog snarled and snapped at a child a few tables away, who of course screamed and was very distressed, someone could have had a heart attack!

I am going to have to be more mindful of places which don't have dogs in future I think.

And I imagine I am probably going to be told I am being unreasonable. I just want a coffee in peace without slobbering or snarling dogs

Wow, can't believe you would be ok with allowing this as a dog owner. We're not talking a spacious country pub setting with flagstone floors. When you're paying £30+pp for a refined afternoon tea in a carpeted room, you don't want a big shaggy dog spraying hair and dander and god knows what all over you at almost timed intervals. You cannot convince me that I'm being unreasonable to object to that.

Yeah it is a MN thing to see all the badly behaved dogs. It seem s a lot of MNetters have their toddlers bowled over like skittles by dogs, as soon as they leave the house.
Get a bingo card ready.

For most dogs the best thing for them is being with their owners. A dog snoozing under the chair after a nice walk whilst their owner has a coffee is a companionable thing for both dog and owner.

There are lots of cafes where dogs are not allowed.

Oh I have taken my dogs into a pub and they behaved perfectly. When I’m in a cafe, a visiting dog is, to me, a bonus. I don’t care if other people’s dogs bark, I just meant I’d worry in case mine did and annoyed someone else. But that’s more a me problem :)

Of course you’re not! Dog people…🤯

I’m not sure where you live then because I have been in several different areas in the Uk and there are dogs in cafes restaurants and shops.

We have two tiny poodle crosses from rescue. We have no grandchildren. My darlings are far less obtrusive than any child, my outings for coffee,drinks or lunch would be much nicer if children were banned.

No, you're not being unreasonable. May I ask why you didn't choose a dog free venue if no dogs was one of your requirements?

I am not a dog owner.
If you go somewhere that allows dogs, then that means dogs are allowed. YOu can stamp your feet all you want. People who take their dogs to places that dogs are allowed are not doing anything wrong.

And dogs do not have a mechanism that allows them to "spray" hair and dander. You are making shit up here.

You have had a post deleted I see too. What did you say?

What was the child wondering about?

Except in the dog free ones I listed earlier on.

Starbucks
All supermarket cafes
M&S cafes
Premier Inn cafes
Brewers Fayre pub/restaurants
The Ivy
Bella Italia
Pizza Express
Nandos
Ask
Miller and Carter
Almost all Indian/Thai/Chinese Restaurants
Five Guys
Zizzi
Bettys
Wagamama
McDonalds
Toby Carvery
Wetherspoons
Leon
Las Iguanas
Almost all museum and art gallery cafes
RHS Garden Cafes
Zoo and animal park cafes

True. Worst smell ever was at a concert about ten years ago. A guy in front clearly had not wiped his bum. Human excrement odour urgh.

💯 The problem is many people on these threads think MN polls reflect the real world. They don’t. Cafés and restaurants can’t cater to every allergy, phobia, or preference, they cater to the majority. And in the real world, that majority either bring their dogs, don’t mind sharing the space, or even go specifically hoping to spot one. If you don’t like it, there’s always non-dog-friendly places or a bench outside, fresh air included.

A cafe local to me reposts the same warning each summer, "Dear parents, we LOVE welcoming your children into our cosy cafe during the warmer months. We will always go out of our way to make them happy, but please understand that dog walkers keep us in business when it's windy, rainy, or snowing. Unfortunately, we cannot prioritise your custom over our regular customers. Thank you for understanding."

Most of those aren’t cafes though.

It’s easy enough to find a restaurant that’s not dog friendly; cafes are harder (and even from your list, many towns don’t have a great selection - we have Zizzi and Miller and Carter, neither of which you’d go to for coffee / afternoon tea)

And in the real world, that majority either bring their dogs, don’t mind sharing the space or even go specifically hoping to spot one

The mistake people make is calling their own social circle the ‘real world’. None of us really knows what the majority view is here. Unless you have collected data scientifically on this?

Starbucks
All supermarket cafes
M&S cafes
Premier Inn cafes
Wetherspoons
Almost all museum and art gallery cafes
RHS Garden Cafes
Zoo and animal park cafes
Bettys
McDonalds

All places that serve hot drinks all day. All no dogs.

I take your point that many towns don't have a great selection, but if you want a huge range of things then a smallish town is always going to have its limitations. I live in one myself.

The OP has made a valid point about owners who let their dogs slobber/snarl etc and don’t control them in cafes. So far a large majority of the poll agrees with her. And along you come to derail the thread with your comments about children. As another poster said, start your own thread about children in cafes if that’s your issue. You’ve made loads of rather antagonistic comments on here and yet….you say you don’t even own a dog. Are you just a tiny bit bored?

i have two local Starbucks. Both allowed dogs last time I was in 🫤

This thread has prompted me to leave a negative review about the cafe near me that lets dogs wander behind the counter and nuzzle the fresh loaves. That’s all we can do as customers, and ofc vote with our feet.

"Blue lighted" 🙄

You went in an ambulance.

When the only defence of dogs in cafés, is that ‘KiDz ArE wOrSe’, it’s not really a great defence is it?!

My mum's dog was accused of slobbering today. He was not. He was on his bed on the floor. It was just some (prob a MNetter) knob trying to find a reason to moan about a dog.
This person also moaned about my mum's dog "looking" at him.

This was in the dog bit of a dog friendly cafe.

I juts added to other people's comments about kids.

I had my dog for over 15 years up until Jan this year. I am absolutely fucking devastated over the loss of my dog, but I still comment as I am sick of people making up shit about dogs on here, and making out dog owners are some sort of socially inept people who have no life.

I have never said kids are worse. Just said they can be just as annoying.