Dogs Are Causing Unexpected Drama at NYC Businesses-and People Have Opinions

In the past few years, dog-friendly cafés have become the norm in many great cities. Just imagine having a latte, a pastry, and a friendly dog lying under your table. Sounds pretty amazing, right?

Well, it turns out, New Yorkers have had enough. People in New York City might put up with a lot of things, like subway delays and noisy neighbors, but residents have seemingly reached their limit with dogs inside coffee shops.

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According to city complaint data reviewed by multiple outlets, reports involving dogs inside coffee shops and food establishments have doubled in recent years.

In 2025 alone, there were more than 1,500 complaints, ranging from barking and disruptive behavior to dogs wandering through stores.

Why Are So Many New Yorkers Suddenly Complaining About Dogs?

According to a report by the New York Post, Black Star Bakery and Café on the Upper East Side has more than 125 complaints this year alone, and more than 600 since 2020. And according to one of the baristas working in Joe Coffee in Brooklyn Heights, the number of dogs coming into the shop had become a bit of an issue.

The System Is the Problem

Here is the trick: Under the New York City health code, dogs are only permitted inside food establishments if they are registered service animals. Staff can ask guests whether their animal is a service dog and what tasks it performs. However, they cannot demand documentation or proof of disability.

This is where the system fails. Many pet parents who wish to have their furry companions with them while enjoying their coffee are misrepresenting them as service animals.

According to Dr. Darin Detwiler, the current system is being abused, and pets, no matter how loved, are not service animals.

Related: New Study Ranks the Top 10 Dog-Friendly Beaches Nationwide-and California Dominates

How New York Got Here

Several factors contributed to the growing number of pets in New York City. Post-pandemic outdoor dining normalized bringing dogs along. In the past few years, the pet humanization trend has normalized the treatment of pets as family members. It is no longer niche. Nowadays, pets are part of the mainstream.

Business owners, afraid of confronting customers over policy violations and losing regulars, allow it.

The result is café workers are stuck between two sets of customers. The first group demands that places be pet-friendly, while the others do not want to see pets in coffee shops and food establishments.

Neither group is unreasonable. In the past few years, New York City has become more pet-friendly. As shown in a YouTube video from Irene Evergreen, bringing your dog to high-end restaurants is now the new normal.

Can You Train Your Dog to Remain Calm in Public?

Taking a dog to a restaurant is a privilege your dog has to earn. You cannot take a dog out until he has learned important skills. If pet parents want to keep the pet-friendly policy moving forward, they will have to put in the effort and time.

There are four skills dogs need to learn before they can go on a coffee date. The most important ones are settling down on cue, ignoring passing people, responding to their name, and remaining calm around dogs.

Start the training at home, where there are no distractions. Put your dog in a down position, then feed high-value treats between their paws to encourage them to keep their head down. Reward for remaining calm while adding small distractions. Then, move to an area with more distractions, like the park.

It takes time before you train your dog to remain calm while you enjoy your morning espresso, but it is worth it.

All dog parents want their pets to be welcomed, but the easiest way to keep public spaces dog-friendly is making sure dogs are calm, comfortable and under control.

Related: This One State Was Just Ranked the Most Dog-Friendly Place to Travel

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This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 11:48 AM.