To think The Range has made a stupid decision

Im not really a doggy person but i cant get too worked up about other peoples dogs, same as small kids, i just don't get involved

Dogs are vile, I avoid any shops and cafes where they're welcome to stink up the place!

I avoid anywhere dogs are allowed (accept the park) I don’t want to sit in a pub or restaurant where there are dogs sniffing round me and I don’t want to shop and then feel on edge because of a large dog in the store - guide dogs / assistant dog no issue with.

Service dogs - like guide dogs, hearing dogs for the deaf - are trained to the nth degree. They wouldn't even be accepted onto the training if they were not impeccably behaved. Guide dogs and other proper assistance/service dogs are not the problem.

The issue is the cheeky fucker brigade who buy high vis dog coats from Amazon and declare that their badly behaved poodoodle thing is now an "emotional support dog". And your shop assistant on minimum wage doesn't want a stand up row with the cheeky fuckers, so they get away with it.

I don't understand this new trent of allowing dogs to be absolutely everywhere, especially as do many owners seem to think there's no need to train their dogs.
Our local shopping mall now welcomes all dogs. There are constantly dogs barking (the sound of which is amplified and echos due to the building design), and trying to attack each other. Several dogs have been to the toilet on the floor. It's disgusting!
A few stores don't allow them in (I think Next is one) but most do.
They are in every coffee shop, either getting underfoot or begging at tables (which the owners seen to think is cute/funny).
I absolutely hate it and think it's completely unnecessary.
Gunwharf Quays was particularly awful when we visited in June. Definitely put me off going back.

But what about those who do not like to be alone. I have to take mine with me now got her to 40 mins with training she still gets quite distressed. This has been ongoing for 3 yrs. Had an argument with the bank went in on the Friday at their request couldn’t sort out problem they said I could bring in dog the next week. Went in on the Monday with the dog got shouted at no dogs allowed. Explained been given permission Went into side room with dog didn’t worry anyone eventually sorted banking problem out. Then came out saved a pigeon that had come into the bank.

https://www.businessinsider.com/queen-elizabeth-ii-love-dogs-horses-role-in-her-funeral-2022-9

Where do you all live?!

There's absolutely a lot more places around where I live (Devon) that don't allow dogs, than do allow them.

I am a big fan of killing two birds with one stone, so will always tie in a dog walk with a chore if possible - and other than the pet shop and two cafes, there's nowhere else in my town that I could take my dog. Which is fine, I just get confused by all these comments that make out that the world is slowly closing in on them due to dogs.

I will absolutely take my dog in to a cafe/pub - it's always at the tail end of a walk, and in my experience they have dog friendly sections, ie the bar, and then keep the restaurant part dog free. There's plenty of restaurants around that don't allow them. Chains such as Costa and spoons are dog free too.

I have a dog, but I wont be taking her to The Range just because I can. Although, it means people already out with their dogs, or who are on holiday, can take their dog in with them.

The vast majority of dogs I have seen in shops/cafes/pubs have been very well behaved. It seems it is only on MN that dog friendly shop aisles are swimming in piss, all the displays have been peed on, and there are feral dogs barking at each other and trying to eat toddlers.

I've never been to the Range, but this seems to be a growing trend. There's a fairly newly open shopping centre to me and it's dog friendly apparently - the idea of going to H&M or John Lewis with dogs there doesn't appeal, but apparently you can.

People more and more treat dogs like humans. This thread proves it.

I love my dog beyond words I really do. BUT would I want to take her shopping with me - no fucking way. The only shop she ever goes in is Pets at Home but only because the vet surgery is in there or I wouldn't even take her in there. She wants to be running in the fields or the woods, not looking at kitchen ware and soft furnishings in The Range.

However, I must live on another planet because I haven't noticed that dogs are everywhere, apart from the odd dog friendly cafe I never really see them anywhere out of the ordinary. And I've never seen a dog shit in Pets at Home.

As opposed to just not peeing and pooing inside the home.

Completely agree. I think you would have to have a very limited imagination not to understand why a dog might be at a funeral.

My grandad's dog was his best friend. So when my grandad died, it was a no brainer that his dog was also at the funeral. He was family too, so entitled to be there.

Are service dogs trained where to pee and poo? My neighbour trained her dog to only poo in her garden (right next to the doggy poo bin thing in the ground) but can they be trained to only pee in certain places too?

Dog owner here. Dogs in shops are the main reason I barely shop in physical stores (or food outlets) anymore. Gives me the MN ick in the same way as the pervy men lovingly fingering the lingerie in M&S 🤢
My shopping experience’ is definitely bot enhanced by dogs shedding, sniffing and peeling around the merchandise (or by the ‘gifts’ from the shit & leave brigade in the adjacent car parks)) Nor by their entitled owners wilfully disregarding the comfort of fellow shoppers, especially those who are dog phobic or allergic.

Service dogs (NOT ‘emotional assistance’ 🤬 dogs are perfectiy fine.

I’m absolutely sick of dogs everywhere! Every single pub in my town is ‘dog friendly’. I hate how you made out to be a weirdo for wanting a dog free space. I love cats but totally get that some people find them horrible so don’t expect everywhere to let cats in. Loads of dogs are nice and well behaved but imo most are a pita due to incompetent and lazy owners.

They do take them to church at my church. There are 3 regular big dogs.

Our vicar brings his dog to church. It sits on one of the fancy chairs at the front

I would like to see pay-as-you-go doggy day care centres at large shopping centres/ retail parks. There are so many empty units, it might increase footfall too.
Some dogs can’t be left for long periods at home, sometimes people need to pop into a shop enroute to their destination and could be prosecuted for leaving their dog in the car.
I dont think shops a good places for most dogs, I can’t imagine trying to do a food shop with mine! Pet shops are different (you might need to try a lead/collar for size, and some have samples of kibble etc to try out). Owners should take dogs to the toilet before a pet shop shopping trip 🤔 I bet they don’t let them pee and poop indoors at home. The dog friendly shops should provide clean up kits for the owners (shouldn’t be staff cleaning it up) and signage for payment of damaged goods.
I have seen a number of posts on allergies..fair enough but contact time with allergen in a shop environment would be insignificant unless someone has severe allergy. Furniture is usually display items (not the product that will be taken home). I can very briefly share a space with a cat (or home of cat) and get mild symptoms. Physical contact or longer stay results in breathing difficulties (even with medication).
some people have dog phobias, suggest avoid the isle that dog is in, dog is on lead. Some people with sensory issues are scared of wasps, spiders, butterflies, the wind(yes it’s true!!) not possible to cater for all and more important to deal with phobia / sensory response rather than trying to remove every trigger from the world!

That's partly because you've never had dogs, but I suspect it's mostly because you're the sort that struggles to get your head around how anyone else thinks on any subject.

Yes. We've had the family dogs at the graveside for a family funeral. Why wouldn't you when the deceased was close to them and had had dogs their entire life?

Crikey I wouldn’t have realised that. I would be suprised too.

My youngest hates dogs so the shops are a good place for knowing there won’t be any.

Choose her own toys and treats

Fuck me, I've heard it all now

Service dogs also deserve a distraction free work environment.

They're usually pretty iron clad anyway, but they are still dogs at the end of the day and our disabled members of society who require a service dog for which ever medical need they have acquired one deserve to be out in public without worrying about their dog too.

I'm all for pet shops like pets at home etc being dog friendly, it's to be expected especially if you're going to use one of their other services, but there's not really a need for a general shop giant like the range to be dog friendly.