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?

@Willmafrockfit

NO

you did not NEED to bring a dog to a supermarket

@LuckySantangelo35
dont worry about it, it was a couple of summer's ago,
it was a needs must situation. she was carried

do you mind assistance dogs?

do you mind assistance dogs?

You didn't say that though. Most posters have been at great pains to point out that assistance dogs should of course be the exception.

One poster has said they take their dog everywhere because it suffers from separation anxiety. That is a dog in need of an assistance human, it would seem, rather than the other way round. So unless part of a doggy lifestyle is shopping for kibble in Tesco, then its human should stay at home with it and wait for the delivery van.

@Willmafrockfit

assistance dogs are fine

is your dog an assistance dog?

@LuckySantangelo35
you can carry dogs in to shops though, if necessary - i dont begrudge a man down the road carrying his dog into our local shop and i have done this twice - you obviously would begrudge it but for some reason dont begrudge an assistant dog, which is still a dog
the question was asking someone else to hold their dog which is ludicrous

you can carry dogs in to shops though, if necessary - i dont begrudge a man down the road carrying his dog into our local shop and i have done this twice - you obviously would begrudge it but for some reason dont begrudge an assistant dog, which is still a dog

Do you think then @Willmafrockfit that all dogs should be allowed in all shops because assistance dogs are dogs? Also, of course you can't carry dogs into shops 'if necessary' (necessary according to whom?) if those shops prohibit dogs.

@Tessisme
on the whole people would not ordinarily carry their dogs
but on the odd occasion there is no big deal, as long as they dont ask for help in holding the dog imo
most people wouldnt do a full weeks shopping while holding a dog, they would get just one thing, not everything is black and white

but for some reason dont begrudge an assistant dog, which is still a dog

Not even slightly the same. An assistance dog (a proper one, not just someone’s dog they are pretending they need to have with them) is highly trained and supports their owner to live a normal life, either by being their eyes or alerting them to seizures, etc. Allowing assistance dogs into shops ensures that those with disabilities can access the same things as people who don’t.

You taking your dog in because ‘needs must’ is not the same. In what situation is there no other way but to take your dog into a shop?

i am sure you can work out plenty of situations if you put your mind to it.

If this is this case with the floor thing, maybe i can start taking my cats and just not letting them touch the floor.
Or my eldest can go to the club underage as long as she doesn't touch the ground 🤣

one of the problems of dogs in food shops, is the dog owner can claim the dog is an assistance dog, can buy leads/collars/harnesses online etc. and can claim almost anything re their assistance dog !

shop staff / security can ask, but have to believe the lies they get told esp when we know fine that it is not an assistance dog

and it's happening more and more !

I'm a dog owner but I also hate these owners who think they've got the right to do what the hell they please! I was in a shop when a lady came in carrying her dog. The assistant told her dogs weren't allowed, her response was 'well mine is here!' The assistant tries to explain about the health and hygiene rules for serving food that they have to follow. Again Mrs entitled said 'what do you expect me to do? I'm not leaving her outside!'
I don't normally get involved but she was soo bloody entitled. I said 'maybe try leaving your dog at home when you're coming shopping, like the rest of us do! ' Her 'but that would mean walking her and then coming back out to go shopping!!' 'Yes, yes it would , like the rest of us do, instead of being entitled and causing hassle.for the staff!'
There was literally NO shame in the woman!

I would have told her to hold the dog and I pack her shopping.

Nope. There is always the option of taking the dog home, leaving it in the car, doing an online food order, tying it up outside, asking someone else to have the dog, asking someone else to go to the shop…

I love dogs, especially squishy faced one, but they don’t belong in the supermarket.

Why didn't she put the dog in the trolley? You're better than me OP I think I would of felt obligated to hold the dog. Good for you though!

😂

An assistance dog is a disability aid- they don’t interact with other people, wee on the floor, lick things or bark, and generally keep all the negatives of having a dog in the shop to an absolute minimum.

More importantly they are necessary for their owners to be able to go to the shop.

In the same way you can’t ride your bike or scooter round Sainsburys but I can go in my wheelchair.

Assistance dogs are needed in the shop, pet dogs are not.

So you reckon it's ok to break the rules @Willmafrockfit? What, out of interest, would be the extenuating circumstances or emergency situation that caused someone to carry their (non assistance) dog into a shop where it was not permitted? Seriously, I have no imagination.

@Willmafrockfit

no. You’re wrong. Assistance dogs are fine. They are nescessary, and as another poster said are highly trained. Some random dog in a shop cos their owner can’t bear to be parted from them - not fine.
soz

@Sweetheart7

I wouldn’t want a dogs bare arse in a trolley I’m going to put food in

Definite no from me. I am not a dog person and would it find it really stressful to hold someone's dog. I think the woman has a cheek to even ask and an even bigger cheek to be annoyed at your response. Entitled much! I may have offered to help pack her shopping instead and have done this for many elderly people who may have walking sticks etc but tbh her attitude would have put me off helping her in any way

@LuckySantangelo35 well I know BUT I would rather do that than ask someone.... not that I have a dog to take to Aldi bit ridiculous anyway.

Saw 2 dogs in Marks and Spencer on Sunday.

I love dogs. Sadly, my old girl died aged 15 at the beginning of the year. She was never in a supermarket. She loved going to local market where people made a fuss and had a great pet stall.

I wouldn't have held her pug.

It is about time we brought in proper training and licences for so called service dogs. Not just any mutt ops 'fur baby'.

I might have been tempted to bust into song
'Who let the dogs out'
'How much is that doggy in the window '
Any other suggestions? 🎵