Gransnet forums

AIBU

Dogs in coffee shops

(213 Posts)
Sakura4 Fri 12-Jul-24 16:24:20

AIBU objecting to dogs being allowed inside coffee shops/pubs etc, in fact anywhere serving food? I just don’t feel this is hygienic especially when dogs occupy bench seats and are fed treats from the tables. Visiting a new bakery and coffee shop for the first time I was nearly knocked over by a small terrier who ‘just loves to say hello to everyone’. It belongs to the owner who lets it wander about at will. I won’t be going back there but it is increasingly difficult to find dog-free places as the ‘dogs welcome’ sign proliferates. Before dog owners retaliate, I DO NOT hate dogs! We have a delightful cocker spaniel in the family which charms everyone but we always seek outside covered areas when eating out ourselves or she stays at home. Is it just me?

Casdon Sat 13-Jul-24 06:58:19

You could legally bring any animal that’s not restricted (wild animals) I think, I’ve been in a cat cafe so I know they are definitely allowed. It’s one of those areas of life where there isn’t a right answer - I definitely agree with the law banning them from kitchens though.

BlueBelle Sat 13-Jul-24 07:01:09

I don’t remember ever seeing dogs in restaurants or anywhere other than in the home or wandering around when I was a kid or a younger person
Mind you there was nothing like the amount of animals as there are now every second person has a pampered pooch that is elevate to the standard of a child
I love animals but they are NOT human and shouldn’t be infantilised They should not be taken everywhere which is for their comfort as much as everyone else’s

BlueBelle Sat 13-Jul-24 07:03:22

A cat cafe must be the most disgusting place to go (and I like cats) but hairs and dander are all over the place and cats should never be kept in the house either that I believe is totally cruel unless the animal has some disability that makes it dangerous to be outside

Minho Sat 13-Jul-24 07:08:43

I think the problem is with the owners, not the dogs. We sometimes took our lovely dog into pubs on a day out and everyone made a fuss of him.

Joseann Sat 13-Jul-24 07:11:07

The worst person for calling dogs and cats furbabies is Supervet, Noel Fitzpatrick. I know he is in a highly charged situation with distressed owners, but he goes OTT and lets all the dogs lick his face. Yuck!
(My dogs are NOT my babies, although one is currently having a little teenage tantrum, dragging my pyjamas around, because I'm a bit late going out for our walk on a Saturday).

BigMamma Sat 13-Jul-24 07:21:12

Has anyone ever thought that dogs may just like to be left at home in peace instead of being dragged through busy holiday spots and then having to sit quietly in a bustling restaurant.

I have seen poor dogs being dragged through the streets on a very hot day, their poor paws must be so sore from the hot pavements. Animals cannot tell you if they are thirsty, hungry or even not feeling well so please stop dragging them from pillar to post just because you like walking all day long with a bottle of water in your hand your dog cannot have a drink when he wants, only when you say he can.

I look at these people an think animal cruelty.

BigMamma Sat 13-Jul-24 07:24:54

BlueBelle

A cat cafe must be the most disgusting place to go (and I like cats) but hairs and dander are all over the place and cats should never be kept in the house either that I believe is totally cruel unless the animal has some disability that makes it dangerous to be outside

Don't forget the dog hairs when you brush past a dog in your dark trousers and end up being covered in dog hair. I have perennial rhinitis, that is 52 weeks of the year hay fever and have to take medication daily.

Joseann Sat 13-Jul-24 07:27:27

You're not allowed to leave the dogs home alone in holiday properties, so I think that is why we see so many being dragged around with families in July and August. At least they won't overheat or get burnt paws this summer, though they will all be shaking wet coats over everyone! 😆

Callistemon213 Sat 13-Jul-24 08:00:18

BlueBelle

I don’t remember ever seeing dogs in restaurants or anywhere other than in the home or wandering around when I was a kid or a younger person
Mind you there was nothing like the amount of animals as there are now every second person has a pampered pooch that is elevate to the standard of a child
I love animals but they are NOT human and shouldn’t be infantilised They should not be taken everywhere which is for their comfort as much as everyone else’s

I was wondering what would happen if you took Cedric to a café with you Bluebelle

Would he behave nicely or would he go from table to table hoovering up everyone's food?

I should take this more seriously but there have been other threads like this and no consensus ever reached.

Callistemon213 Sat 13-Jul-24 08:02:44

Joseann

The worst person for calling dogs and cats furbabies is Supervet, Noel Fitzpatrick. I know he is in a highly charged situation with distressed owners, but he goes OTT and lets all the dogs lick his face. Yuck!
(My dogs are NOT my babies, although one is currently having a little teenage tantrum, dragging my pyjamas around, because I'm a bit late going out for our walk on a Saturday).

(My dogs are NOT my babies, although one is currently having a little teenage tantrum, dragging my pyjamas around, because I'm a bit late going out for our walk on a Saturday)

Are you still wearing them while this is happening?

Tuaim Sat 13-Jul-24 08:18:33

My grandmother had a mongrel dog in the East End of London and he was fed on scraps from the butchers. Those were the days.

Joseann Sat 13-Jul-24 08:24:55

Are you still wearing them while this is happening?
Yes when he was a puppy, but not any more fortunately!

Callistemon213 Sat 13-Jul-24 08:27:04

😁
Thank goodness. I had visions of you being dragged down the road in your PJs!

Mollygo Sat 13-Jul-24 09:09:29

I don’t like dogs on chairs in cafes, or at all in restaurants.
We do take our dog to one when we walk in one direction along the estuary and the eatery is mostly outside, to another cafe/restaurant where there is a covered area outside for dog+owners and a third along the coast which allows dogs inside or out.
When we talked to the owner she said that 7-8 years ago, prior to allowing dogs inside, they hardly made enough money to survive unless the weather was fine and sunny.
Dog owners are hardier and walk the dogs even in the winter so it’s worth their while to stay open. She said more people seemed to have dogs since Covid and they got in the habit of walking.

eazybee Sat 13-Jul-24 09:34:27

Out local polling station was held in the Village hall. Large notice prominently displayed, 'No dogs allowed on the premised.' Despite that a voter insisted in taking her small dog in, I can't leave him, and the officials allowed it. Why have rules if they are broken?
Other voters tied their dogs outside; none were any trouble.

Spuddy Sat 13-Jul-24 10:17:54

Most dogs in such places are well behaved and quiet.

I'd much rather have them in there than a load of screaming obnoxious arrogant tantruming uncontrollable brats running around knocking into people, putting their grubby hands and feet on tables and chairs etc. while ''parents'' totally ignore them, not having them in control and worshipping their mobiles instead of keeping their demonic sprogs in line.

Witzend Sat 13-Jul-24 10:21:02

Dog friendly places would seem to be a lot more common in holiday/rural areas. I still shiver to recall walking around Exeter with a friend and their two dogs, shortly after Christmas in freezing drizzle - looking in vain for anywhere - pub or cafe -where we could take the dogs - because her dh refused to leave them in the car.

He, meanwhile, was warmly tucked up in a coffee shop! but then he always was a supremely selfish type.

BigMamma Sat 13-Jul-24 10:23:56

Joseann

You're not allowed to leave the dogs home alone in holiday properties, so I think that is why we see so many being dragged around with families in July and August. At least they won't overheat or get burnt paws this summer, though they will all be shaking wet coats over everyone! 😆

If that is the case then they should leave them at home with someone to look after them and if not, put them in kennels, our sons looked after our pets when we went abroad but when they couldn't we put them in kennels that we trusted and they loved it.

valdali Sat 13-Jul-24 10:33:22

When we were children, children weren't allowed in hardly any restaurants either. Don't want to go back to that. If we're on holiday we'll take our dog in restaurants & cafes although we sit outside if that's an option.Even dog-friendly holiday lets don't allow the dog to be left alone in the accommodation. Trouble is some people spoil it for everyone, not content with their dog allowed to lie quietly in the corner. Most dogs don't bark, certainly not wee, or get on the seats or be fed from the table when their owners are dining out. Waitresses shouldn't really be stroking them either, but with sensible groundrules I think dog-friendly is great.

Joseann Sat 13-Jul-24 10:35:33

I'm not talking about going abroad BigMamma. I meant British families staying in the UK renting cottages, chalets, mobile homes, etc. in places like Wales, Devon, Cornwall etc. Some of them may not be able to afford kennels on top of the cost of their holiday. Or they may not have relatives to look after the dog.
As said above, many walking and discovery holidays are centered around dog walks.
In my opinion, there should be dog friendly eating places and no dog places. Suits everyone then.

NotSpaghetti Sat 13-Jul-24 10:40:13

valdali I don't know where/when children weren't allowed in restaurants. I was lucky and went to quite a lot with my parents as a girl.

My own children have been to restaurants (even as babies) but I'd obviously take them out if they started to grizzle. As children they were very well behaved at the dinner table. I would be mortified if they had disrupted another person's dinner.

Caleo Sat 13-Jul-24 10:56:38

If no- dogs cafes and pubs were more popular there would be more of them.

Do men always wash hands after having a pee? I doubt it.

It's true though that cafe staff even in dog cafes should not touch the animals or their leads without washing their hands after.

Maggiemaybe Sat 13-Jul-24 10:56:56

Spuddy

Most dogs in such places are well behaved and quiet.

I'd much rather have them in there than a load of screaming obnoxious arrogant tantruming uncontrollable brats running around knocking into people, putting their grubby hands and feet on tables and chairs etc. while ''parents'' totally ignore them, not having them in control and worshipping their mobiles instead of keeping their demonic sprogs in line.

See a lot of those, do you? Where on earth do you live?

Maggiemaybe Sat 13-Jul-24 11:00:07

Oh, it must be the same place as flappergirl!

Personally I'm thoroughly sick of young children running riot in eateries. They are a danger to waiting staff, plaster their grubby fingers everywhere and screech to high heaven like monkeys in the rain forest, all totally unchecked by their parents.

Dickens Sat 13-Jul-24 11:23:49

As with children, the problem with dogs in various 'eateries' is the owner.

I've seen both children and dogs who are well-behaved and don't cause any trouble.

Perhaps dog-friendly (and child-friendly) restaurants should have some simple rules - for example, not letting your children run around unchecked, nor allowing dogs to sit on seats or be fed from the table?

A child eating with its parents, or a dog parked under a bench or seat snoozing, doesn't really cause anyone any harm.

The worst for me is those owners with dogs on extendable leads in restaurants who, when the dog greets all-comers by bounding up to them, smile indulgently and assure you that their animal "just loves people". Dogs should be kept on a short lead and remain close to their owner. And children likewise. Without a lead of course.