Views on Bringing Dogs to Stores
 

Hello all,

I just was wondering who thinks it's alright to bring dogs to stores, and who doesn't. Personally, I think it is ok if your dog is well behaved, trained, and quiet and no where near/in food stores. Today I went to the mall, and probably 15 people came up to Max saying oh he's so cute and petting him so obviously they didn't care. Many other people just pointed at his cuteness from afar :p.

It's a good thing he's friendly and loves everyone, because not one person asked if it was ok to pet him. I don't care if they pet him, though. One person pretended he smelled bad and was like people are allergic to dogs.. I didn't say anything, but he probably smelled better than her and Yorkies don't affect most people with allergies ;). She was just trying to tell me how rude it was for other people.

He does not pee or poo in the store, bark or whine or growl or bite. He heels unless it is crowded then I carry him. I do not let him jump, sniff people, or get in their faces. My mom thinks it is rude to go into stores with him, but I love him and want to bring him everywhere!

I was just wondering what other people thought. It might be a little bias because we all have little Yorkies we are obsessed with :).

Vanessa

I think it is fine as long as the store permits it and my baby is in the cart or being carried.

If the store permits it and your dog is in a carrier or stroller and is well behaved, I think it's fine. It's important to remember that not all people like dogs and some are allergic, so your dog shouldn't in any way interfere with their shopping experience.

I think how people accept pets inside stores is more geographical. I live in Illinois and hardly ever see people inside stores with dogs. But when I was in Florida there were people inside the mall with their dogs in strollers. My aunt lives in Malibu, CA and she takes hers all the time without even a blink of an eye. I have never seen anyone just walking along inside a store other than Petsmart/Petco with a dog on a leash. I take Bogey with me all the time but always inside his sling carrier and he is always a very good boy. I've even had entire conversations with employees and they didn't even know he was about a foot away from them because he is so good. I have taken him into Sallys, Joann Fabrics, Famous Footwear, Loehmans, Ulta, Target, Michaels plus pet stores and doggie boutique that I buy their food from. I have never attempted to take him into the mall though. Now Doodlebug will bark at people so he is not allowed to go into any stores except doggie store.:p Pebbles is too heavy to carry but I know she would be very good if I took her into people stores. If she liked the sling carrier I would take her but she is 11 lbs!

As for the lady that told you that people are allergic, I think I would have sneezed and said something smart about being allergic to HER!:D

well, since all of us are yorkie lovers on this site, I would think that most of us are okay with it. but Im sure there are people out there not like seeing them around in general public for valid reasons or not. its really just preference, I cannot judge.

wherever I see there is a sign on the door saying "pets not allowed", I would not even try to take my girls in. but I do take them to the mall (indoor or out) quite often with a carrier/stroller, and nobody seemed to mind that I know of. I think as long as your dog is well behaved, not causing trouble for the others, they should be allowed in stores, but when others have a different opinion, I still have to respect that and not let others nagative comments bother me!

:laugh:

One day I made a quick stop at Target with my little girl (in my tote bag) and a sales person informed me that I would have to leave because I violated the health code.....:rolleyes:

As long as the store allows it, I'd go for it.
Yes, some people are allergic but there are also people that are severely allergic to things like perfume, smoke and certain fabrics, so I don't think there is a clear dividing line. I think sometimes it is unfair to large dog owners 9although it is their choice to own these breeds) because they are less welcomed in stores like JoAnns and shoe stores, etc. Most people probably wouldn't appreciate a big dog getting hair all over them or pulling away from their owner and sniffing...

I think dogs should be allowed if they are contained...either in a carrier or stroller. Apparently an opinion not shared by most stores! I was so mad about the fall craft fairs (which are outdoor events) that had signs that said "no dogs allowed". It was one of the few activities that I had fun doing with my dogs and they are always well behaved in these situations.

I pointed out to one of the organizers of the craft fair that my dogs are cleaner than most of the kids running around here and certainly didn't touch the merchandise!

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

I have to admit, I'm a total hypocrite about this. I did not particularly like it when I lived in New York, where dogs are allowed EVERYWHERE. However, now that I own an under-socialized dog, I take him into Staples, newstands, drug stores, Starbucks, etc. He gets very excited when we approach a Starbucks, as there's always a chance of some crumbs on the floor.

Thor is only 3 lbs, and he doesn't bark in stores, and (knock on wood) has never peed in one. In all but two places, store owners always coo over him.

I do feel a little guilty, but I think it's sooooo helpful for Thor to get the experience, and I would worry about him being stolen if I left him outside. Though I guess I should use a carrier. Okay, I'm bad. I admit it.

I'm dog-sitting for a larger dog over Christmas, and I've been leaving him outside. Last night I ran indoors to get a coffee - I swear I was only inside for two minutes - and when I got back, it was like a poop bomb had gone off around this dog. I guess he just couldn't hold it. It was all over the sidewalk, the dog, and the leash. Even worse, a bouncer from a nearby bar had picked most of it, probably so the bar patrons didn't vomit when they left. The bouncer was really nice about it, but man it was bad.

Then I went into a small pet store today with both of them, and the sales people were cleaning up poop from one dog and vomit from another. I guess it's all context.

I know I took my baby is Goodys the other day, but, I did feel funny doing it, as you don't see dogs in stores down here, but, as long as there are no signs posted, and no food as mentioned above. As far as being allergic, yes, people are allergic to dogs and cats, that's why I try and have respect for those people and don't take mine out more often. I smoke, but, i wouldn't walk through any store smoking, as I respect other people. That's how dog owners should also be, showing respect!

I frequently take my dogs for an afternoon out to Barnes & Nobles, for Yoghurt, or to the outside malls. Sometimes, I use the stroller or my pet bag. Barnes & Nobles allows me to bring the dogs in wearing a harness and leash. I love introducing the Biewers to anyone who is interested.

Target is very strict about not letting dogs in because they sell food. I can certainly understand that.

take your yorkie everywhere you can!
 

It is quite true that it depends on geography, local laws, and enforcement of them. I have seen yorkies in carriers in grocery stores and no one said anything. I think the more people bring their pets into stores, the more accepted it will become. Unless there is some stupid health ordnance against it, I would recommend that you bring your yorkie with you. They hate to be alone, and if your pet is not getting in your way and you are not breaking any laws - go for it - assuming your dog is well behaved.:aimeeyork

As far as the allergy issue goes, that is not a valid concern. As another poster mentioned yorkies don’t shed, and even if they did people can be allergic to anything, its not like they are living at the store.

I flew with my first yorkie and will always remember the flight attendant yelling at me for letting pippin stick his head out of the carrier, using the stupid allergy argument; in fact he would bark his head off if I did not let him stick it out of the carrier – I tried to explain that, but this flight attendant was an idiot (the barking was much more annoying to the other passengers than letting him stick his head out for the whole flight). I recently was on a flight with a German Sheppard sitting in an exit row with no carrier at all (he was a bomb sniffing working dog and did not bother anyone, in fact many people smiled at him including me). It would be great to change people's attitudes about our pets, and you are helping to do this if you bring your pet with you.

I think as long as the store is accepting than it is fine. When I take Chloe she is always in her carrier or in the seat of the cart. I don't feel right having her walk around on a leash , I am afraid someone may step on her.

Most of the stores I go to are free standing shops (Target , Petsmart etc.) or outdoor malls . I haven't taken her all the way through an indoor mall , but have taken her into some of the stores and they have not minded.

I haven't had any bad experiences yet and haven't been asked to leave any stores, but if I was I would understand.

Unfortunately, yes, some people are allergic to yorkies. And would you want me going in to a grocery store and smoking?
Also, that flight attendant was NOT stupid, she was doing as she was told to do. Just like you working, do you do what you're told to do or ignore your boss?

They probably wouldn't of course, but we all have different opinions and everyone's choices in what they do with their dog should be respected. Personally, I think smoking is a lot more dangerous to the public than a well behaved, small dog in a store that doesn't affect anyone's health. I would never bring my dog into Target because they have Starbucks and sell food, but I did bring him into Longs Drugs which also has food so that makes me a hypocrite.. I did not bring him near the food section though.

Other people mentioned this as well, but I too feel guilty sometimes bringing him places unless it's a pet store. He loves to meet everyone and is much happier with me carrying him than being in his crate at home.

I forgot to mention, if some one abuses their dog that should not be respected, so I take back what I said about everyone's choices being respected..

Smoking is dangerous for the ones doing it and the ones that are around it that don't smoke. But, people with severe allergies to dogs(and yes, even yorkies)may like dogs, but, can not be around them. Grocery stores do NOT want dogs in stores, I know, I used to work at a grocery store. I love my dogs, but, I respect other people(as I said before), and so, they are not going to go in to a place where they're not allowed. Just as I'm one of these that does not sneak my dog in anywhere where they're not allowed.

It seems rare to find some one so allergic to dogs that they can't be in the same large store as one that doesn't normally affect people with allergies. Maybe there are more people than I think there are. I do not sneak my dog in anywhere, and the people working at the store always see him and say hi. They don't seem to care. I don't know a store that wouldn't allow him unless it had food. I should not have brought him into Longs that one time because of the food there, and I'm not going to bring him anywhere with food again.

If someone is that severely allergic, wouldn't it be an issue just walking by a dog on the street? It's not like I'm picking my dog up and rubbing him on people's faces.

I guess for me the rule of thumb is how crowded the store is and how far away we'll be from the entrace, since I would want to make sure I could get Thor out ASAP if he started misbehaving.

This might be a rationalization, but personally, I find a dog on the floor that minds its own business to be a more sanitary option than a dog that's being carried. A dog on the floor is further away from store goods and people's faces.

I guess I'm real funny about it because I saw what happened to my Uncle years ago. My mom and dad were watching my brothers cat. My Dads brother was coming for a visit and was highly allergic to cats. anyway, they wanted my uncle to come and didn't want him to know there was a cat there, so, they put that cat in the one bedroom and shut the door. My parents had a huge house(split level) and my uncle wasn't in that house more than a minute. He took his shoes off then started walking up the steps and had an allergy attack, it was terrible..I was only about 13 at the time. He said do you have a cat in this house? They had to tell him the truth, so, they ended up going out to a restaurant to eat/visit instead. If you take your dog to a store where it's allowed, hey, that's cool if the store has no problem with it, but, when there is food in that store, dogs are not allowed, so you be courteous and keep the dogs in the car or at home.

I really only take Penny into places that make it clear that pets are welcome there-- I wouldn't want to put the employees in an uncomfortable spot.

Although, several years back when I was living in Chicago, I had an extremely calm, personable pet rat. He used to ride almost everywhere on my shoulder. He went on the train with me, to stores, to the park-- I'd just plop him into my backpack and pull up the zipper when we entered an area where I thought somebody might protest his presence.

Sadly, I think my dog is a bit too large and wiggly to conceal as effectively. :D

nneessaa i dont think u hurt a thing,im sure you werent bothering anyone,just keep being as considerate ofwhere you take him as you are now and noone should have a problem,if they do i am sure you could simply walk out,its really not that big of a deal i dont think,whats the worst they can do,ask u to leave?:rolleyes:

But if your dog is in a carrier its not touching anything or anyone!

The title of this thread is bringing a DOG in to stores. As I posted earlier, I have brought Bogey into many store because he is well behaved, can fit into a sling bag and never makes a peep while out. I do not bring the other 2 because the one is too heavy for a bag and the other one barks.

Not everyone is that considerate when it comes to their dogs. The last time I was at Joann Fabric and had Bogey, they told me about a woman that brings her YORKIES into the store in a stroller. They bark and growl at everyone while she shops, the entire store was up for grabs and when the manager went over to talk to her she told her to "be careful because the little one isn't friendly". :eek: Then you also have to look at ALL DOGS not just Yorkies. What if you had a pit bull (or any other large dog) and wanted to walk through the mall with it just like you are with your little yorkie? Would you have a problem with this? The place would turn into a zoo if everyone were to bring their dogs into wherever they wanted. We all know what would happen, every irresponsible pet owner would drag their out of control dog to the mall. Pretty soon we would hear on the news about someone being attacked at the local Walmart because a customer brought a dog into the store and there was a fight over the last box of cookies in aisle 6:p.


I agree that yorkies do not cause a lot of allergy problems BUT what about other dogs that are very much the cause of allergies? Let's not talk about cats because before long the cat lovers would want to bring their cats. Then I wouldn't be able to go to the mall because I am so allergic that I would be hauled out in an ambulance. :eek::p

So I have to say, as much as I love taking Bogey with me I am always very careful where I take him. You can't even say they could set a weight limit or size limit because then it would turn into discrimination again dog size or breed. :rolleyes:

Dogs do mark in public and that is probably the reason that they are no longer allowed at the craft show that was mentioned. I would not be happy if someone was not paying attention to their pet and it lifted its leg on my antique or craft. Just think about how much a lab would pee if it decided it wanted to mark on the antique dresser. Then there are the irresponsible people who do not clean up after their pets. Doberman poop is about the size of a yorkie:p But I am sure that is exactly why they no longer allow pets. There are just too many people that think they do not need to be courteous of others and ruin it for everyone who is very responsible.

I don't want everyone to think I am being mean or trying to disagree about bringing our yorkies into the store because believe me I would love to take mine lil Bogey into even more stores. But I just know what would happen with so many irresponsible pet owners in this world. Where would they draw the line? Would a cocker spanial that weighs 20 lb be acceptable to bring into the store if he owner stuffed it into a carrier? You know what would happen, someone would show up with their 40 lb dog and swear up and down it should be allowed in since Scruffy only weight 20 lb. :rolleyes:

The cat was in a completely different room as her uncle. He wasn't touching it either.

I agree. I don't think they belong anywhere near food, and I also think that they should be confined in some way, either in your arms or in a carrier. To have a dog walking in a leash in the middle of the mall is a bit inappropriate (not to mention probably against their rules lol).

I never even thought about the food center in my Target. The manager of that Target has seen us a couple of times and he has never said anything to us . I don't think I would have considered doing it but I saw a lady with her dog in the back of the cart , and no one said anything to her, so I just made an assumption about taking a small dog in that store. It never occurred to me it was a health issue ( although I have never taken her to that part of the Target, just really through the pet and home goods isles ) but I can see now why it would be. I most likely will not take her to Target now , just in case . I don't want to cause an issue with anyone.

As for the size issue . My friend has bull mastiffs and while I don't have a problem with small dogs in a store I would have a problem with big ones.That is mainly based on my own personal fear of big dogs , but also on the big mess they could leave behind. I know I am being very hypercritical about the situation..It know isn't fair to be O.K. with the small dog and not O.K. with the bigger ones , but I feel it's easier to accept a small one easier based on fear ( irrational or not) of being bite or jumped on by a larger dog vs a smaller one being carried. Like I said ...I know that is hypercritical :confused:

I pretty much take Suri with me everywhere. She usually sleeps in my coat while I am out. Today we had a lovely evening dinner, a walk in the park and then a movie. After we stopped by Walmart to pick up some cold medicine for myself, a employee saw her moving and asked to see what was under there so I did, and she cuddled her. (she was on a break). I think it depends on situations, I don't push my pup in anyones face, so pretty much out of sight out of mind. I of course would never allow her to walk around or be out and about, but out here everyone is pretty accepting. (as long as you are holding them) I had one lady ask me once who let you in with that dog, thank goodness the manager heard and said me! That was the end of that.