Do You Take Your Dog Inside Stores?

[Phaxxton]

@Alagirl;5576969

I think the idea is kind of ok, having your dog on a leash while still be able to run more than the human on the other hand…

Personally, I even think the idea is bad, though I realize many disagree. When my dogs are on leash, I do not want them running / walking more than the human on the other end. That, to me, is the whole point of the leash. The dog is with me and under my control at all times. When we go for walks, the dogs are on my time. They walk when I walk, sit when I stop, and don’t pull or lag behind. (Well, that is the goal, anyway, that we are working toward and that is reinforced whenever they are on the leash.)

If I wanted to work on a long line for training reasons, I would work on a long line for training reasons… but not in public. And never on a flexi-lead.

And FTR, my dogs get to run off leash every day. Just again, not in public.

[JollyBadger]

I used to take my Rottweiler to the local pet supply stores regularly, just to browse around and occasionally pick out a new toy or treats. It was good ongoing socialization for him to be around a variety of people and dogs, things to smell and see, etc. We’d do little snippets of obedience training (heel work, sits, downs) and the aisles with the open bins of toys and bones were great for the “leave it” command.:yes:

His “job” there was also to teach the cashiers that they are supposed to give treats to well-mannered, patient, handsome dogs at checkout.:lol: One time he sat there just watching (and drooling - alot) while the girl rang up the sale.

She looked at him a bit nervously and asked why he was staring at her, and I responded that he was used to being given a treat. So, she pulled a couple out, and he happily demonstrated “high-five,” “say your prayers” and “bang, you’re dead.”

There used to be a great little “dog bakery” nearby, and the owner had a vast wall of Polaroid photos of all her four-legged customers. The treats were home-made and a bit pricey, but it was so much fun going in there that it was all worth it.

Our other favorite stop was the Dairy Queen near the farm where I used to work, especially after a hot summer day of barn chores. No, I didn’t bring him in with me, I just went to the drive-thru window. Once the employees realized the ice cream was for the dog, they’d ask me to stay at the order window so they could crowd around and watch him eat it.

My Rottie was a constant companion - outdoor art/craft fairs, parades, Rolex (again, the highlight of his day was a stop to the soft serve booth), lawn and garden supply stores, and anywhere else dogs were welcome.

As for Flexi leashes - I don’t care for them. If you’re in a big, open area where you want to allow the dog a bit more freedom, that’s fine. Let the reel out as much as you want, but you still have to be aware of your surroundings and be prepared to reel 'em in if you need to.

But most of my experiences with Flexi-leads have involved more close quarters, and owners who are so far out in la-la land that they don’t even pay attention to the fact that their dog is 30’ away from them picking a fight with another dog, tangled around something, taking a dump, eating something it shouldn’t, tripping people who don’t see the leash, and just generally being a nuisance.:mad:

[Big_Grey_hunter]

What’s with walking dogs next to roads on flexi-leads? If you dog is walking 20ft in front of you on the sidewalk, there is nothing to stop that from being 20’ on your left, a cross the road. You can;t possibly reel in the dog fast enough to stop that!

I do own a flexi lead, I like it for big, open places to work on recall before I 100% the dog off leash. But you can bet the leash is short next to the road or when people are around. I can’t stand tripping over that stupid, thin chord because someone let their dog run with me btw them.

[red_mares]

One of the reasons I hate shopping in PetSmart, besides the creepy dog clothes, is the dogs in the store. The only ones I have ever come across have no manners, and their owners appeared to be blissfully unaware of that fact.

I have taken my cats into a tack shop; in their crate, when it was 90+ out and I was on a 600 mile road trip. They were quiet & contained; if the cart had been a little bigger, no one would have even noticed the crate in it.

When I was growing up, our dog didn’t go anywhere unless we were spending the night, and often not even then. She was well socialized and well mannered (5 yrs of 4-H obedience), but we really didn’t feel the need to take her with us every where.

[Alagirl]

@Phaxxton;5577219

Personally, I even think the idea is bad, though I realize many disagree. When my dogs are on leash, I do not want them running / walking more than the human on the other end. That, to me, is the whole point of the leash. The dog is with me and under my control at all times. When we go for walks, the dogs are on my time. They walk when I walk, sit when I stop, and don’t pull or lag behind. (Well, that is the goal, anyway, that we are working toward and that is reinforced whenever they are on the leash.)

If I wanted to work on a long line for training reasons, I would work on a long line for training reasons… but not in public. And never on a flexi-lead.

And FTR, my dogs get to run off leash every day. Just again, not in public.

Exactly.

I find a long line a lot more practical than a flexi lead any day…

(and then, of course there is this model:
http://img.artlebedev.com/everything/povodokus/povodokus-front.jpg )

[RougeEmpire]

[QUOTE=red mares;5578368]
One of the reasons I hate shopping in PetSmart, besides the creepy dog clothes, is the dogs in the store. The only ones I have ever come across have no manners, and their owners appeared to be blissfully unaware of that fact.

I have taken my cats into a tack shop; in their crate, when it was 90+ out and I was on a 600 mile road trip. They were quiet & contained; if the cart had been a little bigger, no one would have even noticed the crate in it.

When I was growing up, our dog didn’t go anywhere unless we were spending the night, and often not even then. She was well socialized and well mannered (5 yrs of 4-H obedience), but we really didn’t feel the need to take her with us every where.[/QUOTE]

The whole “pet parents” thing drives me nuts. If their “pet children” are that ill behaved I can’t imagine how bad their actual kids are! Try going anywhere with a well behaved and heeled Pit Bull. Ugh!

I can’t tell you how many times we took my moms Pit Bull out and some f-ing moron with a “good breed” on a flexi leash caused a fight. Please do not let your 5 pound AGGRESIVE yap yap Pomeranian CHARGE my Pit Bull (sitting quietly in a head collar) while the flexi leash spools out as much line as it’s got! It got to where there were so many incidents of OFF LEASH labs/goldens/JRTs ect and so many “flexi lead” (might as well be off leash!) dogs attacking a leashed OBEDIENT dog that we no longer bother to take any out or dogs out much.

The last incident was a FLEXI LEASHED Golden Retriever that bolted from his owner, jerked the line out of her hand, ran across the street almost causeing a huge accident and ATTACKED the family Pit Bull. After I broke up the fight and pryed my dog off hers (PB vs. Golden who ya think is gonna win that tossel?) I called the AC and the police and filed a report. Turns out the local Animal Control officers also HATE Flexi Leashed because the a “half assed excuse for a leash”.

[bort84]

Oh man, maybe we should start a flexi-lead thread…

I don’t understand them at all (maaaybe in a big open field, but I’d probably still rather use a long line). I don’t know if it’s my horsey-ness or what, but I hate them. If I want long line work, I’ll use a long line that I can reel up in my hand. There’s just something about the huge heavy handle on those things that makes it impossible for me to use them without feeling like I’m all thumbs. I nearly always use a leash with two hands (again, horsey training?) and I cannot use a flexi-lead with two hands, so I feel completely out of control.

Also, as others mentioned, most of the times the lead on the flexi-leads is VERY thin (some of the little dog ones are practically fishing line), it’s super uncomfortable to try to grab one of those up if your dog has gotten too far out (and it’s even more uncomfortable when you get clotheslined by one, ugh!) I’ve had to use them a couple of times when friends have handed over their dog for a bit, and I just become worthless, haha. If the lead is thick enough , I’ll usually still try to do my usual two hand hold and keep it locked.

I think maybe some like them because they like the big handhold on it? And that’s one of the reasons I hate them most, haha. Plus, someone mentioned to me once that they can kind of freak a dog out if the dog gets loose because there’s a big heavy think behind them clanking into stuff as they run.

I always see these people with flexi-leads holding on for dear life with their ONE hand and being dragged. I’m like, get a regular leash and try two hands? Get a regular leash and do some training? Eeeeeek! The handhold on them is such a weak one if a dog starts to get away from you.

I think some people think I’m mean because I don’t let my girl frolic all over the place on walks, but I don’t think she needs it. She stays at my side until I give her leave to go sniff and investigate, and she comes back to my side when asked. I see all these people who seem to marvel at my dog (who, admittedly, came pretty well leash-trained from her track days and is quiet by nature) staying close to me and not acting like a dip everytime a bird or dog comes along, and I’m like, seriously, if you didn’t have your dog let out on a 10’ line, you’d be AMAZED at how much better he’d be INSTANTLY! It’s like when I hear someone who’s horse kicked at them while they were leading - how far away from him were you???

[Trixie]

My town is incredibly dog friendly, to the point where dogs are permitted in the local Walgreens.

[wendy]

so I feel completely out of control.

that’s because YOU ARE out of control with a flexi- you have zero physical control over the dog. If the dog is trained you can control the dog with or without a leash, but most people who opt for a flexi skip the training and are trying to give the dog an off-leash experience without the necessary training. and often haven’t even trained the dog enough to be able to comfortably walk the dog on a real leash without being dragged around.

[bort84]

@wendy;5578810

that’s because YOU ARE out of control with a flexi- you have zero physical control over the dog. If the dog is trained you can control the dog with or without a leash, but most people who opt for a flexi skip the training and are trying to give the dog an off-leash experience without the necessary training. and often haven’t even trained the dog enough to be able to comfortably walk the dog on a real leash without being dragged around.

Haha, so true. It’s the dogs that really really should NOT be on the flexi-leads that always are…

[InWhyCee_Redux]

[QUOTE=Megaladon;5569825]
I was at TSC and a lady brought her GSD in with her while she got dog food. The dog looked a bit spooked, and suspicious, plus she had to carry her bag of food. I was thinking, why? Such a hassle. I would never take my dogs into a store because–yikes, just yikes…:eek:

Do you take your dogs into stores?[/QUOTE]

I live in NYC and my dog-owning friends often take their dogs shopping — some stores here keep biscuits behind the counter for them. Some of the dogs have also been known to hit the bars, where they tend to be very popular.

[witherbee]

I love taking my dogs around town, and here in Ocala it is very common. If I feel funny somewhere, I just don’t bring them in. I normally just have my Chihuahua with me, so I usually carry him unless it is Petsmart or TSC. I have taken him in Home Depot and Lowes, but held him or had him in his carrier thingie (no, not a pink purse lol!).

I did make the mistake of taking him in Target (carried him) because I was just running in to recharge a friend’s phone card at the register, but I did not realize that they serve food in there (one of those little snack areas), so the lady told me he was not allowed - no harm no foul and I apologized and left.

I take him to the local outdoor antique auction - there are usually several small dogs there. I keep him on my lap (I always sit on the outside aisle near the exit), and take him for walks in the fields outside frequently. He chews his toy and enjoys the show and the time with me and others.

I never leave the chi in my car - they get stolen and he is a blue merle, so I have to be super careful. I will leave my large dogs in the car if the weather is cool and I am just running in somewhere.

[indygirl2560]

I bring my dogs into home depot whenever I go. They love going places and are well behaved so it’s never been a problem. In fact, I need to bring my puppy on her first trip there soon! I think that the more socialization a puppy/dog gets, the better behaved they’ll be in different situations. However, if a dog is dangerous or badly behaved, I’d definitely vote to keep it out of stores…

[rojerronny]

Any store that sell or serve food can not allow pets. Other than that, at the discretion of the owner of the store. Ive waited outside a store with my dog ​​while a friend went in, and have been invited by the manager. My dog ​​has been received at the video stores, cell phone store, the output power of beauty, and a small clothing store.

[Alagirl]

@rojerronny;5874397

Any store that sell or serve food can not allow pets. Other than that, at the discretion of the owner of the store. Ive waited outside a store with my dog ​​while a friend went in, and have been invited by the manager. My dog ​​has been received at the video stores, cell phone store, the output power of beauty, and a small clothing store.

Oh the irony…they still have to let people in…:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

[CarolinaGirl]

[QUOTE=Diamondindykin;5570083]
Nope…my Border Collie Reno has never been in a store. I had a puppy once that was vaccinated and still got Parvo (most likely from a Petsmart trip). That was one expensive and heartbreaking lesson. Reno stays home on the ranch and is very happy :yes:

I just don’t see the need to take him to a store really but I know alot of people take their dogs with them everywhere.[/QUOTE]

I don’t really take mine to the store. We do have a bar down here on Shem Creek called Red’s where you can take your dog and eat out on the deck/bar. I usually take the dogs when we go there. We also have a small place with outside seating that we can walk to from our house. So I’ll take the dogs to lunch/dinner, but they don’t really ever go to the store lol. I was very strict when we got our lab puppy. He didn’t really go ANYWHERE until he was about 5 months old and had every set of shots possible (vet tech here). I about died when hubby said he’d taken him to Petsmart one day… I was like omg did you carry him?! I think he was like 10 weeks or something and I believe had gotten three set of shots but I was still paranoid. I’m always amazed when people come in with like 9 week old pups that have had one set of shots and they are taking them to the dog parks and stuff. I’m all for socialization, but wait until they have ALL the shots and boosters.
I was also that person at work that when something was a possible parvo case I was like nope not doing it! Luckily everyone understands and they were like oh yeah we did the same thing when we had puppies. Also beneficial to have a garage too… come home go in the through the garage and strip down before walking into the house lol.

[CosMonster]

I take my big nervous GSD into any store I can. He has some minor dog aggression problems (oddly enough, less so on a leash than off) and stores are a much more controlled environment for him to get used to being around unfamiliar dogs than dog parks. He also gets nervous around strange people and in strange environments, so it’s great. Everyone at the local feed stores knows him and they give him lots of cookies and scritches (when he’s comfortable enough for that) and it has helped immensely. We still have a long way to go but he’s getting there.

I take one of my heelers in with me whenever he’s in the truck and I’m going into a dog-friendly store, because he loves it. The other two heelers are well-behaved and well-socialized, but they don’t like busy environments like that so they usually stay in the truck.

My town is really small and dog-friendly so I will take them a lot of places. It just never occurred to me not to. :lol: They’re very well-behaved though. I do shop normally with everyone but the GSD, because my dogs are good enough that I don’t have to be constantly paying attention to them (except to keep a basic eye on them/watch out for other dogs, but I’m so used to that it doesn’t distract me). I do leave the GSD home if I have to get anything but a few small items, though.

[candysgirl]

I take my dog anywhere possible. He’s a miniature poodle so isn’t particularly threatening or scary to anyone. He’s very well behaved and thinks everyone on the planet is his new best friend. He loves going places and I enjoy taking him. I don’t see any harm in it. I don’t take him anywhere that would violate health codes and I always ask if its okay before bringing him in. The majority of places welcome him.

[Equibrit]

I take my GSP wherever he is welcome. He is especially popular at the local Ace Hardware.

[asb2517]

Ugh. I just had this conversation with my mom last weekend. We were in an antique store and some guy had a Yorkie he was carrying around. I told her I couldn’t stand it when people took dogs into stores where they didn’t belong and thought it was perfectly acceptable since they were holding it.

Although she didn’t share my opinion because 35+ years ago she used to carry around a teacup poodle in her purse. She says she was a trendsetter because she had a “purse dog” before they were cool. I told her she was ridiculous with that dog. She used to take him EVERYWHERE.

Petsmart and Petco fine…all other stores no. Unless they are a service dog.