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…

Dogs let out to roam all day? Well thank goodness that’s not the norm anymore.

Our local John Lewis has allowed dogs for past couple of years (assume they all do?), I hate it. Why are people unable to go to the shops now without bringing their dog?

I'm so fed up with everywhere becoming "dog friendly". It's ridiculous. In Tesco the other day and someone had this small out of control dog in there, it was trying to cock it's leg up stuff, was yapping and pulling the owner around sniffing everything. A member of staff told the lady she couldn't bring the dog in, and she said "it's a support dog in training" the staff memeebr asked for proof and she said she didn't legally have to show her that, and carried in around the shop causing a nuisance! The staff were clearly unhappy but obviously their hands were tied. I saw them moping the floor, and removing items from a shelf where I'm sure the dog had cocked it leg up it. Absolutely disgusting.

So true. I guess when dogs were allowed out to roam around all day, they didn't need daycare. I'm not sure it was ever truly acceptable to let a dog roam unaccompanied in a built up residential or city location, but it happened a lot (and still does) in more rural areas, especially with people who live in small hamlets with little traffic, or have a lot of land and don't fence it all. Now it's not acceptable at all to leave a town dog to wander (far more traffic on the roads for a start) but so many households have both adults out at work all day and there is more awareness that you shouldn't leave a dog indoors alone for a long working day with no respite either.

I would never let any of my dogs wander out of our garden unaccompanied, or even walk off lead anywhere but a field or the woods, but I know lots of middle class, semi-rural dwelling, labrador owning types who don't bat an eyelid at this.

Personally I absolutely hate seeing a dog trotting around ahead of, or behind its owner, off-lead, anywhere near a road or a crowded public place like a farmers' market or fête or boot fair. It just takes one distraction or provocation and that dog could bolt in front of a car, or go for another dog. It's just not worth the risk, no matter how well trained or laid back the owner thinks their dog is.

A friend's dog has nappies for when she's in season so why not? Better still just don't have dogs except for assistance dogs in shops.

And looking online it's actually true they don't need to show proof of a dog's "assistance" status so basically anyone can take their dog anywhere and claim it's a working/assistance/support dog or dog in training, and that is meant to just be accepted. Makes a mockery out of the actual hard working guide dogs and their trainers, fosters, and owners, and the time invested in them to gain their status as a genuine assistance dog. Why bother if you can just bring your gross out of control cockapoo anywhere with you and claim it's a support dog.

My local shopping centre, in quite a well-to-do area allows dogs. It’s very disconcerting. Im not a dog hater at all and I like seeing my friends’ pups, but they do not need to be traipsed round a shopping mall!

Need to add, I have two dogs of my own who are actually very well behaved, but I wouldn't dream of carting them around a bloody supermarket, no one needs that, especially the dog. Selfish, stupid individuals who think their dog is special and trumps the rights to peaceful, dog hair and piss free shopping of other people.

I don't like the idea, never felt the urge to take my dog to places that my kids find stressful or boring either.

It's the barking that pisses me off the most. Especially in cafes. Dogs barking at each other and rearing up for a fight. Reactive dogs in confined safes where there are other dogs.

My local range has a cat that visits. Lives in nearby houses and just wanders in. Could be fun with dogs in there too.

Why just dogs? Surely that’s discriminatory towards other animals. Maybe a pet chicken or sheep would like to browse the bathroom range. Honestly this world has gone crackers.

People have really had it up to here with dogs and I can see why. Me too. I used to like them a lot more when they weren’t badly owned by every other clueless idiot. Not the dogs’ fault. I really hope the dog craze eventually goes the way of grey interiors!

They wouldn’t though. A random dog tried to use its razor sharp teeth to tear my toddler’s nappy off on a beach. So dogs would tear each other’s nappies off to get at that anus they love so much.

No idea why anyone would need to take a dog into a shop like this anyway really… Should be service dogs only.

I stayed in Newquay last spring for 5 weeks. There was one lovely pub which was so cosy and I wanted to visit, their cask ale was my favourite. But there were so many dogs in there it gave me asthma.

Multiple dogs inside an enclosed space is a nightmare for asthmatics. We quite simply cannot be there at all.

Actually @AngeloMysterioso I was in church on Sunday and saw a sign saying they were a dog friendly church so some churches do allow dogs now. Personally, as a dog owner, I agree I can't imagine wanting to take my dog to church or shopping.

Service dogs also deserve a distraction free work environment.

They're usually pretty iron clad anyway, but they are still dogs at the end of the day and our disabled members of society who require a service dog for which ever medical need they have acquired one deserve to be out in public without worrying about their dog too.

I'm all for pet shops like pets at home etc being dog friendly, it's to be expected especially if you're going to use one of their other services, but there's not really a need for a general shop giant like the range to be dog friendly.

Choose her own toys and treats

Fuck me, I've heard it all now

Crikey I wouldn’t have realised that. I would be suprised too.

My youngest hates dogs so the shops are a good place for knowing there won’t be any.

That's partly because you've never had dogs, but I suspect it's mostly because you're the sort that struggles to get your head around how anyone else thinks on any subject.

Yes. We've had the family dogs at the graveside for a family funeral. Why wouldn't you when the deceased was close to them and had had dogs their entire life?

I would like to see pay-as-you-go doggy day care centres at large shopping centres/ retail parks. There are so many empty units, it might increase footfall too.
Some dogs can’t be left for long periods at home, sometimes people need to pop into a shop enroute to their destination and could be prosecuted for leaving their dog in the car.
I dont think shops a good places for most dogs, I can’t imagine trying to do a food shop with mine! Pet shops are different (you might need to try a lead/collar for size, and some have samples of kibble etc to try out). Owners should take dogs to the toilet before a pet shop shopping trip 🤔 I bet they don’t let them pee and poop indoors at home. The dog friendly shops should provide clean up kits for the owners (shouldn’t be staff cleaning it up) and signage for payment of damaged goods.
I have seen a number of posts on allergies..fair enough but contact time with allergen in a shop environment would be insignificant unless someone has severe allergy. Furniture is usually display items (not the product that will be taken home). I can very briefly share a space with a cat (or home of cat) and get mild symptoms. Physical contact or longer stay results in breathing difficulties (even with medication).
some people have dog phobias, suggest avoid the isle that dog is in, dog is on lead. Some people with sensory issues are scared of wasps, spiders, butterflies, the wind(yes it’s true!!) not possible to cater for all and more important to deal with phobia / sensory response rather than trying to remove every trigger from the world!

Our vicar brings his dog to church. It sits on one of the fancy chairs at the front

They do take them to church at my church. There are 3 regular big dogs.

I’m absolutely sick of dogs everywhere! Every single pub in my town is ‘dog friendly’. I hate how you made out to be a weirdo for wanting a dog free space. I love cats but totally get that some people find them horrible so don’t expect everywhere to let cats in. Loads of dogs are nice and well behaved but imo most are a pita due to incompetent and lazy owners.

Dog owner here. Dogs in shops are the main reason I barely shop in physical stores (or food outlets) anymore. Gives me the MN ick in the same way as the pervy men lovingly fingering the lingerie in M&S 🤢
My shopping experience’ is definitely bot enhanced by dogs shedding, sniffing and peeling around the merchandise (or by the ‘gifts’ from the shit & leave brigade in the adjacent car parks)) Nor by their entitled owners wilfully disregarding the comfort of fellow shoppers, especially those who are dog phobic or allergic.

Service dogs (NOT ‘emotional assistance’ 🤬 dogs are perfectiy fine.