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

That's far from ideal but you're going to have to do something about his fear.

Being scared of dogs is about as restrictive as being scared of fresh air these days!!

I like dogs , had them myself but I also dislike that owners have a need to take them everywhere now .
I'm also finding that many owners expect you to acknowledge their dogs and expect you to stop and want to tell them how wonderful they are .

There were two in the place I took my son to for lunch on Thursday (inset day). A black and white collie type and a pug cross thing. Both roaming around trailing their leads, visiting all the tables and getting in the way of food service. The owners were two couples, probably mid-60s, who were having lunch too but clearly very used to letting the dogs roam.

the collie was annoying enough that I took it back to the owners and suggested that it had got loose and they said it doesn’t like being restricted.

annoying behaviour from owners, dog being a dog.

What is it about you that you have dogs approaching you in cafes? Never happens to me, and I wouldn’t mind if it did!

Because we don’t live or eat in a sterile environment. We eat everywhere and in places far less sterile than cafes with dogs in- buses, trains benches etc, food is served on tables not cleaned in between every customer, children carry far more germs…

Food prep is a whole different area.

Maybe there could be cafes with just Mumsnet ladies there? Could you all have the toleration to cope with each other though?

I can honestly say I have never been approached by a strange dog in a pub or cafe, and the only time I am ever approached by one in parks is when I have my own dogs with me, and they're approaching my dog, not me.

Every time we take a dog into a cafe or a busy tourist place, we are approached at least once by people wanting to interact with the dogs, which, as I said, I don't mind, as long as they ask. And yes, they ask to take a picture sometimes.

When we had puppies out in a pram to socialise them, I felt like a celebrity, the number of people crowded around us with their camera phones out. We could have done with a bouncer to help with crowd control. We'd taken them to a holiday park, and word soon got out that cabin X had 5 tiny puppies. We had a few children knock on the door and ask to come in to play with them, which was fine, it was why we had brought them with us.

I wish that parents would ask before allowing their toddler to approach my table, which is something that happens often while parents look on adoringly. I don't enjoy interacting with small children. I will tolerate them if they've come to see a dog with me because I believe it is good for the dog and the toddler to have a positive experience with each other, but otherwise, I hate it.

Unfortunately lockdown increased the number of dogs, and also I imagine a lot of first time owners whose dogs didn’t get accustomed to strangers/cafes etc in their puppy years because of isolation laws, and maybe don’t cope well now as a result (not all dogs are badly behaved in cafes, just saying this might be why it seems to happen more now).

The puppy pound is too lucrative to ignore for most hospitality now, so many places are still in post-pandemic recovery and probably think people who would walk away because of dogs are fewer than dog owners.

Personally I hate dogs being around me in any circumstances - I’m allergic (dander and saliva), plus they make me nervous because of being bitten in the past. I’m resigned to the fact I can’t go for a coffee without dogs being there, I just have to suck it up or not go. All the pubs and cafes etc near us allow dogs now, I’m not aware of a single dog-free option, mostly dogs are well behaved but I still don’t like it.

What really winds me up though is when dogs jump up at you (out on a walk etc) and the owners just say “oh he’s friendly, he doesn’t bite”. Would it be ok for a human stranger to run at me, put their muddy feet on my clothes and lick me, if someone says “oh he doesn’t bite”?

I'm a dog owner but I preferred it when dog friendly places were the exception, not the norm.

Dog owner here , I love dogs .
I think it’s nice to have a few cafes on popular dog walking routes and in holiday destinations where dogs are allowed both outdoors and indoors .
However , the owners need to keep the dogs from going up to other people , begging, licking etc , ugh just ugh not acceptable
My small ( 10kg ) dog sits under the table on his lead , with a chew and isn’t allowed to wander and approach anyone .
He will happily accept fussing and pets if someone wants to , but please ask first
We were also in a Starbucks not too far from home and the staff said he was allowed so long as he didn’t bark .
I agreed we would leave if he barked , he stayed quiet the entire time .
He might’ve barked if a larger dog came in but it was quiet so we got to finish our coffee .
We try to sit outside when we can but sometimes it’s just miserable and cold or it rains unexpectedly

I was in Waterstones a couple of weeks ago - family of three, two parents and a child and their dog. Nothing on the dog to indicate it was an assistance dog. And it's huge bushy tail was rubbing over all the books on the lower shelves. Why couldn't one parent have waited outside with the dog. Or better still leave it at home when you're going somewhere that isn't designed for dogs.

I really agree with you. I can't stand it either. On a lead sitting next to owner at an outside table I can tolerate but really shouldn't be inside. Remember when we had signs ' no dogs except guide dogs' total thing of the past. Not just cafe but now almost any shop you will find people bringing dogs in. It's gone too far.

I don’t get any of this stuff on social media. Do you know how algorithms work?

My DH and I had gone for a long walk specifically with the intention of getting our 1 year old to sleep so we could have a coffee in peace while we read. The moment we sat down a dog came in and the dog that was sitting a couple of tables down went absolutely mental. She woke up -- not just slightly but completely because it was so loud. If your dog can't cope with other dogs to that extent why are they in a cafe???

Equally there are cafes that don’t allow dogs.

You have a choice.

Just like the owners have a choice to decide whether it is best for their business to allow dogs or not.

Complete non-issue as far as I am concerned ...

I have 2 dogs and would never take them inside a cafe/restaurant. I would sit outside though with them if we were on holiday or out for the day but I am aware enough to keep them away from others. I love them to bits but don't expect other people to. They are well behaved and one never barks and the other would only bark if startled. I would make sure they had been walked well before taking them there though so they would just lie down with a chew stick.

Even though I am a dog owner I do find it off putting if dogs are not well behaved and in a small cafe and being allowed up on the chairs or slobbering over the counter is just not ok. I don't want to sit in a chair and get covered in a random dog's hair.

Having a go at (generally Mums) because they have the audacity to have a PRAM is insane. Presumably you think the human race should die out? And you were never pushed in a pram. The attitude of parents with small children should just never leave the house is hostile and nasty. I make sure my DC are well behaved but my one year old needs a pram to be able to go out...

I think the tide is turning a bit though. On this thread, more people are against dogs in cafes (people who dislike dogs and decent dog owners alike) than I have noticed in previous threads. If we vote with our feet and post negative reviews, some businesses may take heed!

I’m on a train right now. I have just asked some fellow passengers to move because they parked their gigantic dog about 2 inches from me. I’m glad to say they moved immediately and were very gracious about it. 😊

The compromise would be a cage outside to dump the dogs in while the owners go in the cafe.

You’ve quoted the wrong person 😉

Yes! They’ve just opened their sixth branch in my city. They are always busy so the demand is obviously there! And as you say, great coffee!

I’m with you. But then I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t like dogs.

Yes but they don’t need to be inside. The world has managed to parent for ever and when my kids were tiny we didn’t need to think it necessary to have giant buggies welded to our hips in busy cafes for everybody to trip over. They can be left outside the same as thy always did.

What if the baby is asleep?/too small for a high chair. If I wake it up then you'll complain it's making noise. And if I leave it outside you'll complain the (often v narrow) pavements are blocked. I hope people were kinder to you when you had your children.