Yep - you'll see dogs almost everywhere in Paris.

Two of my favorite sightings - Walking down St. Germaine early one morning as people were going about their shopping, watching a neighborhood dog make the rounds. Stop at the bakery, get a pastry. Stop at the butcher, get some scraps. Everyone appeared to be talking to the little guy. Then, as he was waiting to cross the busy street, he lifted a leg to the shopping bag of a 60-ish woman. She whirled, chewed him out, then gave him something from her bag. Good gig for a little pup!

The best: Late one night in a cafe, DH and I saw a small dog not under a table, not at a table, but ON a table, just laying there as her owner and three friends drank their wine. I loved it. But then I love dogs, even if I can't travel with my own.

Cats, by the way, are common in outdoor restaurants all over Mexico. Can't figure out what Americans are so hung up about this stuff.

Topping for frenchie girl.

Sorry but dogs are animals and in my opinion animals were meant to stay outdoors and shouldn't be welcomes at the dinner table.

I live in NYC where people let their dogs pee everywhere, in gardens, on hydrants, on the garbage pail, on peoples cars, on a wall, on trees, shurbs and anything else that isn't flat. It's disgusting. I love when I see a "proud" owner bending down to pick up the dogs business, how humbling! The dog looks on as if he is thinking, "why are you picking upand bagging my ****?"

My other favorite is when you go to give a dog a cookie or other junk food and the owner exclaims. "don't give him that its not good for him", as she munches on a bag of Doritos.

Richard, you've posted on this thread 5 times already. I think you've made your view more than abundantly clear. However, your view is NOT the prevailing custom in many parts of Europe and if you can't handle the local customs, vacation elsewhere. Or choose restaurants where dogs are not allowed--the red Michelin guide notes which restaurants those are. No one is forcing you to vacation in France or dine in restaurants where dogs are permitted.

Yes they may allow dogs in their restaurants but they also allow smoking which is also unhealthy and disgusting.

Dogs and children . . . sigh.

My dog is much better behaved than my 14 month old daughter.

Wait til she is 2!

One Thanksgiving I had my guests go to the living room for coffee and did not clear the table right then. Went back in the dining room for some reason, and there was one of my little "darling" doggies, up on top of the table plowing through all the plates, just licking away. Someone had not pushed their chair back to the table and the dog had jumped on the chair and then up to the table. I of course quickly removed him from the table top...no one saw and we WERE finished. So, the dog on the table in Paris didn't shock me but obviously, the Parisian chien was MUCH better behaved than mine!!! I LIKE seeing the dogs in Paris. Didn't bother me in the least.

Richard - Maybe Paris isn't for you.

crefloors :) my dog before he was blind would drink someone's wine or whatever if they put it down on the floor.
Most of the B&Bs we have been to in France allowed dogs and so diod the restaurants.

Somewhere, once upon a time, when I was researching Paris, there was a hint that if you wanted to go to a "local" bistrot/cafe/whatever... watch a couple walking a dog ... if they enter such an establishment, chances are, they are local (to be walking the dog) and enjoy the place (since there would probably be dozens of other places in the vicinity of the dog's walk). And so ...! There you go. I watched a couple, and went to the restaurant. It was nice. No idea the name.