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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to have reservations about so many dogs at the outlet today?

119 replies

wildfellhall · 04/05/2025 18:50

Was it bring your dog day today?
There were literally hundreds of dogs and I feel as if I’ve hardly ever seen a dog at a big outlet before. Is this a new thing?
I was in clothes shops with dogs all running around me as I was shopping. Dogs’ leads all around while trying on shoes. What’s going on with the shopping with dogs?
I mean I don’t mind dogs at all, service dogs I adore; but who wants dogs in clothes shops? It seems really odd to me.

OP posts:
Arran2024 · 05/05/2025 09:54

ohtowinthelottery · 04/05/2025 22:05

I've been to an outdoor family event today. It's in a place that still forbids dogs - as it has for the last 20 years. There were plenty of people there who I know for a fact own dogs. But guess what? They managed to have a fun afternoon without their or anyone else's fur baby running around! It was a local event so I guess some of them may have 'popped' home to let their dogs out in the garden briefly. But it proves it is absolutely possible not to have to allow dogs everywhere.

We went to Kew Gardens yesterday - no dogs. I have two big dogs myself and I found it relaxing to be dog free for the day. If they allowed dogs I would have taken them, no question (as it was my nephew came round to sit with them as one of them has separation anxiety). I do think there's a time and a place for dogs and it's good to have non dog spaces.

Fourpawsblack · 05/05/2025 07:48

worcesterpear · 04/05/2025 22:06

@SnoozingFox don't forget 'dogs are much more hygienic than children' 'it's been scientifically proven that dogs have less bacteria than humans' and of course dogs are generally much better behaved, any that aren't then it's 'the owners, not the dogs'.

@Fourpawsblack intrigued as to why a poodle had tin foil in its hair - was it having highlights?

It looked like it was going for highlights 😄

I didn’t ask as I was too busy consoling DD about the stolen sausage but I think it’s done to keep the hair nice for showing.

PuppyMonkey · 05/05/2025 06:54

I've never met a male dog who hasn't had to be stopped from cocking his leg up anything and everything

Have I got a weird dog or something? my male golden retriever would never cock his leg up on “anything and everything”. Just lampposts tbh. Confused

Mind you, I wouldn’t fancy taking him to an outlet place. He’d be wanting to stop and meet everyone and then just dribble everywhere.Grin

EleanorReally · 05/05/2025 06:53

i find it hard to believe that dogs will be weeing inappropriately
quite unusual

Girltoddler · 05/05/2025 06:50

tillyandmilly · 04/05/2025 19:45

I went shopping today and there were so many kids around! Wish they would leave at them home! Constantly running around grabbing clothes with their juice and chocolate hands!

These types of comments are so stupid. You can’t leave a primary school child at home alone for hours. You can leave your dog at home whilst you’re shopping or going to a cafe. Or someone can wait outside with the dog whilst the other family member goes inside.

1988abc · 05/05/2025 06:49

Only time my dog goes near our outlet (which is in walking distance and often the loop we walk him) is when we do a haribo run 😆 and my dog remains outside with my husband.
I don't mind dogs as such being in the village but they don't need to be inside the actual stores.

Toddlerteaplease · 05/05/2025 06:41

PicklesHome · 04/05/2025 18:57

The outlet closest to me (East Mids Designer) actively encourages people to bring their dogs, they often have a dog treat van knocking about plus water bowls outside loads of the shops. Not sure on the rules for the dogs going inside the actual shops though, can’t say I saw any last time I went (in the shops I mean - within the outlet there were loads though)

At least that one is mainly out doors. So doesn’t matter quite as much if they pee everywhere!

whynotmereally · 05/05/2025 06:32

Our local shopping centre allows dogs outside but not in the actual shops!

TemporaryMeatSuit · 05/05/2025 02:15

We have finally managed to get a dog thread where the "fur babies" haven't been compared to real babies by the end of the first page!

Yanbu. Dogs are dirty animals and nothing will ever change my opinion on that. Taking them shopping is just cruel and disgusting.

Screamingabdabz · 05/05/2025 01:17

I hope that it really is the answer to retail outlet decline because it puts me right off. It’s not just dogs, it’s that you just know the owners are selfish inconsiderate cunts for even thinking that it’s ok. A double whammy to make shopping completely unpleasant. YANBU.

whynotwhatknot · 05/05/2025 00:11

i went to ashford last year every shop exept a couple of food ones allowed dogs they were brushing up against athe clothes and furninshings thought it was a bit much and i love dogs

vodkaredbullgirl · 04/05/2025 23:29

OonaStubbs · 04/05/2025 23:23

Thankfully, the "day of the dog" is coming to an end.

Yeah when oh wise one.

RampantIvy · 04/05/2025 23:28

BecFlowers · 04/05/2025 23:03

There are SO many places dogs can’t go - literally the majority of places do not allow dogs. Go to one of them? Don’t go to one of the few places pups are allowed and moan about dogs being present.

There are SO many places that do allow dogs these days.

And there are SO many dog owners who refuse to leave their dogs at home just for the duration of a shopping trip. Why?

OonaStubbs · 04/05/2025 23:23

Thankfully, the "day of the dog" is coming to an end.

whatsit84 · 04/05/2025 23:10

I went to a food festival yesterday. Dog lover, and despite never having had one, my kids too. My 9 year old asked ‘mummy why are there so many dogs here’ - can people not leave home without them anymore?!

BecFlowers · 04/05/2025 23:05

wildfellhall · 04/05/2025 19:13

I am not a dog hater at all but I think it’s still an imposition on everyone else in that setting. It’s just an AIBU question - as we seem to be changing as a culture and expecting to take dogs where we once, in the past, would not have done.

Also I am recovering from an injury and am a bit nervous of being tripped up. Several times today people were distracted shopping so the dogs’ leads were round my ankles a couple of times. That’s physical contact that the owner is too distracted to manage because they’re busy shopping.
And I won’t go again on such a busy day for sure. I accept this shift; I’m just curious and surprised.

Honestly I’m sorry to post twice but you are honestly being so overdramatic with this 😂

whatcanthematterbe81 · 04/05/2025 23:03

How dramatic

BecFlowers · 04/05/2025 23:03

wildfellhall · 04/05/2025 18:50

Was it bring your dog day today?
There were literally hundreds of dogs and I feel as if I’ve hardly ever seen a dog at a big outlet before. Is this a new thing?
I was in clothes shops with dogs all running around me as I was shopping. Dogs’ leads all around while trying on shoes. What’s going on with the shopping with dogs?
I mean I don’t mind dogs at all, service dogs I adore; but who wants dogs in clothes shops? It seems really odd to me.

There are SO many places dogs can’t go - literally the majority of places do not allow dogs. Go to one of them? Don’t go to one of the few places pups are allowed and moan about dogs being present.

Mama2many73 · 04/05/2025 23:00

I'm a dog owner/lover and I also think it's ridiculous that some people take their dogs everywhere. Near to us is an outlet shopping area which is open air, partially covered walk ways and many of the shops now allow dogs into them. We have taken ours once to simply walk through as part of his socialisation/training.There's no way I'd take him to 'go shopping' with us.

We do go to our local garden centre which has a separate seating area in the cafe for people with dogs.
He has never cocked a leg indoors but someone else's dog did and they just walked off. We told a staff member who reappeared with a large box to clean it up . In my small dog bag I have wads of kitchen roll and cleaning wipes just incase he ever did do it. I most certainly would not expect someone else to clean it up!

CheeryHelper · 04/05/2025 22:39

As a wheelchair user it’s hard enough to get around in some shops and adding dogs in the mix just makes it so much harder. I love dogs and am terrified of running them over. Parks etc are fine - but this new craze for taking them to clothes shops means it stops me going shopping. Uncontrollable children are also a hazard but are much taller and easier to see than small dogs.

pinkstripeycat · 04/05/2025 22:39

I wouldn’t dream of taking my dog shopping. He has short, spikey hair. One shake and all the clothes would be covered in little, white, spikey hairs. He never goes in my car but it always has dog hair in it. I can’t get dog hair out of the carpet in the car no matter how much I vacuum and scrape with my bobble remover

Runlikesomeoneleftgateopen · 04/05/2025 22:32

In the USA, a man walks around the shops with an alligator on a lead as it his "therapy" pet, so could be a lot worse.

TTC1x · 04/05/2025 22:32

Wasn’t Ashford was it? Place has more dogs than people I’m sure!

RampantIvy · 04/05/2025 22:25

Ylvamoon · 04/05/2025 19:40

🤷🏽‍♀️ if you don't like the dogs being around, vote with your feet!
Dogs are here to stay, and all the dog bashing threads on MN aren't gonna change that.

It's getting more and more difficult these days, which is why there are so many threads on the subject.

IMO, dogs have no place in clothes shops.
My local shopping mall does not allow dogs except for assistance dogs.

DollydaydreamTheThird · 04/05/2025 22:16

I was at Cheshire Oaks recently and there were dogs everywhere. I thought it was absolutely rank. I'm looking a nice new clothes with a side of dog hair and piss. I'm not a dog lover but just because other people are I'm forced to be around them. It's because of all this 'i can't leave my dog alone for more than two hours because it will destroy my house because it misses me' bullshit. Don't get a dog then, it's easy!! Since the pandemic it's just become ridiculous. Call me a dog hater, I don't give a flying monkeys. 😂

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