I'm seeing them all of the time now, chilling in carts while their owners shop. Small to medium sized. I asked an employee and she said they are fine with it.
When did this become socially acceptable? Isn't that a bit of a liability with allergies, bites, etc? Fleas? Clean up on aisle 5?
Post by Overthemoon on Aug 30, 2012 10:05:28 GMT -5
I have seen them in regular Targets (small dogs) but I don't see them in Super Targets, maybe they have to be more strict if they are selling groceries?
I remember when we did the Petsmart dog training classes, our instructor told us to take our dog everywhere that we could to help socialize him and teach him to behave in public, and she rattled off a list of stores that were dog-friendly. I don't remember Target being on the list at the time (this was several years ago), but she did say Home Depot was usually pretty tolerant of it. I never took our dog anywhere though, I feel like it's kind of rude to take your dog out like that. Unless it's Petsmart or some other pet store.
Unless they are service dogs, I don't think they should be allowed in stores, regardless of how cute, small and fluffy Mr. Nibbles is.
I'm almost certain our Target has a sign saying service dogs only. I hate people who think everyone loves their fluffy (or their obnoxious kid) as much as they do.
Dogs don't bother me so if there was one in Lowe's or HD or some other non-food place it wouldn't bother me. But I don't want your dog around my food. That is so.gross.
I don't know about Target in particular but people's level of WTF about dogs in public places varies a lot by state. I used to work for a website that specialized in dog-friendly areas and in places like Florida you can take them shopping, to restaurants (by law outside but there are some places don't don't enforce it) museums, aquariums - you name it. In like North Dakota if you ask if a store or attraction is dog-friendly people are like "Why would it need to be?"
Our Target is in a plaza with a Petsmart and a Home Depot and dogs are allowed in both of those stores, but Target is very strict on no dogs because they have food. I have seen dogs in the mall all of a sudden. I don't get it. I know my dog would much rather be home on the couch than stuffed in my bag in the mall.
Post by litebright on Aug 30, 2012 10:48:19 GMT -5
I've seen dogs in our local Target at least twice. I thought it was a Denver-area thing; people are nuts about their dogs around here. People bring dogs to the mall. I wish somebody would tell them to knock it off.
Home Depot & Lowe's are FULL of dogs. I went there recently with DD1 and she wanted to pet a little fluffy dog -- luckily she listened when I told her to stay away & that we ask first, because the owner was immediately like, "He bites! He bites!" And the dog did start going nuts and snapped at an adult who was standing in line next to the owner. WTF, why would you bring your bad-tempered biter out where he's going to be in close quarters with other people?
Post by sawyerthedestroyer on Aug 30, 2012 10:57:36 GMT -5
Ive never seen a dog in Target. Our HD has a big sign that says no dogs (except service animals).
I did see some genius bring their dog up to the buffet at CiCi's Pizza once and made a huge scene when the manager told her she couldn't do that because it was unsanitary.
With each of my dogs I've had to sneak them into a store when they were little puppies. I put them in a big tote bag and they would generally just chill at the bottom. Except when I took my one stinker (see sig) to the grocery store and he would not stay down in the bag. I did feel weird since it was a grocery store, and I was in and out in 5 minutes.
I've seen dogs in our local Target at least twice. I thought it was a Denver-area thing; people are nuts about their dogs around here. People bring dogs to the mall. I wish somebody would tell them to knock it off.
Home Depot & Lowe's are FULL of dogs. I went there recently with DD1 and she wanted to pet a little fluffy dog -- luckily she listened when I told her to stay away & that we ask first, because the owner was immediately like, "He bites! He bites!" And the dog did start going nuts and snapped at an adult who was standing in line next to the owner. WTF, why would you bring your bad-tempered biter out where he's going to be in close quarters with other people?
I cannot for life of me figure out what is wrong with people that do this. My MIL took her evil dog to the pet store and the dog bit somebody. Now the woman who got bit was an idiot because my MIL told her the dog wasn't friendly and the lady still went in to pet her. But my MIL also knew the dog was an asshole so why take the risk. Kids run up and fall on my dog all the time because he is big and fluffy. My dog wouldn't hurt a fly and 90% of the time the parents are very good about pulling the kid back and correcting them about asking to pet, etc. but it doesn't mean that sometimes they don't get to the dog first because kids are quick. If my dog weren't friendly I would never allow him to be in a situation that set him up for failure like taking him to Home Depot where there are tons of people.
When I lived in center city Philadelphia, and walked everywhere, I took my dog a lot of places. Not Target. But outdoor cafes, some stores if acceptable, etc. It was normal there. I never ever do it in the burbs though. I'm not going to load my dog into a car to take her to a store. In the city it was more of a matter of running a quick errand while out on a walk with her.
There are a lot of restaurants in my city who allow dogs in their outdoor seating. And obviously pet stores, but Target?
I love my dog. She comes a lot of places with us but she has no desire to run errands with me. Nor would I want to have to worry about her while I'm shopping. Weird.
Last time I went to Ikea in Atlanta there was a dog in the store, it wasn't even in a cart or being held, it was on a leash. I see it from time to time in stores where I live, it's usually old ladies with their little ankle biters. I don't know why employees don't say anything to them.
I have seen this in many stores - including the Christmas Tree Shop, Target, etc.
It's annoying. It's always those little purse dogs that people seem to think aren't actually dogs for some reason. I would love to see the faces of people if I had marched my 90 lb former dog into a store. Or my current 50 lb dog.
Post by mrs.jacinthe on Aug 30, 2012 11:28:35 GMT -5
I take our medium-size dog to Home Depot sometimes. Never as a "oh, boy! Doggus, let's go to home depot!" thing though ... usually I'm out with her at the vet/dog park/pet food store and then just stop at HD on the way home, since we live out in the sticks and it would take an extra 45 minutes to drop her off at home then come back. Also, it's hot here and she's a senior, so I'm definitely not going to leave her in the car. We go in, get what we need, then pay and leave. I would never even consider taking her somewhere that sells food. That's just disgusting, rude, and inconsiderate.
Also, I would never take her to HD if she was bad-tempered in any way. Most people just walk on by, but there are always a few who want to pet her. She likes the attention and would never bite anyone, but if she was snappish, it would not be a good place to go.
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"I was thinking about getting off on demand, but it sounds like I should be glad that I didn't"
No. You aren't supposed to when it isn't a service animal. When I worked at one lots of people did it but no one got in trouble unless the animal was unruly. I remember I was ringing someone out and this little girl was holding her hat looking at me shyly, she lifted up the edge to show me her pet bunny. Lol. On a whole everyone just gushed about the pets. We were also a target that had groceries.
I saw this in Lowe's a few weeks ago and I was confused, it was clearly not a service dog, I had no idea you could do this.
Unless the dog was ill-behaved there is no way that you can know for sure if it is a service dog. They are not required to be identified by anything and stores are not allowed to ask what someone's disability is. A lot of dogs are therapy dogs in that they are there to help calm someone's anxiety or a dog that alerts them to an approaching seizure, etc. Yes, it is helpful if they put a harness or bandana or something to signal that it is a service dog, but once again it isn't required.
That said, dogs aren't allowed to be aggressive or out of control and still be forced upon the public in the name of service dogs.
I've brought my dog into Lowes/Home Depot, but never Target. I bet it's just that store, I can't imagine that going over well here.
My MIL likes to bring my dog to Home Depot/Lowes when we're away and my ILs are watching her. H and I only bring her in the pet store and on rare occasion one of us will be walking her and will take her into the corner store for something, but we carry her 25lb ass the whole time we're in there and make it quick.