Dogs and Coffee

Dogs should be able to woof down a latte alongside their owners in Melbourne's cafes, says Monash PhD student and psychologist Jordan Schaan. And she wants to find out if others feel the same way. Forty per cent of Australian households include one or more dogs and studies show most fill a need for affection and companionship.

Schaan says many Australians understand how peoplepet relations mimic human relationships, so why the attitude about dogs in public places, especially eateries? She wants to take her two dogs everywhere and says the Europeans have got it right with their acceptance of furry friends in hotels and shops. "In Germany you can take your dogs through department stores. "There are allocated pet floors in hotels for people who want to take their dogs on holiday. These aren't dirty motels either, but five-star Hilton hotels."

It could also be a matter of space. Without the spacious back yards many Australians enjoy, dogs cannot be left inside alone. Dogs are also a common answer for family-minded couples who are waiting to have children, Schaan says. Many see their pets as children.