I was a customer in our local store today twice. Once with a friend and then when we had been shopping for a while, I returned alone to feed my 7 month old baby.
It was 1:15pm and the store was busy. I was fortunate to secure a small sofa and sat with my baby to feed. There were two tub chairs in the group as well. After about 10 minutes, a man walked up to my table and proceeded to tie a collie dog to the table leg. I was surprised as I did not know that dogs were permitted there but content that he was going to sit in one of the tub chairs. He did not, instead he left to line up to get a coffee. The dog, tied at a low coffee table on a long leash tried to get at the baby. It did so in a playful not aggressive way but I was nevertheless scared that without the owner present there was nothing I could do. The owner was the other end of the shop in line and, given the amount of time I had waited on a busy lunchtime, would be at least 10 minutes. I had no choice but to get up and as there were no other suitable seats (with arms for breastfeeding) I had to stop feeding and move.
Another couple close to me were equally appalled and offered me a seat next to them but it was a standard high chair at a table and I'm no good at feeding on those I'm afraid. I packed up the baby and went to the line where I said to the man that I could not believe that he had tied his dog alone where it could harass a mother who was trying to feed a baby. Your staff without doubt heard, looked uncomfortable and then looked the other way. He said he would move the dog when he could. A member of staff walked over to the dog but simply petted it and left again. No-one said anything to me and I left - rather upset to be honest.
I realise that this incident was 90 per cent the fault of the other customer who should not have behaved as he did. However I was the one left with no choice but to leave the shop. It is impossible to explain how vulnerable you feel breastfeeding in public anyway and to be harassed by a dog who could harm the baby is simply unacceptable.
I don't know why I am as upset by this as I am but for some reason it has really got to me.
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netguru2 · 09/12/2014 14:13
That's horrible, I would have been really upset too 
and the member of staff petting the dog and not saying anything to you was incredibly rude!
He was at fault mainly, but I'm surprised they allow dogs in at all.
Having said that, he probably didn't realise you were bf and you probably should have said something to him straight away, or called him or a staff member over before being confrontational about it. But I understand you were upset. 
Pottering did you mean to sound so rude? 
The poor OP doesnt sound comfortable feeding on little chairs, her body, her comfort, her choice. Different people feel comfortable in different positions to breastfeed. There shouldn't be a "right way" competition where the best can go hands free on water skis and those who need a cushion, comfy chair or scarf are less good.
It might seem like saying "experienced BFers can do it 'properly' and easily" but I (and my friends) found it slightly daunting and off putting.
I can't feed on a chair with arms! I prefer a soft long chair. And my baby kicks like mad if she can see shiny things so I use a scarf.
At home I wear a onesie and use a cushion on my lap.
This doesn't make me less good at breastfeeding.
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