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

Well it isn’t, because a cafe is for HUMANS, not animals. So yes, children have a right to be there whether you like it or not and their presence is not up for debate.

Dogs have absolutely no need to be there unless they’re an assistance dog.

“In today’s hospitality landscape, there’s an expectation that all pubs are dog-friendly. When you cater to dogs, their human companions follow.”
Since introducing The Canine Menu in 2022, the team has turned that mindset into measurable results. In January – October 2025 alone, they sold 2,753 natural chews, generating £5,885 in revenue. In the same period, nuts – a classic bar staple – brought in just £3,501. That’s a 164% difference, achieved without any change to staffing or menu operations.
“Customers walk in and their eyes are drawn to the display of dog chews,” says Matt. “The immediate visual appeal is matched by the quality — and honestly? The numbers don’t lie.”
If even half of the UK’s 47,000 pubs achieved similar turnover from dog treats, the collective opportunity would exceed £100 million annually. And that’s before counting the extra human spend that comes from happier, longer-staying guests.

^This pretty much sums up why cafes and pubs now love dog owners.

https://insider.thewholesalegroup.co.uk/articles/brands/dog-friendly-hospitality-is-big-business/

Not all children grow up to be productive members of society. Many become unemployed, bullies, criminals, or worse. Meanwhile, assistant and working dogs literally save lives helping humans remain independent, manage daily tasks, provide security, and detect drugs or explosives. Even non-working dogs have supported people struggling with mental health, often where humans and healthcare have failed them. So no, we don’t owe tolerance to every child especially when some grow up to be twats.

The food in the fridges is wrapped/packaged though isn’t it? Not like he was bending over the fresh bread in the bakery section.

It's not mean to the dog to insist it lies quietly under the owner's seat / out of the way. I love taking my dog places, but she is not allowed to impact other people in that way.

It’s disgusting I’ve got a dog but he’s never round us when we’re eating. I avoid anywhere that lets dogs in, who wants fur and slaver flying about when they’re eating

No idea. I assume they're allowed as none of the staff intervened to stop it, including the security guards. Normal dog on lead.

It's interesting because I live in the middle of an area where you sort of walk a half mile down and you are in the poor quarter so to speak and yet just another half mile up and you're in the extremely wealthy high gated houses with driveways territory.

I observe that dogs aren't very prolific inside cafes and shops in the poorer quarter of town. One sees the odd pensioner with their dog maybe.

I don't frequent the extremely wealthy quarter much other than to window shop, or to occasionally treat myself at key times like Christmas, but looking in from the outside and going by memory, I've not seen even one dog inside the small independent clothing boutiques, bakeries, delis or cafes.

But in the middle zone, they are rampant.

So there's some sort of cross section with class happening that I don't particularly understand.

Yeah my son is fearful of dogs and so it has become apparent that they are allowed in a number of places! We can't even shop without him running away because they allow dogs in. And surely there's some sort of hygiene thing in cafes! I don't fancy a dog drooling by my table either.

I absolutely love dogs and all animals. However, I am soooo fed up with dog owners not learning how to control their dogs, taking them to restaurants, coffee shops, furniture shops. Letting them sit and stand on tables and furniture. I’m so fed up now that I won’t even consider getting another dog because of the awful way that current owners think it’s ok to let their dogs attack other dogs and it’s their ‘poor baby’ that we all have to allow crappy behaviour !!. It’s out of control. I now won’t go to and avoid places if they let dogs do this. Bl ridiculous!

This.
Sometimes dog owners don't understand that you don't love their dogs as much as they do. And they can be pretty unpleasant if you indicate that you don't want their dog sniffing round you.
Our family had a dog when I was a child and I was very fond of it, but I don't want unknown dogs approaching me - it is particularly inappropriate in a cafe.

A cafe's main purpose is to generate profit for the owners/shareholders. It is not for HUMANS it is for profit.

Dog owners spend more money and visit more frequently.

There’s plenty of cafes which don’t allow dogs. Just use one of them?

Thing is. I go to a lot of cafes. As do a lot of dog walkers, which I’m guessing is good for business, or cafes wouldn’t allow it. They’re running a business and are not going to pander to a group of people if it’s a detriment to their business. And I never see dogs wondering around sniffing at people. They’re on leads. However, what I do see is children approaching tables where there are dogs. In fact OP has said her dd reached out with her hand for the dog to lick her. What I would suggest is that parents keep their children under control and at their own table. That way, everyone is happy….

@Livelovebehappy Children always approach our dogs when we are in bars or cafes with them. I don't mind as long as they ask first, which, to be fair, they normally do (children in parks are a different matter.) The one who is with us most often is slightly nervous of strangers, especially children, which is why I always tell them to give him a treat instead of petting him. It's a win-win. The kids get to interact with him, and the dog gets a positive experience to help build his confidence.

He will lick a hand offered to him, child or not, because he will assume it is covered in cream cheese or peanut butter.

We do have an aggressive dog. The only time we would ever take him to a cafe or similar is if we were on holiday/a day out, and he is always contained in a carrier and hidden out of sight.

On the subject of parks and aggressive dogs, parents, I beg of you, for the sake of all things good and holy, control your children around strange dogs. Small, fluffy, and cute does not = friendly. The fucker pictured below would love nothing more than to eat the soul of you and everyone you love. We've actually resorted to buying him harnesses and bandanas with curse words on them to try to discourage parents from letting their kids run up to him because "Not friendly" or "I need space" doesn't work.

He is not cute, he's not even a dog, he is a vessel for pure, undiluted evil.

@frequency What kind of “bandanas with curse words?” Like “Fuck off?” Bit harsh, don’t you think?

This is the one he has at the moment. He also has a bandana that says "Don't touch. I'm a bit of a dickhead."

www.etsy.com/ie/listing/1776079739/dog-lead-sleeve-lead-wrap-lead-cover

Having to snatch him off the floor every time a child runs to him reinforces his aggression, and, like I said, "I need space" and "not friendly" don't work, nor does "I bite" or "danger."

You would think simply shouting over to the parents please grab your child, the dog bites would work, but it's either ignored because "oh, don't worry, dogs love him," or the kids don't listen and are too fast for their parents to catch.

Yepus too. Had so many bored kids wander off and approach our dog in cafes, even had some parents ask if they can take photos.😳

That doesn’t happen as they’re on leads. I’ve never seen dogs off leads randomly roaming cafes- seen plenty of children do this.

The difference is children are in a cafe usually to eat. I pay for my childrens’ meals and they sit and are well behaved - why shouldn’t paying customers be allowed in a cafe? There are plenty of adults with far louder, shouty voices / laughs that overpower the voices of children, we don’t say they shouldn’t be allowed in cafes. Our country is so intolerant of groups of other humans, it’s really sad.

Dogs generally aren’t paying for a meal so aren’t actually a customer. And yes, they do have a smell even if you think they don’t, they do generally shed hair, I don’t want to go home bringing in dog hair all over my clothes after a dog has sat on a chair before me, they do have ‘accidents‘ on the floor (I mentioned to a cafe owner very quickly the other day about dog poo in the middle of the floor after the owners just got up left it there 🤢).

I’ll stick to cafes without dogs, there aren’t many left round here though!

It’s so normalised now. My friends all do it. Even to the pub in the evening. I love my friends and want to see them but not their bloody dogs shuffling round under the table when I’m eating. And friends are otherwise reasonable like minded people so this must be seen as acceptable now. Feel sorry for the poor sods who are allergic.

Again, pubs make this business decision to allow dogs in because it drives more revenue. It’s a business.

Profit is the goal of any business, but cafes achieve that by serving HUMANS.

Children are customers too and families are a huge part of the hospitality market.

Dogs are optional extras brought by owners, not the reason cafes exist.

It's more than that. A relative of mine has multiple pubs and restaurants and being dog friendly is what makes them so successful. Without allowing dogs his businesses wouldn't survive and that's far less tax he'd pay.

It's annoying when big dogs are in small cafes but it's almost a must for any successful business these days

It’s the contradiction too. It seems daft to me that there are food hygiene certificates that establishments have to jump through hoops for, yet allowing animals into your premises is not considered as part of the certificate. Staff have hairnets and gloves, yet there are dog hairs wafting in the air that can land anywhere. I just don’t get it.

Well I was rushed straight into surgery, spent a long time in hospital and the experience completely traumatised me (I was 5 years old). I am still covered in scars decades later. But you carry on minimising.

NHS hospitals deal with around 10,000 dog attacks/bites per year which is almost three times more than knife attacks. We (rightly) restrict knives in public places but aggressive dogs are given free rein.