The businesses are asking for the bylaw to be reviewed amid the "Totally Georgeous" revamp of the central city aimed at making the area more pedestrian-friendly.
Under the bylaw, dogs are restricted from entering the Octagon, the Civic Centre, the Library Plaza and along Princes and George Sts between the Exchange and Knox Church.
Morning Magpie owner Troy Butler said the law was outdated and needed to be reviewed.
He had been bringing his 3-year-old shar pei, John, to work, which is just outside the ban area, every day since he was a puppy.
John, who had garnered a local following as a hardworking and friendly cafe employee, had held the title of employee of the month for 36 consecutive months.
Mr Butler said he walked John around the city but had to avoid areas subject to the ban.
He thought the George St revamp was a good time to review the rules.
He said he could not think of a reason to exclude dogs if owners were responsible, and that John enjoyed being out meeting humans in the area.
"I’ve sat in the Octagon in the afternoon having a beer and hid John under the table," Mr Butler said.
Woof! owner Dudley Benson said if dogs were welcomed in the city it would be a positive step forward.
He owns 9-year-old Jack Russell Rupert, who is a regular patron at his bar.
"I ignore the bans when I walk Rupert through the CBD, like a lot of people do," Mr Benson said.
His business was dog-friendly, and every canine visitor had a Polaroid picture of them added to a wall of dog photos.
With the George St redevelopment, the city was aiming to be more pedestrian friendly, so it would be a good time to review the rules, he said.
"It seems incredibly draconian."
The call comes after council nominee Brent Weatherall, part of the Team Dunedin ticket, said the bylaw was "archaic".
He called for dogs to be allowed on all council footpaths, saying the council allowed "scooters that sometimes travel at ridiculous speeds yet you’re not allowed your best friend with four legs".
A George St business owner himself, he said he had no issue with shop owners allowing or banning dogs, and it should be up to owners to be responsible in said areas.
The Dunedin City Council was unable to respond to a request for comment before deadline yesterday.
