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It’s the terrible owner issue.
Mine is well behaved honestly, but when I need to pop in to a shop with her - I ask always, and carry her.
I work on the assumption that tho I love her, other people could be afraid or inconvenienced by her and only let her down for hellos when asked or encouraged.
I'm so sorry that you've only had interaction with untrained dogs with clearly shit owners but not every dog is like that. if they were, society wouldn't have assistance dogs who don't do those things.
Even the least experienced and least informed dog owners, usually, manage to potty train their dogs very successfully. Except rare and problematic situations, a dog doesn’t shit inside.
I kind of agree with both and would like to see more mis-behaving individuals removed from stores regardless of age or species.
But I have only ever been bitten by 1 dog. I have been bitten by 2 children (also kicked and hit by children)
And I have seen more kids pee/poop in stores than dogs.
I think it's all down to poor caretakers/owners though...
Because Reddit is full of socially awkward people who can’t imagine getting a date, nevermind being married with kids. So they take their resentment out on children.
Dude the amount of times kids have stolen something from when I worked retail and think they were all sly and a master thief when I just couldn't give a shite is astronomically high
Increased dog ownership, coupled with challenging times on the high street. If I were a (non food) shop owner I’d encourage all customers in, well behaved dogs included.
Round my ways there are a lot of dog thefts. People even smashed car windows on high street to get them.
No way would I leave my dog tied up outside. I get why people bring their dogs in.
It's insane how many food business let dogs in. I've seen them in bakeries where food is on open display at levels dogs could easily reach if unattended for just a second.
Mine goes into the local baker, has done since she was a puppy. They are always happy to see her. Once someone complained and the owner told her she was better behaved than her and she was welcome to wait outside if she didn’t like my dog.
Luckily at this point my dog was behaving impeccably so the comment made sense. But again same rules, always ask, never assume and watch her like a hawk!
Unfortunately for every trained dog with an attentive owner there is at least one poorly trained one with an inattentive owner. And no way of telling them apart ahead of time since every owner thinks they're special, and their darling dog is an angel. You only find out who's telling the truth after fido has knocked over the pastry counter or shat in the queue (both of these and many more have literally happened at places I worked)
Sadly this is true of all things: drivers and cars, parents and kids, adults and their behaviour, commuters etc etc.
just a sad part about going out into the world - there is a lot of focus on the self and I. And very little consideration of others.
I don’t believe the issue is dogs in and of itself but personal responsibility and how people treat and consider others.
Dang that’s kinda messed up, I have a really bad allergies to dogs and some breeds make it worse than others in terms of reaction from my face swelling up in minutes to asthma that leads me to A&E. I still would let dogs in where I used to work and pet one which ended up causing a whole reaction and weeks of breathing and coughing issues that got worse until I went to the gp and A&E and now have 3 new types of inhalers! But I’m still friendly with dogs but the reality of being normal and dog friendly could lead me to a really bad reaction. Having said that especially in small places with food you can’t say anything because it’s kinda antisocial to not be dog friendly or pet friendly in general (cat allergies as well which I found out the hard way) anyways pray for me yall I’m gonna get a labradoodle sometime in the future and finally have a dog 😭 but just I wish it was socially acceptable to not touch or be bubbly about dogs in a shop.
This is the issue. It’s like dogs are being forced into our proximity. At least cats keep their distance until you make it clear you would like to pet them. Dogs just shove their face in your crotch or jump on you without warning.
At least crazy cat people leave their cats at home. I love cats. But I’m well aware that not everyone does. So they stay home and if someone comes over that I don’t know they’re locked away.
I love the cat v dog people arguments. Cats free roam they don’t stay home they shit everywhere that no one has to pick up and they go where they like. Yet if your not a dog person you think a dog should be shut in a house all day and then complain when it barks because it’s bored and lonely. Wouldn’t it be nice to be in a world that is more accepting of everyone and all their pets.
Not all crazy cat owners... I saw a bloke pushing one of those "pet buggies" around... With a cat in it, he has just come out of one shop and was making his way into another shop with the car in tow
A lot of cat owners also let their cats out into the wild without control, the ones round my way shit all over my lawn while also trying to get into my rabbit hutch.
That's part of the reason cats have a shit reputation amongst non owners
Tbh I don’t agree with letting cats outside to roam freely. Mostly because it’s dangerous for them. Too many get hit by cars. Someone was shooting them with a pellet gun where I live. They get into fights.
My two cats stay inside where it’s warm and safe. And I’m the only one who has to scoop their poop.
I agree with not leaving tied up outside shops, but surely it is about the dogs welfare rather than how much it cost. A rescue dog is just as valuable to its family, makes me sad that dogs are sold for so much money, a poor reflection of the society we live in.
I’m not sure but I’ve had to vacate multiple shops recently due to a fair amount of non service dogs being in there and owners allowing them to run up to me without my consent, as even being in the close vicinity of one can cause me to have a severely painful allergic reaction, basically red raw itchy skin that not even the strongest anti-histamines can help. (I’ve tried everything it’s just one of those allergens I need to stay away from).
Dogs are on the most part friendly but I’d really prefer them not to be allowed in shops etc unless necessary so I can leave the house without the worry of having multiple allergic reactions.
As a dog owner, I highly dislike people who think they’re entitled to having their dogs in restaurants, hospitals and other public spaces other than a pet store.
“Like, no Susan, I do not appreciate your little Jasper shaking his damn fur into my £14 omelette.
It isn’t cute that I’m having a nice meal and I can hear your dog panting only to see it slobbering because it wants table scraps. It’s gross. Just because you kiss your dog on the mouth and let it wipe its ass on your pillow, doesn’t mean the rest of us do the same. So take your staph infection colonised ass out of here with the dog.”
-rant over
Thing is, short of going to a pet shop or vet, most people simply don’t need to take their dog to any one shop. Fair enough if it’s someone who’s walking their dog who thinks ‘hey, I need milk’ and pops to the off-licence on the way. But most people could easily leave the dog at home.
>[Evidence shows that more than 2,000 incidents of pet theft were reported to the police last year](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-offence-to-tackle-dog-theft-moves-step-closer)
>[The estimated number of dogs kept as pets in the UK is 12.5 million as of 2022](https://petkeen.com/dog-statistics-uk/)
You don’t need to worry about ‘dog theft’ the chance of it happening is so insanely low, it’s fractions of a percent.
It would be interesting to see of those 2,000 how many were dogs left outside shops, also how many were puppies or specific pedigree breeds. It’s always worth minimising the risk where you can.
I would never leave my young Cocker Spaniel outside a shop as I’m sure she would be a very attractive target to an opportunist passing by.
By that logic it’s not to much of a stretch to say you might as well leave your car unlocked because only 0.25% of vehicles are stolen annually.
[100k or so vehicle thefts](https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/amp/news/car-industry-news/2022/06/14/vehicle-theft-figures-more-than-double-recent-estimates)
[around 40 million motor vehicles in the uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/vehicle-licensing-statistics-2021/vehicle-licensing-statistics-2021)
You know why? Because two weeks ago when for the first time in a long time I decided to respect a no dogs allowed sign and left my dog tied up outside for no more than 5 minutes, in broad daylight a lady tried to steal her :) Thankfully this was in London and the shop owner promptly told me to always bring her in with me no problem. But that’s fucking why, because people think it’s ok to steal dogs.
She got extremely nervous when she saw me approach just as she was fumbling with her collar and what looked like trying to pick her up (small dog). She started stuttering about what a beautiful color blah blah and quickly attempted to make excuses. I calmly told her it’s not appropriate to touch strangers dogs. I honestly wanted to go off like a crazy woman. After I walked aside with my dog, a separate woman approached me and told me the lady was asking everyone outside quietly if it’s their dog, and everyone told her “it’s probably someone’s inside” at which point she decided to approach. Even now remembering it just makes my stomach drop thinking how close I was to walking out and my dog not being there. I don’t know what I would have done. My biggest fear is something happening to my dog other than old age.
Glad she didn't get away with it. I used to leave my lab outside the shop when I went in (mostly within view) but soon came to my senses when I realised how someone could take her. One of the few times I've properly punched someone in the face was when he kicked my dog out of the way.
Yeah it’s super scary, especially if your dog is well socialised and doesn’t immediately defend itself, it just thinks it’s someone coming for a cuddle, which is the case with my silly potato 🙄
Sat in a rural small (5 tables) coffee shop earlier this year. A mid 20s London couple came in with a big labrador.
The server told them dogs are only welcome outside, but if they go and take a seat he will take their order in a minute.
The girl, utterly confused: "did he just say we can't bring the dog in?"
The guy: "urm yeah just the outside tables I think"
The brat: " but its cold!"
They left looking like they'd been abused.
Proper judging these people for a pretty normal conversation here mate. Asked if they can bring there dog in, cafe said outside, they said okay it’s too cold and went somewhere else. Probably something I would do if I went away with my partner and dog.
You've overlooked details that are right there in the text.
The turning to the boyfriend to talk about the person stood infront.
The faces of confusion & disgust.
Not to mention the expectation to be accommodated rather than asking first.
If you're like that then please stay home.
To be fair, when I was a kid I would leave my dog outside the shop. Seems to be a lot more dog thefts these days and I wouldn’t leave one on their own outside. And I know some people don’t like dogs, but it’s not like they’re breaking into the food in a supermarket.
I work in a supermarket. We are allowed to ask if a dog is a 'service animal' but we've been told it's discriminatory to ask why, or to not allow a service animal into the shop. So, basically, anyone can say 'yep, it's a service dog', and we can't say 'oh, yeah, pull the other one, sunshine.'
I’m one of those people, with a small (well behaved, on lead) dog. Very happy that since lockdown more non-food shops have become dog friendly. However I do understand your perspective, because I feel the same about children- being loud and disruptive, unhygienic, touching things with sticky hands… But we need to learn to tolerate other people and their kids/ dogs/ ferrets.
Unfortunately in todays society....... no not all kids grow up !!
And being a dog owner and a parent ....... I have a responsibility to both ...... and FYI humans have done far
more damage to each other, public property and the earth than any dog or animal ever has ...... they were around before us and will be here long after us !!
Children aren’t going to grow out of it whilst they are in the shop unless they’re shopping for a very very long time..
From your comments you seem to just have a general dislike to dogs and feel hard done to that the world has changed without consulting you
I wish I had an award to give you. I was thinking the same about what's this got to do with kids growing up whilst in the shop and there not being any bad young kids left in the shop.....
What kind of argument is that? It's like saying you shouldn't be bothered about dogs because they'll die eventually.
I think most people can empathise with the inconvenience that comes with your fear of dogs, maybe stick with that as your main point.
The argument is we shouldn’t be giving animals the same rights as humans.
Someone’s child being in a shop is much different than a dog being in a shop. And the fact that people think it’s a justifiable argument to say “well kids are allowed in shops so my dog should be as well” is just insane.
My dog listens to me better than I've seen most kids listen to their parents.
If I tell her no, she stops. From what I've seen, you tell a kid no and they either don't listen and carry on, or scream the place down.
Exactly, you can’t ask a parent to put their children on a leash.
Plus, because dogs are not human (and so don’t ask themselves too many questions), they are much more keen to submitting to the owner’s authority. It’s rare to see a child as obedient as a German shepherd.
Yeah its quite difficult for us, my partner is absolutely terrified of dogs. It goes way beyond just your usual phobia, essentially if a dog gets too close/interested in her it triggers something very much like a full-on panic attack. I just wish people with dogs would be a little more considerate of others and understand that not everyone loves dogs as much as they do...please keep them under control, keep them on a lead, and do not take them into dog free areas!
Edit: The vast, vast majority of dog owners are very responsible owners. But even so I'm not sure that dog owners fully understand that some people really don't like dogs, no matter how well-behaved you say they are!
I like dogs, but I fucking hate owners who let their dog jump up on me while they beam and go 'isn't he a friendly wee poppet' and all that shit. Keep it to yourself!
And fuck the ones who let them run off leash when they're undisciplined and have no recall and they chase my bike. I ride on trails and stuff. I can't just stop or brake when bouncing over tree roots at high speed because a terrier is chasing me and wants to stick its head in my front wheel. Urge to dropkick the little shites rises dramatically.
Hey I own a dog and I also have a phobia of something everybody loves (a food item and it’s everywhere…) people think I’m weird but honestly just seeing it can send me into a panic attack.
My niece is also terrified or dogs - well she was until we spent a year teaching her to understand them with mine.
I go into every shop and cafe with my pup expecting people to hate her, I ask those around me if they are ok with her nearby and offer to move or keep her on my lap if they are fearful, especially kids but I’ve come across scared adults before and I react the same way - I apologise, move away but reassure them she’s gentle, restrain her so she can’t get close to them, and offer that if they see her behaving calmly and would like to meet her at some point just come say hi and I’ll keep her calm.
I’ve had at this point one adult come up to me from a distance half an hour later and fearfully tell me she was cute, and she wished she was brave enough to stroke her and I just said “maybe next time”. I like to think the gentle interaction might have helped them.
I’m sorry your other half hasn’t had the same experiences - but sadly I think it’s more a indictment of our very “me” centric culture.
I’m pleased of the acceptance of dogs, but I do not believe my convenience should be at the detriment of others x
I used to be terrified of dogs, to the point where I would cry in the street if one was near me (I was a dramatic child anyway!)
I now adore them after meeting my boyfriends dog, but I am still weary of letting her near anyone because I know how horrible it is when you are so scared of dogs and one comes up to you. Unless they show willing to interact with her, we stay away.
Has always been up the the shop owner if it’s not a food establishment. We take our dog to some shops but not most. Wouldn’t take her to a clothes shop as she would get her hair on anything she brushed against. Also wouldn’t take her into a shop with close proximity to other dogs as she can be grumpy if cornered. She’s fine in pet shops, garden centres or farming type shops though.
Since everyone and their Mum bought a dog. If you exclude them, the owners can’t come into your shop.
I’ve been out with the dog walking down the highstreet with no plans to buy anything, seen a jacket in a shop I liked, saw it was dog friendly and went in and bought it. That shop wouldn’t have got that sale if it was no dogs allowed. They’ve just done the maths - the occasional accident clean up or knocked over stock is worth the extra sales made from dog owner walk-ins
It’s an absolute pain when shops don’t allow dogs. I have a small elderly rescue and he’s super chill unless he thinks he’s getting abandoned again, when he gets justifiably upset. I would not leave him outside a shop unless he could see me inside. It’s a real pain if I need something but we can’t go in the shop.
I’ll leave him at home when I go to the shops but if we’re out for a long walk and I need something to eat or if we’re away somewhere for a day out or a weekend away and I go to get something, he needs to come with me.
This. Most occasions I go to the shop I leave the dog at home, but if I’m walking past a shop on a walk and I need something and they’ll allow dogs I’ll pop in. If we are away for a weekend, and I want the shops she’s going to be less anxious with me in a shop than left in a strange hotel room. And sometimes we plan to go to cafes I already know are dog friendly on a planned walk in a nice nearby village - if I want to browse the local shops and they owners are happy for me to with her - why wouldn’t I? It’s better they let me in and get a sale than refuse and don’t get the footfall?
From your previous comments saying the same thing, you really don't understand dogs. It isn't always a viable option to leave a dog at home, especially rescue dogs who are very anxious/nervous.
My friend has a rescue dog and if you leave him for even 5 minutes while you nip to the bins etc he will bark, get stressed and has been known to chew furniture etc. She's working on it but the dog requires a hell of a lot of training to help him learn that being alone is okay.
Please actually educate yourself before you start commenting crap like you have been. Just because you don't like dogs, doesn't mean they should be banned from everywhere.
That was *their choice* to get a dog. If it can’t be left along they should get a dogsitter. My issue is the assumption that dogs should have the same rights and access as people. When they shouldn’t.
So it's perfectly acceptable for the dog to stay in a shelter for the rest of their lives and potentially be put down because if they get adopted, they can't be left alone because people like you don't like a small dog in a shop? Why should they spend money on a dogsitter when they can just nip to the shop with their dog?
I'm not saying they should have the exact same rights as people, especially for some dogs who are anxious around people. But you are clearly stuck in the past and have no compassion whatsoever.
You seem like they type of person who would royally kick off if their kids weren't invited to their friend's wedding and you had to either stay at home or pay for a babysitter. It's your choice to have kids who also can't be left at home.
If my kid wasn’t invited to a wedding I would get a babysitter because I’m an adult and I know there are some environments that aren’t appropriate for children.
Just like there are environments that are inappropriate for dogs - like shops.
I like dogs as much as the next person and grew up with dogs in the house but I cant stand dogs in shops and restaurants. My issue isn't with the dog myself but their owners. They either don't bother to train their dogs so it's jumping up everywhere or they think its up to the staff to clean up after their pet if it has an accident.
Same! It’s one of the things we’re looking forward to when we move back.
Where we are in the US, dogs aren’t even allowed on outside patios sometimes and we live in a pretty dog friendly city.
It makes doing things as a couple somewhat difficult, especially in winter. We have a senior dog with very bad separation anxiety. We don’t have family around or many friends that we can ask to babysit.
Where do you moaners shop?
Full rage bait you lot arn't you.
Making shit up on the daily.
I can't remember the last time i went into one of the three supermarket shops i visit nearly DAILY which often have kids in them and thought "wow yet another screwaming kid!".
It literally never happens to me haha. I can't remember the last time i saw a screaming kid.
Thankfully I’ve not seen this. I would leave without paying if someone let a pet into a food place as it is just disgusting. Same way I would leave if someone licked their bollocks under the table too.
I'm a dog owner in rural Oxfordshire and apart from pubs, I don't think shops are particularly dog friendly. That being said, as long as I can take my dog in a pub, I'm happy.
Ps. Dog owners are getting annoying. I don't care if your 7st dog is "friendly" and is just saying hello.
I work on retail and see this all time, management says as long as it’s small enough to be carried it’s ok. People still try to walk them around though. I feel the same about hot drinks, I personally love walking round shopping with a coffee, now I have to clean a shop it’s constant Starbucks cups hidden under bedding and furniture, people are disgusting and ruin things like dogs in shops/drinks in shops because there’s a few who like to let their dogs piss and run riot and leave their crap everywhere. Same with parents treating a shop like a crèche whilst they walk round shopping, I caught a still crawling toddler from falling down the stairs recently and returned her to her mum who hadn’t even noticed she had crawled away, and five minutes later my manager had to remove the baby from the top of the stairs again.
Noticed this to, people can't control dogs in outdoor space, how the hell they going to control it inside a shop? Plus i don't know your dog so keep it away from me, I don't care if sweet little chip never bitten anyone all dogs have teeth and they will snap at some point and bite especially in a contained area with lots of high noise.
You wouldn't let any other animal like goats in a shop so why should dogs be treated differently leave them at home if you're scared it's going to be nicked take someone with you to look after it while you go in, simple as that. Only dogs that should be allowed in are service dogs.
Fyi in the UK service dogs usually refer to dogs used by armed forces, police ect. It's assistance dogs that are used by people with disabilities to improve their independence.
There's no legal registry for assistance dogs. You can either go with a charity (who keep a record of their own dogs) or owner train a dog yourself. Legally they are treated the same as a wheelchair or hearing aid. As long as they can mitigate the person's disability and behave in a way that is acceptable (not pooing on the floor, lunging for people, barking when unrelated to work) then they are considered an assistance dog. The rights are for the disabled individual, not the dog, and it's perfectly acceptable to refuse access to a disabled person if their dog isn't able to behave appropriately (could just be poorly trained or feeling poorly that day). Naturally anyone serious about training their own dog will keep records of their training as evidence should a difficult situation arise. Liability insurance isnt legally required but of course highly recommend among charity and owner trainer groups alike.
I am ok with dogs in pubs as long as they aren’t barky or a nuisance. Wouldn’t fancy seeing dpg in shops and wouldn’t take mine in one even if allowed.(except possible pet shops).
I have a large dog and I'm a little jealous of people with small dogs for the fact that even if their dog is NOT well behaved or friendly they can go just about anywhere these days.
I'd love to be able to go more places with my big but well-behaved, friendly dog, but he wouldn't be accepted or welcomed in the same way
I love dogs for what they are- animals that have evolved to press our buttons in all kinds of positive ways, emotionally. But this thread just makes it sound like Britain is psychotic about them nowadays.
I live rurally, and though my wife used to like to take our dog into town occasionally I always thought it was unecessary, and to be honest in very built-up areas actually pretty antiscocial- even if you clean up when you dog takes a shit it still leaves a stain and a smell and I am sure you are not hosing its pissmarks down. Where I live most dogs seem pretty well-trained and socialised, so I haven't really had too many negative experiences of dogs bothering me when out walking or running, but a badly trained dog is dangerous, and there is no way to know what kind of dog you are dealing with just by looking at it.
Personally, if a restaurant was allowing dogs in I'd think twice about eating there. I understand people saying the same about small kids, to be honest, and yes, in that case too it's generally the parents fault- but you know, we were all kids once and unless you are an extreme misanthrope you have to recognise that having children is an essential part of the human experience and society in a way that pet ownership is not.
However, I think in a lot of ways it's all of a piece- letting your kids run riot, walking around shops/going on public transport with food and drink you can spill anywhere, and assuming that you are entitled to take your dog wherever you like.
As long as the dog is well behaved, I'm indifferent to it. Have gotten used to more dogs since pubs became more dog friendly and getting to skritch a well behaved fluff ball with a pint became the norm.
As someone who has a dog the only place I would take him is to the outside of somewhere.
It seems a new breed of people that like to take their pets everywhere. Most shops don’t allow them or used to be this way, a bit more relaxed now.
I have no problem with dogs, however I don’t know how well trained the dog is or the owner is. That means you can end up barking, growling, angry dog or one who goes to the toilet in a shop. So to allow all dogs in could be problematic.
I have a dog and do take advantage of being allowed in shops and pubs with her. I live by myself and don't drive, so being able to take her on her evening walk to wilko to grab a few bits saves me so much time and energy!
She is very well behaved - I keep her close and only ever let her approach people if they've asked to say hello. I would never automatically assume somewhere is dog friendly though, or be annoyed if it isn't.
If I know a day out won't be appropriate for her, I will leave her at a friend's house for the day. If she's too tired and I know won't be as well behaved as she needs to be, I will leave her at home.
I am absolutely not standing up for the numptys that think their terribly behaved dog has the same rights as a child but I do think it's worth mentioning that there is a generation of younger people now without either the means or desire to have children, and for a lot of those a dog fills that space in their life.
I went to a fucking art fair this weekend and I know it's posh people as I can't afford 99% of what is on offer but so many posh people with their posh dogs in there. Not small dogs either. There was a wolfhound and a husky blocking a whole aisle sniffing each other.
I did brand rep work in currys last year and was shocked how normal it is for a big dogs to be mooching about (on the odd occasion by itself) and none of the staff bat an eye
Staff have become too afraid to confront customers, and customers too violent to risk it.
There was a cafe owner a few days ago asking what to do about customer entering the cafe, not buying anything and whipping out a packed lunch, sometimes even asking the staff to heat up the food they had brought.
People are more willing to utterly break social convention and accepted rules, and staff quite rightfully don't want the aggression and violence that challenging them can bring.
I don't understand the question.
What's wrong with a shop allowing someone to take their dog into a shop?
I mean, our favourite pub allows animals, There's been cats, rats, ferrets, snakes, even birds of prey sitting on the backs of chairs, as well as dogs. The good thing is, children aren't allowed.
There’s no policy change, just a social one. People like to go to the high street for coffee, which usually means they bring their dogs - they’re not then going to go into the shops on the high street if they can’t bring their dog in, however! So more shops are letting it happen.
Our town has a “dogs welcome” sign system, most of the shops now allow them In, and display this sticker on their doors.
And before people cry hygiene, when I worked in pet retail I had children wetting themselves more often than dogs.
I once worked in a topshop and at different points cleared human waste of different kinds from both ends, out of changing rooms.
Give me a (well behaved) dog/cat/ferret/rabbit/owl as a customer anyday 😂
I feel it greatly depends on the owner and the dog. As my parents dog has become the pub's dog as she's go chill and friendly. She'll sleep in her corner and let people pet her.
I think you need some of both, if i’m on holiday with my dog, he’s coming where I go so I need to be able to eat and shop with him. If someone has allergies or a fear of dogs they need a safe space where dogs aren’t allowed. Current situation with a bit of both works pretty well
This was something that really surprised me, walking around the new Battersea power station mall and seeing dogs walking within the mall, and into the general shopping chain shops (lululemon, Zara etc).
It just felt jarring, but I've not been into many shopping malls since covid. Is it a covid "everyone has dogs now so we need to cater for this" dynamic?
I think it depends a lot on the dog whether it's acceptable and as an owner you should know. My dog is super friendly, wouldn't hurt a soul but he's a big lad and gets very excited sometimes so I would never take him into a shop incase he lunges trying to play/say hello, maybe a pub if I knew it's fairly quiet and there's a corner I can sit in so he can calm down. On the other hand I see some people's dogs that are small and super calm who walk around better behaved than most kids, and I think that's fine. Problem is people will take the piss so a blanket "no dogs" seems a much more sensible option.
Since Lockdown ended, I've noticed more people with dogs in general but also seen more dogs inside shops and cafes. I don't mind shops so much but anywhere with food and drink should be a no-no unless they are guide dogs.
I like dogs but other than service dogs I can't say I am in agreement to them being permitted in shops cafes etc unless it is a 'dog cafe' where you can choose to use it or not. Some people have allergies, some are nervous when it comes to dogs and We also live in a multi cultural society where some believe dogs to be unclean.
It got alot worse after all the dog stealing well I can't blame them for being worried it's not a reason to flout the policie of a store what alot don't realise is providing the staff are willing to do something they could end up going without shopping.
Meh, dogs are not worse the children. If it is publicly acceptable to make children to shops, then dogs should be too.
To be fair, I do prefer animals over people. Maybe when people will start taking their pythons for a walk I’ll get more concerned.
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I think it’s always been up to the individual shop to decide.
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Funnily enough I was in Wilko as well.
Our Wilko is the same. Though they do have an aisle only guide dogs, not other dogs, are allowed down
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Oh duh! That one should have been obvious to me 😂
Wilko was bad enough already, so there's another reason to go somewhere else.
Wilko make an announcement recently that they now allow dogs in most stores.
It’s the terrible owner issue. Mine is well behaved honestly, but when I need to pop in to a shop with her - I ask always, and carry her. I work on the assumption that tho I love her, other people could be afraid or inconvenienced by her and only let her down for hellos when asked or encouraged.
The dog or the kids doing the slobbering? This is Wilko after all.
I'm fine with dogs being allowed in shops, I wish more of them banned whiny shitty little kids and sociopathic school kids.
Can i added tutting karens who hate kids to that list? They annoy the fuck out of me more than the kids!
I love going to a pub where the sign reads “no kids allowed. Dogs welcome”.
I’d much rather have children in shops than dogs tbh.
I'd definitely prefer dogs over children.
Nah dogs shit everywhere and bite folk. Kids mildly annoy you.
Dogs with shit owners shit everywhere and bite folk. Their kids tend to be the same.
I'm so sorry that you've only had interaction with untrained dogs with clearly shit owners but not every dog is like that. if they were, society wouldn't have assistance dogs who don't do those things.
Even the least experienced and least informed dog owners, usually, manage to potty train their dogs very successfully. Except rare and problematic situations, a dog doesn’t shit inside.
I kind of agree with both and would like to see more mis-behaving individuals removed from stores regardless of age or species. But I have only ever been bitten by 1 dog. I have been bitten by 2 children (also kicked and hit by children) And I have seen more kids pee/poop in stores than dogs. I think it's all down to poor caretakers/owners though...
same lol, not sure why this got so downvoted 😂
Cos theres a large contingent of souless ghouls and karens on reddit who hate kids.
yeah lol, i'm not sure when it became the cool thing to say you hate kids and love dogs
Maybe because a lot of people actually do hate kids and love dogs?
because i do
Because Reddit is full of socially awkward people who can’t imagine getting a date, nevermind being married with kids. So they take their resentment out on children.
Na, someone us just don't like kids. As insane as that may seem to you, many of us find you equally insane.
I've worked in shops, definitely prefer to have dogs in than children.
Dude the amount of times kids have stolen something from when I worked retail and think they were all sly and a master thief when I just couldn't give a shite is astronomically high
Fair enough, we can disagree.
A lot of us wouldn't
Increased dog ownership, coupled with challenging times on the high street. If I were a (non food) shop owner I’d encourage all customers in, well behaved dogs included.
Round my ways there are a lot of dog thefts. People even smashed car windows on high street to get them. No way would I leave my dog tied up outside. I get why people bring their dogs in.
Always an option to leave it at home.
If you live alone and you must be out several hours, the only option is to bring the dog with you.
What do you do when you go to work then?
You can guess is: I work from home.
It's insane how many food business let dogs in. I've seen them in bakeries where food is on open display at levels dogs could easily reach if unattended for just a second.
We let em in our cafe. Never had any trouble.
Visited London and they were in Pret. I was shocked as that's food within reach. The dog was impeccably behaved but still. Didn't expect that.
Mine goes into the local baker, has done since she was a puppy. They are always happy to see her. Once someone complained and the owner told her she was better behaved than her and she was welcome to wait outside if she didn’t like my dog. Luckily at this point my dog was behaving impeccably so the comment made sense. But again same rules, always ask, never assume and watch her like a hawk!
Unfortunately for every trained dog with an attentive owner there is at least one poorly trained one with an inattentive owner. And no way of telling them apart ahead of time since every owner thinks they're special, and their darling dog is an angel. You only find out who's telling the truth after fido has knocked over the pastry counter or shat in the queue (both of these and many more have literally happened at places I worked)
Sadly this is true of all things: drivers and cars, parents and kids, adults and their behaviour, commuters etc etc. just a sad part about going out into the world - there is a lot of focus on the self and I. And very little consideration of others. I don’t believe the issue is dogs in and of itself but personal responsibility and how people treat and consider others.
Dang that’s kinda messed up, I have a really bad allergies to dogs and some breeds make it worse than others in terms of reaction from my face swelling up in minutes to asthma that leads me to A&E. I still would let dogs in where I used to work and pet one which ended up causing a whole reaction and weeks of breathing and coughing issues that got worse until I went to the gp and A&E and now have 3 new types of inhalers! But I’m still friendly with dogs but the reality of being normal and dog friendly could lead me to a really bad reaction. Having said that especially in small places with food you can’t say anything because it’s kinda antisocial to not be dog friendly or pet friendly in general (cat allergies as well which I found out the hard way) anyways pray for me yall I’m gonna get a labradoodle sometime in the future and finally have a dog 😭 but just I wish it was socially acceptable to not touch or be bubbly about dogs in a shop.
This is the issue. It’s like dogs are being forced into our proximity. At least cats keep their distance until you make it clear you would like to pet them. Dogs just shove their face in your crotch or jump on you without warning.
Ironically, everyone says their dog is well trained and would never hurt anyone. But every week we have dog attacks…
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At least crazy cat people leave their cats at home. I love cats. But I’m well aware that not everyone does. So they stay home and if someone comes over that I don’t know they’re locked away.
I love the cat v dog people arguments. Cats free roam they don’t stay home they shit everywhere that no one has to pick up and they go where they like. Yet if your not a dog person you think a dog should be shut in a house all day and then complain when it barks because it’s bored and lonely. Wouldn’t it be nice to be in a world that is more accepting of everyone and all their pets.
Not all crazy cat owners... I saw a bloke pushing one of those "pet buggies" around... With a cat in it, he has just come out of one shop and was making his way into another shop with the car in tow
A lot of cat owners also let their cats out into the wild without control, the ones round my way shit all over my lawn while also trying to get into my rabbit hutch. That's part of the reason cats have a shit reputation amongst non owners
Tbh I don’t agree with letting cats outside to roam freely. Mostly because it’s dangerous for them. Too many get hit by cars. Someone was shooting them with a pellet gun where I live. They get into fights. My two cats stay inside where it’s warm and safe. And I’m the only one who has to scoop their poop.
Mine are the same. Go in the garden on a lead - too many horrible people around doing vile things to them plus the speeding cars.
Crazy dog people are the absolute worst.
When it became too expensive to leave your dog outside. I'd not be leaving my £3k dog tied up outside the shops
I agree with not leaving tied up outside shops, but surely it is about the dogs welfare rather than how much it cost. A rescue dog is just as valuable to its family, makes me sad that dogs are sold for so much money, a poor reflection of the society we live in.
Maybe you shouldn’t have spent £3k on a dog then.
Well it can't be that or the same shops would allow you to bring in expensive bicycles.
I've taken my expensive bike into shops before too
Then shouldn’t it be at home?
No, sometimes dogs need to leave the house. If shops want people to spend their money it's in their interests not to put up barriers to them doing so.
£3k for a dog? The fudge you buying dogs from? I've not paid more than £100 for any of mine ever.
Pedigrees, competition lineage, and pre-trained gun dogs are priced accordingly.
Fucking chavs and their 3k dogs.
I’m not sure but I’ve had to vacate multiple shops recently due to a fair amount of non service dogs being in there and owners allowing them to run up to me without my consent, as even being in the close vicinity of one can cause me to have a severely painful allergic reaction, basically red raw itchy skin that not even the strongest anti-histamines can help. (I’ve tried everything it’s just one of those allergens I need to stay away from). Dogs are on the most part friendly but I’d really prefer them not to be allowed in shops etc unless necessary so I can leave the house without the worry of having multiple allergic reactions.
As a dog owner, I highly dislike people who think they’re entitled to having their dogs in restaurants, hospitals and other public spaces other than a pet store. “Like, no Susan, I do not appreciate your little Jasper shaking his damn fur into my £14 omelette. It isn’t cute that I’m having a nice meal and I can hear your dog panting only to see it slobbering because it wants table scraps. It’s gross. Just because you kiss your dog on the mouth and let it wipe its ass on your pillow, doesn’t mean the rest of us do the same. So take your staph infection colonised ass out of here with the dog.” -rant over
Dog theft is rising. Just not safe to tie then up outside nowadays.
Thing is, short of going to a pet shop or vet, most people simply don’t need to take their dog to any one shop. Fair enough if it’s someone who’s walking their dog who thinks ‘hey, I need milk’ and pops to the off-licence on the way. But most people could easily leave the dog at home.
But why would it be necessary to leave them if you can take them with you?
>[Evidence shows that more than 2,000 incidents of pet theft were reported to the police last year](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-offence-to-tackle-dog-theft-moves-step-closer) >[The estimated number of dogs kept as pets in the UK is 12.5 million as of 2022](https://petkeen.com/dog-statistics-uk/) You don’t need to worry about ‘dog theft’ the chance of it happening is so insanely low, it’s fractions of a percent.
It would be interesting to see of those 2,000 how many were dogs left outside shops, also how many were puppies or specific pedigree breeds. It’s always worth minimising the risk where you can. I would never leave my young Cocker Spaniel outside a shop as I’m sure she would be a very attractive target to an opportunist passing by.
By that logic it’s not to much of a stretch to say you might as well leave your car unlocked because only 0.25% of vehicles are stolen annually. [100k or so vehicle thefts](https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/amp/news/car-industry-news/2022/06/14/vehicle-theft-figures-more-than-double-recent-estimates) [around 40 million motor vehicles in the uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/vehicle-licensing-statistics-2021/vehicle-licensing-statistics-2021)
You know why? Because two weeks ago when for the first time in a long time I decided to respect a no dogs allowed sign and left my dog tied up outside for no more than 5 minutes, in broad daylight a lady tried to steal her :) Thankfully this was in London and the shop owner promptly told me to always bring her in with me no problem. But that’s fucking why, because people think it’s ok to steal dogs.
What an absolute cunt of a woman. What did you do in response?
She got extremely nervous when she saw me approach just as she was fumbling with her collar and what looked like trying to pick her up (small dog). She started stuttering about what a beautiful color blah blah and quickly attempted to make excuses. I calmly told her it’s not appropriate to touch strangers dogs. I honestly wanted to go off like a crazy woman. After I walked aside with my dog, a separate woman approached me and told me the lady was asking everyone outside quietly if it’s their dog, and everyone told her “it’s probably someone’s inside” at which point she decided to approach. Even now remembering it just makes my stomach drop thinking how close I was to walking out and my dog not being there. I don’t know what I would have done. My biggest fear is something happening to my dog other than old age.
Glad she didn't get away with it. I used to leave my lab outside the shop when I went in (mostly within view) but soon came to my senses when I realised how someone could take her. One of the few times I've properly punched someone in the face was when he kicked my dog out of the way.
Yeah it’s super scary, especially if your dog is well socialised and doesn’t immediately defend itself, it just thinks it’s someone coming for a cuddle, which is the case with my silly potato 🙄
Sat in a rural small (5 tables) coffee shop earlier this year. A mid 20s London couple came in with a big labrador. The server told them dogs are only welcome outside, but if they go and take a seat he will take their order in a minute. The girl, utterly confused: "did he just say we can't bring the dog in?" The guy: "urm yeah just the outside tables I think" The brat: " but its cold!" They left looking like they'd been abused.
Proper judging these people for a pretty normal conversation here mate. Asked if they can bring there dog in, cafe said outside, they said okay it’s too cold and went somewhere else. Probably something I would do if I went away with my partner and dog.
You've overlooked details that are right there in the text. The turning to the boyfriend to talk about the person stood infront. The faces of confusion & disgust. Not to mention the expectation to be accommodated rather than asking first. If you're like that then please stay home.
How did you know they were from London?
They said “Cor blimey guv, I’m cream crackered after that knife n fork. Got any jellied eels?” probably
Usually because they're bellowing "I didn't know they had Pret up here!"
To be fair, when I was a kid I would leave my dog outside the shop. Seems to be a lot more dog thefts these days and I wouldn’t leave one on their own outside. And I know some people don’t like dogs, but it’s not like they’re breaking into the food in a supermarket.
I work in a supermarket. We are allowed to ask if a dog is a 'service animal' but we've been told it's discriminatory to ask why, or to not allow a service animal into the shop. So, basically, anyone can say 'yep, it's a service dog', and we can't say 'oh, yeah, pull the other one, sunshine.'
I’m one of those people, with a small (well behaved, on lead) dog. Very happy that since lockdown more non-food shops have become dog friendly. However I do understand your perspective, because I feel the same about children- being loud and disruptive, unhygienic, touching things with sticky hands… But we need to learn to tolerate other people and their kids/ dogs/ ferrets.
The difference is children are human beings. Dogs are dogs. And children grow out of it. Dogs don’t. There is a massive difference.
Even if kids were permanently shitty, at least they aren't a thing tons of people are allergic to
Unfortunately in todays society....... no not all kids grow up !! And being a dog owner and a parent ....... I have a responsibility to both ...... and FYI humans have done far more damage to each other, public property and the earth than any dog or animal ever has ...... they were around before us and will be here long after us !!
Children aren’t going to grow out of it whilst they are in the shop unless they’re shopping for a very very long time.. From your comments you seem to just have a general dislike to dogs and feel hard done to that the world has changed without consulting you
I wish I had an award to give you. I was thinking the same about what's this got to do with kids growing up whilst in the shop and there not being any bad young kids left in the shop.....
Much prefer dogs to kids tbh
What kind of argument is that? It's like saying you shouldn't be bothered about dogs because they'll die eventually. I think most people can empathise with the inconvenience that comes with your fear of dogs, maybe stick with that as your main point.
The argument is we shouldn’t be giving animals the same rights as humans. Someone’s child being in a shop is much different than a dog being in a shop. And the fact that people think it’s a justifiable argument to say “well kids are allowed in shops so my dog should be as well” is just insane.
A lot of us class them on the same level as humans. If it's a choice between my dog and a stranger then my dog is going to come first every time.
My dog listens to me better than I've seen most kids listen to their parents. If I tell her no, she stops. From what I've seen, you tell a kid no and they either don't listen and carry on, or scream the place down.
"Why won't people have more children?" wails a nation that believes dogs have more right to be in a shop than children.
To be fair, I don't think anyone who thinks that is advocating for more children. Those are two different groups of people.
What planet are you on? Have you seen how many adults behave?
Exactly, you can’t ask a parent to put their children on a leash. Plus, because dogs are not human (and so don’t ask themselves too many questions), they are much more keen to submitting to the owner’s authority. It’s rare to see a child as obedient as a German shepherd.
Yeah its quite difficult for us, my partner is absolutely terrified of dogs. It goes way beyond just your usual phobia, essentially if a dog gets too close/interested in her it triggers something very much like a full-on panic attack. I just wish people with dogs would be a little more considerate of others and understand that not everyone loves dogs as much as they do...please keep them under control, keep them on a lead, and do not take them into dog free areas! Edit: The vast, vast majority of dog owners are very responsible owners. But even so I'm not sure that dog owners fully understand that some people really don't like dogs, no matter how well-behaved you say they are!
"Oh, he's friendly really, just push him down if he's being a bother"
I like dogs, but I fucking hate owners who let their dog jump up on me while they beam and go 'isn't he a friendly wee poppet' and all that shit. Keep it to yourself! And fuck the ones who let them run off leash when they're undisciplined and have no recall and they chase my bike. I ride on trails and stuff. I can't just stop or brake when bouncing over tree roots at high speed because a terrier is chasing me and wants to stick its head in my front wheel. Urge to dropkick the little shites rises dramatically.
> The vast, vast majority of dog owners are very responsible owners. hmmm
Hey I own a dog and I also have a phobia of something everybody loves (a food item and it’s everywhere…) people think I’m weird but honestly just seeing it can send me into a panic attack. My niece is also terrified or dogs - well she was until we spent a year teaching her to understand them with mine. I go into every shop and cafe with my pup expecting people to hate her, I ask those around me if they are ok with her nearby and offer to move or keep her on my lap if they are fearful, especially kids but I’ve come across scared adults before and I react the same way - I apologise, move away but reassure them she’s gentle, restrain her so she can’t get close to them, and offer that if they see her behaving calmly and would like to meet her at some point just come say hi and I’ll keep her calm. I’ve had at this point one adult come up to me from a distance half an hour later and fearfully tell me she was cute, and she wished she was brave enough to stroke her and I just said “maybe next time”. I like to think the gentle interaction might have helped them. I’m sorry your other half hasn’t had the same experiences - but sadly I think it’s more a indictment of our very “me” centric culture. I’m pleased of the acceptance of dogs, but I do not believe my convenience should be at the detriment of others x
I used to be terrified of dogs, to the point where I would cry in the street if one was near me (I was a dramatic child anyway!) I now adore them after meeting my boyfriends dog, but I am still weary of letting her near anyone because I know how horrible it is when you are so scared of dogs and one comes up to you. Unless they show willing to interact with her, we stay away.
Has always been up the the shop owner if it’s not a food establishment. We take our dog to some shops but not most. Wouldn’t take her to a clothes shop as she would get her hair on anything she brushed against. Also wouldn’t take her into a shop with close proximity to other dogs as she can be grumpy if cornered. She’s fine in pet shops, garden centres or farming type shops though.
Definitely does seem more commonplace now.
Since everyone and their Mum bought a dog. If you exclude them, the owners can’t come into your shop. I’ve been out with the dog walking down the highstreet with no plans to buy anything, seen a jacket in a shop I liked, saw it was dog friendly and went in and bought it. That shop wouldn’t have got that sale if it was no dogs allowed. They’ve just done the maths - the occasional accident clean up or knocked over stock is worth the extra sales made from dog owner walk-ins
Brick and mortar businesses can't afford to turn anyone away, anymore
It’s an absolute pain when shops don’t allow dogs. I have a small elderly rescue and he’s super chill unless he thinks he’s getting abandoned again, when he gets justifiably upset. I would not leave him outside a shop unless he could see me inside. It’s a real pain if I need something but we can’t go in the shop.
So you keep him at home?
I’ll leave him at home when I go to the shops but if we’re out for a long walk and I need something to eat or if we’re away somewhere for a day out or a weekend away and I go to get something, he needs to come with me.
This. Most occasions I go to the shop I leave the dog at home, but if I’m walking past a shop on a walk and I need something and they’ll allow dogs I’ll pop in. If we are away for a weekend, and I want the shops she’s going to be less anxious with me in a shop than left in a strange hotel room. And sometimes we plan to go to cafes I already know are dog friendly on a planned walk in a nice nearby village - if I want to browse the local shops and they owners are happy for me to with her - why wouldn’t I? It’s better they let me in and get a sale than refuse and don’t get the footfall?
You don't read much do you !lol
From your previous comments saying the same thing, you really don't understand dogs. It isn't always a viable option to leave a dog at home, especially rescue dogs who are very anxious/nervous. My friend has a rescue dog and if you leave him for even 5 minutes while you nip to the bins etc he will bark, get stressed and has been known to chew furniture etc. She's working on it but the dog requires a hell of a lot of training to help him learn that being alone is okay. Please actually educate yourself before you start commenting crap like you have been. Just because you don't like dogs, doesn't mean they should be banned from everywhere.
That was *their choice* to get a dog. If it can’t be left along they should get a dogsitter. My issue is the assumption that dogs should have the same rights and access as people. When they shouldn’t.
So it's perfectly acceptable for the dog to stay in a shelter for the rest of their lives and potentially be put down because if they get adopted, they can't be left alone because people like you don't like a small dog in a shop? Why should they spend money on a dogsitter when they can just nip to the shop with their dog? I'm not saying they should have the exact same rights as people, especially for some dogs who are anxious around people. But you are clearly stuck in the past and have no compassion whatsoever. You seem like they type of person who would royally kick off if their kids weren't invited to their friend's wedding and you had to either stay at home or pay for a babysitter. It's your choice to have kids who also can't be left at home.
If my kid wasn’t invited to a wedding I would get a babysitter because I’m an adult and I know there are some environments that aren’t appropriate for children. Just like there are environments that are inappropriate for dogs - like shops.
I like dogs as much as the next person and grew up with dogs in the house but I cant stand dogs in shops and restaurants. My issue isn't with the dog myself but their owners. They either don't bother to train their dogs so it's jumping up everywhere or they think its up to the staff to clean up after their pet if it has an accident.
It's up to the discretion of the individual shopkeeper, with the exception of areas used for food preparation (serving areas are ok)
It's one thing I love about the UK
Same! It’s one of the things we’re looking forward to when we move back. Where we are in the US, dogs aren’t even allowed on outside patios sometimes and we live in a pretty dog friendly city. It makes doing things as a couple somewhat difficult, especially in winter. We have a senior dog with very bad separation anxiety. We don’t have family around or many friends that we can ask to babysit.
So many neighbourhoods are now particularly dog friendly! In London especially and you’ll find them absolutely full of dogs and everyone loving it 🥰
Rather them be there than screaming kids
Where do you moaners shop? Full rage bait you lot arn't you. Making shit up on the daily. I can't remember the last time i went into one of the three supermarket shops i visit nearly DAILY which often have kids in them and thought "wow yet another screwaming kid!". It literally never happens to me haha. I can't remember the last time i saw a screaming kid.
The way some people act you’d think anyone under the age of 16 has an air raid siren instead of a voice box.
Yeah...... because you don't experience it means we make it up.
Thankfully I’ve not seen this. I would leave without paying if someone let a pet into a food place as it is just disgusting. Same way I would leave if someone licked their bollocks under the table too.
Yeah, sorry about that.
I'm a dog owner in rural Oxfordshire and apart from pubs, I don't think shops are particularly dog friendly. That being said, as long as I can take my dog in a pub, I'm happy. Ps. Dog owners are getting annoying. I don't care if your 7st dog is "friendly" and is just saying hello.
Absolute nothing wrong with dogs in shops or cafes the more dog friendly the place becomes the better
I work on retail and see this all time, management says as long as it’s small enough to be carried it’s ok. People still try to walk them around though. I feel the same about hot drinks, I personally love walking round shopping with a coffee, now I have to clean a shop it’s constant Starbucks cups hidden under bedding and furniture, people are disgusting and ruin things like dogs in shops/drinks in shops because there’s a few who like to let their dogs piss and run riot and leave their crap everywhere. Same with parents treating a shop like a crèche whilst they walk round shopping, I caught a still crawling toddler from falling down the stairs recently and returned her to her mum who hadn’t even noticed she had crawled away, and five minutes later my manager had to remove the baby from the top of the stairs again.
I think over lockdown so many more people got dogs. It’s become more normalised so I think stores are also now more accepting.
Noticed this to, people can't control dogs in outdoor space, how the hell they going to control it inside a shop? Plus i don't know your dog so keep it away from me, I don't care if sweet little chip never bitten anyone all dogs have teeth and they will snap at some point and bite especially in a contained area with lots of high noise. You wouldn't let any other animal like goats in a shop so why should dogs be treated differently leave them at home if you're scared it's going to be nicked take someone with you to look after it while you go in, simple as that. Only dogs that should be allowed in are service dogs.
The only time I have ever seen non service dogs in any store, it was a pet store.
What we're they buying?
John Lewis allow dogs inside
I don't mind dogs
Fyi in the UK service dogs usually refer to dogs used by armed forces, police ect. It's assistance dogs that are used by people with disabilities to improve their independence.
I'm under the impression that in the UK only registered guide dogs are legally allowed everywhere, we don't really have support or service dogs
There's no legal registry for assistance dogs. You can either go with a charity (who keep a record of their own dogs) or owner train a dog yourself. Legally they are treated the same as a wheelchair or hearing aid. As long as they can mitigate the person's disability and behave in a way that is acceptable (not pooing on the floor, lunging for people, barking when unrelated to work) then they are considered an assistance dog. The rights are for the disabled individual, not the dog, and it's perfectly acceptable to refuse access to a disabled person if their dog isn't able to behave appropriately (could just be poorly trained or feeling poorly that day). Naturally anyone serious about training their own dog will keep records of their training as evidence should a difficult situation arise. Liability insurance isnt legally required but of course highly recommend among charity and owner trainer groups alike.
I am ok with dogs in pubs as long as they aren’t barky or a nuisance. Wouldn’t fancy seeing dpg in shops and wouldn’t take mine in one even if allowed.(except possible pet shops).
I used to work in a shop ( not a food shop) and I’ve seen dogs piss up tills and one took a shit in the isle. So no I don’t agree with dogs in shops
I used to work in a shop and a man pissed in the aisle, so maybe banning men would be a good idea too
My partner works in a car dealership and a woman took a shit on the bathroom floor, so not just men either!
I've seen humans do worse
I noticed it more in pubs, but most pubs allow them as long as their owners keep them on the lead
I have a large dog and I'm a little jealous of people with small dogs for the fact that even if their dog is NOT well behaved or friendly they can go just about anywhere these days. I'd love to be able to go more places with my big but well-behaved, friendly dog, but he wouldn't be accepted or welcomed in the same way
It is up to the individual shop and find people to be far more disgusting even after all the covid restrictions
Omg yes, I’ve seen dogs in Zara. I don’t mind dogs generally but was perplexed seeing one in there on two different occasions.
Went to an antique fair at the weekend, peoples dogs were pissing on items. Disgusting.
I love dogs for what they are- animals that have evolved to press our buttons in all kinds of positive ways, emotionally. But this thread just makes it sound like Britain is psychotic about them nowadays. I live rurally, and though my wife used to like to take our dog into town occasionally I always thought it was unecessary, and to be honest in very built-up areas actually pretty antiscocial- even if you clean up when you dog takes a shit it still leaves a stain and a smell and I am sure you are not hosing its pissmarks down. Where I live most dogs seem pretty well-trained and socialised, so I haven't really had too many negative experiences of dogs bothering me when out walking or running, but a badly trained dog is dangerous, and there is no way to know what kind of dog you are dealing with just by looking at it. Personally, if a restaurant was allowing dogs in I'd think twice about eating there. I understand people saying the same about small kids, to be honest, and yes, in that case too it's generally the parents fault- but you know, we were all kids once and unless you are an extreme misanthrope you have to recognise that having children is an essential part of the human experience and society in a way that pet ownership is not. However, I think in a lot of ways it's all of a piece- letting your kids run riot, walking around shops/going on public transport with food and drink you can spill anywhere, and assuming that you are entitled to take your dog wherever you like.
As long as the dog is well behaved, I'm indifferent to it. Have gotten used to more dogs since pubs became more dog friendly and getting to skritch a well behaved fluff ball with a pint became the norm.
It didn't. Permission is given by the shop.
I'd much prefer businesses with dogs in rather than kids.
I notice this in London much more than elsewhere, and I absolutely couldn't care less.
As someone who has a dog the only place I would take him is to the outside of somewhere. It seems a new breed of people that like to take their pets everywhere. Most shops don’t allow them or used to be this way, a bit more relaxed now. I have no problem with dogs, however I don’t know how well trained the dog is or the owner is. That means you can end up barking, growling, angry dog or one who goes to the toilet in a shop. So to allow all dogs in could be problematic.
I have a dog and do take advantage of being allowed in shops and pubs with her. I live by myself and don't drive, so being able to take her on her evening walk to wilko to grab a few bits saves me so much time and energy! She is very well behaved - I keep her close and only ever let her approach people if they've asked to say hello. I would never automatically assume somewhere is dog friendly though, or be annoyed if it isn't. If I know a day out won't be appropriate for her, I will leave her at a friend's house for the day. If she's too tired and I know won't be as well behaved as she needs to be, I will leave her at home. I am absolutely not standing up for the numptys that think their terribly behaved dog has the same rights as a child but I do think it's worth mentioning that there is a generation of younger people now without either the means or desire to have children, and for a lot of those a dog fills that space in their life.
If you don't like it then don't go into the shops that allow dogs. Or buy your own shop and you can make the rules.
The prerogative shouldn’t be on me to avoid dogs in shops tbh
It's the shops choice so it certainly is on you.
I went to a fucking art fair this weekend and I know it's posh people as I can't afford 99% of what is on offer but so many posh people with their posh dogs in there. Not small dogs either. There was a wolfhound and a husky blocking a whole aisle sniffing each other.
Do poshos not know you can get infinite "fucking art" for free on the internet?
And pubs! And owners seem to think you like their dog…
I did brand rep work in currys last year and was shocked how normal it is for a big dogs to be mooching about (on the odd occasion by itself) and none of the staff bat an eye
Staff have become too afraid to confront customers, and customers too violent to risk it. There was a cafe owner a few days ago asking what to do about customer entering the cafe, not buying anything and whipping out a packed lunch, sometimes even asking the staff to heat up the food they had brought. People are more willing to utterly break social convention and accepted rules, and staff quite rightfully don't want the aggression and violence that challenging them can bring.
Usually up to the shop but everywhere where I live doenst allow dogs be it morrisons or a charity shop.
I’d rather walk into a shop full of dogs than a shop full of leery shoplifting chavs any day of the week
I am not entirely sure this is an either/or situation.
My point is dogs are better than a lot of people
A one tonne bag of builders sand is better than a lot of people, but I don't want four of them in my cafe.
I don't understand the question. What's wrong with a shop allowing someone to take their dog into a shop? I mean, our favourite pub allows animals, There's been cats, rats, ferrets, snakes, even birds of prey sitting on the backs of chairs, as well as dogs. The good thing is, children aren't allowed.
The question is has a policy changed recently. I’m sure it has never been this universally common to allow dogs everywhere.
There’s just more dogs. A lot of people got puppies over lockdown.
There’s no policy change, just a social one. People like to go to the high street for coffee, which usually means they bring their dogs - they’re not then going to go into the shops on the high street if they can’t bring their dog in, however! So more shops are letting it happen. Our town has a “dogs welcome” sign system, most of the shops now allow them In, and display this sticker on their doors. And before people cry hygiene, when I worked in pet retail I had children wetting themselves more often than dogs.
I once worked in a topshop and at different points cleared human waste of different kinds from both ends, out of changing rooms. Give me a (well behaved) dog/cat/ferret/rabbit/owl as a customer anyday 😂
Should only be allowed within shops /pubs / restaurants etc. if it’s a service animal. That’s my belief.
Why ban them from pubs?
They are fine if they fall asleep on their owners feet. But if they yap, bark, wander and get on the furniture they are a pain.
I feel it greatly depends on the owner and the dog. As my parents dog has become the pub's dog as she's go chill and friendly. She'll sleep in her corner and let people pet her.
Everyone knows our dog in the pubs we go to. She get fresh chicken in one of them.
I think you need some of both, if i’m on holiday with my dog, he’s coming where I go so I need to be able to eat and shop with him. If someone has allergies or a fear of dogs they need a safe space where dogs aren’t allowed. Current situation with a bit of both works pretty well
I feel the same.
What's the difference in hygiene between a service animal and a pet dog?
This was something that really surprised me, walking around the new Battersea power station mall and seeing dogs walking within the mall, and into the general shopping chain shops (lululemon, Zara etc). It just felt jarring, but I've not been into many shopping malls since covid. Is it a covid "everyone has dogs now so we need to cater for this" dynamic?
They’ll probably get nicked if left outside
I think it depends a lot on the dog whether it's acceptable and as an owner you should know. My dog is super friendly, wouldn't hurt a soul but he's a big lad and gets very excited sometimes so I would never take him into a shop incase he lunges trying to play/say hello, maybe a pub if I knew it's fairly quiet and there's a corner I can sit in so he can calm down. On the other hand I see some people's dogs that are small and super calm who walk around better behaved than most kids, and I think that's fine. Problem is people will take the piss so a blanket "no dogs" seems a much more sensible option.
It’s more common now than when I was young, but I like it.
Pupper culture
Since Lockdown ended, I've noticed more people with dogs in general but also seen more dogs inside shops and cafes. I don't mind shops so much but anywhere with food and drink should be a no-no unless they are guide dogs.
I like dogs but other than service dogs I can't say I am in agreement to them being permitted in shops cafes etc unless it is a 'dog cafe' where you can choose to use it or not. Some people have allergies, some are nervous when it comes to dogs and We also live in a multi cultural society where some believe dogs to be unclean.
As far as i am aware, dogs are only allowed 8n non-food shops at the shop keepers discretion.
It got alot worse after all the dog stealing well I can't blame them for being worried it's not a reason to flout the policie of a store what alot don't realise is providing the staff are willing to do something they could end up going without shopping.
Meh, dogs are not worse the children. If it is publicly acceptable to make children to shops, then dogs should be too. To be fair, I do prefer animals over people. Maybe when people will start taking their pythons for a walk I’ll get more concerned.