Dogs in coffee shops

We spent a few days in Dumfries and Galloway last week in our motorhome. Just across from the lovely campsite, right on the bay, was a great little pub and, a few doors along from it, a nice little cafe, both of which were advertised as being dog-friendly. We had our black Lab with us and went into both. He's very calm and laidback, and although there were other dogs in both places, he simply laid down under the table and never bothered anyone. It's not something we make a habit of doing - we don't take him into eating places at home, but many campsites don't allow you to leave dogs unattended, so having the option to go out for something to eat with him when we are away is a bit of a treat for us. We also found a lovely farm shop/garden centre which doesn't allow dogs into their indoor cafe (absolutely fair enough!) but they had a great outdoor (although partially covered) 'bothy' area which served fantastic dogs. There were several people with dogs there - none of them causing any nuisance whatsoever. Would that I could have said the same for some of the children I saw, running up and down screaming, even when people were carrying hot food or hot drinks.

Responsible dog owners, on the whole, are lovely friendly people who keep their dogs in good health, ie deflead, wormed, vaccinated and well groomed.

I think signs should be should be put clearly stating whether dogs are welcome, outside the establishment, so those not in favour can go elsewhere. There’s still plenty of eateries not welcoming dogs.

As for the hygiene aspect, that doesn’t worry me as much as the state of some commercial kitchens.

Having said all that, we wouldn’t take any of our dogs into cafes, two would bark and bark and one isn’t keen on other dogs! So my caveat is it must be calm, well behaved dogs in any of these places.

I don’t allow my dogs to meet n greet other on lead dogs. I take the same approach with people. Most dogs love and demand attention and it really isn’t helping their behaviour if every stranger wants tell the dog how adorable it is. My enormous lab suffers from - aren’t o gorgeous cuddle me -syndrome. He needs no encouragement to expect everyone to adore him 🐕

she really does get a phenomenal amount of attention from complete strangers through even the most fleeting encounters

This is what I find amazing. I wouldn’t dream of speaking to, touching, stroking, a stranger’s dog, no matter how sweet and cuddly. The same with babies that I don’t know. Why would I coo and simper over someone else’s baby?

People hardly look at, speak or acknowledge folk they don’t know. But somehow if they have a dog, it’s all different?

🤷‍♀️🐶

I had the misfortune to work the other week in a very small room with a very nice lady who absolutely stank of dog I felt physically sick and it was a horrible few hours. She had no idea

As I ve said many times I don’t hate dogs I ve owned them before but never taken them shopping or to cafes
Sometimes we can get three or more at the same time in our charity shop some whine because they re bored, some smell because they ve just come from a walk on the beach, some are in pushchairs, some just don’t want to be there, most behave well but they should be outside or preferably at home

With the huge amounts spent on owning a dog they have now risen in status and we are expected to love and adore everyone’s dog and accept them everywhere
I love animals and fully understand the value of pets but they have a place in the world and it shouldn’t be in shops or cafes

We took a dog into a family friendly pub yesterday afternoon in Leamington Spa because it was too horribly drizzly and windy to be outside. We asked first of course.

Then we ordered tea (very reasonable) and when other family arrived we ordered a late lunch.
No fuss, luckily lots of room to sit in separate booth type benches, all so friendly and they loved the dog because she seems to smile, everyone including kids says so.

Wetherspoon pubs don’t allow dogs on any part of their premises, gardens or even car parks.
So …many do many don’t.
It was a better option than leaving the dog at home and having to rush back home.
I’ve noticed many cafes don’t ban dogs now and charity shops and quite recently our Waterstones has a dogs welcome sign on the door.
The times they are a changing,- maybe because the “foot- fall is decreasing? - unless you count drugged up/innebriates making unpleasant scenes in the middle of our towns.

However there do seem to be many many more untrained or just unsocialised/large breeds of dog, or more aggressive dogs of any size … (some little ones can be yappy and snappy- “small dog syndrome” ? )
I hope I never have a grumpy, none smiling dog on my hands but they’ll all get old or ill eventually plus there are many more rescue dogs around and because of past trauma an owner can never be too confident.
I am about 99% sure of mine just as I was her 2 predecessors.
I never take them for granted.
If someone whether child or adult is afraid or allergic for example I’d just keep away from them. I am not one for “
“ramming” them down peoples throats.
But having said that she really does get a phenomenal amount of attention from complete strangers through even the most fleeting encounters.
It always amazes me because as a single parent of two children I don’t recall half this much attention or admiration directed towards them. Funny old world ain’t it.

We had the misfortune to be in a pleasant cafe when the people next to us brought a large hairy dog in and plonked him at the side of our table. We paid our bill and left. We didn’t complain because he didn’t do anything wrong but we wouldn’t go there again.

Slightly off subject but some dog owners assume everyone loves their dog. A near neighbour has a very large Alsatian dog. When he lets the dog out of the car or brings it back from a walk as he enters our cul de sac he lets it off the lead and the dog makes a bee line to anyone outside. I was getting shopping out of my car and it jumped up at me and knocked me backwards, luckily I landed on the back of my car. The owner said “he’s just playing”. I told him “I don’t like your dog keep it away from me”. I do like dogs and both my sons have dogs but they don’t weigh as much as me or knock me over.

We have always had dogs but don’t take them to cafes or restaurants, these places may be called dog friendly but dogs imho prefer to be walking or running and generally having a good doggy time. Instead of sitting under a table, leash tied to the leg, panting and getting bored whilst the owner enjoys what we humans like to do.
Is not necessary to take our dogs everywhere, and quite honestly not always fair.

In France it is quite common to see dogs in restaurants and no-one seems to mind (except British tourists perhaps). Why are attitudes so different?

I do like dogs in general and have been a dog owner. However, I just do not think they should be sniffing around food.
Therefore I am anti dogs in cafés.

I was sitting outside our local community cafe when I was bitten last week. It's always been OK to have a dog outside and we put water out for dogs.
Recently, the dog lobby have persuaded management to allow dogs at the front of the shop, indoors at dog-friendly tables.
This was supposed to be a trial, but it looks like the dog lobby are winning.

Katjoy
How nice to hear this.

I'm pleased that dogs in cafés gives you pleasure as obviously it's becoming more common and lots of us don't like it. It's good to hear there are benefitsfor other café users (not just the dog's owners).
Thanks for pointing it out.

I'm sorry for the loss of your little friend.

Hear hear- my lovely, gentle greyhound saw me through many dark days and lonely nights when DH died.

I don’t usually comment on here, however having seen the discussion re dogs in cafes I thought I would pen something. I’ve beer a widow for 14yrs living alone with no close family nearby and slowly my confidence and mental health started to decline. I got myself a little schnauzer dog who was a privilege to own for 11yrs until an aggressive cancer claimed her life. During my time with her I would visit my local cafe with her and have a coffee with breakfast or lunch and I felt confident with her there to do that. Now she’s gone I rarely visit the cafe, on days I do and I walk in with a smile on my face because there are dogs around and after asking owners they are quite happy for me to fuss their dogs. On days I go and there aren’t any dogs my face drops and I instantly feel saddened and get loss of confidence. I just have a coffee sitting staring out of the window because nobody speaks to an old lady by herself (I’m 73 and health not so good). I’ve never known anyone get ill because they’ve stroked a dog but if you’re worried just carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer in your bag. Please take time to think that for some people (especially those sitting alone) their doggy companion is their lifeline.

HettyBetty

It saves me a fortune. I dislike dogs and don't see why I should pay money to eat in somewhere dirty, which dog friendly places will be. I too have seen staff fuss dogs and then handle food.

We recently had a week in the Yorkshire Dales and because every cafe and restaurant seemed to be full of dogs we didn't spend a penny supporting those businesses.

We ate at our beautifully clean (no dogs allowed) rented cottage or took packed lunches and had a wonderful time.

Yes I am getting heartily sick and tired of paying over the odds for very ordinary food and coffee. The dogs don't add to the experience either.

Out comes a mock tartan thermos flask and a cheese sandwich.

I go to Keswick a lot and it's full of dogs. The pubs and some of the cafes will allow dogs in, but the restaurants generally have a no dog policy.

Thanks for the reassuring i update Grammareto.
Good to hear the owner took her dog to the vet. Aggression can be linked to the dog being unwell or in pain.

Grammareto, please take your antibiotics. All bites which break the skin , whether from an animal, or a person (!) carries a significant risk of infection. Mouth and teeth have bacteria, which are fine in the right place, but potentially dangerous in the blood system.

Just realised the above aren't a hygiene issue, but they still get on my nerves, just the same as children do, if they're badly behaved.

Rgardless of which dog a backside belongs to, I don't particularly want to sit in a place it has been.

They are better behaved, as a rule.
No sniffing around tables, no pleading eyes fixed on your cream cake, no yapping.

Not that all dogs do those things, but some do.

Why are service dogs more hygienic than other dogs?

Thanks Iam64 today I had a call back from the doctor and have begun a 5 day course of the penicillin used for dog bites.
The dog owner has sent me a very apologetic card. She took the dog to the vet today but it's getting a stay of execution. The vet is treating sore paws and thinks that could be causing the aggressive behaviour. The vet managed to muzzle him too.

Grammareto - be cautious. I hadn’t been worried about my tooth mark which happened in a training class when my boy retaliated after a huge German shepherd lunged snarling at him (no laughing at the back there). It was Saturday afternoon. My pharmacist gave advice and advised GP Monday unless it was healing
My very laid back GP was clear, not antibiotic cream, there is a specific antibiotic for dog bites.
Look after yourself. It’s easy to say this dog is dangerous, it clearly is but you weren’t in a position to get details and involve police

On holiday there may be more dogs in cafes because owners cannot leave them unattended in accommodation.

I don’t mind dogs in cafes if owners manage them appropriately, but if not, as others have said, it’s the owners not the dogs at fault.

With regards to hygiene, often the staff will pat and fuss the dog, then return to the kitchen where food is being handled. That doesn’t appeal. There again, it’s not the dogs at fault….

I was in the tea shop of an English Heritage place. Dogs were in the conservatory but one woman brought her dogs to the counter to order food. Two of the assistants came and petted both dogs and went back in kitchen. I watched them and they didn’t wash their hands when I pointed this out they said “ we aren’t handling food”. But they were using the till and bringing out food. I won’t be going there again