AIBU about the dog in the shoe shop

[GreatDaneBowers]

NC because identifying.

In my town there is a kids shoe shop that also does haircuts for children. It's not a big shop, quite narrow.

Today I went in there for the 3rd or 4th time with my DD. And the owner/manager had her dog in there. A Great Dane. I'm not short and it easily stood ears level with my shoulder.

The dog blocked off the whole shop and stuck its nose in the pram, she made no attempt to call it off or ask me if it was a problem. I'm not scared of dogs but I'm not exactly confident of them either and this animal is beyond huge. I left pretty quickly (was going to browse and buy DD some shoes but didn't).

I don't know how regularly it is in there (I've not seen it in there before, but fairly regularly I'd say as it had been lying on the sofa in the hair cutting area, and had a blanket in the entrance), but AIBU to think that you don't want a dog that big just mooching around a shop that you have to take small children into? (Because haircuts and shoes require DCs to be present).

Obviously the blanket in the entrance is to signal that the dog is in there and I suppose people can vote with their feet if they don't like it (which I did). And I'm sure it's a lovely dog, but lots of children (and adults) are scared of dogs and even the most docile dogs could have an accident or snap, and this one is as big as a small horse!

I can't get my head round a shoe shop that offers haircuts.

As for the dog .....

YABU

A dog is for life not just for Xmas. Throw the boy some scooby snacks.

YABU. Go and use another duller place to trim your locks while trying shoes.

Plenty of children aren't scare of dogs though. There is a lovely independent toy shop near me with a 'shop dog' - albeit a much smaller one than a Great Dane.
Many many people pop in to just say hi to the dog, and he is a bit of an institution. His photo has become their logo.

It's a showme shop, not a hospital. No one is forcing you to go, and as you said, people can vote with their feet if they don't like it

Nah, YABU.

If we had the choice of shopping somewhere with a giant dog we'd pick that every time.

Yabu my hairdresser has a gorgeous wee westie and he is the highlight of the visit. He comes and sits on my knee while i have my hair done.

Hmm. Unanimous so far. Maybe IABU.

Or maybe I'm more scared of dogs than I let on. Nervous

We love a dog in a shop! We don't have dogs as our lifestyle just wouldn't suit one, and my kids adore them so a shop with a dog is bloody marvellous.

And I love tall dogs especially. So I'd be fascinated.

There's a barbers near me that has a beagle- love it!

YANBU but I'm scared of dogs so would have made my excuses and left!

My hairdresser has the most gorgeous sausage dog. He pads around each person as they sit in the chair. He's lush.

My mum ran an art shop in the 90's. She had a shop dog. He would sleep in the patch of sun in the doorway. People would step over him to get in and often would bring him special treats.

I love a shop dog!

there is a kids shoe shop that also does haircuts for children.

Why?? How did that come about?

This reminds me of a town I stayed in in Italy where the hotel owner doubled as the town ambulance driver and bus driver! (Our group availed of all 3 services )

Another vote for dogs in shops= 100% makes me like the shop more.

navy - I wasn't offended. Maybe just nervous?

I might be offended if you sniffed me!

I honestly think some people are offended by a dog being anywhere than its own back garden. I see it all the time on here " how dare that dog be in the park, cafe, shop, blah blah where I might even sniff me!

That's because some dog owners fail to realise that not everyone loves their dog as much as they do.

Well it's her shop. I bet loads of people go there just for the enormous dog. Im not sure I'd want a massive dog sniffing my baby so I'd go to the barbers/shoe shop down the road.

I hate dogs in shops and I'd be voting with my feet.

YABU - that sounds amazing! My dog is the office dog where I work. It was great at first..... now I get barrage of angry texts on days when I'm ill/on holiday from my colleagues who miss the dog.

jen it also sells kids clothes. I suppose it's kind of handy.

DD hasn't got enough hair for a haircut yet but when the time comes I'm weighing up whether to:

1. Wait until the dog is definitely on holiday or something
2. Make DH take her
3. Be swayed by MN, conquer my latent fear and befriend the hound