Dogs in shops

[ginforall]

I have been to an out of town designer outlet place today where it would appear they are dog friendly and dogs are allowed in the clothes and shoe shops. Surely a trip to the shops is not a place to take your dog? We were in a small clothes shop which is already a bit on the tight side, the three dogs in there did not make it any easier to get around. AIBU to think clothes shops should be dog free zones?

I wonder how many of the dog haters on this thread let their kids run riot in shops and restaurants. I’d rather a well behaved dog than ‘spirited’ kids.

What about unruly dogs? Are you ok with well behaved children? You're not comparing like for like. But then you're comparing humans and dogs, so what do I know?

As a dog owner I find it useful to have shops dog friendly. We don't take her regularly but away on holiday it can be handy. Although we don't tend to take her into clothes shops often and she's doesn't shed.

I work in retail, and we are a dog friendly shop, it's just a little thing we can do to make life a little easier for our customers. Our job is to make life as easy as we can for our customers. Every dog we have had in our shop have sat quietly near their owners not being a nuisance to anyone. High streets are having to compete with the internet and other things making times hard, so we need to appeal to as many people as we can and encourage people to use the high street.

I am not a dog hater. He is sitting at my feet right now.

They shouldn’t be in shops, pubs, on the bus etc though.

Keep them at home or take them for a walk or a play somewhere appropriate. If you can’t leave them at home for a few hours then that is your problem and not anyone else’s.

One of our local pubs has become dog grit and they are everywhere. Plenty of people now avoid it so hopefully they will be banned again soon.

I was having Sunday lunch in a restaurant yesterday. A standard poodle suddenly appeared at my side, nose about 3 inches away from my roast beef. I told it to "go away" quite loudly and the owner popped up grinning saying "aww sorry". Fuck off! and take your fucking dog with you! Bring your dog to a restaurant if you absolutely must but don't let them wander around sniffing people's plates!

Are you sure about that? Have you been living under a rock?

I agree I’d rather dogs than men in my changing room.

A man was found trying to film women in a changing room in our local town not long ago. Other incidents with men acting inappropriately in the same shop has meant they’ve gone back to sex based changing rooms. Dogs still allowed though.

Well no, there is another choice, although I understand you don't agree with it- to use dog friendly shops, of which there are more and increasingly more.

Our local pub is busier than ever since allowing dogs in. It’s a good business decision.

That didn't take long. It's not an either or. People's stance on unruly children is completely unrelated to people's stance on dogs in shops.

I don't get it, personally - and I feel sorry for the dogs.

We've got three dogs. None of whom would get any pleasure out of being put on a lead and dragged round the shops for the day, looking at things.

They get decent walks in fields and outdoor areas. Then they get left at home when we have shopping to do. Why on earth would we drag them out with us?

Our local bookshop has just had to ban dogs after some 'incidents'. Apparently books on lower shelves were getting damaged.

This is happening in America too. The high street and mall culture is struggling and shops figure they want to sell to the dog owners (often young and wealthy) so they allow dogs in. They have to survive any way they can.

I live in the Lake District and I would say at least 90% of shops allow dogs, probably more in some of the main towns.

Lots of people come here on holiday and bring their dogs - but most places don't allow you to leave your dog unattended, so you need to take them everywhere with you. So, it makes total sense for shops to be dog-friendly as otherwise they'd alienate a huge proportion of their customers.

I'm a dog walker now but used to work in a dog-friendly shop and it was a huge draw for customers. We had water bowls and dog biscuits available, and if people wanted to try stuff one, staff were around to look after the dogs (I always volunteered for that job )

Lots of shops even have shop dogs. It's fab. I often take my dog if we're on the way back from a walk as it saves me an extra journey.

It's strange and unnecessary.

I have dogs. I love a nice outdoors walk with them. But there are some places (inside and out) that dogs should not be allowed. A lot of people are nervous/scared of dogs, or allergic to dogs. Why do we have the right to spoil their enjoyment of somewhere that should be dog free anyway?

Plus, who wants to shop with their dog anyway?! I love my dogs, I don't want to be with them all the time though. They would also get no enjoyment from it either.

No, but they prey on women covertly. I’ve had 2 men in the last month just ‘accidentally’ open the curtain or brush past it in a way that allows them to see in. My friend had a man pretending to be a woman do it and tell her ‘oh well, we’re all women’. 🤔

So yes, give me dog in sex changing rooms any day over men.

SINGLE sex

Some people want to pop into the shops on their way home from a walk.
Some people are on holiday and can't leave their dogs in their accommodation.

Much, much safer to take a dog with you than to leave it tied up outside unattended, or locked in a car - especially in summer.

Went into Museum last summer, in the UK, and a couple behind us with a large hairy dog were told the dog was not allowed in. They reacted with shock and disbelief. "He's on a lead!"

"You can't bring a dog into a Museum!" The reception staff were equally shocked at the presumption of the couple. Somebody's now going to say their local museum allows dogs. Money on it.

Cheaper than a ramp, eh ?

Imagine being a dog owning wheelchair user ?

"We can take the dog no problem. Now you stay outside."

These are the kind of logistics people should be thinking about before getting a dog. You get a dog knowing what you do in different scenarios. You don't get a dog then expect the world to adapt to you.

And I can’t stand kids being allowed sit/stand in trolleys and put their shoes where someone will put their food, but that seems to be ok.

If places allow dogs already, you’re not asking the world to adapt, you’re just making use of what’s offered.

And I can’t stand kids being allowed sit/stand in trolleys and put their shoes where someone will put their food, but that seems to be ok

That's not ok either.

Again. It's not an either or.
Why do people backlash with 'ah but kids'.
It's not a race to be the most unhygenic

We went to a craft fair yesterday. Quite a high footfall with around 100 stalls in a big mill. 2 thirds of the customers there must have had at !east one dog with them and I didn't see one that was well behaved. They were all pulling on their leads to get to each other, nearly tripping people up and Pissing on the stall holders table covers and stock that wasnt high up. I was talking to one of the stall holders who said that the one time they banned dogs from this monthly event, there were hardly any customers and they all lost money.