Dog friendly supermarket

[Ilovepooches]

Yesterday at about 11.45 I went to ALDI Hatfield and saw a dog in there.
It didn’t appear to be a service dog - no obvious jacket or peas stating so. The lady with the dog was very loud in praising the dog so wasn’t even trying to be discreet. The dog was spaniel size, looked like a Tibetan terrier to me. By the time I saw them they were at the checkout then a few minutes later they were walking around again as it looked like the lady had forgotten something.

AIBU to think the staff shouldn’t have allowed this. I love dogs but this was completely inappropriate.

Dogs are disgusting, dirty animals, licking their own asshole and then around food

Absolutely repulsive

Obviously not including working dogs.

Completely inappropriate. Dog allergies are very common and can be severe for some people. Having them around food when they're not trained to a level where they definitely won't get saliva on a product is risking peoples health. Equivalent to wiping any other allergen on food packaging without warning.

Our local garden centre allows dogs in. Fine. But is isn't just a garden centre, it has a restaurant, a café, a big toy section, homeware section and clothes section, and people take their dogs through all of it. I saw a dog cocking it's leg on some clothing once and it was so gross. Owner was oblivious. I've also seen a dog in the restaurant licking the floor, seat, side of table, owner was aware and was laughing, saying how she's "so greedy". It just isn't hygienic to have dogs in these sorts of places. Let alone supermarkets. Plus, unfair on the staff who then presumably have to clean up after other people's dogs. I have dogs, and love them, but I don't take them everywhere I go, because it's just not necessary.

Yanbu but seems to be a lost cause, they’re everywhere now and it seems to be unacceptable to not want them everywhere

I think it’s a trend that’s likely to continue. Retailers/ hospitality etc see this is a market to tap in to. Hotels that not only allow dogs but have dog beds and welcome treats and a dog menu! Retailers know that fewer people want to leave their dogs alone these days ( probably due to upsurge in dog theft and pets being used to being with owners from lock down / wfh.) they know they have to remove the barriers to people physically being able to shop in person. Welcome their precious ones and you’ve found the way to their heart and their wallet! I think it’s here to stay to be honest it’s too big a market now. Dogs are like family members to many these days.

Sounds less irritating that the families of 5 often filling the aisles in our local supermarket

Generally speaking in the UK supermarkets are not dog friendly. So YANBU. I do like taking my small dog places with me but he's small enough that if I feel it's not safe for him I can just pick him up and keep him out the way of trollies etc. Silverburn being dog friendly was very exciting and we did take him along, in reality however most of the shops were not dog friendly and me and DH had to take turns standing outside shops with him. We'll stick to the fort which is outside.

What's the dog doing wrong,exactly? Fingering ,squashing fresh fruit and veg with filthy hands? Opening boxed items and discarding the contents over the shelves?Opening alcohol perhaps and drinking it?being abusive to staff and other customer's?stealing your purse?shop lifting?...oh no that's all human stuff who are clearly better behaved than an innocent dog.
Yabvu.

Can someone somewhere please explain how for years the only dogs allowed in shops/cafes/restaurants etc. were service dogs and we all managed just fine but now dog owners want to take their pets everywhere. Why? Just why? And I say that as someone who likes dogs, well behaved ones that is.

I think 99.9% of owners know if their dog can behave in public or not and take them/don't take them accordingly.

You must live in a different country to me! Badly behaved dogs are certainly not uncommon.
I was in Pets at Home not long ago. With my dog (yes I have a dog and love them). Someone came in with their elderly dog that just dribbled wee everywhere. I saw another dog sniffing at the wee and then weeing beside it too. Dogs compete with other dogs for wee supremacy. Also, dogs may get aggressive with each other, even if they're fine with humans.
In a pet shop it's yucky enough; in a supermarket totally inappropriate.

Is nothing sacred? Can we not even enjoy a quiet shop in a supermarket without all and sundries’ disgusting dogs milling about everywhere. And don’t even start with the clarion call ‘he’s friendly’ code for ‘I can’t be bothered to train him in even the basics.’ If you cannot manage your shopping without your dog for twenty minutes, get some therapy.

It's bad enough having badly behaved kids in supermarkets, there's no need for dogs as well. And annoying though some kids are, they don't usually wee in the aisles.

EHRC guidance says you can't ask if a dog is a therapy dog. I can't see why this is an issue. There should be evidence that it is a trained therapy dog. After all, if I want to use a blue badge space I have to have a blue badge. So by all means allow therapy dogs in if the owners have evidence (the guidance does distinguish between therapy dogs and emotional support animals but not sure how shop assistants are supposed to know without asking).

As I said on another thread, nut allergies are taken really seriously but nobody seems to give a stuff about animal allergies, specifically dogs but to a much lesser extent cats.

Because dogs used to be pets and now they are fur babies and part of the family.

And "cannot" be left at home for a reasonable period.

All the more reason to complain, if there are more shoppers that want dogs excluded then it obviously won't make commercial sense to allow them in any more. I don't really understand the "put up and shut up" argument.

A shopping centre in Glasgow recently reported it was ending its "dog friendly" trial due to complaints from the public and faeces being found in various places including the food hall. So personally I'd shop elsewhere and tell them why.

Sounds less irritating that the families of 5 often filling the aisles in our local supermarket

Fair point - one of the advantages of covid was fewer family outings to the shops, but that has been discussed to death on here.

I adore my dog would wouldn't expect to take her in a food shop. Service and therapy jobs are different

I love dogs but I wouldn’t take mine into a supermarket! It’s hard enough dodging the ankle-ramming trolleys without worrying that my dog is getting in someone’s way

*'The problemS are that:

A) Aldi is a food shop, and
B) Not all dogs are well behaved. If the policy is to allow dogs, then all sorts of yapping or aggressive dogs would be allowed also.'*

This ^ jumping up at people etc. If they're all allowed they'll be all sorts, not obyl well behaved dogs. Imo they should be around public food esp when they're is bakery loose items, fruit & veg etc.

there'll *

shouldnt* sorry

I love my dog but I don’t take him in shops and don’t like seeing other people’s dogs there. Absolutely no need unless they’re actual guide dogs.

OMG could you not have just joined in with one of the other millions of dog bashing threads instead of starting yet another one saying the exact same things 🙄

YANBU I absolutely hate this. Dogs belong at home and in parks, not in restaurants, supermarkets, soft plays, cafes or anywhere that humans who don’t them there are