To take up a bigger table than needed in a cafe?

[Egit]

To try to use a bigger table in a cafe?

I know it’s not always possible, such as during busy times, and I would never ‘hog’ a larger table for myself.

But during quiet times… such as right now! I’m in a cafe on my own with 2 dogs and I’ve sat myself at a 4 seater table.

I actually hate 2 seater ones. They are just too small and I get claustrophobic with all the clutter of cutlery, condiments, sides of veg etc.

I like to spread out!

But that isn’t why OP is sitting at the bigger table, she explained why, she also stated that the dogs don’t sit under the table, they sit beside it. So it doesn’t matter if it’s a two seater or four seater if they’re beside it.

i think the rage of the dig haters, means they can’t read and comprehend the OPs posts.

So they are encroaching on staff and customers walking between tables instead? Even better.

Look, OP has described how much space she is taking up with just her and two dogs. If it's unreasonable, posters will point it out and not only to adhere strictly to the points OP wants them to in order to get an answer that suits her better.

I hate that dog smell....even more so if a dog is wet.

People must go nose blind to it. Ive had owners say they can't smell a thing. If I walk into a cafe or anywhere and I smell that smell im out of there.

Just not for me.

Dont mind dogs, but not where im eating or sitting or sleeping. And if outside on a lead.

My children are scared of dogs because when they were young they were playing at a park snd some prat was just letting their dog roam round. It jumped up my youngest and knocked her on her back (she was 2) and was jumping all over my eldest too. They stood still the entire time as they've been advised to do but were crying and screaming. The owner was running towards us shouting "its ok hes harmless" yeah brilliant.....i see it all the time irresponsible dog owners round kids play areas just f*ck off somewhere else or keep your dog on a lead.

Not everyone is a dog person. A lot of dog owners dont understand that and get hurt that you dont love their animal. There are too many irresponsible dog owners now.

Sorry to derail the thread but I think its important to give a perspective on why some people dont like dogs with valid reasons 🤷‍♀️

Yeah, that’s what she said, she places to dog so as to trip everyone up! Of course she would, I mean she’s got dogs in a cafe that allows and welcomes dogs, so she must be trying to trip them up!

Honestly, some of the comments on here are batshit!

i do always prefer a large table because of eg laptop, tablet, journal, etc

Not really – just flagging that dog owners are by and large self-centred when it comes to cafe etiquette. Because they are and a hell of a lot of people notice.

In 99% of cafes, if two dogs belonging to one owner are laying or sitting beside a table and not under it and out the way, then it will be a nuisance for staff and customers trying to navigate the space around the tables. It's as simple as that.

If there are two of you a table for two can definitely be too small if you are having a meal and drinks rather than coffee and cake. But if there is only one of you then YABU.

I think you’re misusing the term claustrophobia if having a table with clutter on gives you ‘claustrophobia.’ That’s not a good reason for taking a much larger table for yourself just because you want extra room. We’d all like that luxury. I say that as someone who does have diagnosed claustrophobia!

However, taking a big table when there’s no demand for it by larger groups is obviously ok.

I'm sorry, coffee with a roast is psychopath behaviour and I can't accept anything else you say now 😂

I wondered about this too. Surely you don’t have coffee until the roast has been cleared away?

Well I’m sure if the staff find it a nuisance, then they’ll stop allowing dogs?

Until then, cafes allowing dogs will get dogs in them. No amount of moaning on MN will stop that 🤷‍♀️

Yes please get your dirty dogs out of the seats. Can’t stand people like you with all their dogs now everywhere. You probably come across more entitled sitting there with your dogs across two tables.

I usually take a larger table if its not busy although sometimes I prefer to be tucked away in a corner. If the cafe owner wants me to sit elsewhere they can ask me and I will either move or politely pack up and leave. Its not a "right" to spread out but then I guess I can stay home if I don't like the set up of the premises. Its not an issue either way.

Staff can also ask her to move onto a two seater tables if being at a four seater is problematic, so by that logic she doesn't need to use MN as a barometer for anything.

And my FIL who has Parkinson’s and some dementia. Easy access, plenty of room, no booking needed, cheap, so not too much lost if we have to bail.
You’re rude.

'They’re only little whippet lurcher crosses… they’d just been for a 15km bike ride (i was on the bike, not them)'

Sorry, your little whippet lurcher crosses were having to run along next to you biking for 15km?! That's not how dogs enjoy walkies. They like to sniff and take it all in.

Also, dogs should not be in cafes. The owners may allow it but as a hopefully <though perhaps not> responsible dog owner you should show others the way to behave.

Of course they can, but she’s already said she’d move if the table was needed! So that’s been covered,

No. You think that they don’t belong in cafes but plenty allow and even welcome them and it’s up to the owners if they want to take them in so long as the business allows it. Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean that people are wrong to take their dogs in. Cafes get to dictate their own terms not you.

But that was yesterday .. with 2 of you ordering food, drinks and sides … This is today and you’re alone - presumably not ordering food, multiple drinks and sides? 😵‍💫🤔

I do however understand what you mean about crowded tables. But your explanation is not relevant to today.

So why bother to post at all?

We're all allowed our own opnions. I have a dog, she does not come into cafes.

Is is just basic poor hygiene. Ive seen owners allow their dogs to sit on customers seats, I don't want to sit on the skiddy seat of someone's over pampered dog thanks.

The more of us that complain and point it out the more owners will stop it. 2 in our village don't allow dogs anymore

Well if you are the owner of that cafe you have the right to decide.

You don't know us dog haters because we wont go into cafes with dogs in. And yes, we live in the lakes too.

I do wish we would return to the norm of dogs being left outside shops and cafes. Personally, I don't want dog hair in my food. I don't want smelly dogs with muddy paws bounding up to me. I literally had a dog try sit on my knee 3 times recently, on an evening out in a pub. I was furious as it messed up my clean clothes, the owner thought it funny. I don't want to have to step over dogs on my way to the loo. I'm very nervous around dogs, having been bitten by one as a child. I jump every time one barks and it makes for a very stressful meal, so given the choice, I would never eat in a venue that is dog friendly. And of course you're going to say it's the cafe owners decision, but actually, you are choosing to take your dogs into a cafe.

As for taking up more room than you should? You're making more work for the cafe assistants. You're likely spreading over 2/3 spaces instead of one. And even if you move if it gets busy, (assuming you're aware enough to notice) they still have to clean and tidy after you. It's minor, but still inconsiderate, in my opinion. From experience, people who happily take up a table for four often don't notice the family peering in to find a free table, meaning lost revenue.

As customers we have the right to complain, it works. We all need to keep at it.

Complain all you like but people are not wrong to take dogs in to cafes if they are welcomed..Not allowing dogs would do a lot of damage to many cafes especially in tourist areas like where the OP lives and not everyone keels over foaming at the mouth at the sight of a dog. I’ll assume that most cafe owners are intelligent and astute enough to decide which policy dog friendly or dog free, works better for their business and circumstances and it’s terribly arrogant to assume that their choice must align with your preferences.