Silly question maybe .. but are dogs allowed in shops in the uk?

[suburbandream]

Ok, I know dogs aren't allowed in food shops or cafes etc where food is prepared but are dogs allowed in other shops? Do you take your dogs into shops and how do people react? We are getting our puppy soon and I was just wondering. I don't see any "no dogs" signs in non-food shops but then I don't see any dogs in the shops either IYSWIM!!

Thier is no Law in this country regarding dogs in shops. Common sense regarding health and safety of course we all know people can't watch where there going. Unlike my dog clever girl. DOG LOVER

In think you'd be fine carrying a pup into most shops. It's a great way of socialising them to all kinds of sights, sounds and smells before they can go on walks. In fact, you should get them used to all kinds of people, especially men with beards, people with glasses and those in crash helmets!

take mine into loads of shops/cafes/pubs and hotels, etc. This includes big name clothes shops and they are much loved, but its very variable.

going to name jack wills for being super with dogs! and many chains of pubs including many small independent, lots of cafes. I have been asked to leave some. It seems to be up to the owners tbh.

i think owners are discovering its a way of drawing people in.

I live on the edge of the Lake District and it's the most dog-friendly area I've ever seen. Loads of shops, pubs and cafés actively welcome dogs. Many pubs have a jar of dog biscuuts on the bar and I've been in cafés which have dog menus! Not only do a high proportion of locals have dogs, but I suppose because it's a place where tourists come on walking holidays, it is in the cafés' and shops' interest to make them welcome.

I left my dogs outside the post office corner shop. The owner actively encouraged me to bring them in. I waited until he said this 3 times. I now take them in, which feels better for me, but I do silently worry others won't like my beautiful well behaved dogs!

Halfords, Currys and post office here

Round here most of the nice independent cafés do, and the pubs. Not shops though.

Post offices, banks, building societies, pubs in london, brighton and cafes, plus the clothes shops.

I would always expect the very best of behaviour from them out in public so as to give good reason for allowing dogs and no reason to eject us!

Told to stand outside of an opticians but a different and very helpful assistant came out to see us and we were getting lots of sociable friendly interest stood outside waiting patiently.

I also heard there's no law against it.

My local TKmaxx invited my dog in. One of our Neros is very happy to have her the other not. Most independent cafes and small eateries in our town are very happy to have dogs and i haven't found a pub round here that refuses the dog. The bank and post office have let her in without so much as a second glance. I wouldn't dream of trying to clothes shop with an unruly puppy so haven't tested them yet.

I am in Cornwall and without holiday makers and their hounds we wouldn't have much of a tourist industry so I guess a few rules get broken

In LymingtonI was looking in the Crew shop and 2 assistants spotted my husband waiting outside and said he was more than welcome to come in with D dog , He declined as wasn't sure pooch could behave in an expensive clothes shop .
Lymington is defiantly the place for dog owners as so many shops , cafes have dogs welcome signs on the door .
Good on them .

Swanky new kings cross Nike store insisted that I bring the adolescent dog in when I waited outside while near adolescent ds tried trainers on. I was terrified, what with him being a puppy in a shop full of shoes. He repaid us by behaving impeccably.

I've actually seen a few dogs in shopping centres recently. They are not guide dogs but emotional assistance dogs. I think these type of dogs are on the increase so obviously they'll be allowed.

Our town is very dog friendly with lots of independent shops. Most of them allow dogs in and have treats for them (including clothes and food shops) There's a fab cafe which dogs are allowed in too.

I have been having a battle recently with the Co-Op re: dogs in their food shops. Before I get jumped on, please let me state that I LIKE dogs and think that dog prams can have their uses. But not as a method of 'smuggling' a dog into a shop where food is on display. Especially not when you then crow to the entire area about how clever you are for'beating the rules'. The Head Office of the Co-Op assured me that the matter had been taken up with the Branch Manager/Area Manager/Shop Manager; all had been told that 'no dogs' was the rule...and that they should inform their staff as to that effect. A few minutes ago, I visited my local Co-Op and whom should I see but the lady who caused me to complain in the first place, exiting the shop with a satisfied smirk. Words fail me.

It's up to the shop owner, surely. I live in a very dog-friendly area. Lots of people come on walking holidays here, so shops, cafés and pubs mostly allow dogs, otherwise they'd be turning away a lot of business. Pubs and cafés often have a big jar of dog biscuits on the counter, and some even have doggie menus!

Lots of shops and cafes in holiday towns and areas are dog friendly, Hay on Wye is great for example, almost nowhere the dog can't go there! Wyevale garden centres are all dog friendly, many pubs will allow dogs in the bar area and bring restaurant food to you there, and most pub gardens welcome dogs. Local attractions vary. Zoos and wildlife parks no way, interiors generally no way, many gardens yes.

For holidays - many holiday cottages take dogs, you can search specifically for ones that do. Wales, Norfolk, Sussex, New Forest, Somerset, all brilliant holiday locations I've taken dogs to and had plenty of places we could go. Boat holidays also a very dog friendly option. Many hotels now take dogs too.

For home: cultivate a really good dog sitter or dog day care, so the dog gets some social life in while you go and do things the dog can't come to.

Recently went to pick up some building supplies for Jewson's. Dog was in the car and I'd mentioned this to the friendly man serving me. Bring her in, he said, so I did and she did a massive poo, the shame

come to Ludlow. Feels like More dogs than people here and active encouragement to bring them indoors when shopping. Interestingly, White Stuff has a 'resident' cat... which is brave. It sleeps on a chair near the window display, but at least I know its whereabouts. DTattyDog is good, but I'm not convinced she's that good!!!

Dogs are allowed in the restaurant I work in but only in one area. There's also another restaurant, a cafe, a coffee shop, an icecream parlour, two clothes shops and a gift shop that allow dogs. It's a touristy seaside town though so it makes sense that places allow dogs.

Thankfully I live in an area where the majority of shops ban dogs. They should not be anywhere near products people want to buy; nobody wants something an animal has brushes up against.

I don't want to buy products that small children have put their sticky grubby hands on.

I don't want to buy products that small children have put their sticky grubby hands on.

Neither do I.

I do think it largely depends upon the manager's discretion - we live in West London and in recent weeks, ddog has been to Waterstones (I think all branches allow dogs, although some are friendlier than others!), the Oxfam bookshop although I had to carry him (fortunately he's a mini poodle and not a standard!), the FARA shop, the local card shop, two branches of Gap and a branch of Office shoes (that was a bit of an experience though - the lovely manager checked first what kind of dog we had as he's allergic to shedding breeds, allowed ddog in but we were then berated by another customer who said he shouldn't have been allowed in )