Dogs in shops

[brunette123]

by that I mean dogs that aren't guide dogs or helper dogs iykwim - ones that are just pets

I was driving through a posh Surrey town in very slow traffic and a lady with a Dachshund on a lead was going in various shops with the dog. The traffic was so heavy I was able to see it more than once. Curious more than anything. I have greyhounds and wouldn't dream of taking them in shops - no shops, not just not into food shops. I had thought that nowadays dogs were not generally allowed in shops as a whole (unless you have it in a big handbag and no one can see.........). Got me thinking that maybe this is more common that I realised. Is it? Does it depend on size of dog? Or type of store?

The absolutely gorgeous deli restaurant Filmore and Union (York, Harrogate...) allow small dogs in to sit under tables. Fabulous! It's meant we normally eat there as a family instead of anywhere else...!
I have also been welcomed into shops in Cornwall no problem.
And my friend owns an art gallery and she doesn't mind dogs downstairs.
I'd say it's very much dependent on individual shops (and possibly if you are a regular customer of them...)
But I wish more shops and restaurants were open to and welcoming of dogs.

Interesting - I know some pubs particularly the real ale type of places welcome them but in general I didn't think they could go into most places - I sat in a pub garden (Wetherspoons) with one of mine about 3pm and there was no one else in it and I was told it was not acceptable but of course they are a chain so obviously have "policies". I could understand a Great Dane not being allowed in a chinaware shop!

When i went to switzerland, dogs were everywhere, the shopkeepers mostly had dogs too and they had their own SEATS in resturants! I'd be too paranoid to take my dogs into a shop though incase they piddled! I do think that a well behaved dog that definately wont piddle is fine.

I think it's a bit like children in restaurants actually. The lower class ones - fine, the super posh ones, fine. The middle ones - not keen.

I tested this theory by taking puppy into a Farrow and Ball pair shop, and they didn't bat an eyelid.

I have to say that until today I had not seen dogs in shops for many years except maybe on tv on Made in Chelsea (don't shoot me it was on in the background that is my excuse) so they were super-posh super tiny dogs in super posh shops. Even as a child (many years ago) seem to recall having to tie up dog outside - nowadays I just wouldn't take them into town in the first place and wouldn't leave them outside by themselves. So what sort of shops that are part of a chain not independents, can you take dogs in? None of the supermarkets, Primark? WHSmith? Wilkinson? I doubt it.
I also recall as a child no one scooped the poop and some dogs had white poo lol

We have found that touristy towns are more open to the idea of dogs in shops - e,g, in Betwys y Coed in North Wales they are allowed in many of the outdoors shops. They are also allowed in lots of pubs and cafes - it's just a case of asking. Or look here: www.doggiepubs.org.uk. They also have a very useful app...

I once left dd on a narrow pavement holding a large dog while I went in a chemists and they said immediately to bring the dog and dd in.

I've got a small dog now and I'd love to be able to take him into shops. I could have him in a large handbag like Paris Hilton.

I did take him in an outside shop the other week and have also asked in pubs and been allowed to take him in. I suspect that chain shops like Dorothy Perkins, etc would say no to dogs.

I live in a posh Surrey town. We can take the dog into a few shops quite happily that i know of, Waterstones, Orvis, garden centres, there are probably more. These shops all have 'dogs welcome' signs. Most pubs also happy and cafes ok if outside. We're fairly new to having a dog and were quite surprised by this, I'd always assumed shops were no-go zones. I love taking her into Waterstones as people do a double take & the staff in there make a huge fuss of her.