Can I take a puppy into a shop?

[manzolini]

A non-food shop so like matalan, new look, next etc as long as she is in a sling and doesn't touch the floor?

It is actually important to socialise the dog . This thread is full of weirdo pet haters !! Who doesn’t love seeing a puppy ??

Dog haters are out in force today

Primark allow it (indeed welcome dogs)
TK Maxx allow

Just google

Presumably this need for dogs to be socialised is not a new thing. They’ve always needed that, right? So how have people managed to socialise their puppies during all this time that dogs have not been allowed in shops?

I sense a drip drip effect here, where pretty soon dogs are going to be allowed everywhere.

In answer to the OP’s actual question, I suppose you could ask as it may, given the pro-dog climate, be allowed in certain shops.

If you want general opinions from people who aren’t crazily obsessed with dogs are likely to shop or work in clothes shops then AIBU is as good as anywhere else.

FWIW I’m pretty indifferent to dogs, but don’t think a puppy should be brought into any shop that doesn’t otherwise allow dogs. It’s still a dog.

In London a lot of shops allow dogs. And even if the dog won't be a regular visitor, it is still a new experience and a good way to build confidence for the puppy.

You may disagree with it all you want, but dog friendly shops will still exist

They don't need to be taken clothes shopping to be socialised. Utterly ridiculous

I couldn't agree more, this is not about socialisation at all, this is about owners wanting to show the world how wonderful their fur babies are.

Yeah, hate the nasty, smelly things.

<<looks a at spaniel contentedly snoring on the sofa>>

Alternatively, the people who simply understand that dogs are not people and don't need to go everywhere are out in force.

I used to do a paper round as a teen (mid 90s), and took my dog. He was always allowed in the shop whilst I was sorting preparing my round. The shop staff always snuck him a few chocolate mice from the pick and mix.

They tried to find other ways to socialise (pubs, cafes, outdoor venues, streets) & I imagine struggled more to plan ahead. Dog friendly shops make socialisation much easier and more accessible for new dog owners. Some owners just wouldn't have tried in the past (and may have raised anxious reactive dogs).

This.

I cannot see any good reason to take a dog into a shop. Why would a dog ever need to go into a shop?

It is also super convenient if you can have your dog with you when you need to do some errands when you're out.

My dog is good at being left alone for a few hours. He'll curl up and sleep for the most past. So I don't need to take him to shops because he can't be alone. But I still prefer to minimise the time he is alone if I can at all.

Moreso though, being able to combine trips is really helpful. If I drive out somewhere with the dog for a walk, being prevented from going into any shop, cafe or restaurant as some here would like (unless I was willing to let him tied up or in the car, which I'm not), then I have to choose between having my dog or being able to get what I need to do done in the day. And in some cases, that choice is reasonable and necessary - if I need to visit a friend in hospital or go to a doctors surgery, then of course I can't combine that with having my dog out and I can plan accordingly. But we should only exclude dogs where it is absolutely necessary for health and hygiene to do so.

My dog has a stroller. She's 15 and can't walk far but still enjoys getting out. She'll climb out and potter about, have a sniff, go to the loo etc. It improves her quality of life and I really don't care if you think I look ridiculous.

Conversely people use slings when the puppy needs to go out and be socialised (the younger the better) and will not have had their jabs yet.

@dizzydizzydizzy if that needs explaining to you then I despair.

Got 2 lab sleeping on the sofa next to me.

Please don’t do this. It’s a proper asshole thing to do. There are policies for a reason and it’s not fair on those of us terrified or allergic to dogs. There are less and less places we can go without people breaking the rules too.

Excuseeee me, aged 13 I took my Bichon into Harvey Nichols every Saturday with me. This was way before 2017...in fact you can blame Paris Hilton for this

It's funny how people that don't think dogs should be everywhere that people go are always labelled Dog Haters. Even when they clearly have dogs themselves. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I will be going on a short break soon with my dog. She will have to come in shops with me (leaving them tied up outside is not safe), as leaving at home isn't an option.

Oh dear, you do seem to have a problem with anyone who doesn't fall over themselves to say you should be able to take your mutt into a shop!

I like dogs. But shops are not the place for them. They piss on things, cause havoc, and some people have allergies. You should be able to go in a shop without looking out for dogs.

I barely ever go to shops now I have small children because I think most of the above applies to them. There's not much you can't just buy online.

Convenience. So a dog owner doesn't have to make multiple trips for no good reason.

To give an example, until I knew John Lewis allowed dogs, if I wanted to go to John Lewis, it's about half an hour on public transport and half an hour back. There is a great dog walk near that John Lewis.

If I needed to go to John Lewis and also wanted to take my dog on that walk, I would have to do add in an extra hour of unnecessary travel (and probably deal with the same misery guts objecting to my dog being on a bus). Which might be reasonable if there was a good reason to exclude them, but there really isn't.

It's up to individual businesses. I am far more likely to spend my money at places that respect the convenience of their dog owning customers (even when my dog isn't with me, I am more likely to go to John Lewis now because I think that pro-customer approach should be encouraged).

Translation: I can't make a proper explanation because I actually know they have no reason to be in a clothes shop so I won't bother.

I would have allowed it as long as it was off the ground, but you would have been asked to leave if other customers complained.

That's kind of rude OP.