I understand both sides. I look at Jackson as my child and he goes almost everywhere with me that he can. He's bigger at 12lbs so anywhere that he can be on a leash and walk himself he goes. :) I can carry him but only for so long! I don't really see how it would be a problem if you bring your dog into a store with shopping carts and let your dog ride in the cart but a lot of places like Target, etc won't allow it.

I do agree that it's difficult because how can you tell one person they can't bring their Great Dane inside but you can bring your Yorkie? Great Danes are also peoples "children" and I don't think it's necessarily fair to allow some and not others when both can be equally behaved. So I think it's a tough call, hence why most places don't allow them.

I do agree that I've seen kids that act WAY worse than Jackson ever would. I also must say I get grossed out when I see a bunch of kids with snot running down their noses, coughing, etc and then I always end up getting sick :rolleyes: A dog could never get me sick like that! LOL.

I don't know, like I said... I see both sides.

Easily mandated eh? I can easily pick up my 50 lb hound and control her. Who's to judge if a dog is being controlled or if it was distrubing someone? Someone with an extreme fear of dogs may be distrubed just be the dog being there? Should it therefor be removed. The whole issue is MORE easily avoided by just not allowing them in the first place, thus eliminating any gray area and only displeasing a very small portion of society. :)

Oh I don't think you're crazy...I know lots of people who's dogs ARE "their kids." I just disagree with your logic that dogs and humans are "equal" and therefore should have equal rights in society. But hey, we all have different opinions. :)

Well, I do live in Tampa, which is only an hour from Disney!!! :D I will be your pup sitter!!

Again...that logic would only work if children/humans and dogs were veiwed as equals. And despite what you they aren't per society's standards. Banning all children from public places? Yeah, right? (And realisitcally, they likely never will be.) People say, "well if you don't like the dog, you can leave." The same rule goes--if you don't like the kid, you have the choice to leave.

I agree with you though. I would be embarassed as a parent to take my child out in public if I couldn't control them. And actually, I have left establishements more than once because of a kid I found annoying.

I don't get upset when people have different opinions. Sometimes, I enjoy those converstations best and learn something when I see it from someone else's point of view. :)

I agree with you 100%. I see both sides to this. Kaji is my baby boy and I love him more than I've loved anything. I know he is cleaner than most people out there. But.... if I were to see someone's dog sitting in a cart in the meat section of a grocery store sniffing at the meats while his/her owner's back is turned, you can bet I'd be grossed out. How do I know their dog is clean? I know Kaji is clean and well mannered, but how does everyone else know?

It reminds me of my mom's cousin's wedding. She had a more traditional American wedding (RSVP, no kids) and that pissed the entire family. We're Mexican and in a traditional Mexican wedding there are no seating charts!!! :p About half of my relatives didn't go to the reception because no kids were allowed. My brothers and I were because we had a rep for being well behaved (and I was 15 ;)) which made many more people very mad. If rules were made for some and not for others, you stand a chance at making people very upset.

And as a side note, I've never been bitten by a dog, big or small, but I've been bitten by a kid. I even asked him why and it was because he liked me. I guess that's what I get for working with kindergarteners!

If you can fit your fifty pound dog in a purse, more power to you. I think there's a fairly obvious difference between a dog that fits in a shoulder bag and a Great Dane, and this common sense can be applied to retail establishments.

In fact, this common sense IS often applied to retail establishments. Many apartment buildings only allow dogs weighing < 20 lbs, and even some grocery stores allow dogs as long as they are in a carrier. So it's in practice now in many places. Things don't have the stay the way they are just because, well, that's the way they are!

:thumbup::thumbup:
AGREE once again!

Its not like you have to make rules that say NO DOGS, NO KIDS!

Just tell ppl not to be idiots and use their better judgement, and follow the rules that a specific retail store has set up. If that judgement is poor and the rules are not within their guidelines, then kick them out.

I would hope that someone who had their dog there wouldnt be letting their dog close enough to meat that they would be able to "sniff" it. I keep Roxy on her leash in the kids seat, and she could never reach the meat.

Same with a kid. I dont want to see a snotty nosed kid picking up my future meat product. lol. I see them all the time poking at the meat under the celaphane. It makes me insane.

This is what I think.

Make the laws that you must have proof for all shots... children or dogs... Your animals and kids must be maintained, clean, and act properly according to store standards. If they are not, they will be asked to leave the property. Child & Family, or Dog & Owner.

Doesnt matter if its a dog or a child. If they dont abide by the rules, they need to be escorted out.

Personally how good would a dinner be if everyone brought their pets and had them sitting and spit dripping while your eating dinner.

I get frustrated too because it's hard to get someone to watch 3 dogs but I don't think bringing dogs to church or any where that serves food would ever be a good idea.

LOL...that's already the case. Stores already have the legal right to ask you to remove your kids if they are being disruptive and destructive. Individual stores have the right to decide whether or not they allow dogs in--most apparently choose not to, for good reason. From the stores' standpoint, cons of allowing dogs would far outweigh the pros. And, those who are strongly in favor of it are a very small minority, so I don't see standards changing anytime soon. (Thankfully.)

Dogs are DOGS. That will never change. You can dress up, pretend or treat them like a baby. Either way they will always be an animal a dog. I love animals, I love dogs. I love my dogs and treat them like babies but they aren't babies and it would look so silly if everyone was allowed to bring their dogs EVERY where their kids can go.

No offence I hope no one takes this the wrong way because I truly love my dogs like they are my babies but the reality is they are NOT my real children and shouldn't be compared to children. Yes they are family and companions but children and dogs are two different things and you don't compare the two.

I agree there. I don't buy the prepackaged meats for that same reason. I can't stand the thought of anyone poking it for fun! But the problem is not everyone contains their dogs the same way we do. The same way not all parents contain their children. I know a lot of people that don't even do basic obedience with their dogs, and then they're amazed at how well behaved Kaji is compared to their furkids. To me it's common sense and one of the responsibilities of being a pet owner to teach our pups "right from wrong" so to speak. Same with parents. But your suggestion sounds a little to "big brother." It just wouldn't happen, way to much regulation and little freedom. Then there is the question of those parents to skin and furbabies that don't vaccinate because of allergic reactions, or because they fear that the mandated vaccinations are way to much and fear over vaccinations can also cause problems. Are those people just to sit at home and never go out because they don't meet the rules?

LOL...but that's not what you said, now is it? You said "picked up and controlled." How well would that go over? "NEW STORE POLICY: Only dogs in purses allowed." The typical dogs-are-accesories-mind-set that we try to educate people against. All the more motivation for millers to keep pumping out smaller and smaller dog.:thumbdown But hey, if you think America can be trusted to use their "common sense" here...well, good luck with that!

My personal opinion is to stick with pleases the masses and just don't allow them, period. But that's just me. :)

Ive got to mention the one place we holidayed in England called the Isle of Wight which near where we stayed with Tia the pubs allowed dogs and not kids!When we were in there a family walked in and were turned away as they had toddlers, now they know how we feel with our dogs. It was great.Mobile phones wern't allowed either lol They took it back to the old times where dogs were always allowed in pubs , food or not.Tia laid right next to me and hubby while we tucked into juicy steaks. Needless to say we will return.:)

This is what we do. We do camp alot with horses and our two dogs. When we go to family get togethers out of state the trailer goes with us along with motorcycles then and both dogs. We park it in family's yard and hook up. That way we have our own bed and private area. Home away from home.:D

That IS the policy in many stores.

Also, I'm not sure that the "masses" are really that anti-dog, or that dog lovers are a "tiny" minority. I think a lot of places are the rule in place to comply with outdated laws on where animals are allowed.

Going on vacation with your pets isn't hard if you plan it. A couple years ago we went on vacation with our dogs. We drove (8 hours) and stopped at many dog friendly spots on the way, from hiking to drive in movies. We camped, and spent lots of time at the dog beach. We would get take out and eat at a park instead of dining in. Sure there was some things we couldn't do because we couldn't take our dogs, but an easy suggestion would be to drop them off at a local puppy daycare for the day.

:bravo: I would love that! Maybe it's because my kids are grown and on their own.

I never said that the majority of society was "anti-dog" or that those who love dogs were a minority. I was referring to those who are very strongly opposed to dogs not being allowed any and everywhere and who devote a large enough portion of their time lobbying for change in average societal rules and health regulations. :) It may be the case in many stores where you live, but it certainly isn't the case in this region.

I have a lamaze baby sling that I put Tessa in when I want to go into certain stores that do not allow dogs!! (Cause its for babies it has mesh areas so she gets air) She just cuddles down in it and sleeps mostly-once in a while she will stick her head out to see where we are but usually if I just keep my hand in the sling she is fine! Have even heard comments about me carrying a baby in the sling!!

And bars not allowing minors inside is a shock or outside the norm because....?:confused:

I used to be amazed to see comments and run accross attitudes like this, but nothing surprises me anymore.:rolleyes: (And that's not something limited to just this forum and subject.) Kind of like people who light up a cigarette in a no smoking section...or passing traffic in an emergency lane...

I used to be amazed to see comments and run accross attitudes like this, but nothing surprises me anymore.:rolleyes: (And that's not something limited to just this forum and subject.) Kind of like people who light up a cigarette in a no smoking section...or passing traffic in an emergency lane..

Which means what????? That I have an attitude???????????????

Well, technically, we all have attitudes. :p I could have just as easily said 'outlook' or a various of other phrases instead. What I meant was, people who don't feel that rules and guidelines don't apply to them or who don't adhere to them, for whatever reason. That is what you claimed to do, is it not?

OK i have got to put my two cents in. why is it okay for a store to sell animal things and then not let you have your animal in the store. i feel like if the dog is behaved, why not? the manager at our local dollar tree lets us bring our pets in any pet but once i was there and Gatsby had to pee and he started crying and she asked me to hurry up and leave. i was not upset i was disturbing other shoppers. i paid and left. i have seen people take large dogs on leaches into furniture stores and say they have to sleep in the bed to or they sit on the couch a local store keeps a sheet so your pet can test the furniture however some people are very allergic to dogs and being in a store full of them would be hell but Yorkies are hypoallergenic so if the person woth a terrible allergy dose not touch your dog they should be fine the same with the other hypoallergenic breeds i dont see why contained dogs should not be allowed in non food serving establishments no matter how clean your pet is and how much you love them it grosses people out not me but most people i think if your pet is quiet and not caussing a fuss then they should let it go

Popular myth, but good for marketing purposes. Yorkies are non-shedding, but still have dander, which is typically what causes allergy issues. No dog is truly, completely hypoallergenic.

Hypoallergenic Dogs Myth or Reality

Sunshine's Express
 

I agree with almost all of your post! lol...

The end part though about the eating, not that I dont agree... but... I see a lot of gross disgusting kids doing gross things at restaurants. Some ppl I cant even watch eat at restaurants without getting sick to my stomach.

These ppl arent told not to come in... but sometimes they should be. Why dont they kick out the people with the kids throwing food? Touching the salad bars? Spitting their food out.... ugh.

I really used to think I wanted kids, but the more I see from other ppls kids, the more I think about sticking with my furbabies.

Then again, my niece and nephew are only bad with their mother... and not me. So it just goes to show you, that with proper discipline, that kids wont act like that. I see perfectly well behaved children, and then I see the terrors.

But... almost all dogs I meet are pretty well behaved... ;)

I know it will never change... and I hate that. But I have learned to deal with it... and I still push the envelope of where I take them when I can.

I just get so irritated that ppl think that its acceptable to take their children out like that, while my poor Roxy has to sit home. If their dirty, poorly behaved kids would just stay home with a sitter, I wouldnt have an argument... lol.

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Stores want their establishments to be as pleasant as possible for its shoppers. Some people are allergic, some are frightened even by little dogs, some just don't like them, period. A pet free environment is the most pleasant for the majority of people.

I love dogs, but certainly wouldn't want to find dog hair on a new sweater I had just bought. I would also be pretty annoyed if two dogs in strollers or carriers started barking and challenging one another while I was shopping. I'd hate to be the store manager who had to police doggie etiquette all day or make the call which dogs were allowed and which were not. Imagine the time you would waste arguing with someone about why their dog was being turned away?

If the dog owners I meet in my neighbor are any example, some are absolutely clueless about good doggie manners. They let their dog jump on people, bark and try to provoke other dogs, don't clean up after them, etc. I hate to say it, but it is usually the little dogs who have the worse manners.

I love dogs too and was quite turned off when some lady walked her medium sized dog into the deli/bakery and right up to the counter to get some deli meat. Her dog was dirty too. I think in a stroller/bag in public shopping areas is fine, but NOT anywhere where there is food! If they were all cute little yorkies then fine, but we have to all abide by the same rules.