I don't get it...

[matese]

Cody sits the cart seat because he's a trouble maker. Germs are all over for anyone who leash walk their babies. I would LOVE to stroll through a pet store with Cody's 4 on the floor, to avoid trouble he goes in the cart. IMO the Pom owner was 100% wrong for getting mad.

[Cindy_17]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

Dogs are allowed to walk around on the ground in those public places, dropping bugs and germs they have picked up from all over everyplace.....there is NOTHING that specifies the dogs have to be immunized, so you have dogs picked up off the streets, dropping fleas and ticks, parvo germs, and God only knows what else they have been exposed to and are contaminating stores that allow strange dogs to walk all over their stores, unchecked....you do not even have any guarantee that any of those dogs have been vaccinated. They do not PRINT enough money that would entice me to allow my babies to be exposed to God only knows what, dropping all over the floors! Yes, that is right....I am a germ phobic nut, when it comes to my dogs....in my mind, allowing your dogs feet to touch the ground in one of those stores, is tantamount to allowing your human child to run his tongue all over the handle on the grocery cart, as he sits in the basket.....then you bring any and all diseases that dog has walked through and left on the floor in the store, to your home, your yard, and your home. I am not a clean freak, but I am only too aware of how diseases are spread between animals, and I do not want those diseases to contaminate my home, my yard, or my dogs.

I agree totally, I am germ-a-phobic too, both of mine are barely over 5lbs each and I simply do not want to take any chances, just my personal choice. Remember when the flu in dogs was going around last winter/spring? You just never know what they are encountering. But I don't do dog parks and the like either for reasons of fear of germs and attacks- again personal choice.

[DBlain]

Lola walks around the pet store on a leash, but we do try to avoid large dogs. I don't believe you said which dog started it. I guess if the Husky started it I would also have gone off on the man, because one should not bring aggressive dogs into places like pet stores, but then the Pom could have started it as well and if that was the case the Pom should have been held or in a cart. I truly believe most owners know how their dogs will react around other dogs so if they feel they are likely to get into it with another dog they should be contained, so I believe on of the owners were at fault and it does not automatically need to be the larger dog's owner

[Bambee]

this topic i notice is very controversial and all should respect other wishes to whom likes to walk their dog or not...

for me I prefer not walking my dog in pet stores etc. because of ALL that Yorkiemom1 said....
Bambina is always in her bag open so she can pop her head out and enjoy the view...she is almost 6 month and small..around 3.5 pounds...that's just me though!

[gemy]

As both a large and a small dog owner - I got from the original posting that the owner of the husky intervened promptly and effectively. Folks if you go into a pet store with your dogs large or small they should be short leashed for a variety of reasons - not the least of which is other dogs in the area.
My large beasties a short leashed so that they can not go out in front of me more than 6 or so inches - as is my Yorkie.

My dogs are short leashed when we pass other dogs on the sidewalk and or are in busy places. That is the smart thing to do.

In fact going to the vets office - I scope out the waiting room if I see certain large breeds in there I check in and say when the vet is ready to get us in let me know - we will wait in the car until then. Our vets offices are notorious for very small waiting rooms that give you the customer no space.

I firmly believe in giving dogs outside exercise and not to coddle the small breeds. But that is not to say not to be a little extra protective of them. I have only ever picked up my Yorkie once in all the years he showed and in all the performance sports he does. I close heel Razzle in when we walk to the dock for dock jumping - for example. I am always watching the dog participants and pretty quickly I ascertain which dogs are prey driven. In the same way for my big ones - I look to see which are dog aggressive ones. They the big ones too are short heeled into the dock area for a different reason. Cause who wants to risk a dog fight? I have to admit my big ones go absolutely crazy for dog jumping and literally want to fly up the steps to get to the dock!

I have told this story more than once here - but the only time I picked up Razzle was when a Rottie went for two of our off leash Yorkies - on a country walk. The Rottie did not see the rest of the gang and went for the free running Yorkies - prey drive. My big male - went to the end of his lead and ROARED at that Rottie. Ilona called the Yorkies back and thankfully they came. Razzle was going crazy on his lead with barking and lunging. I picked him up. It was a very tense 30 seconds or so while the Rottie eyed my big male and Magic standing his ground. Would a fight ensue? If it did I could not help as I had my Yorkie in my arms............ My big boy protected *his pack* that he had only known a day or two. He is in my avatar and at that time weighed in about 120lbs.

The very best an owner can do - is to be watchfull. To do their part with training with exercise and great food and vet care. But despite our best efforts sometimes life happens accidents happen.

[MarkFromSea]

We happen to have a pom, and really, this one should never go into a pet store where we know we will encounter any other dog in close proximity. I'm told it's in the breed. We're making headway in reducing his barking while on walks out in the open, outside, and on the trails but I really don't foresee us, him, ever going into a pet store. A responsible owner knows their dog and doesn't put them where they know they don't belong.

Knowing what little I know about poms, the OP was correct in that the pom had no business being in the pet store unless in the arms of the owner. Not in a stroller, not in the cart, not on the floor..... but IN the arms of the owner! LMAO I love my Rambo, but he is a turd! LOL

Our other two boys, yorkie and a mix, are totally fine on a leash in a pet store on the floor or in the cart. We would, however, avoid all larger dogs because I don't trust all owners to make the right decision about bringing their dogs that MAY not belong there.

[canana]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

I totally agree with this, and I am one in the camp who do not do booster shots annually. After their puppy shots I am done. Except for fosters and rescues; those have to have new shots before they come into rescue unless the previous owner had good records and they had already had shots within the previous year.

In the same vein, I always think about those parents who bring those shopping cart liners for their human babies when they go to the market. You know those cute patterned comfy looking liners they put in the child seating area of the shopping carts. Those are supposed to protect the child from germs right? I don't understand then, after they are done shopping, they go back to their car, take off the liner, throw it in the back of their car, then bring inside their home, do they take it directly straight into the washing machine? If they don't wash it after every single use, they are just bringing more germs home with them.

We never had such a thing when we were kids and we turned out fine, for the most part.

This is an interesting thread! And this is just my opinion, but I'm in the boat that my Scottie can walk wherever I let him, when he's on the leash, which includes PetSmart. He needs his exercise and I like him exposed to as many places and environments as possible so he's socialized and not afraid of places/things. Based on what I've read, I also agree that exposure builds immunity and I also don't believe in booster shots after the first year (even if you do do booster shots, they say the effects of the shots can last 3-5 years!).

Having said that, I am on full alert whenever there is another dog around big or small and make sure to protect my baby if there's any hostility between the dogs. Not to mention, Scottie is an instigator, so I usually need to be alert so that he doesn't get himself into trouble.

About germs...well Scottie is an interesting yet disgusting animal - he loves poop of any animal. I try really hard not to let him eat it, but he has. I think if I had gone the route of keeping him home with pee pads and not leash walking him, I'd be carrying him everywhere I go as well. But then, I live in a small space so I had to house train him to go outside (don't want my place to stink and he needs his exercise). But it really is a difference of opinion. I don't think there's a right or wrong. The streets are very dirty. I use dog shampoo to wash his feet every single time he gets home, which can be a pain, but necessary for my home.

Originally Posted by Jkpal

Piper likes to lead the way in pet stores and enjoys shopping--going from treat isles to fish section (I don't know, I just let her take me around). I am ever-vigilant and scoop her up if another dog is around; owners say, "Oh, don't worry, he's big, but friendly." Well, that may be true, but I don't know the owner or their dog--so who's to say? I respond by telling them that Piper doesn't like being around big dogs (and I totally get and respect that). And though stated several times in many different posts, it cannot be stressed enough, that with little canines, one simply cannot be too careful.

I've heard this so many times, "he's big, but friendly". While this may (or may not) be true, their 5 pound paw could side swipe my 5 pound yorkie at any time, so I don't let my Scottie near bigger dogs. It's just too scary what could potentially happen and I could not live with myself for not better protecting him.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by tb98rock

Exposure builds immunity. But I do agree this lady should be watching her dog. Teddy is allowed to walk but the moment I see a dog I tighten my grip on him

I used to think that way until I had to spend over $35,000.00 saving a litter of 7 babies and having my entire house and yard decontaminated professionally, and closing down my breeding business for almost 2 years while I made sure the parvo germs (that "tire kickers out looking all over town at all the itty-bitty adorable puppies" with their clothes and shoes contaminated with parvo germs, spreading them all my home and yard as well as all over town and yards and people's homes...) that were drug into my home and in/thru my yard, were completely remediated . And then of course, there was the day my son had to grab an axe handle and rush into the front yard, and beat a pit bull off the neighbors little lapsa dog....it was almost killed by that pit bull....
No, none of mine walk around in public...what they dont know, they cant miss.......and the imagined "benefits" are not worth the reality of the facts!