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

Again, take that up with the places that allow dogs, not the owners.

Dog owners often get defensive on threads like these because they get told they are in the wrong for taking their dog to a dog friendly establishment. Don't get me started on the insults such as all dog owners lack people skills. There was a deleted comment aimed at me on here that was particularly nasty.

I like well trained well behaved dogs, love to see them on trains, cheers me up, ditto small babies,. Much better company than most males tbh. Don't mind dogs in cafes, as long as they sit still and are quiet. Never been sexually harassed,sworn at, insulted or barged by one which is more than i can say about males. Dog every time i say.

I have a dog who goes out with us, because we spend most of our free time walking and hiking. We will always check somewhere is dog friendly, and try to sit as far out of the way of others as possible. I hate it when people let their dogs wander up to tables, and off lead dogs are awful. However, I also hate when my dog is lying under the table, and a toddler or small child comes out of nowhere and sticks their hands up in her face. Luckily she loves children, but why parents let their children go up to other tables and pet unknown dogs is beyond me. I'd be in trouble of my dog snapped at your child, even if it's your fault for letting them come over without checking with us. We all need to be considerate of each other, but that seems to be a rare skill these days, no matter your background.

My dog was asleep at my feet in a cafe, and a small child came up and went to bash her over the head with a toy. Luckily, the mum intervened.

I am not a fan of kids, but it always warmed my heart when one would come up and ask to pet my dog.

Things happen so fast. I'm sure most dogs wouldn't be pleased if they got hit on the head!

I totally agree that I love when children ask to pet my dog. She loves them and will lie down to make herself as small as possible, so she doesn't scare them. But she's a malinois with some decent teeth - why just let your child come over without asking if it's okay?

Hard agree. Went to a wine bar for a date this week and there was a dog in there whining loudly the entire time, it was so off putting.

Whine bar.

15 million dog owners are not going to suddenly change their behaviour for your one child whom they've never met

My 'child' is 42. We have never, during her tweens and teens and twenties and thirties had any problem with taking her into cafes or any other public spaces
that were unsuitable for dogs because people didn't take dogs into cafes .Dogs simply had no place in food establishments so we were secure in the knowledge that we were safe there, from dogs. It might be surprising to some, but there was a time 20 years ago that you would not have had the temerity to try and take a dog into a cafe. You would have been ejected.

*Then surely the answer is to work with professionals to help support your child to thrive rather than demand the world bends to her needs"

On the contrary, the entire country has bent to the needs of dog owners.
I don't want anyone to bend to the needs of my daughter. I think we've been at it long enough to figure out what makes her thrive thank you very much.

What has made life more difficult for us in the last 5 years is the abundance of dogs, untrained and undisciplined dogs, especially in the local country park which says "Dogs must be leashed" Do they bother? Do they fuck.

Dogs are very unhealthy around food and in restaurants. i agree with you.

This is a bit melodramatic- 'blood-curdling'...

But OP, I do get this. I like dogs but I'm wary of them and there need to be spaces where people can eat etc without them around. Traditionally there were stronger boundaries between dogs & human spaces, & I think that was better.

Check if cafes say they are dog friendly..

Childish as I am, I asked ChatGPT to do a picture inspired by this 🤣 :

I dunno. We have a dog, we certainly don’t take him everywhere but we do take him to a couple of local pubs where dogs are allowed. We have experienced nothing but warmth and interest from others in these pubs. I also, strongly, believe that contact with animals is good for our immune systems and don’t really think that dogs are a hygiene issue.

I am naturally more of a cat person (we have 2, but they don’t come out and about with us like the dog) and I don’t necessarily like all dogs, but I think humans are animals too and it benefits us to be around dogs.

Cafes were built for humans (adults and children) not animals (dogs are okay but not other animals - are pet rats a no?)

dogs bite people (oh he doesn’t bite -yet) but humans don’t (unless they are crazy)

dogs reek and so do their owners

if I woke up to news that all dogs had been removed from earth I literally wouldn’t give a hoot

Here it is..

Nor me. I'd celebrate.

You’d throw a little party?

Another one who would be delighted - I have said my DH before that it would be one of my first decrees as supreme world leader

Some years ago DH and I had DB’s black lab with us in a cafe. He was lying under our table. A baby came crawling across the floor towards him. He loved children and I knew he wouldn’t hurt the baby, his tail was thumping gently on the floor as the baby approached, but the mum didn’t appear until baby was almost right up to him!

What about all the police dogs, guide dogs, dogs that sniff for explosives, drugs, bodies,search and rescue dogs, dogs that search for humans buried in earthquakes? Dogs that sense their epileptic owners are about to have a fit so the owner can get to somewhere safe? Would you be glad to see the back of them too?

Don’t try and reason with the anti dog prats.

Would you not feel sorry for all the completely responsible dog owners?
All those who take their dogs to training classes, keep their dogs under control and who ensure with every fibre of their being that their dog is well cared for every moment of it's life?

Would you not feel sorry for all the people who absolutely adore their dogs? The children who find confidence in their pet, the elderly or bereaved for whom their dog is their constant companion?

Tens of millions of dog bites, annually, mostly children - some fatalities. That wouldn't happen. Probably their own fault though, eh?

Ah let her have her imaginary tea party.

Don't worry. It is a silly fictional thing that is never going to happen.

You can tell they are a lovely person by the fact they would be partying when there are people distraught that their family dog has suddenly vanished.

To add to this bullshit scenario and to keep it fair, for every dog that vanishes, the child of a dog hater has to vanish too. To keep it nice, if they have multiple kids then they get to pick the one that goes.

If we’re vanishing out of them existence we can vanish them out of ever having existed at all so it’s a nonissue isn’t it