Today in Aldi

[User884721]

a woman asked me to hold her dog at the checkout while she packed her shopping. Was I BU to say no?

The woman in front of me was unloading her trolley onto the conveyor belt with one hand and holding a dog under her other arm. Is it a pug, the one with the squashed up face? Anyway, it wasn't happy and was wriggling around.

She asked if I could hold the dog so she could pack her shopping properly in her bags. I said no. She said she couldn't put the dog on the ground because it didn't like the feel of the floor under its feet. I still said no. She then took absolutely ages making a point of packing her shopping with one hand. At the checkout. While holding a dog.

The checkout operator told her dogs were not allowed in Aldi and she replied "well that's why I'm carrying her". Nothing more was said.

I know mumsnet will probably be divided into those who would be delighted to hold a stranger's dog then pack up their loose fruit and veg. I'm not one of those people.

Would you have held her dog?

I would have held the dog or packed the shopping.

I would have also thought the lady was crazy and she shouldn’t be taking her dog shopping in Aldi.

It would have been a very hard no from me. The world has gone mad. The sooner people start pushing back against this nonsense the better.

I might have offered to help her with the packing if she genuinely needed it, but carrying a dog for no apparent reason is not a need.

I was gong to say I’m fairly sure dogs can’t go in Aldi, then I saw the bit further down your comment where they said that but then didn’t do anything about it! When I visit my parents my dad and I frequently walk the dog into town (read ‘to the pub’ 😂) then call at Aldi to pick up any bits my mum needs but my dad stands outside with the dogs while I pop in to get the bits.

Lol, these people crease me up.

My dog is my second child. I adore him. After my house he's my second big expense.

I do not take him into supermarkets, cafes and other places that should be exclusively for people.

This is hilarious. She thought it didn't count if she carried the dog...

Because your evasiveness gives away that your ‘needs must’ weren’t actually needs or indeed a must. You took your dog in because you wanted to or couldn’t be arsed to think of a suitable alternative. Just own that rather than pretend it was a life or death situation.

The lady with the dog is nuts but I do love a squishy doggy cuddle

I would say she had mental health problems and was potentially a nutter and would stay as far away from her as possible. Don't get involved in ridiculous situations. It wasn't a guide dog. It should not have been in a supermarket.

Exactly! Same goes for kids!

Yeah I would have held the dog for sure. Not just because I like dogs but because I would have wanted to help.
I'm not surprised Aldi didn't care about dog being in the shop!

I keep noticing dogs in shops!

It is kind of bonkers. I wouldn't bring mine in. The ones I've seen have been quite in the way, longish lead, and owner oblivious to it.

Thing is, when I was little we always tied dogs up outside the shops because dog theft was so rare. Now it is far too common. So I do have some sympathy.

You are not unreasonable to not want to hold someone else’s grubby animal. Or any grubby animal for that matter. These people are utterly batshit.

I don’t like dogs ( I realise this makes me odd in most people’s eyes) and would absolutely not have held someone’s dog. I’d have rather gouged my eyes out with a Rusty spoon. The dog lady sounds nuts. Well
done for not going along with it.

Nope, i wouldn't have held her dog for her, it shouldn't have been in the shop to start with. I love my dog but he's a dog and stays at home when i go shopping.

My late lamented dog had his idiosyncrasies, as do we all. But you know what he didn't mind? Standing on the floor. OUTSIDE A SHOP.

Fucking hell, people are nuts.
I bet she wasn't happy with you for not doing it either?
I wouldn't have held her dog as I'm wary of dogs especially ones I don't know....but I would have helped pack her shopping just to get rid of her quickly.

I'm a insane dog lover but this is Insane LOL but as an Insane dog lover I would have said yes, but YANBU not everyone loves dogs

An insane on my phone grammer police!

The check out assistant is unreasonable for serving her.
she should have been asked to leave.
absolutely no reason for a dog other than a service dog to be in a supermarket.
I love dogs and own some. I would happily hold a strangers dog OUTSIDE while they nipped in to buy milk etc but this is bizarre she should have been asked to leave immediately

Do dogs often get stolen from outside shops? I am genuinely interested. I suppose there are a lot more desirable dogs around now because of the trend where two breeds are spliced and become a recognisable and popular 'breed' (I know this is general rather than official). When I was growing up in the seventies, the majority of dogs waiting outside shops were of the '57 varieties' type, so I guess not particularly valuable, even if beautiful or cute. But there was a fair few pure breeds too. A lot of them weren't even tied to anything but just sat watching the world go by and enjoyed a bit of a fuss from passers by.

John Lewis allow dogs now!
Once when holidaying in Provence I hovered outside a jewellers with ddog and the assistant beckoned me in.
The French are more relaxed about dogs in shops and cafés.

There are two tea shops side by side in New Brighton.
One allows dogs, the other doesn’t.
Also Café Nero vary from town to town.

Do dogs often get stolen from outside shops?

Yes. Especially small, pretty ones. If we left either of our little Jack Russells outside a shop they’d be gone in a heartbeat.

I avoid Jack Russell’s.
Bitey little b’s imo.

Ours have never even snapped at anyone. They might lick you to death. 😂

The answer there is to not leave dogs tied up outside shops (which is a stupid thing to do in any event because some kid might poke it in the eye, get bitten on the face and you will be held responsible).