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

It was dramatic. A dog attacked a child.

Remember to post your petitions etc on here. Would love to see someone put their money where their mouth is on this subject.

I actively prefer anywhere that allows dogs. Sorry.

Someone already tried that. They managed to generate 450 signatures in 6 months. It would appear your anti-dog stance is not as popular as you believe.

If you wanna give it a bash, go ahead.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/733824

That is not a dog issue. That is a staff issue.

Dogs are not allowed in food prep areas due to hygiene, but neither are customers for the same reason. An establishment can have a 5 star food safety rating and still allow dogs.

What hygiene risk is a dog under a table?
My dog was always in my kitchen when I was prepping my own food. I have never been ill as a result. However, I sometimes found one of my head hairs in my food. Maybe everyone should have to wear hairnets in their own kitchens at home.

If you have a phobia, allergy or dislike to them, then yes that would make sense.

What, take some responsibility for their wants and needs? Not just expect the world to revolve around them?

Why would I care what people do in their own homes?

You appear to believe you are entitled to dictate how business owners run their privately owned premises. Why wouldn't we think you also believe you have the right to dictate how people choose to use their own homes?

Think we’re getting somewhere here. Excellent suggestion for those who don’t like dogs in cafes: start a campaign or petition rather than ranting on MN. If it’s a public health concern, get some experts in board.

Tell you what though, my greedy, opportunistic Golden sits under my feet as I chop and prep meals, and funnily enough, in the 8 years of his life, I’ve never got ill from his being there. And neither have any family or guests.
so good luck with that guys.

Keep dreaming! Banning dogs would trigger more social and economic fallout than any politician could manage, even Trump.

Off to the pub, with the dog, for Mother’s Day lunch. Can’t wait to see the petition when I’m back.

dogs reek and so do their owners

This is just pure playground stuff. I take it that guide dogs are odourless, and the blind person they are with smells of roses.

Have a lovely time.

I sent my mum a Mother's Day card from her dog 😜

My dog is only allowed in the kitchen when I'm cooking. I'm the only one who reinforces his training. When others have allowed him in while they're cooking, they've often turned around for a second only to find the chicken breast they were dicing is mysteriously missing.

He also has a terrible habit of stealing kitchen utensils to bury in the garden. This is what happened last time DD allowed him to supervise her while she peeled potatoes.

Agreed. Dog owners spend £10 billion a year on their pets in the UK. Not even Reform would be stupid enough to mess with that.

Are these utensils bone handled knives by any chance?

It is literally anything. He's a twat. I once found the metal colander half-buried. He also loves burying my clothes. Only mine. He takes them from the tumble dryer or tries to pull them off the washing line. He's not allowed in the garden when I'm drying my clothes unless he is being actively supervised.

He's currently sleeping on the sofa with a pizza box he took from the bin, a blanket he took from the back of my chair, his lead he took from the closed kitchen drawer and one of my coats he took from the coat rack.

The sofa did not look like that when I went to bed last night.

He’s a gorgeous twat for sure!

I think he has gathered all of his favourite things. That's the blanket we cuddle on after his walk on an evening, the coat I wear when I'm walking him, his lead, and a box that smells like cheese-stuffed pizza crust, which is his favourite treat.

He is lucky we love him so much.

I'll add that I'm peeved by irresponsible owners who blame others for their poor care of their animals.

The worst was the idiot who started yelling that I'd nearly killed his dog.

My driveway is adjacent to a path leading to the football pitch which owners use for dog defecation purposes.

I've cut back my hedges to give me a clear view as I inch out. (I always reverse park so that I'm not reversing into the road.) I like to think that I'd be super careful anyway, but there's also the fact that my house is close to two primary schools and I don't want to take any chances.

One time as I was inching out, I realised that an owner-free dog had wandered onto the dropped kerb area. That was all.

I saw the dog - just, given how low down it was compared with my windscreen height. I stopped and waited for it to pass. The male owner came yelling up the rear, berating me for nearly killing the dog...

I pointed out that the dog was safe because I'd been looking and "You should have your dog on a lead. It's the dog who is important here."

He subsequently used one of those veeeeeeery long dog-walking leads on the animal, stretched so long as to be useless on a busy street with driveways. Now I watch for leashes being stretched across the length of my driveway.

He now has another dog and I've no doubt that it'll be hit some day. I've discovered that he has form for allowing it to defecate on driveways where there is a sole female owner. (I've compared notes with the neighbours.)

I know, let’s start a petition to ensure that all blokes using loos in cafes/restaurants/any public place, wash their hands after pointing Pink Percy at the porcelain.

Re: the dog odour controversy.

Yes, I do notice a smell from some dogs. It might depend on the breed - I've no idea. Most aren't problematic in that respect, but I don't like being close to whiffy dogs. (Yes, the same goes for humans.)

As I've indicated in previous posts, it's badly trained dogs with daft owners that annoy me and I'm seeing more and more of them.

I have a friend who has two little Schnauzers. She thinks I'm scared of them. I'm absolutely not. I just don't like claws sticking into me or the fact that she once lied in a dog-friendly cafe and said that one of the dogs had been sick because of one of the treats that the dog had been given by the cafe owners - the dog had actually left a large puddle of urine on the floor.

My friend did clear it up, but she lied about it. I'm fairly sure that the café workers weren't fooled.

She has a friend who has a whippet. The friend is a former kennel owner and knows what she's doing: her animal is always perfectly behaved in public, unlike the Schnauzers.

I agree. I have a dog but I like going out without her. I don't want to sit in a cafe with her or anyone's dog. I love her but I'm disabled and work only part time so I spend enough time with her at home. She does go out for walks and we bring her further away in the car so she isn't hard done by.