To think The Range has made a stupid decision

[hellolittleduck]

“CDS Superstores has announced a major change to The Range stores' entry requirements. Dog owners will no longer need to leave their pets outside or at home as stores across the UK are now completely dog-friendly.“

What’s the point of this other than to make shopping in The Range a miserable experience? Am I the only one who thinks it’s disgusting to have filthy dogs running around soft furnishings and fragile displays, potentially pissing on things? I assume people with dog allergies are just irrelevant then. Navigating the shop is already a nightmare when it’s busy, who wants dogs who have been rolling around in God knows what to be taking up the aisles? Think it’ll be online orders only from now on…

I absolutely hate hate hate this. I don’t understand why. Especially out of town stores that your dog had had to go in the car in, it’s not just popped on a walk!

i don’t want to have to wash things like cushions when I’ve bought them new to use them

I cannot get my head around the thought process that it's appropriate to take a fucking animal to a funeral.

I love dogs, especially mine but there is no way I would take him shopping.
We would both hate it and it might inconvenience other people, there is absolutely no need for this at all

If I died before my dog did, I can imagine DH would bring her to my funeral....

I think it's appropriate or not depending on whose funeral it was.

To be fair I did actually consider taking ddog to my Mums.
He is a breed she had for years and it was an interest we shared, plus he would have been a great support for both me and DD.
However, I soon realised it probably wasn't appropriate

Do people use epipens for dog allergies though? I thought it was mostly skin reactions like hives if you come into physical contact with the dog, or close proximity to a dog or contact with dog hairs on a sofa for example, could set off your asthma if you have it, but not anaphylaxis? I'm not sure just walking past a dog would do much that required an epipen?

Or many adults tbf

I don't know 'The Range' but gather it is a home and garden store.

The Range is very silly to allow anyone to bring their dog into their stores.

Service dogs are OK, they are always well behaved and are necessary.

I like dogs, in fact most animals, but dogs can be boisterous, get into fights with other dogs, be over-friendly with people, bark and leave hair everywhere.

Don't worry too much though, I doubt the new dog policy will last long, it will cause too many problems.

I'm now off to investigate The Range online :-).

That's absolutely ridiculous! Why do dogs have to be absolutely bloody everywhere at these days?! I am a dog owner, and can not fathom why would you want to make an already irritating experience (shopping) even worse for everyone involved including yourself?!

I don't know if it's something anyone else has noticed, but pet care( particularly dog) seems to follow child rearing.
When I was a kid, kids didn't go everywhere with parents, left home while doing the food shop.. went to school on their own, and walked home on their own. Prams left outside shops. Childcare was not the norm for most, 'Aunty or Mrs Smith'' next door kept an eye out, and latchkey kids were normal.
I was only aware of one childminder. The parents who used her were professionals, doctors/ solicitors) Certainly not Tesco employees. There was no educational element, just looking after children. Toys, etc.
SEN unless severe was left as 'quirky or naughty' kids in schools

Now we have 'wrap around childcare, nursery, early learning goals, assessments, kids unable to arrive or leave school without an adult until 10 or 11. SEN is is far more diagnosed, even if support is dire.

Dogs are following..as a kid we saw dogs let out to roam all day, returning home for food. Training was 'Barbara Woodhouse' novelty , but generally, most dogs got no training at all. Fed scraps, my DGM was agog at us buying specific dog food even 35 yrs ago.
Now it's doggy daycare, walkers, secure fields for hire ( brilliant for my dog!). All sorts of speciality food. Dog Trainers abound ( unregulated though as yet!) and behaviourists to help with doggy sen.

Improved care?

I don't think many dog owners are letting them loose on the cushions in shops, do you? They are walking past them, usually at a much lower level, and little dogs are often being carried, or in doggy strollers. People aren't settling their dogs down for a long nap on a pile of brand new soft furnishings on the shelves, let's be real.

I agree it's not really necessary to take your dog shopping 99% of the time, but let's not exaggerate about what the effects of them doing this might be. You don't need to immediately wash stuff on the odd chance that a dog walked within four feet of it.

Love my dog to bits but not sure shopping in the Range would be an enriching experience for him.
Will give that one a miss.

My cousin buys her dogs treats whenever she buys her children sweets or toys when the kids get toys because it’s only fair to treat them the same. So you could be on to something - people raise their dogs the same way they raise their children. If they think something is good for a child why not a dog kind of thing.

My friend has a tiny dog she insists on taking anywhere. I've been making excuses not to go out with her recently. On our last outing he pissed up a display in a clothes shop while she was oblivious and I was mortified.

This - 100%.

36% of households own a dog, so 64% don’t.

I would not choose to go into a store with soft furnishings or kitchen equipment or clothing, that dogs could have rubbed against. I don’t imagine I’m alone, so those stores might well lose the custom of the majority, whilst catering to the minority.

I love dogs, but I don't think they should be in shops. Twice recently I've seen dogs relieving themselves (once in a shopping mall, the other time in the indoor part of a garden centre, amongst all the BBQ equipment...). Both times, their owners were oblivious. And of course, where one dog does a wee, others will follow!

So no, I don't think it's appropriate to have non-assistance dogs in shops etc. I think the dogs themselves don't always think of shops as being somewhere where the normal rules of house training apply. I also don't think it's much fun for the dogs: their walks should be about much more than just walking, but should also include plenty of sniffing and, yes, leaving "wee-mail" for other dogs, and shops aren't the place for these things.

Yup.I was in the bedding department of John Lewis last week and there was a couple browsing around with their largish dogs. Said dogs were having a jolly good old sniff at all the bedding on display while their attached humans were preoccupied with finding pillowcases containing the correct thread count,or whatever.

That's just so unnecessary. Guide dogs should be allowed. That's it IMO.

There’s bound to be dogs cocking their leg over a sofa or display, they don’t know or care that it’s unhygienic. What happens if a dog poops? Other than service dogs it should not be allowed. What on earth are they thinking? How about a cat on a lead, or a rabbit, are they allowed or will it be discrimination if they’re not?

My friend is unfortunate enough to have a list of very severe allergies all of which can trigger anaphylaxis. The list includes dogs as well as eggs, nuts and also more obscure ingredients found in foods. My grandchildren have a dog. If I have been in the dog’s company before meeting up with my friend I shower and change my clothes.

😆 🤣 😂

There was no mention of that anywhere in the pp comment. Hence my laughing emojis still stand

Maybe the people responsible for fining dog owners who don’t pick up their dogs poo will just be able to have nice walks around the range rather than being out in all weathers.

https://www.instagram.com/alexiadox/reel/Cw5V1rnLY1J/?hl=en-gb

I always enjoy Alexa Dox's take on this!

Excellent post and I love the name.