[MillieDog]

Well I had to go into town this morning and decided to tag it onto my morning dog walk. Through the park and up into town, nice and easy. I only had to go to the bank and stationers, but decided in advance that I'd just walk straight in with Millie and see what happens. I was all ready for a chat about the why's and wherefores of leaving a dog outside and bringing them in.

This all stemmed from the fact that down on the Southcoast, loads of shops don't mind dogs coming into shops (they'd have not customers half the time). So much so, that I know Phase Eight have dog biscuits behind the counter and thats a ladies clothing shop.

So armed with a bit of bravado off I ventured through the streets of St Albans.

Well what a lovely surprise the Halifax didn't bat an eyelid. I thanked the man behind the counter for letting me in with my dog as I felt the days have gone when you can safely leave your dog outside. He agreed and said it was fine. The off to Rymans and they just cooed and gushed over Millie while she tried to get near to some cuddly toys . They too said they didn't mind dogs in the shops.

So now I'm thinking I'll keep testing the 'rules'. Of anyone else knows of good shops and unhelpful shops how about listing them on here for us all to know about.

 

[RubyCockapoo]

Good idea, thanks for this!

Ian

 

[JulesB]

I carry Betty into Boots in Windsor and never been so old not to. Most other shops I just walk in and people are fine with it. My local Costa also let me carry her in and the Costa in the station allows dogs in!

Julie, glad to see you had no issues either. There is no way I'd leave Betty tied up outside so she has to come in with me most of the time.

I know some Gap stores actually have signs saying they allow dogs.

Great idea for a thread!!

X

 

[MillieDog]

I think lots of coffee shops are now letting dogs in, even if its just into certain areas. Only one independent cafe near me was quite rude about not letting Millie in. I was standing at the counter asking if dogs are allowed in (it was about to chuck it down with rain). She was adamant that dogs were not allowed in at ANY time, at ANY time she repeated. I realised that she meant, right now, get out !!

I told her exactly what I though of her policy and that hiding behind 'elf & saftey' didn't cut it. I wasn't asking for the dog to go into the food preparation area Suffice to say I haven't been back.

 

[Turi]

Hi Julie

Before we got Saffi I was in Zara on the Kings Road and I saw a lady with her dog in there. I approached her and asked if she always took her dog into shops – she said she did and normally if she kept her head down no one bothered.

Since we’ve had Saffi we’ve gone to Caffee Nero opposite East Putney tube, Le P’tit Normand (a sit-down restaurant) on Merton Road in Wandsworth and Boots on Putney High Street. Starbucks on Putney High Street wouldn’t let her in.

 

[ali-s.j.]

Interesting thread - I will definitely test out our local shops at some stage ...

 

[puppylove]

I live in Glasgow and the local chemist in Bearsden is happy to have Beau inside. They told me I could bring him in although I sometimes get funny looks from the other customers.

 

[Eddie]

On White Stuffs website they say dogs are welcome in their shops but I havnt taken Eddie into the Nottingham one.In Brighton very recently most of the independant shops in the Lanes area seemed very dog friendly.

 

[calli.h]

My husband takes Arthur into the local Bargain Booze - how classy!!

 

[Sarette]

Ooh you are all braver than me This is very interesting though!

 

[anndante]

Have been wondering how hubbie and I will manage in Norfolk with Polly in a couple of weeks' time if it's raining, ie how many establishments will actually let us out of the rain with a dog. Went to Dartmouth for the day a few weeks ago and had to order some take away food from a doorway lunchtime! Next saw something through a window of a charity shop that was just what I wanted - went to go in but there was a really massive notice saying No Dogs Allowed. So they lost my business. But why? There's no food etc in a charity shop. Did find a couple of shops later on that welcomed her, so they DID get my business!

 

[Sezra]

This is really interesting

I had always presumed that I just couldn't take Daisy into any shops other than PAH! It never even crossed my mind that she could come in with me I will probably try it now and she will do a wee in Boots or something!

 

[JulesB]

I tend to work on the theory that unless they say no dogs, then I'll give it a try. I figure they just don't want badly behaved dogs either messing in the shop or being out of control and damaging things or upsetting other people in the shop so as long as I feel Betty is behaving I don't see why she shouldn't be allowed in. I know guide dogs etc are working so have to be allowed in places but this does mean the "health & safety" card can't be used regarding dogs!!

What makes me laugh is some places wouldn't allow dogs in (and I'm talking coffee shops) yet I've seen parents standing their children on the tray runner bit to select a cake. Nice so whatever is in your children's shoes is now on the bottom of a tray and then a table!!!

There is a pub in Windsor where children are not allowed inside and the joke is "dogs are welcome, children aren't"!!!!

 

[designsbyisis]

This is really interesting

I had always presumed that I just couldn't take Daisy into any shops other than PAH! It never even crossed my mind that she could come in with me I will probably try it now and she will do a wee in Boots or something!

I bet that would happen to me too !

What an interesting thread...our PAH is next to Dunelm & so I've always had to miss it out as I have decided not to leave Dexter in the car after our wander round the petstore.

 

[lady amanda]

I wonder if I would get the same reaction here.....Malls all have signs posted for no dogs....but most other stores don't I wonder....it would be fantastic to bring her everywhere with me.

 

[JulesB]

This is really interesting

I had always presumed that I just couldn't take Daisy into any shops other than PAH! It never even crossed my mind that she could come in with me I will probably try it now and she will do a wee in Boots or something!

I bet that would happen to me too !

What an interesting thread...our PAH is next to Dunelm & so I've always had to miss it out as I have decided not to leave Dexter in the car after our wander round the petstore.

I was PARANOID about this when Betty was tiny and luckily the worst she did was a poo in the garden centre that has a Pets Corner shop in it, which was where I was headed. At least a poo I could pick up and dispose of!!!

 

[Dylansmum]

I remember many many years ago going into the Houndsditch Warehouse in London with my husband and his collie. We got just a few yards in when a security man told us that dogs weren't allowed. My husband argued with him and said that the dog was perfectly well behaved and trained, but they still said no. As we walked to the door to leave, the collie turned round, stared at the man and cocked his leg up inside the door! I could swear it was deliberate!

 

[MillieDog]

I've googled what the 'rule' is on dogs and shops. And the huge conscientious (no idea if this is even the right word now, got myself in a tangle) from Jo Public, is that dogs are not allowed in shops especially where there is food. But checking for a law on it, there just isn't one.

And I know from being down on the South Coast a lot, and it is a very doggie oriented place, that dogs are allowed or accommodated in most places. You might not get full reign of an eatery, but they do have space somewhere.

As for non food shops, its just a personal judgement from the shop. But I do think as dogs are becoming ever more popular the shops are certainly more lenient and want your custom.

 

[Dextersmum]

I've actually been wondering about this as we're going on holiday to Cornwall in a couple of weeks,and if we keep having such awful weather,where could we go that would allow dogs? Fingers crossed the weather won't be as wet as it has been lately!

 

[looby]

we ve just come back from a week in cornwall- i was so surprised that nearly every shop and pub allowed dogs in. We stayed in Newquay

xx