I have to admit, before my Yorkies, I didn't understand people who took their dogs everywhere. I thought it was funny. Now I am one of those people! My father is just as bad.
We don't want to leave the dogs home alone, and we know how much Max and Teddy *love* going places.
Our Home Depot has always had a "No Dogs" sign, but I used to take Max in with me. If I have both dogs, I go to Lowes. We go there to walk around on rainy days. Our Lowes is really quiet in the morning.
Our post office kicked me out, however, when I had Max in my arms.
Most of the people there don't care, but one woman does.
Relative to the kids -- my complaint is only when the parent makes no effort to stop an undesirable behavior. Worse is when the parent encourages it, like 'scream singing' in cavernous WalMart. Ouch, my ears. Or running around, knocking over my geriatric dad. I have nephews and helped take care of them, so I know what a chore it is to wrangle 4 toddlers at one time. It is possible.