slightly OT- dogs in grocery stores

Today while shopping at a Mr. Z's grocery store, I saw a woman with a teeny
tiny dog in her shopping cart. He was just sitting in the part where kids
usually sit without being tethered or anything. I approached the woman and
we talked for a few minutes about the fact that she brought her dog
shopping. She was very nice and seemed to enjoy talking to me. She said
the dog has separation anxiety and therefore she never goes anywhere without

Handsome Jack Morrison...

"Which comes first? The chicken? Or the egg?"

Seriously...I highly doubt that this 7 week old pup already suffers
from SA -- but the owner does appear determined to have her pup
eventually develop it.

it. It was so teeny that I asked how old it was. She said 7 weeks old.
She also made it seem like she had it for weeks because she said she always
brings it in the store and that the cashiers always pet it and no one ever
said it couldn't come in the store. She added that since he is so small, he
is allowed in the store. Apparently, that's the policy they have there and
I would also be allowed to bring my dog if she's small. I told this to my
dad when I got home and we were debating if having dogs in grocery stores
would violate the health code. Anyone else ever run into a dog at the
grocery store (or any other non-pet stores for that matter)? My sister used

Janet B...

I've brought my dogs to plenty of stores, but won't let them set foot

MauiJNP...

that's pretty cool. I want to be able to take mine out more often!

in a big-chain pet supply store - I don't trust the cleanliness and
dog germs there for anything.

They've been to small independent pet supply stores, clothing and
other stores in beach towns, and outdoor restaurant areas. I used to
bring a foster puppy into Wholefoods with me. I had a weekly schedule
where I went to the SPCA every Thursday, and I stopped to by lunch at
WF on my way. Didn't want to leave her in the car, so she came in
with me. She was getting a little heavy in my tote bag, so I'd put it
in the "kid" space in the cart. She was a Golden mix, and I didn't
even bring her home until she was about 12 weeks old, so you can
imagine she wan't teeny. Everyone welcomed her.

to work in a very ritzy mall and small dogs in purses would always be there.
I wonder how many stores have an open pet policy? I think it would be fun

Kathleen...

Two of the local outdoors outfitters - The Bass Pro Shop and The Alpine
Shop - allow dogs of any size in their stores. The Bass Pro Shop has a
huge aquarium with various game fish that the BCs find fascinating.
It's a good thing the walls are high and there's no easy access to the
tank or they'd be in there in a heartbeat.

AMB...

I'm about a mile from the original Bass Pro Shop and the last time I
was in there, they did allow dogs. But they had to be either carried
or in a cart. I remember one woman who brought in a blanket for her
medium size dogs to ride in the cart (I had the impression they'd been
there before, if not regulars.)

Baxter regularly goes to Office Max, Office Depot, Lowes, and of

MauiJNP...

how did you ever know that he was allowed there? did you just ask them? I
guess I need to ask around here, maybe my dogs will be allowed to go places

Kathleen...

It's easier to ask forgiveness than to gain permission. With the

Rocky...

Generally, I agree with that premise, but I wouldn't like to see
untrained owners screwing up the hard won freedom that some of
us have attained. Every once in a while, I take one of my dogs
on puplic transit, just because I can. I'd hate to see that
privilege canceled because the wrong person pushed the envelope
inappropriately.

Kathleen...

Well, yeah. But you totally snipped the guidelines for appropriate
behavior that I included. If you take your dog into a business and both
you and he are behaving appropriately and still get asked to leave,
either due to an across-the-board management policy or because
somebody's got their panties in a bunch, it is hard to see how that
constitutes "screwing up the hard won freedom that some of us have
obtained".

exception of food places, hair salons and healthcare facilities, just
carry your little dog right on in, projecting a matter-of-fact attitude.

MauiJNP...

ok, I'll have to give it a try

Follow the same guidelines parents of small children use (or rather,
SHOULD use, although you see a lot of exceptions). Avoid disruptive
behavior, don't let them get into anything they shouldn't have, clean up
any messes instantly and in the event of a tantrum, remove him and
yourself from the premise immediately.

Handsome Jack Morrison...

In other words...REPRESENT.

AMB...

And don't screw it up for the rest of us!

I tend to just go in and watch the front desk staff's reaction. I

MauiJNP...

so, I guess if there is no sign that says "no dogs allowed", take a chance
and see what happens.

don't go anywhere where they serve food. I try to avoid certain
stores on certain days (Lowe's on a beautiful spring Saturday --
everyone is there planning projects).

Baxter does a stay while I check out. I tend to keep treats in my
pocket to keep him focused. (He's trained, but not to the level of a
lot of the dogs owned by folks on this group. Also, people who come
up to him love to watch him "up pretty" for treats.)

Anne
and Baxter, man....err, beagle... about town!

more often!

course, the pet supply places. He has hung out with me when we've had
oil changes. We used to go to the video store together until they
changed the rule. That's the place where, as we were checking out one
day, a woman looked down her nose and made some comment about dogs
being allowed in. I wanted to point out, but refrained, that my dog
had been in there 15 minutes and no one had noticed. Her brats, on
the other hand, had been loud and obnoxious since the moment they
walked in.

In just about every area I've lived in, the grocery store would be
asking for trouble if the health department knew the dog was regularly
allowed in.

Anne and Baxter O'Beagle

to take Cali or Maui shopping with me, like a Kmart or mall, not a food
place.

FurPaw...

Here in NM non-service are dogs not allowed in stores that sell
food, AFAIK (health rules). In other stores it seems to be up to
the management. There's a hardware store about half a mile from
where we live, and we often walk over there with Oppie in tow.

After seeing a six-ish kid today in a salad bar picking up the
food and then putting it back in its container, then sticking his
finger into the salad dressing and licking it (his Daddy was
ignoring him), I think the health laws are targeting the wrong
creatures. ;-)

John Wesley...

Same in NC. No dogs in grocery stores or restuarants unless they are
service dogs. Any other place is up to the owner. Eating places with
outdoor eating its ok to take them and eat outside. A lot of non-food
stores in town allow them.