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

If it works for the business owner I'd agree. But essentially it's still up to private business how they decide to maximise profit for themselves and enjoyment for their customers.

I have been reflecting on the situation locally, and I think all cafes are dog friendly around us, but only some restaurants. We live near a seaside village which is reasonably popular in the summer, (tho not a ruined honeypot), and an old fashioned style market town.

IN the daytime we do take our dog to cafes where he sits quietly under our feet. Our favourite is very doggy indeed. It's also the coolest spot locally (dunno why they let me in!!). The staff are lovely, and love working there, and the clientele is all ages. We once saw a woman come in, sit down with her coffee and shout at another customer to 'keep that dog away from me'. The dog was on a lead, being led to a table and was under control. Clearly the woman needed to find another establishment. She might also be on here, claiming people have heart attacks and life threatening illnesses from coming into contact with dogs.

I googled my local area and the facebook forum for dog friendly places and found some which do allow dogs some don’t. There are lots of places though so if you had a dog you’d find somewhere.

We went into a brewery pub yesterday. There were 11 adults in there (inc us and the barmaid) and 6 dogs.. it stank in there of wet dog. They were all whining and winding each other up.. I saw that one of the dogs was tucked under the owners legs on the floor on a cushion. A cushion from the bench that the owner was sitting on. Presumably that will go back on the bench having been in the floor with a dogs bum on it.. it’s madness!
I don’t hate dogs at all but they are everywhere now!

This thread has proved that there is almost always a choice of places to eat where dogs are not allowed.

M&S cafes
Wetherspoons
The Ivy
Most restaurants including Indian, Chinese, Thai
The Ritz
KFC
Fortnam and Mason
McDonalds
Most supermarket cafes
John Lewis and Waitrose cafes
Most pubs have dog free dining areas
Motorway service station cafes
Cafes in museums, galleries and libraries
Betty's
Premier Inn cafes
Cafe Rouge
Zizzi
Hawksmoor Restaurants
Five Guys
Wagamama
Prezzo
Pizza Express
Most branches of Cote
Most branches of Subway
Most food courts in most UK shopping centres
Nandos
Cafes in parks (or the parts of parks) where dogs are not allowed
Cafes at nature reserves, zoos, arboretums, WWT sites
Cafes on beaches with summer dog bans
Many private stately home cafes e.g. Alnwick, Howick etc
Cafes in many private and botanic gardens

I found these with a quick 5 minute search. You only have to look.

When I go out with a dog I research whether the cafe is dog friendly beforehand.
You could save yourself a lot of angst by doing a search on dog free places before you set out, especially as this is so important to you.

This. I always check.

I was expecting that as John Lewis allows dogs in their stores they’d allow them in cafes/restaurants.

I saw a pp mention about dogs craning their heads near their meals and owners not being bothered about it. I’m sorry but that’s disgusting.

Dogs in clothes shops, apart from wee and poo how do owners stop getting dog hair on clothes? I had a Labrador when younger and she shed hair a lot.

I have once spotted a dog in the Benugo cafe in John Lewis, small dog in elderly gent’s lap, being very quiet.

That’s why I’m not shopping there anymore. I’m not going to buy products if there’s a risk of dog slobber on them - yuck!!!!🤢

Plenty of other places to spend your money. Poor dogs too. A shop isn’t a good place for them at all.

I’m a bit nervous if I see a dog in an establishment, not because I’m scared of them (I’m not) but because some can be so unpredictable. I’ve been somewhere where 2 dogs suddenly start having a spat with each other and I’d rather not risk getting my leg bitten then. Highly unlikely it would happen but you never know.

I was at a pedestrian crossing a few years ago next to a woman with a small dog in a bag and it growelled at me (busy crossing). I had no idea it was in the bag until its head popped up.

I agree, dogs are lovely but they are literally everywhere! The snappy dog should def have not been out in the close vicinity of children who are too trusting!
We went to a garden centre yesterday, woman shouted at me for walking past her and nearly tripping over her small dog who was on a 3m long lead! Why would I think there’d be a dog that far in front of her!
im all for sensible dog owners but for every one of these there must be many more who aren’t!

I agree with you. I am a dog owner but I don’t want to take my dog to cafes, restaurants, pubs, shops etc etc. Dogs definitely shouldn’t be bothering people who don’t want to interact with them.

I don’t like kids being in virtually every cafe now, but there you go.

Don’t you think parents have a responsibility to teach their children not to be too trusting of strange dogs, and to keep them from freely wandering in places where there are strange dogs?

This.

In pubs/cafes I don't notice it being an issue. Parents do tend to control their children in spaces like that, and they will approach slowly and ask if they can interact with the dogs. As I mentioned earlier, if we have the aggressive one with us in a space like that, he will be safely contained in a carrier or pram and hidden out of sight to avoid children being tempted. We push the friendly ones forward to act as a buffer.

In parks, however, even though we avoid busy times and play areas, there is an issue with kids rushing to us without asking. Every time that happens, we have to lift Beelzebub off the floor, which is what he wants. His aggression is an attention-seeking behaviour, not fear. He knows if he growls and snarls, he will be lifted up and cuddled. The problem is, if we're not fast enough, his next step is snapping. I don't want that, and parents don't want that. He cannot actually hurt anyone, no matter how hard he tries but it's not good for my dog, it's not good for the kids. And if you don't teach them, the next aggressive dog they rush to might not be a mostly toothless chihuahua. And the owner might not be so willing to risk injury to their dog by snatching him up off the floor by his lead and harness.

I’ve had well socialised dogs my entire life without them having to visit department stores.

Oh dear.

Wet dog is the worst smell in the world🤢. And I have worked in a hospital for 30 years!

This thread is not full of just ‘dog haters’ It is also full of responsible owners like you who clearly love their dogs, but don’t feel the need to drag them every shop and café. Like everything else in life, I guess there is a spectrum of good and bad dog owners.

It certainly seems that way, although they’ll probably disagree even when the evidence suggests otherwise. People have suggested going to non-dog-friendly cafés, complaining to the cafés, or asking for dog/no-dog zones, but the anti-dog police aren’t interested in solutions. They just want the cafés to themselves, somewhere to police how others live their lives, and a permanent stage for their constant moaning. Obviously, no one wants to hear that day in, day out, which is probably why they’re always lurking on here.

I went to the John Lewis on Oxford Street at the weekend. The café had a sign that said ‘no dogs other than assistance dogs beyond this point’ which I was delighted to see!

Like I said before though it’s a bit strange that they allow dogs in the shop but not in the cafe!

Not strange to not want dogs where food is being prepared and eaten.

A wet dog who’s farted is the worst smell in the world!

Yes but as other cafes and restaurants allow it I’m surprised JL isn’t allowing it.

I’m delighted. Don’t want a dog where I’m eating.