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

Agree, I hate seeing dogs in shops/food places (don’t mind in pubs, but not in restaurant areas). It’s gross. And I like dogs!

I absolutely loathe them everywhere. Went in for a haircut yesterday and a lady brought in hers. It was running all over , barking loudly and sniffing around everyone. Someone did complain and the lady said oh he doesnt bite. I don’t care if it doesn’t bite, keep it at home!

I am a dog owner, and I love her dearly, but my experience in a cafe is never improved by her being there so I generally avoid it. On the very rare occasion that we do go, there’s absolutely no chance I’d be letting her go annoy other people, never mind lick someone else’s child repeatedly!

We walked into a cafe for brunch then right out again. It was like sitting in bloody Battersea dogs home. Ridiculous. Gone too far.

I agree that apart from guide dogs / assistance dogs, they shouldn’t be in cafes

100% agree. I had the misfortune of trying a new cafe and then a dog and it's owner trundled in to get a takeout coffee. They waited right next to my table. Food came out and I told the waitress that I didn't want to eat my food next to a dog. I was told they could wrap it up for me and take it out. She said they were a dog friendly cafe but I said I saw no sign to advise. She said it was online.

Dog and owner then got the coffee and left quickly. Spoilt my lunch, won't go back there and will proceed with caution for future cafes. They decided that my £20 lunch was less important than allowing a dog in. They now have one less customer.

Not just cafes - I don’t want dogs in Next, John Lewis etc. and why has this become the norm? Why do people treat a Saturday afternoon shopping trip like a dog walk I don’t know - get yourself to the park!!

So nothing bad actually happened?

Also if your child is loud and not staying in its seat take it out. The rest of the cafe doesn’t want banging toys, yelling or roaming kids.

It bugs me when the waitresses make a fuss of the dogs & feed them those tiny dog biscuits , then just carry on without washing their hands .

Completely agree, don’t mind dogs but they are definitely being allowed in more places than ever. I always take my elderly mum out on a Friday and twice in recent weeks in a coffee shop dogs have barked continuously. I did actually complain to the Head Office and they said the manager should have said something to the owners. Also had lunch with my husband in a nice bistro which was ruined by a dog barking non stop.

YANBU. I hate that people think they have to bring their dogs with them to everything now.

No, it’s not cute. Yes, it does smell.

Have you let both cafes know your displeasure?

Go around there at night and smash all the windows and throw in dog turds (you can gather them up from the local park). Wear a catsuit.

I really do not understand why anyone would take their dog shopping. Our local indoor shopping centre (and about 80% of the shops inside) now allow dogs. Why?! No fun for the dogs and a risk of fur, drool, mud (or worse) on the clothes.

i live rurally and the majority of coffee/pubs accept dogs. Those that don’t have an outside seating area. I like it and my dog likes it, we meet with friends, go for a walk and then coffee whilst the dogs snooze under the table.

My dog is genuinely no bother in a pub/coffee shop and will just lie down and nap. However, if a small child stuck their hand in her face and tried engaging with her, she’d likely lick it and wag her tail etc. She’s not a machine and is a sociable soul who likes children… tho she couldn’t eat a whole one.

How is this at all relevant? Poor parenting on some peoples parts is no reason to allow animals everywhere.

Ergh, I had this earlier this week. Just finishing up in Costa when a couple came in; just plonked their dog down on a seat. I spoke to staff as I left so I hope they said something. I mean really, why does a dog have to use a seat which someone then has to sit in afterwards.

It is getting to be a problem. Our local farm cafe is dog friendly and there are often several in there at the same time.

It's fine when they're well behaved, but there was a reactive dog in there last week - as soon as it spotted another dog (even through the glass of the conservatory area) it went berserk.

What should have happened, IMO, is that the owner should have removed it. What actually happened was that one other dog owner took her dog for a walk. Two others put their well behaved dogs under their tables.

Another time, a dog piddled all over the floor. The owner lied and said it had been sick.

There aren’t any cafes at all near me that don’t allow dogs now. So I tend to socialise at home, or go to restaurants that are dog free.

I was in an upmarket hair salon in Edinburgh town centre one time when an elderly lady's lapdog proceeded to make a surprisingly large puddle on the floor.

I felt sorry for the trainee given the job of cleaning up. The owner didn't even look embarrassed. In her place, I'd have been scrabbling to clean up the mess.

Well it is because it happens in every cafe and dogs are nowhere near on the same level of disruption so if you want to berate dogs in cafes kids and massive hulking great prams need to be discussed too.

I had a friend who owns a cafe who absolutely hates having kids in as so many parents are so entitled. Nursing a single coffee, using her cafe as an entertainment zone, ignoring loud roaming children while talking to friends, parking huge prams for everybody to trip over, making huge amounts of mess and some even bring in their own toddler food! She said she’s far rather have dog owners any day as they’re all on leads tucked under tables, make no noise and owners visit more frequently as are out in all weathers.

Why do people treat a Saturday afternoon shopping trip like a dog walk I don’t know - get yourself to the park!!

My local High Street has narrow pavements and on a Saturday one is constantly having to avoid dogs which don't walk to heel. There is no shortage of open spaces for dog walking nearby.

And this High Street is the cafes and antique shops type - it's not somewhere people go to do their regular Saturday shop. So these people don't need to take their dogs there.

That’s probably not going to end in your cats favour!

Funny I’m always dodging scooters, bikes and prams.

Dogs are allowed on pavements, bikes are not and scooters definitely shouldn’t be.

Lockdown meant theres not around 4M more dogs in the UK than before. I reckon they’re going to be everywhere for another 10 years or so.

I imagine it's a business decision on behalf of the owners, who see that people with dogs are good, repeat customers.

Also, I've been a paramedic for 20 years and I'm yet to see anyone whose had a heart attack on account of a dog growling.