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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to have reservations about so many dogs at the outlet today?

119 replies

wildfellhall · 04/05/2025 18:50

Was it bring your dog day today?
There were literally hundreds of dogs and I feel as if I’ve hardly ever seen a dog at a big outlet before. Is this a new thing?
I was in clothes shops with dogs all running around me as I was shopping. Dogs’ leads all around while trying on shoes. What’s going on with the shopping with dogs?
I mean I don’t mind dogs at all, service dogs I adore; but who wants dogs in clothes shops? It seems really odd to me.

OP posts:
HoskinsChoice · 04/05/2025 18:52

'Literally hundreds'. 🤣🤔

BoyDoIMissSecrets · 04/05/2025 18:53

YANBU.
Bonkers that people can’t leave their dogs at home these days. I don’t want dog snot/slobber/hair all over clothes I’m trying/buying. Racks are so close together these days you can barely squeeze past people, adding dogs into the mix is crazy, and I doubt the dogs would be enjoying the sensory overload in any case.

Theunamedcat · 04/05/2025 18:54

It's very strange I've never met a male dog who hasn't had to be stopped from cocking his leg up anything and everything my mom had a chair which was cleaned so often because of her dog it lost its colour ffs

People wonder why folks arnt shopping in store much anymore but expect you to buy potentially pissy clothes

No thanks

Original poster
wildfellhall · 04/05/2025 18:55

there were SO many, I’m not exaggerating. Half the people had dogs. Seriously. It was really busy and we kept saying is it ‘bring your dog day?’

OP posts:
caramac04 · 04/05/2025 18:55

Well I wouldn’t take my dogs clothes shopping. They’re well behaved but they are dogs and would get under my feet let alone others.

BellaVita · 04/05/2025 18:55

Running around? Really?

PicklesHome · 04/05/2025 18:57

The outlet closest to me (East Mids Designer) actively encourages people to bring their dogs, they often have a dog treat van knocking about plus water bowls outside loads of the shops. Not sure on the rules for the dogs going inside the actual shops though, can’t say I saw any last time I went (in the shops I mean - within the outlet there were loads though)

Stellaris22 · 04/05/2025 18:57

I work in retail that allows dogs, personally I love saying hello to them and make a bee line for them to stroke (with permission).

We’ve had one dog that had an accident but the majority are well behaved and not a nuisance.

Downtrod · 04/05/2025 18:58

Why are the shops allowing it surely they dont want dog hair/poo/wee on their premises as well as on the things they are trying to sell!

Original poster
wildfellhall · 04/05/2025 18:58

I saw a guy on his phone while his dog peed all over a big vase next to the bench he was sitting and he didn’t even notice.
I asked one of the staff about why there were so many dogs and she said “well we’re very dog friendly” looking slightly horrified and I said ‘but why would anyone want to have a dog with them shopping?’ And she said ‘we have to clean up their accidents as well’ and then she shuddered a bit.

I don’t get it.

OP posts:
Mercurial123 · 04/05/2025 19:01

Another 🐕 thread.... 🥱

Original poster
wildfellhall · 04/05/2025 19:02

BellaVita · 04/05/2025 18:55

Running around? Really?

In every shop we went into today there were people with their dogs. All on leads mind and there were water stations around for them outside etc. They are clearly welcome by the outlet ‘village’. I just hadn’t noticed this cultural shift and it’s not something that attracts me as a shopper is all I’m saying.

OP posts:
WasherWoman25 · 04/05/2025 19:02

There is one outlet near to where we go on holiday. We take him because we don’t leave him alone in holiday accommodation and because all over the website it states they welcome dogs. All the shops have stickers in the window saying if they allow dogs inside or not and have water bowls etc. Some of the shop staff even give him treats.

We wouldn’t routinely take him to any of our local shops (aside from the pet store occasionally).

EffinMagicFairy · 04/05/2025 19:02

Did you miss the last bank holiday dog bashing thread?

beakyboo10 · 04/05/2025 19:03

Was this a McArthur Glen outlet by any chance? As a previous poster has mentioned they do welcome them and I visited the East Midlands one today as there was a lot of dogs today.

MugsyBalonz · 04/05/2025 19:04

There is absolutely no need for any dogs, other than service dogs, to be in shops. None. The dog gets nothing from the experience and plenty of people are put off by a venue being "dog-friendly".

MichaelandKirk · 04/05/2025 19:04

Is this the latest dog hating thread. Running around - really??

I live in an area where you are looked at oddly if you don’t have a dog but never have I seen a dog cocking its leg and certainly never off the lead.

Original poster
wildfellhall · 04/05/2025 19:13

I am not a dog hater at all but I think it’s still an imposition on everyone else in that setting. It’s just an AIBU question - as we seem to be changing as a culture and expecting to take dogs where we once, in the past, would not have done.

Also I am recovering from an injury and am a bit nervous of being tripped up. Several times today people were distracted shopping so the dogs’ leads were round my ankles a couple of times. That’s physical contact that the owner is too distracted to manage because they’re busy shopping.
And I won’t go again on such a busy day for sure. I accept this shift; I’m just curious and surprised.

OP posts:
MoominMai · 04/05/2025 19:14

MichaelandKirk · 04/05/2025 19:04

Is this the latest dog hating thread. Running around - really??

I live in an area where you are looked at oddly if you don’t have a dog but never have I seen a dog cocking its leg and certainly never off the lead.

Well OP didn’t say she hated dogs though did she? She also said they were on leads but such high volumes she felt it affected her shopping experience.

A valid concern and she’s entitled to express her concerns in a thread without being implied as a liar 🤷🏻‍♀️

Original poster
wildfellhall · 04/05/2025 19:15

MichaelandKirk · 04/05/2025 19:04

Is this the latest dog hating thread. Running around - really??

I live in an area where you are looked at oddly if you don’t have a dog but never have I seen a dog cocking its leg and certainly never off the lead.

Yes pissing next to a bench and on a lead. All the dogs were on leads.

OP posts:
BundleBoogie · 04/05/2025 19:16

MichaelandKirk · 04/05/2025 19:04

Is this the latest dog hating thread. Running around - really??

I live in an area where you are looked at oddly if you don’t have a dog but never have I seen a dog cocking its leg and certainly never off the lead.

Lots of dogs wee in things in shops - I’ve got friends in retail and it happens far too much. One has had to buy a repellent spray because too many dogs have urinated on the expensive furniture they sell.

It’s strange that you think that because you personally haven’t seen it, it never happens anywhere.

RaininSummer · 04/05/2025 19:16

Seems very odd and unnecessary. I wouldn't dream of taking my dog shopping.

IridaceaeFloribunda · 04/05/2025 19:21

It’s put me off visiting Cheshire Oaks.
Last time I went some wet wipe took her spaniel in to Hotel Chocolat it went crackers trying to jump up at everything then she told the poor thing off,
A huge dog was scrabbling, barking and growling at every other dog in sight and the owner was just stood with it completely blocking the doorway of a shop pathetically saying its name over and over.
A woman in the queue coffee shop told be off for accidentally knocking her bag with my bag because it turned out hers had one of those ratty little dogs in it,
plus there was dog piss everywhere, it’s starting to smell bad in some areas.

WinterMorn · 04/05/2025 19:23

wildfellhall · 04/05/2025 18:55

there were SO many, I’m not exaggerating. Half the people had dogs. Seriously. It was really busy and we kept saying is it ‘bring your dog day?’

You’re not exaggerating at all? Are you sure?

MoominMai · 04/05/2025 19:26

IridaceaeFloribunda · 04/05/2025 19:21

It’s put me off visiting Cheshire Oaks.
Last time I went some wet wipe took her spaniel in to Hotel Chocolat it went crackers trying to jump up at everything then she told the poor thing off,
A huge dog was scrabbling, barking and growling at every other dog in sight and the owner was just stood with it completely blocking the doorway of a shop pathetically saying its name over and over.
A woman in the queue coffee shop told be off for accidentally knocking her bag with my bag because it turned out hers had one of those ratty little dogs in it,
plus there was dog piss everywhere, it’s starting to smell bad in some areas.

Omg ‘wet wipe’ love it haha! Never heard someone be called that before lol! Sorry going to have to nick that for myself! 😅