I’ve joined the “why are there dogs everywhere” Club

So, I have always liked to see dogs in shops like JL and Liberty. BUT - if your dog is not cast-iron well behaved, able to cope with the stress of a busy environment and you are in control - like, nothing else to manage except your dog - then leave it home.

I have 2 dogs. I would not take both into a busy shop with me as I dont think I could be vigilant enough with 2 to keep track of.

I assumed it was separation anxiety for some of them, especially the lockdown dogs that never got socialised.
I worked with a woman whose dog would howl if she went behind a tree on a walk. Literally cannot bear her to be out of sight.
But then, plenty of dogs are fine not to be dragged around all the time.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/aug/31/the-rise-of-dog-friendly-cinema-screenings-tim-dowling

We are plagued by a dog somewhere round here, that barks constantly. It’s very difficult to keep a diary to indicate to the authorities how tedious and annoying it is. The owner does not care about, or train the dog at all.

Obviously, the countryside, the seaside and parks etc, are places where dogs will be walked and that’s fine. I mind that people ignore signs that dogs should be on leads. The signs aren’t there for fun and it annoys me that their need for their dog to run free trumps the reasons for the instruction for them to be on a lead.

Pyreneans are glorious 🥰

Our dog has separation anxiety. We’ve tried so many things to make him happier being by himself and have sought professional advice but none of it has worked. So he does come out with us to cafes and restaurants and shops if he’s allowed in because leaving him alone in the house stresses him out. There are sometimes genuine reasons people take their dogs out with them. If it’s hot, we just stay at home with him. We wouldn’t take him to a busy crowded place when it was hot.

I have a 110lb Pyrenean Mountain Dog puppy. Sadly my pockets aren't big enough...😁

Was at the Edinburgh festival at the start of August. Was a warm day and the royal mile was heaving. And yet people thought that was a great day out for their dogs. In the noisey crowds etc.

not exactly a great day out for the dogs

I have a 3lb chihuahua. I could (and on one occasion when my car broke down, have) stick her in my hoodie pocket, carry on with my day, and no one knew or noticed.

On a cross channel ferry today and it had a Pet Lounge for dogs - that’s where they had to go. It was great because there were no dogs elsewhere but all the twat dog owners got a taste of their own medicine - any time anyone opened the door to the lounge all you could hear were dogs barking and snapping at each other.

I’m especially grumpy because they took out the Quiet Lounge to put in the Pet Lounge.

I think dogs in places will start tailing off around 2030. They’re pandemic purchases in the main. They go everywhere because new owners can’t bear the restrictions on their lifestyles that dog training and ownership entails. That plus “my feelings are the only truth that matters” attitudes = why we’re seeing dogs in fucking John Lewis.

Dogs cannot be tied up outside anymore, because they get stolen. Sad but true fact.
I have never however taken any of my many dogs shoe shopping, mainly because they are dogs and they wouldn’t enjoy it. And neither would I!!

Oh apologies, I completely agree with you then that dogs don’t belong in shops at all. My comment was largely for the “well the shops allow it so they are welcome” brigade - that even when they are allowed it is incumbent upon owners to use common sense

been on holiday in norway and there dogs are not allowed in shops or restaurants. neither inside on ferries.
also mandatory to keep on a lead.

it was so, so nice.
still plenty of dogs about, but all on a lead.

It does seem to be getting worse.

Have dogs. Love dogs. Hate this thing that dogs are now allowed everywhere…

I was making the point that I don't think any dog should be in there, not even a chihuahua.

It’s not irrelevant - a Great Dane in a shop is far more likely to knock things over, it takes up more room, it will be more detrimental to people with allergies, it is frightening to young children etc etc. but the main issue with this woman is that she thought it was appropriate to bring TWO dogs. Aside from anything else, how can she possibly shop?

It’s why I don’t go to John Lewis any more either. Grim.

Twatdog goes to fields, parks, woods, forests, but also trains, boats, shopping centres, town centres, theatres, all dog friendly venues, museums, zoo, churches but she is trained in searching, trailing, tracking, scentwork. She can find a 'missing person', she can search and area for 'suspicious' items. Lots of different venues provide valuable experiences.
So far she has found druggies and given them almighty frights as they thought she was a Police dog! 😂😂
Indicated to me a problem, we continued along the road and emergency services were looking for someone, turned out to be a teenager in distress, we were able to direct them.
DH fell at home, knocked himself out, when he came round she was laying alongside him and as he got up pushed underneath him to lift him.
Usefully she can find my keys if I drop them! 😁
Dogs are brilliant.
Anyone on here who knows her from that description👋.😂😂

No, it's irrelevant whether it's two Labradors, two Great Danes or two Dachshunds. Very often tiny dogs are the ones that wee everywhere, jump up and bark anyway.

It’s really interesting actually - our local boots has recently put up a large new No Dogs sign in the door. I can only assume some bat shit people thought it was appropriate to bring dogs into a pharmacy

I don’t go to John Lewis stores now - why would I want to buy my Egyptian Cotton sheets with a side of dog piss?

I will admit I am not a fan of dogs but there is definitely a difference between this insane woman bringing two labradors into John Lewis, and someone bringing in a smaller dog…not that I think either is appropriate!

YANBU! Love dogs and see nothing wrong with them in a country pub after a long walk (and I must add that this is where dogs should be - out for good walks and play in fields, woods and on the beach) but in a shopping centre or department store...what on earth does the dog get out of that? It's selfish all round - to the dog, and to other shoppers. I feel that if people's dogs can't cope with being alone, then they should work with a behaviourist to address that, rather than bring them everywhere by default.

I’m a dog owner. I don’t take my dogs to shops, pubs, cafes, museums, libraries or concerts, because they’re dogs. I do take my dogs to parks, fields, rivers, streams, canals, mountains and occasionally the beach. I think that’s what the dogs want. They then sleep for a few hours, I do chores, then we all regroup. I didn’t get the fur baby memo.

I grew up with dogs and much like child rearing, having a dog seems to have changed. People also don't seem to be able to trust their own judgment or veer from guidance any more. Obviously, many of the changes are great for dog welfare. Dogs shouldn't be left alone all day long for example but I feel like people have taken that too far. We used to leave our dogs for short periods and the dogs were fine. Now people won't leave them at all (hence taking anxious dogs shopping) and it seems to have created a lot of over anxious dogs who can't cope with being along, can't cope with crowds etc.