John Lewis is now dog friendly!

[ACJ68]

Apparently it’s a soft launch,
Well behaved dogs on leads are now allowed in all John Lewis stores.
I’m not certain if any of the cafe areas have designated areas for dogs, as there isn’t any information online.
There may also be difficulties if the store is accessed via a shopping centre that only allows guide / assistance dogs.
A brave but great move by JLP - I’m just off to visit my nearest store!

Eurgh, why?! I really dislike dog and get freaked out by them. Recently found I'm allergic as well.

Now there will be idiot owners telling me "oh he's harmless" while their dog growls and barks and chases and jumps on me (I know it's not every owner but there's enough).

And eww the dog hair a drool on the clothes and towels and bedding!

It's bad enough tripping over a stray toddler, at least they don't bite when stepped on.

I like dogs but think this is asking for trouble.

Walking round shelves and clothes rails is different to a walk in a park or open space where you usually see people/dogs coming from further away. If you turn a corner in a shop and there's a random dog there, you have no idea how it will behave.

I can imagine if someone is shopping with a toddler in a pushchair or walking near them, the child may get frightened if they suddenly come eye to eye with a dog. The dog may try to grab the child's snack or toys or snarl at them, jump up, or even snap or bite. Cue the owner doing nothing and saying "Gnasher is just being friendly".

There would inevitably sometimes be unhygienic "accidents" from dogs. Browsing a department store is obviously not the same as going for walks outside or being let out into the garden. Some dogs may also try to pick a fight if they meet other dogs in a confined aisle.

Bloody stupid idea. I have absolutely no issue with properly trained assistance dogs but I can't be bothered with someone walking their slobbering pet through shops.

Ridiculous idea

That’s not a brave or great move. Assistance dogs yes, these are also highly trained, but loads of people don’t like dogs. I don’t want to be shopping with my toddler and worrying about dogs, it’s bad enough being vigilant in the park, where some owners think it’s fine for their dog to jump at her and also not being a dog owner they’re actually quite smelly.

Awful idea.

I’m in the States at the moment and was a bit taken aback at the number of women perusing clothes, while their big patient dog sat next to them. Like a bored husband holding a handbag in front of the fitting rooms . All the dogs I saw (about 10 of them within the 30 minutes I was in the store) were impeccably behaved.

All I can think of now is clothing being brushed up against by dogs. Looks like I will only be shopping online from now on.

Ha!

I see the phrase "like a bull in a china shop" being replaced with "like a springer in John Lewis".

Battendog would cost me a fortune on over-enthusiastic breakages

My dog would get hair all over the clothes. Even if he was just sat still nicely. Won’t be taking him to John Lewis!

I can’t imagine taking my cockapoo to browse. But usually DH and I take it in terms to wait outside with the dog, it would be good to instead come into the entrance foyer so the person shopping can show the dog sitter potential purchases.

Dog hair on the clothes. Why do you need to take a dog into John Lewis?

crap idea. DD has gone through stages of being bloody terrified by dogs and I know a few adults who are scared of dogs. Unless it's an assistance dog there's no reason for them to be in a department store.

What a stupid idea, for many reasons. Does anyone really NEED to take their dog into a shop (other than assistance dogs of course)? I would be sure not to frequent such a store.

BastardSpaniel will not be joining me on my JL trips.

I love dogs, have a dog myself however don't get the whole taking your dog shopping thing. Cafe, pub etc after a nice walk yes but into town just seems a bit bizarre! In pets at home today a lady was legitimately asking if they sold a bag to put her dog in as she wanted to go into Next over the road! It's a clothes shop I doubt people want dog hairs all over the new clothes plus a bit dangerous for those who have allergies in an enclosed space?

Yuk, one shop I'll be avoiding even more - does anyone else think that since they changed the flooring from softer more comfortable to walk on wooden floors to that harsh and very hard grey stone, JL has seems unwelcoming and cold, and the floors being so hard make me avaoid walking in there too long.

I have a feeling they may be thinking just of those small not-really-dogs that people carry in bags etc?

I'll test it out by taking my mahoosive staffie there and report back

My dog's not very big, although not handbag sized, and there's no way I'd be taking her into JL, or any other store if this becomes a popular thing.

She is impeccably behaved but she would be bored out of her head having to trail around indoors while I look at stuff. Why would I put her through that? She'd be far happier in her own home tucked up on the sofa.

Walks as far as my dog is concerned are for sniffing and exploring, and preferably having a good run involving a ball.

Also I think I'd find it quite stressful having to watch out for my dog while I was trying to enjoy my shopping trip. I was on a shopping trip on Saturday and I would have hated having my dog with me.

And would other shoppers really want strange dogs around them, possibly sniffing at them, while they shop? I somehow doubt it. I know I wouldn't.

I take my dog to pet shops on the few occasion when I go into one and that's great. She enjoys it and I enjoy meeting other dogs. But that's a doggy environment, JL most definitely isn't.

Aww how lovely! Will take Ddog this weekend

I can't see anything on website about it?

Except for Guide/assistance dogs, why the hell do they need to be in a shop?

1 - what a way of ruining the retail atmosphere.

2 - a calm dog outside could easily be wound up and chaotic in a store, especially at peak times.

3- what is this sudden obsession in Britain of taking your dog everywhere with you?

Aww how lovely! Will take Ddog this weekend

It is still just John Lewis. They're not turning it into a place that dogs would like.

@ShatnersBassoon 😂❤️

I often refer to BastardSpaniel as Never Knowingly Dry Bet they'd love him in the Cheadle store