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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to question non-assistance dogs being allowed in Primark?

182 replies

FlimsyMimsy · 16/03/2026 07:56

Coleen Rooney apparently has a new range in Primark. I saw the start of a video by someone who fancies herself as an influencer checking it out with her Cavapoo. Since when are dogs allowed in Primark that aren't assistance dogs? Is it crazy to think dogs are now ubiquitous?

OP posts:
jeaux90 · 17/03/2026 12:31

FlimsyMimsy · 17/03/2026 12:22

I genuinely did not understand what you meant. Thank you for clarifying. Your post read as having a pop at me.

No pop intended! It was just an opportunity to think a bit more broadly about the overall pet question as I think there is a very divisive line on this especially between the cat V dog owners and let’s face it….the owners are always the issue. Free roaming cats are a problem, badly behaved dogs are a problem, owners are the cause.

OonaStubbs · 17/03/2026 12:33

At least the free-roaming cats don't (generally) roam into shops and eateries.

PurpleCoo · 17/03/2026 12:42

Goldenbear · 17/03/2026 08:36

I am disputing your 'most' claims as most people with a severe allergy to dogs or have an asthma attack in response to dogs would circumvent the shop you are in or leave quickly so how would you possibly know.

Once again, your logic is flawed. My 'most people' referred to the population as a whole/shoppers in general and you know this. This has absolutely no connection to the 'most people with a severe allergy to dogs that causes a severe asthma attack' that you have just mentioned in the next breath. You are comparing different groups. The latter is a tiny percentage of the general population, and was obviously not what I was talking about when I made my comments.

No one left the shop quickly when we went in.

Flamingojune · 17/03/2026 12:49

Out of the 2 'crimes' of buying fast fashion, or dogs in shops, i'm less offended by the latter. Just stop buying that shit

hattie43 · 17/03/2026 12:53

I take my dogs to coffee shops but would never take them town centre shopping , they just wouldn’t enjoy it and it wouldn’t be that relaxing for me tbh

OonaStubbs · 17/03/2026 13:21

hattie43 · 17/03/2026 12:53

I take my dogs to coffee shops but would never take them town centre shopping , they just wouldn’t enjoy it and it wouldn’t be that relaxing for me tbh

Do your dogs enjoy coffee?

Arran2024 · 17/03/2026 13:24

I have male bernese mountain dogs - i wouldn't take them shopping. They wouldn't like it for starters. They would scare some people. And I bet they would pee on something!

Goldenbear · 17/03/2026 13:30

PurpleCoo · 17/03/2026 12:42

Once again, your logic is flawed. My 'most people' referred to the population as a whole/shoppers in general and you know this. This has absolutely no connection to the 'most people with a severe allergy to dogs that causes a severe asthma attack' that you have just mentioned in the next breath. You are comparing different groups. The latter is a tiny percentage of the general population, and was obviously not what I was talking about when I made my comments.

No one left the shop quickly when we went in.

I think you are letting fellow customers or the general public's savoir faire fool you!

WiddlinDiddlin · 17/03/2026 13:41

Bricks and mortar stores and malls and shopping centres are dying a death and struggling to get people through the doors.

They're finding (or hoping) that letting dogs in will improve that situation as seemingly the only people out of their houses are those walking their dogs.

If you hate it - shop in person more, and let the stores you use know that you don't like it.

That won't necessarily change anything but it stands a better chance than grumping about it on MN.

ApplesinmyPocket · 17/03/2026 15:25

"what am I supposed to do with my dog if I want to go in a shop? "

Shops used to have tethering points outside for the occasional dog (it was not so common to take dogs everywhere until recently; as PPs have said, dogs used to be left happily at home as the norm and would sleep for hours.) - water bowls were even supplied.

It's crazy. I LIVE in the Cotswolds and can confirm it is very, very dog friendly, to the point you get multiple dogs on extendible leads you must avoid like an obstacle course between clothes aisles; the occasion snarly fight breaking out; owners who pretend not to see a dog take a pack of sweets off a stand and slobber on it - until they hung it back up, all ready for a child to take to buy. I atually witnessed this one and felt an assistant would prefer to take the dog-slobbered sweets off sale- they shrugged - "Who cares?" well, a parent might prefer to buy a clean bag, perhaps?

All restaurants and cafes are dog-friendly; we recently had a very nice shopping village open locally, where notices at frequent intervals enthuse that the ENTIRE SITE IS DOG-FRIENDLY (not so friendly for wheelchair users, though, or those of us who don't want to be surrounded by dogs on a shopping trip.) There is not even one day in the week set aside to be 'dog-free'.

I love dogs and have owned several. Never in a million years would I have taken one into a shop and they would have hated it too.

LarsenBiceshelf · 17/03/2026 15:31

Yep, I've been voting with my feet this week, in fact. Trying to book a hotel in Devon while visiting family - any billed as dog friendly have been immediately discounted after my last experiences of having to put up with: a spaniel at Gara Rock that barked its way through breakfast (clearly wasn't happy, and as its bark was ear-splitting neither was I), a cockerpoo (Estelle Manor) that stood on its hind feet with its front paws up on its owner's breakfast table begging. It tried to do it to our table as well and DH and I sent it packing sharpish. Owner just looked annoyed with us for telling it to sod off! I have nothing against dogs, but they should be in dog places - outside, in bars (quietly) and not in shops or restaurants.

WiddlinDiddlin · 17/03/2026 15:47

@ApplesinmyPocket back in the day you could safely tie a dog up outside a shop, people would leave your dog alone, all would be well.

Now however:

  • Huge risk of theft
  • Risk of someone maliciously claiming your dog hurt or scared them (an offence under the control of dogs act)
  • Risk of someone hurting them/scaring them
  • Risk of them actually hurting or scaring someone

These are not imagined risks, they are unfortunately well documented, multiple cases all around the country and theft for ransom is HUGE, with police largely uninterested as whilst owners view dogs as family, the law views dogs as 'goods and chattels' and cares about as much as if your handbag is nicked (possibly less as dogs can wander off by themselves which handbags tend not to do).

So tying a dog up outside a store is not something any sensible owner would dream of doing, its also something all the dog charities warn against doing, you're told not to do it in puppy classes... its ingrained in responsible owners you just don't do it.

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 17/03/2026 16:10

WiddlinDiddlin · 17/03/2026 15:47

@ApplesinmyPocket back in the day you could safely tie a dog up outside a shop, people would leave your dog alone, all would be well.

Now however:

  • Huge risk of theft
  • Risk of someone maliciously claiming your dog hurt or scared them (an offence under the control of dogs act)
  • Risk of someone hurting them/scaring them
  • Risk of them actually hurting or scaring someone

These are not imagined risks, they are unfortunately well documented, multiple cases all around the country and theft for ransom is HUGE, with police largely uninterested as whilst owners view dogs as family, the law views dogs as 'goods and chattels' and cares about as much as if your handbag is nicked (possibly less as dogs can wander off by themselves which handbags tend not to do).

So tying a dog up outside a store is not something any sensible owner would dream of doing, its also something all the dog charities warn against doing, you're told not to do it in puppy classes... its ingrained in responsible owners you just don't do it.

None of the risks - which are very, very low anyway - are any reason to impose dogs on people who shouldn’t have to put up with them in shops, cafes etc. If you don’t want your dog stolen or abused or whatever when you have to go to the shops then leave it at home.

Or just don’t have a dog.

It’s not difficult.

NoSoapJustUseShowerGel · 17/03/2026 16:44

WiddlinDiddlin · 17/03/2026 15:47

@ApplesinmyPocket back in the day you could safely tie a dog up outside a shop, people would leave your dog alone, all would be well.

Now however:

  • Huge risk of theft
  • Risk of someone maliciously claiming your dog hurt or scared them (an offence under the control of dogs act)
  • Risk of someone hurting them/scaring them
  • Risk of them actually hurting or scaring someone

These are not imagined risks, they are unfortunately well documented, multiple cases all around the country and theft for ransom is HUGE, with police largely uninterested as whilst owners view dogs as family, the law views dogs as 'goods and chattels' and cares about as much as if your handbag is nicked (possibly less as dogs can wander off by themselves which handbags tend not to do).

So tying a dog up outside a store is not something any sensible owner would dream of doing, its also something all the dog charities warn against doing, you're told not to do it in puppy classes... its ingrained in responsible owners you just don't do it.

Perhaps people shouldn’t spend £000s on designer dogs.
Why was dog theft not really a thing in the past? Because most people were happy with a mongrel or a bog standard breed. Now everyone needs a -poo or a -doodle to show off.

LlynTegid · 17/03/2026 18:04

Going into Primark is the unreasonable thing to begin with as has been noted. Then of course you have to factor in the lack of support any member of staff there would get for even raising the issue with someone who brought their dog in.

WiddlinDiddlin · 17/03/2026 19:28

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 17/03/2026 16:10

None of the risks - which are very, very low anyway - are any reason to impose dogs on people who shouldn’t have to put up with them in shops, cafes etc. If you don’t want your dog stolen or abused or whatever when you have to go to the shops then leave it at home.

Or just don’t have a dog.

It’s not difficult.

You're ranting and raving at the wrong person, I don't tend to take my dogs into shops one dog HATES shopping (will just lie on the floor and yowl - which we discovered when she came along during the other dogs general public access socialisation trips) and the other only comes if I need him to work (assistance dog) which I don't always... and I don't shop in fucking Primark.

The risks are NOT low however, the risk that someone accuses your dog of scaring them is massive, a dog without its owner, just scaring someone, is almost certainly an offence under the control of dogs act/dangerous dogs act. Dogs are stolen and fenced around the country or as I say, ransomed back, or stolen and abused or stolen and used as puppy breeding machines.

It's also not just designer breeds that are stolen (but thats a nice bit of victim blaming there @NoSoapJustUseShowerGel ), any dog might be, the rise in general dog popularity and the average price of even a mutt being a few hundred quid has seen to that. Expensive breeds and obvious working dogs have always been a target for theives, there are just more dogs and more theives these days.

Taking dogs into shops that allow dogs in shops may be an imposition to you but that is put on you by the business themselves, not the owner - the shops WANT customers through the door. If that means allowing in dogs, thats what they're going to do. If you dislike that, make a bigger point of buying in person rather than online and tell shops you will avoid them if they continue allowing in non-assistance dogs.

I'd really rather they didn't personally as working an assistance dog in a shop, on the rare occasion I'd do that, is far harder when every dog and its mate is trying to jump on his head to 'say hello'.

reversegear · 17/03/2026 19:36

It’s so annoying, and I have 4 dogs and love dogs but when I had to step over a dog poo in a stationary shop I though its gone too far, the owner was trying to ask the shop assistant for tissues but jeeeze I don’t want to be stepping over dog shit when lm out shopping, also the poor dog.

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 17/03/2026 19:52

WiddlinDiddlin · 17/03/2026 19:28

You're ranting and raving at the wrong person, I don't tend to take my dogs into shops one dog HATES shopping (will just lie on the floor and yowl - which we discovered when she came along during the other dogs general public access socialisation trips) and the other only comes if I need him to work (assistance dog) which I don't always... and I don't shop in fucking Primark.

The risks are NOT low however, the risk that someone accuses your dog of scaring them is massive, a dog without its owner, just scaring someone, is almost certainly an offence under the control of dogs act/dangerous dogs act. Dogs are stolen and fenced around the country or as I say, ransomed back, or stolen and abused or stolen and used as puppy breeding machines.

It's also not just designer breeds that are stolen (but thats a nice bit of victim blaming there @NoSoapJustUseShowerGel ), any dog might be, the rise in general dog popularity and the average price of even a mutt being a few hundred quid has seen to that. Expensive breeds and obvious working dogs have always been a target for theives, there are just more dogs and more theives these days.

Taking dogs into shops that allow dogs in shops may be an imposition to you but that is put on you by the business themselves, not the owner - the shops WANT customers through the door. If that means allowing in dogs, thats what they're going to do. If you dislike that, make a bigger point of buying in person rather than online and tell shops you will avoid them if they continue allowing in non-assistance dogs.

I'd really rather they didn't personally as working an assistance dog in a shop, on the rare occasion I'd do that, is far harder when every dog and its mate is trying to jump on his head to 'say hello'.

I’m very obviously not ranting or raving. As to you..

All in all, people should leave their dogs at home. Or not have a dog. 🤷‍♀️

BoredZelda · 17/03/2026 20:06

I’d love to know where people live that dogs are allowed everywhere. I have a dog and the vast majority of places we go are not dog friendly. When my daughter was young and afraid of dogs, before we had one, it wasn’t particularly difficult to pick places to go where there would be no dogs. From time to time we had to take a place off our list when it became dog friendly, but there are definitely more places that do not allow dogs tan those which do.

Yellowteeth · 17/03/2026 23:56

WiddlinDiddlin · 17/03/2026 15:47

@ApplesinmyPocket back in the day you could safely tie a dog up outside a shop, people would leave your dog alone, all would be well.

Now however:

  • Huge risk of theft
  • Risk of someone maliciously claiming your dog hurt or scared them (an offence under the control of dogs act)
  • Risk of someone hurting them/scaring them
  • Risk of them actually hurting or scaring someone

These are not imagined risks, they are unfortunately well documented, multiple cases all around the country and theft for ransom is HUGE, with police largely uninterested as whilst owners view dogs as family, the law views dogs as 'goods and chattels' and cares about as much as if your handbag is nicked (possibly less as dogs can wander off by themselves which handbags tend not to do).

So tying a dog up outside a store is not something any sensible owner would dream of doing, its also something all the dog charities warn against doing, you're told not to do it in puppy classes... its ingrained in responsible owners you just don't do it.

Exactly, I’d never leave my beloved dog outside a shop or cafe these days. It’s way too risky

Yellowteeth · 18/03/2026 00:00

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 17/03/2026 19:52

I’m very obviously not ranting or raving. As to you..

All in all, people should leave their dogs at home. Or not have a dog. 🤷‍♀️

No thanks, my dog comes with me wherever dogs are allowed.
I wish they were allowed in supermarkets as well.

jeaux90 · 18/03/2026 06:28

NoSoapJustUseShowerGel · 17/03/2026 16:44

Perhaps people shouldn’t spend £000s on designer dogs.
Why was dog theft not really a thing in the past? Because most people were happy with a mongrel or a bog standard breed. Now everyone needs a -poo or a -doodle to show off.

How utterly stupid. We pay good money for a specific breed that often has a specific purpose and has had many checks so it has no health problems. Clearly you have absolutely no clue.

MulberryFresser · 18/03/2026 06:35

WinterNightStars · 16/03/2026 10:34

We were recently away for the weekend & I popped into Joules, leaving DH outside with our 2 hairy golden retrievers. They were enjoying the sunshine when the shop assistant actually invited them in to the shop! I was shocked. I love my dogs but even I don’t love their hair on my clothes & anything they’d have brushed past would’ve attracted their hair. If I’m buying clothing I expect it to dog hair free too.

Joules has a dog range which is reasonably good VFM. Perhaps they thought you may buy from there?

Strumpetpumpet · 18/03/2026 06:43

I agree. I’m allergic to most furry pets, and the sheer number of dogs everywhere these days means I rarely go shopping apart from food shopping, and much as I bemoan the loss of the high street and would much prefer to shop in person, I do almost all my shopping online now.

Amiacoolorwarmcolour · 18/03/2026 07:05

I think shops are shooting themselves by allowing dogs in.
Surely more people will shop online to avoid dogs. I very much doubt that those who take dogs in shops are keeping the high street thriving.
I don’t mind well behaved dogs in some pubs. The pubs in town tend not to allow them in. They are busy anyway and quite frankly noisy and crowded so more fool you if you take your dog in.