[Photo Credit to Unsplash]

Recently, a man attempted to go to a small-dog cafe with his dog, only to be denied entry due to his dog’s breed.

An article shared on an online community about being banned from a dog cafe has become a hot topic.

According to the post, a man visited a small dog cafe in downtown Seoul with his dog but was denied entry to the cafe.

From the man’s perspective, he often visited dog cafes with his dog, but this was the first time he had ever been denied entry like this.

The breed of his dog was the reason why the man was not allowed to enter the cafe. His pet dog is a mix between a Jindo dog and a small dog and weighs about 4.8kg.

However, according to the National Institute of Animal Science, small dogs are defined as dogs weighing less than 10 kg when they become adults.

Therefore, his dog is categorized as a small dog.

When the issue gained attention on the community platform, the small dog cafe defended its policy claiming that only breeds classified as small dogs were allowed to enter.

In addition to the weight of small dogs, they also claimed that only small dogs such as Maltese, Chihuahua, and Pomeranians were treated in small dog cafe and this system is taken for granted.

They said that because the man's dog was a Jindo dog mix ,it was impossible for it to be considered a small dog.

Additionally, they emphasized that they are not a cowardly company that discriminates against mixed-breed dogs, as only mixed-breed dogs that are considered small dogs are allowed in.

On the other hand, some netizens in the online community commented that it was inevitable to avoid that the man's experience was clearly dog-breed discrimination.

They argued that allowing entry only to small dog breeds is ultimately a prejudice against other dog breeds.

Meanwhile, some also stated that they had a similar experience and emphasized the absurdity of cafes accepting dog breeds.

According to an operator of the Jindo Friendly community, which opposes restricting the entry of medium-to-large-sized and mixed-breed dogs, Jindo dogs are known in the media as particularly violent dogs, causing some pet owners to reject them.

The dog's violence is largely influenced by its growth process rather than its temperament.

Due to this, it is said that choosing a species is a misunderstanding and prejudice.

Professor Woongjong Lee, an expert in dog behavior, asserted that all dogs have hunting habits, so they can instinctively bite any dog breed if they feel threatened.

Therefore, it was emphasized that a dog's personality can vary depending on its training and its owner's efforts.

The controversy underscores the lack of clear policy for small dog cafes.

Hence, this experience highlights the need to bridge the gap between store owners and customers and clearly establish standards for dogs.