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?

Messy. Unhygienic. Loud. Oh sorry, that's just some other people's children I'm describing 😂

I don't see the problem with dogs in shops IF they're well trained

I think you must have gone to my local designer outlet (Ashford?). I went last week and couldn't believe how many dogs were there. I'm sure they weren't allowed before Covid.

I am a sucker for a cute dog and have to confess to stopping to pat a few of them but I was also wondering about them cocking their legs in the shops.

Your dog sounds lovely @Haver74.

My brother has owned a few dogs over the years and every one of them has been fab. That's partly because he spends time training them - like most responsible dog owners. My SIL, on the other hand, has two dogs and they are a fecking untrained nightmare. She takes them to cafes and shops and they are absolutely beside themselves with excitement (or stress?) about being out of their normal environment. They bark and whine and one of them has been known to squirt delightful little puddles of diarrhoea around the place, so thrilled is she to be in a shop. They once managed to pull down a table full of food and drinks outside a cafe. They had previously been inside the cafe, but SIL had been directed to an outside table because of the racket her dogs were making. Just as well really ...

Children shouldn't be doing that either! It's not a race to the bottom ffs. What is wrong with you.

Don't bother feeling bad for them.

My dog loves a shopping trip - he knows exactly which shops to go to for biscuits and a fuss!

Children over dogs- every.single.time.

I'm going to politely point out that it is not just Guide dogs that are allowed in shops, it is all medical assistance dogs. Also there is no requirement for them to display any sort of identification or wear any specific harness. My dog is a diabetic alert dog, you would not know to look at him as he is a small nondescript mongrel, who goes everywhere with me, if challenged I just show my diabetic card which I presume all insulin users have, I don’t know I’ve never thought to ask anyone.

Incidentally in my 50 odd years on Earth, and 8 years of having an alert dog I have never seen any dog behaving in the way some of you have described, and I live in the centre of a major city.

I will take my dog to a dog-friendly cafe or pub, but never shopping! Apart from anything else, she is a sneezy breed with an itchy snout, and whilst I find her rubbing her nose on my leg or carpets adorable, I would be mortified if she decided to do this in a shop😂 (the dog-friendly pubs and cafes don’t have carpet, so she doesn’t tend to do that outside the house!)

There are 23,000 Guide Dogs in the UK. A working guide dog has been through extensive training and is impeccably behaved.

There are 10.2 million "general" pet dogs in the UK. Most will not be as well-trained as your average guide dog.

By dint of their numbers, you are clearly less likely to come across a Guide Dog, than you are to come across a general pet dog. I would have thought that would be obvious.

I have asked a customer to leave the charity shop where I volunteer with her large, slobbery pet. She immediately responded that it was an "assistance dog". Aye right. Nice get out clause for the entitled though.

Any parent who is letting their kid wipe their dirty hands on clothes in a shop is completely feral. Feral people should stay at home. And so should dogs!

i quoted pp in agreement that it’s not a race to the bottom. Ofc children shouldn’t be wiping dirty hands on clothes but they sure have more right to be in a clothes shop than a dog! Stick to your pets at home trip dog cult

I love the way these conversations always go round in circles but the never address the simple commercial aspect. These business allow it because earning the money from people who want to take their dogs outweigh those who moan about it.

There are 10.2 million "general" pet dogs in the UK. Most will not be as well-trained as your average guide dog
Most who are taken out will be well trained and behaved.

Like a previous posters, I've never seen the behaviours described here as a regular occurrence. Since being on mn and reading these regular threads I am especially alert to it and still don't see any of it. Took my dog to a pub friend y ace this weekend. My dog was perfect behaved and many came to us to have a stroke and comment on it. A family xane with a huge labrador. He layed under the table the whole time and we wouldn't gave known he was there if we hadn't seen him coming in.

Even if you can claim that trained dogs are better behave, are you also going to xlaim they are more hygienic?

Lots of people address it, many on this thread. The people who don't like dogs just don't want to acknowledge it.

Indeed! Our money is more important than dog hating peoples opinions 😊

Why is it always assumed that not wanting dogs everywhere means someone is dog hating?

I've got several dogs, who I love dearly and are part of the family, but I don't think everyone in our local cafe should have to tolerate several medium to large dogs just because I've chosen to have a pet.

I love dogs but in terms of shops I only take mine to Pets at Home.

Because if the shops policy is that they welcome dogs, then they can. I don’t live my life not doing stuff that I’m allowed to do, in case there’s someone who might not like it, that’s a weird way to live.

No, that’s just made up in your own head. If the shop allows dogs, then they’re just as ok to be there as a child.

They’re outrageously happy. Fancy a trip this weekend actually, I will ensure I bring them for some help to pick out a few summer dresses 😊 I can figure out which colour makes their fur really pop, you know?

Why do dog people feel the need to take their dogs everywhere? Why don’t we see people out with their other pets- cats/ hamsters /rabbits. Just odd.

Google will reveal the important differences between species if you have a look. It’s interesting.

I don’t take them ‘everywhere’. I take them places they are allowed and that they like. 😊

Reading this thread reminds me that there's so much hate in the world. Behaviour of humans is way worse than that of dogs.

I actually agree that dogs dont need to be in clothes stores and think its disgraceful that someone would allow their dog to foul in a shop and leave it.

However, we are NOT the only creatures that live on this planet, and would be a better place if we could love in live and harmony.

My dog is absolutely fine in cafes and brings smiles so many people. Its nice if I can pop into a store with her and dont know why anyone would be bothered but also fine if not.

I think ALL shops should be dog-free zones, but especially clothes (and of course food) shops. (And no, allowing guide dogs isn't a gotcha because there aren't many of them and they are very highly trained and won't pee or poo in the shop or bother other customers)

As with everything if one person takes one dog in for a short time its largely fine. But if you allow one, you allow them all and then someone who isn't responsible goes in (possibly with more than one) and then it poos or pees. And it's the poor shop staff who have to clean up.

I don't think the dog £ is so powerful that it's needed. People can leave their dogs at home or with someone else while they shop. Or shop online.

I can't think of a single other hobby that is foisted on people in the same way that dogs are. (I know people will say cycling but that's a means of transport, too!)