Australia loves talking about supporting small business. We hear it constantly.
Support local.
Back small operators.
Help regional communities survive and thrive.
Yet the moment a cafe owner wants to allow a quiet, leashed dog to sit beside its owner while they drink a coffee indoors, suddenly the country turns into a risk management seminar.
As someone who grew up in Germany, Australia’s approach to dogs in cafes and restaurants has always baffled me.
In much of Europe, business owners are treated like adults capable of making adult decisions. Dogs are commonly allowed inside cafes, pubs and even shops, provided hygiene standards are maintained and animals stay out of food preparation areas.
The world keeps spinning.
People somehow continue eating meals without society collapsing into a canine-fuelled health emergency.
MORE NEWS
Woman solves leaf dispute with clever gardening hack
‘I saw you’: Neighbour declares war on dog poo bandit
‘Made them vomit’: Investor grim find in $430k renovator
I enjoy bringing my dog along to meet friends at cafes but sitting outside in winter can get a little chilly.
Meanwhile in Australia – a nation with an estimated 7.4 million pet dogs nationwide – there are only about 5.8 million children under 18.
Yet one is routinely banned from entering certain establishments while the other is allowed in regardless of behaviour.
And honestly, that’s where the debate starts becoming hard to ignore.
Because I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve watched children sprint between tables, scream through restaurants, smear food into furniture or turn a quiet brunch into something resembling a suburban indoor play centre.
And before parents come charging for me online, no, I’m not talking about neurodivergent children or parents genuinely trying their best.
Same But Different cafe owner Kellie Hunter with Trudy Semler feeding her mini schnauzer Floyd a puppacino in Hahndorf, SA. Picture: Mark Brake
I’m talking about the small minority of adults who seem to think public dining spaces should simply tolerate absolutely any behaviour from their children while everyone else silently suffers through it.
Yet the golden retriever quietly sleeping under a chair is apparently the hygiene issue.
Sure!
Meanwhile in Australia – despite being a country utterly obsessed with dogs – a small business owner can face fines for allowing a well-behaved dog through the front door.
It feels wildly outdated.
Particularly when hospitality businesses are already being smashed by rising costs, staff shortages, insurance hikes and declining consumer spending.
The latest example comes from the South Australian tourism town of Hahndorf, where Same But Different Cafe has found itself fighting to reverse a council decision banning pets inside the premises after a single complaint.
Same But Different cafe has been a popular cafe for dog owners but recently got in trouble for allowing dogs inside.
One complaint.
That’s all it took.
Owner Kellie Hunter said the change came immediately after a complaint was lodged – and now the cafe risks fines if dogs remain inside.
The timing could hardly be worse.
Winter is coming and anyone who owns a dog knows people are far less likely to sit outside in freezing weather with a coffee and brunch.
The frustrating part is the cafe reportedly had no hygiene complaints while operating as dog friendly.
Because here’s the thing many Australians don’t realise: Europe already figured this out years ago.
Under Australian food standards, dogs are generally banned anywhere food is prepared, handled or served indoors, unless they are certified assistance animals.
Europe takes a far more sensible approach.
Meanwhile in Europe, dogs in cafes and restaurants are a common sight. Even celevrity chef Gordon Ramsay is on board.
Their regulations focus on keeping animals out of kitchens and food preparation areas – which seems entirely reasonable – but they largely leave decisions about dining spaces up to business owners and local authorities.
In other words: adults are trusted to make adult decisions.
What a concept.
And despite what some people seem to believe, Europe has not collapsed into a canine-fuelled health apocalypse.
I understand the arguments against it.
Some people are allergic to dogs. Some are afraid of them. Fair enough.
But nobody is forcing anyone to sit beside a dog any more than people are forced to holiday at adults-only resorts or book flights in child-free airline sections.
Consumers already make these choices constantly.
Singapore Airlines even offers “ScootinSilence” zones on some flights – adult-only cabin sections for passengers aged 12 and over.
Clearly there’s a market for escaping noise and chaos.
And speaking of chaos, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay recently found himself dragged into an online debate after a TikTok video appeared to show a dog standing on a pee pad near diners at one of his London restaurants.
However, Ramsay was recently forced to responded to a viral TikTok video, allegedly filmed at one of his London restaurants, which sparked discussion online about a dog seen standing -and peeing – near diners.
The internet, naturally, reacted as though civilisation itself was ending.
“This is foul,” one commenter wrote.
Another added: “I’m a dog owner and this is still a massive no.”
Ramsay later clarified the footage had been “overexaggerated” and said dogs were only permitted on the outdoor terrace anyway.
Which is kind of the entire point.
Businesses are perfectly capable of setting boundaries and rules without governments treating every cavoodle like a biosecurity threat – particularly during a cost-of-living crisis where small hospitality businesses are already struggling to survive.
If I’m being completely honest, the worst behaved thing I’ve encountered in a restaurant lately wasn’t a dog.
It was someone’s child throwing chips at strangers while their parents ignored it while sipping an almond latte.