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!

[Albadross]

I used to go to a piercing studio which was joined to a museum of the occult. There was a mock 'alchemist's laboratory' with blood curdling screaming every few minutes. Give me a great dane any day.

[coffeetasteslikeshit]

I love the sound of this shop and would definitely use it if we lived near.

[ememem84]

Sounds great! We regularly have a dog in the office.

Yesterday one of the team bought her black Spaniel puppyface in. Such a cutie. It bounced around for a while then settled in the dog basket. It had a lot of walks.

[2kids2dogsnosense]

DD has a great dane - he is LOVELY - the sweetest natured lump you could ever imagine - but my word, he is BIG!!!!! It's like sharing a room with a drooly donkey (actually - he's bigger than most donkeys!).

I would have loved to meet a dane in a shop, and if it were my shop, I would have my dog in it - however, I wouldn't let him stick his huge , slobbery head into a pram. Dogs are curious and are very interested (especially in babies in prams - I suppose they wonder where that noise and smell are coming from), but for hygiene reasons I would have called him away.

Also - great dane drool sticks to everything and sets like concrete if you don't notice it and deal with it at once - I wouldn't wish that on a parent.

To be fair - your shoe-shop dog might not be a bad slobberer. My daughter took have dog back for a party at the breeders, to catch up with his (15) litter brothers and sisters.

I asked he was the biggest one and she said "No - only the second biggest. But he's definitely the drooliest."

Oh, joy!

[ComfortingKormaBalls]

Theres a tile warehouse near us with a cat (not theirs!) that wanders in and sits on the counter every day. It sits on the 'heated floor' tile that's on display.

[2kids2dogsnosense]

Midnite
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.

Your point about socialisation is exactly right. I often feel that this is why dogs cause problems nowadays.

When I was young, dogs were let out on a morning, roamed the streets in large and friendly packs, and went home for their dinner at night. In the meantime the dogs wandered about, joined in kids' games, were adopted into kids' gangs, and () pooing everywhere. (This random defecation was the only disadvantage, TBH - there were very rarely even dog-related car accidents).

I never knew of anyone being bitten, there were very few dogs fights - an occasional one if there was a bitch in heat which had got out: designer dogs (or"mongrels" as they were then known) weren't deliberately bred in huge numbers and then discarded if surplus to requirements (though sadly, many unwanted puppies were drowned - but they were fewer, because people kept their bitches in at their "lady time").

Dogs and children learned how to get along.

Parents had the sense to teach their children how to behave around dogs ("Don't touch a strange dog without asking. Don't tease a dog. Don't go near a dog when it's eating. Don't dive on a dog unexpectedly" and so on.) If a child was nipped (rare, and very rarely serious) the first response was "What were you doing to it.", not "That animal is vicious."

It's sad in many ways that we have lost that freedom. (But nice to have cleaner pavements )

[Aeroflotgirl]

Yanbu at all, why the hell is a dog allowed to sniff inside a babies pram, the owner shod have called it back. I would not be happy with this. Any dog can be unpredictable, and one day it could go for a child.

[ComfortingKormaBalls]

I'm confused, what's wrong with a dog sniffing a pram?

[Aeroflotgirl]

Dogs are still socialised, any responsible dog owner will do this safely and properly. A very large dig in a shop full of people without restraint is not properly!

[CozyAutumn]

And certainly don't smell anywhere near as bad as a shitty nappy.

A pooey nappy is a horrible smell but dog smells are also high on the list of nasty smells imo. Especially wet dog and dog breath
And of course, dog poo.

[Aeroflotgirl]

Meant a shop full of kids

[Aeroflotgirl]

A lot comfort, I would not be happy with a dog especially a dog of that size sniffing inside my babies pram. The owner shod have recalled it back.

[FerretFred]

I really don't get all the angst with this one.

Its a bloody big Great Dane. The sodding thing probably only needs a saddle and you could enter it in the Grand National at decent odds.

Its not hidden amongst the flip flops. It probably couldn't hide behind a Ford Cortina.

It isn't going to sneak up on you. It blocks out the sun.

So if you don't like dogs don't go in the shop. It is simple really. You have free will. Exercise it.

I'm going for a lie down with a cool flannel on my head now.

[ComfortingKormaBalls]

Sorry Aeroflot, misread a sniffing the pram

[GreatDaneBowers]

I'm not angst-ridden ferret and I left pretty much as soon as I could, given that by the time it stood up and I saw it, it was stood in my way. I don't think it's there all the time (and neither smelled nor was slobbery as far as I could tell), and will probably go back when it isn't there.

I've also said several times, navy , that I'm not scared of dogs in general but was intimidated by an unusually large dog (whose head seemed as big as 10mo DD) in a shop. I'm clearly not the only person who would feel like this, so do think it's an odd choice for a shop frequented by small persons to have a dog larger than most grown ups. More because it makes a lot of people nervous than because I think it's an actual danger.

I'm not calling for the dog to be euthanised or the shop to be shut down, I just think it's weird and made me nervous, however I'm clearly in the minority.

[Aeroflotgirl]

I wouldn't mind that situation by myself, but it can take one tail pull or ear pull for the dog to snap, yes the parents can be easily distracted in a shop where they are looking for shoes, trying to keep.an eye on their toddler without a dog thrown into the mix.

[Aeroflotgirl]

I would go in with my older DC who know how to treat a dog, but an unpredictable toddler or preschooler

[CozyAutumn]

Francis oh I know but I was just responding to the comment where dogs don't smell as bad as shitty nappies. My comment wasn't about the dog in the shop specifically, but I was just pointing out that dog smells are equally unpleasant.

[Noofly]

I would love that shop. DC would love that shop. I would probably go out of my way to shop in that shop.

If you don't like dogs, go somewhere else. I think it's perfectly understandable that someone would avoid the shop because of the dog, but it's legal and its presence is up to the owner.

[OnceMoreIntoTheBleach]

I love/have dogs but this would annoy me. YANBU

[Bountybarsyuk]

I wouldn't like this as I am nervous around dogs when they are large or in confined spaces or they look like the owner hasn't got a handle on them.

I like some dogs if I can get to know them and see they are fine.

I wouldn't want to have to navigate past a dog that I don't know what it's like, and how friendly it is, just to get in a shop.

We have stopped going to a local pub as the owner had two alsatians which are lovely looking dogs but were used to guard the pub and kept outside to do so, but in the day were 'pub dogs'. They cornered a friend of ours and wouldn't let her in the entrance, barking and growling for a couple of minutes. The owner wasn't there that day and the bar staff didn't call them off or know what to do. The owner wasn't apologetic afterwards either, and said people come in specifically to see the dogs and that they are 'good judges of character', in other words implying there was something wrong with our friends. We just don't go there now, who wants to break through a load of guard dogs to get a roast dinner?!

Many dog owners have a blind spot about their dogs and their behaviour, so I wouldn't trust their judgement.

Also, weirdly on MN everyone is always saying that if you have a dog you shouldn't leave it alone with children ever, but here, the people including children are entering the shop and interacting with the dog while the shop owner may be busy with someone else. I guess it comes down to them trusting their dog, but I know even lovely dogs can have an off day.

I don't think being in a small space with a dog you don't know well with the owner's attention elsewhere is a good way for children to get to know dogs. Plus Great Danes are lovely and often very soft dogs, so how does that tell you what other dogs are like?

[BusStopBetty]

I wouldn't be keen on this at all. There were a few shops locally that had large dogs. One sold fabric and carpets and absolutely reeked of dogs. The other didn't smell too bad, but the dog was horribly behaved and jumped up at customers. Both have closed. No idea if it was because of the dogs, but it can't have helped.