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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dog friendly supermarket

107 replies

Ilovepooches · 12/02/2023 09:41

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.

OP posts:
Pinkdafodils · 12/02/2023 13:29

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.

🤢

caramac04 · 12/02/2023 13:32

I wouldn’t be overly bothered but it’s the thin end of the wedge really, 1 dog, 10 dogs or more at any time?
I don’t want to take mine in grocery shopping, leads plus a basket or trolley and reaching for stuff sounds like a nightmare. I don’t tie mine up outside either in case they get nicked and there is always the possibility of something else bad happening.
I much prefer to leave mine at home as for me, it’s easier.

GoodChat · 12/02/2023 13:38

Untitledsquatboulder · 12/02/2023 12:49

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.

Another example of exactly dog threads should start and end in one way: the issue with dogs in public places is always the owner.

Diverging · 12/02/2023 13:39

You do see a lot more dogs in shops now where it was once a rarity and if it’s not supermarkets I think that’s fine. Like you see them in John Lewis quite regularly. But supermarkets are a different matter as they could start sniffing the food and once you had several dogs in there it could get messy fast.

GoodChat · 12/02/2023 13:39

ThisWOMANWontWheesht · 12/02/2023 11:50

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.

There are always twats in Pets at Home who think they don't need to bother being responsible for their own dog as it's a pet shop.

NameNotRelevant · 12/02/2023 13:42

lieselotte · 12/02/2023 12:44

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.

Fake assistance dogs are springing up everywhere since people can purchase lead slips, bandanas, patches etc from Etsy and Amazon. I completely agree that there should be some sort of register along with a record of training for certified assistance dogs. A LOT of people are claiming to owner train their ‘assistance’ dogs with no records of training. If a shop refuses them entry they start quoting the Equality Act 2010 which is a very grey area. If a member of staff has an allergy to dogs many who have owner trained assistance dogs expect them to take medication or be removed to low the assistance dog in. Honestly, half those owner trained assistance dog Facebook groups are shocking.

GG1986 · 12/02/2023 13:44

I don't get the whole dogs being allowed in supermarkets, cafes etc. Years ago dogs were left at home if their owners needed to go shopping. It is unhygienic and they get in the way.

Pinkdafodils · 12/02/2023 13:46

the issue with dogs in public places is always the owner.

But how can supermarkets ensure that only 'good' dog owners bring their dogs inside? They can't really discriminate so better to disallow all dogs

XenoBitch · 12/02/2023 13:49

YABU if the shop allows dogs, and YABVU to start another tedious dog hating thread.

kitsuneghost · 12/02/2023 13:53

That's disgusting.

GoAgainstNicki · 12/02/2023 13:54

Rattlethestars · 12/02/2023 09:47

I love dogs but I'm bloody fed up of them suddenly being allowed everywhere.

Agreed. There’s even dog friendly cinema screenings now!

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 12/02/2023 13:56

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

Bloody scooters, though. Despite the notice on the door saying no scooters.

Headabovetheparakeet · 12/02/2023 13:57

Goawayangryman · 12/02/2023 10:26

Yep, other countries manage just fine allowing dogs in everywhere. It's a dog, not a tiger.

Which countries allow dogs everywhere? I'm curious.

Pinkbananas01 · 12/02/2023 13:57

In Glasgow Silverburn shopping centre has just halted a trial of being dog friendly, it was already fairly unpopular but dogs were unsurprisingly fouling & after an incident in the food courts where owner didnt clean up the mess they've finally decided to stop it. There had already been complaints from cleaning staff that they were having to deal with this.

MasterBeth · 12/02/2023 14:27

Revolting behaviour.

AlwaysGinPlease · 12/02/2023 14:29

Oh good, another anti dog thread for the frothers 🙄

Original poster
Ilovepooches · 12/02/2023 14:32

AlwaysGinPlease · 12/02/2023 14:29

Oh good, another anti dog thread for the frothers 🙄

It’s not an anti dog thread. I have a dog, a cockerpoo, I just don’t think dogs should be allowed in supermarkets. I also wonder if this is just happening in ALDI Hatfield or other supermarkets too.

OP posts:
GoodChat · 12/02/2023 14:33

Pinkdafodils · 12/02/2023 13:46

the issue with dogs in public places is always the owner.

But how can supermarkets ensure that only 'good' dog owners bring their dogs inside? They can't really discriminate so better to disallow all dogs

They can't, but if all owners were responsible they wouldn't need to.

2bazookas · 12/02/2023 14:53

It will be a support-dog. There are many different kinds and many of them don't need a special harness like Guide dogs.

Someone I met has unstable diabetes. Her constant companion is a specially trained dog which can detect a problem (by scent) before she does and alert her.

kitsuneghost · 12/02/2023 15:20

2bazookas · 12/02/2023 14:53

It will be a support-dog. There are many different kinds and many of them don't need a special harness like Guide dogs.

Someone I met has unstable diabetes. Her constant companion is a specially trained dog which can detect a problem (by scent) before she does and alert her.

Then surely they would have had an assistance dog harness on.

KangarooKenny · 12/02/2023 15:24

I’d prefer dogs walking around to children in trolleys where you put your food.

Headabovetheparakeet · 12/02/2023 15:35

Has there ever been a thread about dogs that doesn't have someone saying they would rather share public spaces with dogs than with children?

MelaniesFlowers · 12/02/2023 15:38

Headabovetheparakeet · 12/02/2023 15:35

Has there ever been a thread about dogs that doesn't have someone saying they would rather share public spaces with dogs than with children?

Of course not, because crazy entitled dog owners are everywhere.

closingscore · 12/02/2023 15:49

HaveANiceFuckingDay · 12/02/2023 09:44

It might have been one of those therapy dogs . Some places ask for a covering letter but they don't need a jacket stating so . My friend has a therapy dog it's a tschitzu. It goes everywhere with her

What is a therapy dog in your friend's case?

Far too many people are claiming their dogs are some kind of assistance or therapy dog despite it being no more than a pet with a hi viz jacket off eBay.

GuyFawkesDay · 12/02/2023 15:56

I have a dog. I love my dog

I would not take him to a supermarket. I don't even take him to the pet shop unless I am feeling brave!

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