Bringing your furry friend to a cafe may seem appealing, but it’s important to consider the impact it can have on other patrons and the business itself. While many cafes are pet-friendly, they expect that your dog is well-behaved, including not disturbing other diners’ experiences with their barks.
If your dog can not be controlled by ‘oh pookie stop that’, here are some reasons why you should think twice before bringing them into a cafe:
1. Noise pollution:
Barking dogs can be loud and disruptive to other customers trying to enjoy their coffee or meal in peace. The constant barking can create a chaotic atmosphere that is unpleasant for everyone.
2. Acoustics:
Even if you sit outside in an eatery, many places are still quite echoey under the pergola. This means sound stays in a space for longer. So, a millisecond bark may echo and ricochet around that space for a second or longer. This is very uncomfortable for other diners.
3. Sound intolerance:
People with hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, medical conditions, or neurodiversity may have a decreased tolerance for loud sounds. Loud barks from big dogs may be uncomfortable, but constant high-pitched barking from a smaller dog can be painful and unbearable. Sudden, loud noises can trigger an exacerbation that lasts hours or days.
4. Assistance dogs are the exception:
Assistance dogs are welcome everywhere, but it’s important to remember that not all dogs are assistance dogs. Emotional support dogs are pets and not medical aids.
We all know the benefits dogs have on our mental health. Many rely on them for emotional support. But what is the difference between Assistance Dogs and Emotional Support Dogs?
According to Assistance Dogs Australia,
“In short: the law!
Assistance Dogs are medical aids, whereas Emotional Support Dogs are considered pets. While all pet dogs (and pets in general) can make us feel better, give us unconditional love, and improve our overall quality of life, it takes years of training to become an Assistance Dog”.
For more information, this link will give you more insight.
5. Is the dog barking because they are anxious?
Your pet may bark because they’re reactive, nervous, scared, or anxious, which means that a busy café may not be the best place for them. Allowing them to continue barking doesn’t teach them the skills they need to be in public. Don’t say ‘it’s ok, they’re friendly’ to excuse their behaviour. They need to be exposed to busy places to become more comfortable, but a busy café is not the place for that training to occur.
6. Safety concerns:
Not everyone is comfortable around dogs, especially if they are not well-behaved. This can create safety concerns for other patrons, particularly people who may be frightened or allergic to dogs.
7. Respect for others:
It’s nice to consider other patrons who may not want to be around your dog while trying to enjoy a coffee or meal. If you see other diners doing this when your dog barks, it’s loud enough to induce a startle reflex, so it’s loud enough to ruin the ambience.
In conclusion, we all understand why people take their dogs to cafes, but not everyone shares your enthusiasm. If your dog cannot be controlled by saying, “oh, boo, stop that,” please leave them at home, find other ways to enjoy time together or get take away.
Disclaimer:
- I’m a dog lover. That’s why the Ambient Menu has a ‘pet friendly’ search function especially for people wanting brunch with them.
2. The two dog names used as examples are real, burnt into my brain by owners who repeatedly called their names while they barked non stop.
Fun fact: calling the dog name in a loving manner while saying ‘oh pookie stop that’……. did not make them stop that.
3. Yes, you would assume most people know why not to take an anxious barking animal into a crowded enclosed place, but – here we are.
Wonderful article. Visited a pet friendly café this morning which even boasted a menu for pets. We sat outside as too noisy inside. Whilst many of the tables had dogs there it took just one dog barking incessantly to spoil the experience for everyone (and possibly distressing for the other dogs.)