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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU about the dog in the shoe shop

277 replies

GreatDaneBowers · 04/11/2016 21:55

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!

OP posts:
MidniteScribbler · 05/11/2016 05:43

I think that a large part of the problems with some many dogs having behavioral issues these days is because they are so often kept locked up at home and not properly socialised.

Where my holiday home is, it's a total dog free for all. Many shops have one, and people will even go the grocery store with their dogs who sit at the door and wait, not tied up. Many people take them to work, the beach, everywhere. Some of the school teachers take them to school with them and they hang around the classroom. And in all the time I've been there, I've not seen one dog fight or heard of anyone getting bitten.

JosephineMaynard · 05/11/2016 06:05

DS2 is nervy of dogs, so we'd have gone to a different shop. There'd be no chance of getting him to sit still for a haircut or try on shoes with a dog larger than him wandering about the shop.

And while I'm aware of arguments for trying to make him more comfortable around dogs etc, if we're out with the purpose of getting him shoes / haircuts, I want to be getting shoes / haircuts, not dealing with trying to reduce his dog worries at the expense of shoes / haircuts.

I'm also pretty sure that most people don't have a dog, unless my friends, family and neighbours are extremely unrepresentative of the population as a whole.

StillNoFuckingEyeDeer · 05/11/2016 06:12

I took DD1 to a local children's buggy/cot/nursery/toy shop when she was about 18 months old. I let her wander a few feet away from me. Suddenly a very large dog came bounding towards her, she stumbled backwards and fell and the dog stood over her. She was terrified. The owner of the shop was too busy on the phone to notice. If I had known there was a large dog in the shop, I would have kept DD closer or carried her in my arms. She has been terrified of dogs ever since.

FrancisCrawford · 05/11/2016 06:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 05/11/2016 06:20

Even when they were very tiny my two would have LOVED going to any shop like that. Ditto their mum!

booklooker · 05/11/2016 06:30

I'm not short and it easily stood ears level with my shoulder.

Sorry for asking a personal question, but are you a hobbit?

Mummyoflittledragon · 05/11/2016 06:36

Runningbutnotscared

"Also dogs give out a lot of signals before they 'have an accident or snap'. Especially a normally docile one. A metric fuck tonne of signals."

Not always true. Dd was bitten on the face narrowly missing the eye without provocation or warning at 15 months by a young adult border collie. The dog was lying down whilst the owner was loosely holding its collar and dd was gently patting it. The dog literally moved its head towards dds face and lay straight back down, very relaxed. No stress signals at any stage and the dog thought itself perfectly within its rights to do so.

I'm an owner and lover of dogs. I believe the dog thought itself on a par with humans and able to tell dd to leave her alone in the same way she would puppies. Except dd isn't a puppy and has a puncture scar on her forehead just above the eye.

Yes, Great Danes are beautiful and normally gentle creatures. Not highly strung like collies. But I would not have wanted this dog in my baby's face. Ever.

Op yanbu at all. If you don't feel safe or able to protect your children, give the shop a very wide berth. I have always taught my dd to ask before touching and been very closeby, not that this protected her when she was bitten.

aforestgrewandgrew · 05/11/2016 06:40

We had a fantastic independent kid's shoe shop that did hair cuts and gifts too but it shut down.

I really miss it. Only place to get kids shoes in town now is Clarks and I can't stand their girl's range. DD needs new shoes and my choice is travel to another town or get her sparkly pink shit from Clarks

I'm Envy you have such a shop!

siscaza · 05/11/2016 06:42

I need to know where this shop is, my three would love a place like this!! Middle child adores a Great Dane too Grin

FerretFred · 05/11/2016 06:43

Please tell me they sell Hush Puppies.....

CozyAutumn · 05/11/2016 06:46

Sorry, I'm afraid I would be another one voting with my feet.

TataEs · 05/11/2016 06:48

i don't think it's unreasonable to have a dog in a shop, and having a huge dog probably gets her as much extra business (kids wanna go in and see the massive dog) as it loses her.
however YANBU to not want it shnosing (technical term) your baby in a pram. i had a dog when ds1 was small and he was absolutely not allowed near the pram/cot etc she should be more on that.
we have a kids hairdressers/american style milkshake bar... it's lacking in dog tho... i might suggest it :)

VladimirsPooTin · 05/11/2016 06:49

YABU where is this place so I can visit?

merrymouse · 05/11/2016 06:53

From the public's point of view, I think it's fine as long as it is clear that there is a dog in the shop. Her business plan is dog + shoes + haircuts, and as long as people with allergies and people who don't like dogs are given enough warning, they have the choice to go elsewhere.

However, children and strange dogs are not a good mix.

Children should be taught only to interact with dogs with the owner's permission, and many dogs can find children threatening. Presumably this shop owner has not had a bad experience in the shop, and is confident in her ability to handle people walking in off the street, but generally speaking, l'd be worried about the dog.

FerretFred · 05/11/2016 06:57

I think it's fine as long as it is clear that there is a dog in the shop

Its a Great Dane. Its not going to be hiding behind the wellington boots! Grin

AndShesGone · 05/11/2016 06:58

I think loads of people are missing the point as it's not about whether you individually like dogs or not or whether they should be there or not.

It's the owners shop, not yours. If she thinks she can get enough business with a dog in the shop then that's her choice.

Your choice is to go there or not go there.

It's equally valid to say 'I'd love it, I'd go there' and 'I'd hate it, I won't go there'.

What's weird is saying it shouldn't be there as if the world revolves around you and what you want Confused

I'm seeing loads of threads like this recently. Where people think because they don't want something it shouldn't happen. When did we start to think we're the centre of a world that revolves round us?

Original poster
GreatDaneBowers · 05/11/2016 07:01

I'm 5'7" booklooker - so no. To put it into context we saw 2 Irish Wolfhounds later on the high street and, although big dogs, they looked very regular-sized in comparison.

OP posts:
NavyandWhite · 05/11/2016 07:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CozyAutumn · 05/11/2016 07:04

AndShesGone
That does work the other way though. People wanting something to happen so they think it should happen. Eg taking their dog on to a tennis court or on to a children's playground.

FrancisCrawford · 05/11/2016 07:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

merrymouse · 05/11/2016 07:08

And agree with mummyoflittledragon, what might be a nip to a puppy or an adult can be far more serious to a child. The reality is that dogs are dangerous to children in a way that they aren't to adults, just because of the difference in size.

Even if a dog is giving out clear signals, they might not be clear to a random member of the public, or the owner if the they are on the other side of the shop serving a customer.

Spudlet · 05/11/2016 07:08

It's a business, you can choose to go elsewhere. Presumably both shoes and haircuts can be found in other, Great Dane free locations? They are lovely dogs though. We have one locally, watching it play with my spaniel is hilarious 😂 Little and large!

Obviously the owner is missing a trick though, as i think a gundog would be far more useful in a shoe shop. You could send it to retrieve sizes. A Great Dane would never get to the bottom shelves 😆

Please tell us where this shop is. If it's anywhere near me, I want to go!

FrancisCrawford · 05/11/2016 07:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
GreatDaneBowers · 05/11/2016 07:12

andshe - I actually agree with you. I know it's her shop. I started this thread because I honestly thought that as many people, and specifically small children, would be scared of such a big dog as would appreciate it, therefore thought it was an odd choice of retail-pet. But I shouldn't assume that everyone is as nervous as I am.

And I've already conceded that I'm an unreasonable scaredy cat.

OP posts:
FerretFred · 05/11/2016 07:14

Can someone answer a Great Dane question for me?

When I take my lurcher for a walk I have a pocket full of nappy sacks and everything just about fits in one.

What the hell size bag do you use for a Great Dane?

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