RANT - It's a dog, not a bomb

I work in an outdoor shop and dogs are allowed there. I love dogs - I'm the first person to go and say hi to them when they come in.

But in the year I've worked there I've seen out of control dogs dragging their owners around, we've had instances of bathrooming on the shop floor (which inevitably staff need to clean up), and I've seen other customers becoming uncomfortable.

I don't think our store policy is likely to change, but they do tend to cause a bit of a problem sometimes. Unfortunatly irresponsible owners ruin it for everyone else.
 
Maybe Ella,the reason dogs are badly behaved at the practice is because its the only place they ever get to meet people(and vica versa);)
 
" Quote: gluttonforpunishment - does the fact you carry a muzzle for a well behaved and non-aggressive dog not promote breed bashing?? We never carried or used one for our GSD - used to be very dog aggressive. We found with the dogs we worked with at the training club that it made people react in a different way, therefore putting the dog in an uneasy state due to their body language - this was whether the dog was wearing it OR the muzzle was being carried by the handler. I understand you want to prevent any mishaps and I applaud you for your responsibility but I have never seen any positive aspects to this." end Quote


I expect my dog to behave in all circumstances and would be astounded if he didn't. It is a very sad state of affairs that a lot of people see a large GSD, Rottweiler etc and automatically assume it will be aggressive. I hope I never have reason to use the muzzle but at least if the circumstance did arise I would be prepared. I make a point of always attending puppy classes with all my shepherds and never yet have I had a problem with them.

Agreed, the world would be a lovely place if all dogs were owned and handled by responsible owners and they were accepted in all suitable venues but the reality is that due to the actions of the few the rest of us have to accept just because we love our dogs not everyone else does.
 
Pee in stock? What?

This is the hysteria that befuddles me!

Seems like France is still going along ok without saddles covered in dog pee....
 
i have been bitten by someones supposed well trained/behaved dog before whilst fitting a collar (and this is a)on of the question i ask before i approach the dog and b) i hadn't even got near to fitting a collar when it bit) so i can understand why they don't want dogs in
 
I've worked in a couple of saddlerys/feed stores and the ones that would really annoy us were the people who would park and straight away let their dogs out as if they had some sort of divine right to do it. You could guarantee these would be the dogs that would promptly pee up the side of the feed bags too.

I don't think we ever minded well behaved dogs with responsible owners though.
 
I'm going to be honest but my dog is not very well behaved at all! He is the friendliest thing ever and when someone walks past the tail starts wagging and the tounge hanging out, who could resist him!

But because he can become so excited meeting new people we don't let him in shops, as he would probably eat everything, run around looking for fuss then jump onto the cash register and rip to shreds all the money!

I do think it's lovely meeting friendly behaved dogs in shops, but perhaps the policy should be only behaved dogs in shops?
 
I`m not bothered either way, have working and pet dogs.

But slightly bemused as to why you would want to take your dog into Robinsons, unless fitting a dog jacket etc.

Whats the point?

If I go shopping, I dont want to have to cart a dog round with me and I`m quite sure noone else wants to be bothered by it aswell.

What about folks who are allergic?
Would they have to leave the shop so your dog could stay?

Interesting debate.
 
jenniaddams said:
Not everyone likes dogs. You can't take dogs into other shops. I don't see the problem in not having them in a tack shop. I'm an outdoors, horsey person, and i hate dogs. I would prefer to go shopping without having to see a dog in the shop!
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I, for one, dislike most people. I don't see the problem with being able to avoid them. I would prefer to go shopping without having to see another person in the shop. Or outside, for that matter. Most dogs are much better behaved than people. And if they're not, then it's usually a person's fault. Not the dogs.

I'm all for shopping with my dog, in a shop where only one customer is allowed at a time, so that I don't have to feel uncomfortable. However, to do this I would have to be a celebrity. That's not going to happen, so the least I can be allowed to do is spend time with my dog sharing the wonders of the tack shop.

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I never take my dogs into shops - just assumed I couldn't so this does raise an interesting point. Mine do get dragged around shows a lot and meet and dispense greetings to all but in my case, hand on heart, I couldn't take them into a shop as their overwhelming love of people means I have my hands full and can't shop and hold my dogs. Also, my dogs seem to be a little like the pied piper as I always end up with every child in sight..

Mine are staffies - we also always end up with the child that is frightened of dogs cuddling my bitch who stands like a rock. Not the boy though cos his loving is a little more OTT!!
 
I'd just like to go back to the kids being scared of dogs discussion. Not ALL mothers of children who are scared of dogs are to blame. I have had dogs all my life (nearly 40 next month **sob**), have had Staffies, mutts, whippet, greyhound, Dobbie X GSD and 5 Border Collies. My 2 kids have been brought up always being around dogs. However, when my son was 5 he was bitten by the Gamekeeper's Jack Russell and Labrador. He was bitten beneath the eye and on the arm. I didn't realise until then how many millions of bacteria are in a dog's saliva. He got an infection and was hallucinating, he was very poorly for several days. Initially he was terrified of all dogs apart from ours. Gradually he has got braver, but will always be wary and won't wander up to a strange dog and stroke it without asking first if it's ok and if it bites. I really dont think that's such a bad thing, my 6 year old daughter, however walks up to EVERY dog she sees and tries to kiss and cuddle it. Doesnt matter how big or small, and this worries me more. I do not get hysterical, or wrap them in cotton wool. I merely try to teach her to ask first, as some dogs dont like kids. Especially working collies who aren't used to children. I wouldnt think my parenting skills were up to much if I let them pat every strange dog they saw. So please don't tar all mothers with dog-fearing children with the same brush.
 
This is probably a bit strong ( so apologies in adavance), but it seems to me that dogs and owners are now the taliban, ( I say this with a brother fighting atm before anyone jumps on me).

EVerywhere you look on the news i t is, dogs, dogs, dogs, instead of what should be owners, owners, owners..!!!!!!!

I do not like various breeds of dogs ( even thougbh I am a dog lover and owner) the biggest dislike on my list is GSD ( Alsations), however, the farm GSD is my daughters best friend ( except for this morning when the dog was howling outside my house for my daughter to come and play LOL), so if any one thinks that as a rule they are nasty, think again. they are the most loyal, loving, best friend anyone could have.

My chossen breed are Weimaraners, and even bthey are now known as nasty dogs!!!!!!!!wtf!!.

I digress, just to say, there are health issues due to food ( not sure I agree with that though, I know of firends who take their dogs into food shops in france and spain), and personally I would not have taken my enitre boy into any shop due to being scared of him marking.

All this H&S is doing my head in, if your dog is not causing a nusence then why should it be pinalised (excuse spelliing~) , I am terrified of wasps, PLEASE can some one ban them from shops.

Hope my little rant makes sense
 
daisydo said:
, I am terrified of wasps, PLEASE can some one ban them from shops.
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I second that! I would also like them banned from beer gardens! Horrible things!:mad: There's always an awful moment when one takes a liking to you and you have to pretend that you really wanted to walk to the other side of the pub at a brisk speed whilst carrying your glass of wine. It's very hard to look cool :cool:
 
I apologise in advance, as I seem to be going against the grain here, but here goes!
I have a small dog, and I would never think of taking him shopping with me!
I also have a bit of a problem seeing these dogs being dragged around the outside events, like point to point racing and county shows, where they are taken into a crowded area, only to be squashed and trodded on.(I am talking about small dogs on that point, although I dont see the point on taking any size dog to these events where they get hot, thirsty and irritated)
 
Queenbee87 said:
I second that! I would also like them banned from beer gardens! Horrible things!:mad: There's always an awful moment when one takes a liking to you and you have to pretend that you really wanted to walk to the other side of the pub at a brisk speed whilst carrying your glass of wine. It's very hard to look cool :cool:
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LOL LOL :D, I know that one :)
 
Probably the funnyest thing I have ever seen was a cake shop with big cream cakes on a table outside. A dog walks past, has a quick look around and ,coast clear,takes a big lick of cream from one of the cakes. The dog strolls on. The girl in the cake shop sneaks up, has a quick look round,coast clear, smoothes the cream back around the cake,girl and dog exchange a look (If you dont tell,I wont).Absolutely fell about laughing!:D
 
Mike007 said:
Probably the funnyest thing I have ever seen was a cake shop with big cream cakes on a table outside. A dog walks past, has a quick look around and ,coast clear,takes a big lick of cream from one of the cakes. The dog strolls on. The girl in the cake shop sneaks up, has a quick look round,coast clear, smoothes the cream back around the cake,girl and dog exchange a look (If you dont tell,I wont).Absolutely fell about laughing!:D
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Brilliant LOL, love it
 
There does seem to be an assumption amongst horsey people that we all like dogs and enjoy having them around all the time.
While I don't dislike dogs, I do get fed up tripping over then at events and having them running out of control on the yard (have since moved yard due to this). I do quite like dogs but not in my face all the time and I don't want to be falling over them when I'm trying to shop (I'm not too keen on small children either but I know I'm never going to win on that one).

I can manage to leave my cats at home when I go shopping, go to shows etc so I don't see why dog owners can't do the same.
 
SusieT said:
Why should a shop allow dogs in to potentially pee on merchandise which is always happening?
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Yeah, I've seen that! Ruined a lovely long jacket, and the owner wondered why the shop assistant was annoyed! :0

20 minutes later, the dog-owner handed over the CC to pay the £185 for said-jacket.... before the police were called to a riot....!

I have a dog, a beautiful australian cattle dog. Well-mannered etc etc etc...

Do I take her to the shops? No.

I HATE to actually see dogs being dragged round town....does me swede in...poor things getting trodden on....and hot...I hate to see dogs at horse shows....! In fact....I hate to see dogs in crowded areas full-stop! But thas just me....as I'd never subject my beautiful girl to it....
 
QR

I can see both sides really. My dog (a tiny 4 month old JRTx) comes to the feed merchants with us (they are friends of the family, and I checked first - she remains on the lead unless there are no other customers, then she gets a chew and runs off to chew it while we have a natter), and she comes to Pets at Home (where they welcome dogs). I assumed she wasn't allowed in most shops, so haven't bothered to take her to any.

We don't often go into town, so haven't taken her there. She does come to shows with us (she's known as the Fence Judging Puppy as we help at BE events most weekends, so she's used to tannoys, whistles, fast moving horses etc), but I wouldn't take her into the trade stands. If it's crowded, she gets picked up and carried (advantages of a small dog!), so she won't get trodden on. If she's getting tired, we find a quiet spot and settle her down on her blanket (we always take a bag with a toy or 2, a chew, a bottle of water and her blanket).

I understand that some people don't like dogs, and although she's small, she's still young and she chews *everything* (especially fingers!). She doesn't mean any harm, but her teeth are still sharp and if she catches you at the wrong angle, it bloody hurts! So while I'd love to take her shopping with me, I won't - she might chew something, she's not 100% toilet trained and might wee on something, and she might chew the wrong person.

So yes, I can totally understand why dogs aren't allowed in shops. The well behaved ones are no problem at all, the ones who don't behave (and who's owners aren't as considerate as they should be) are a nightmare.

That said, can someone please ban kids from shops? They scare me. Some of them follow me, all of them glare at me. Then there's the ones which run around sampling the food in supermarkets, picking stuff up with their grubby fingers (which have just been removed from their mouths) and putting it back. All the time, the parents are oblivious because the kid is out from under their feet. And don't even get me started on the ones with an ear piercing shriek.
 
I can see both sides, me and my friend went to Robinsons last weekend and she wasnt allowed to take her border terrier puppy in, even though he would be carried.

I have known dogs to pee on things and would be mortified if my dog did it(even though he is house trained), also I cant trust mine with other dogs so wouldnt think of taking him.

I have a friend who is scared to death of collies after being bitten by 3, and there is no way she would go in a shop with one in there incase it came near her. Alot of people dont like dogs in at all so it wouldnt be fair on them not to be able to go in the store just so because someone's dog was in there.
 
Robinsons introduced the fact that dogs wouldn't be allowed upstairs probably nearly 12 months ago? (the store near haydock park) so I'm not surprised tbh that they've made it no dogs at all.

And, even as someone who owns well behaved dogs, I can see why! The amount of dogs out there who are NOT well bahaved is appalling, and it doesn't shock me when people let their dogs pee up things and just walk away. This is annoying enough at indoor dog shows where people frequently wander around with their dogs at the end of 8ft leads, letting them pee up the ring side/walls/chairs/peoples belongings/people (yes, people!) and yet this has nothing to do with me. If I were a store owner, and someone brought a dog in and let it pee on my stock, I would be livid!
People have to face it, for all you may think YOUR dog is a saint, not all dogs are! And most people are too ignorant to consider that their dog is less than perfectly behaved it seems, which hardly helps.

We've taken the pups into Robinsons for years for some socialisation, the staff know us & the dogs well, but this will hardly bother us. There are plenty of places that you CAN take dogs after all.

Oh, and I would also be very happy if badly behaved, screaming kids were banned from Robinsons.... would make having lunch there much more enjoyable :D
 
I take my dogs with me where ever I can. With 4 JRT its not always at the same time though! I like them to be sociable and sensible and that is only going to happen if they go out and meet other people/ dogs etc. One came to the pub with us last night and it was commented upon how well behaved she was (didn't happen to the other dog who was happly running round with its lead in its mouth rather than on the end of its owners arm!

I am easy on the subject. If they can't go then they stay in the car (on cool days with the windows open and blankets etc) or at home.

They used to love my old feed store though. We woudl wait until we were on our own then they were allowed off to go and choose their toys! It was pretty expensive at times!

I can understand that shop keepers don't want their stock ruined and sorry but if my dogs do damage by peeing, eating chewing etc I pay for it straight away and fess up. But then they don't usually get the chance to cause any havoc.

I do take them in to pick a toy sometimes at Pets at Home but its not as much fun because they try to "hunt" the pets on sale so have to stay on leads!!!
 
Oberon said:
(Yet they are allowed in for fitting of dog coats etc).

Now how is a well mannered dog on a lead, in a store with lots of horse and dog people a risk???

Robinsons has now entered the Nanny State.

Blah.
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I haven 't read the other replies, but my first impression is that it's an exuse (health and safety reg) rather than the actual reason. I run a dog grooming salon. I have dogs enter my shop via the front reception which also has a small retail area. I carry food and collars and sometimes beds and things. What irks the living hell out of me is when people allow their dogs on these long flexi leads to run about on them (or worse, without lead) and then knock over people, grab treats and snaffle them down (without ever offering to pay for them, laughing thinking it's funny) or my biggest pet peeve - and IS a H&S issue - people that allow their male dogs to pee all over the merchandise! It's expensive and it's nasty. And yet folk would never dream of offering to pay for a £40 bag of food that their dog just marked!

So even if your dog would never do those things, trust me, many do. And it'd be impossible to say "So n So's dog is allowed in, but XYZ's dog is not!"

Also, while I'm on the rant....we get sometimes a couple of folk that come in never ever for grooming, but bring in their aggressive staffie mix in to "pick out his own treats" - but if someone even looks at it funny, he'll stand and hackles go up and growl. I'm tempted to bar them from the shop!
 
galaxy23 said:
Granted, maybe they have had a bad experience with a dog somewhere, but it's not the first time I've seen a ridiculous reaction from a child or a parent! Parents should be careful as they are making their children have irrational fears!! Or if their child does seem to have a fear (maybe not passed down) do their best to get them over it, not nurture it! My Brother in Law is 21 and to begin with was terrified of Harley even sniffing him! His mother said he'd never liked dogs, and I just though, well why the heck haven't you done something about it?!! You're not doing him any favours!

Anyway, rant over!
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I dont agree with this at all! Not everyone likes dogs, that does not make them "ridiculous" in the slightest, just different to you. Not everyone needs to be dog friendly, so there is no real need to try and get a kid to overcome a fear (you probably wouldnt if they were scared of spiders!)- people with dogs should control them well enough that they dont run/jump/sniff strangers, who may/may not like dogs.

Oh and just for the record, I adore dogs, and often have cuddles with the ones in our neighbourhood (obviously having asked first!!)!!
 
Well, I have 5 Jacks, in kennels at home, all perfectly fine BUT I would not take them shopping or let them loose on a bridleway or footpath where we might meet other dogs (my decision for Safety). I don't like going to places where I get covered in other peoples dogs' hair,and this week both my friend and myself in two separate and unrelated incidents, have had to report people to the dog warden for having Dangerous dogs off the lead in Public Places. I think in these instances it is the owners who are at fault and while I sympathise with the OP I think we have a case of the odd dodgy owner spoiling it for others. I am sure most of the people on this forum, generally being horse owners/riders and animal lovers per se would not do anything to cause an accident etc. whilst in charge of their dogs but I think Robinsons are probably just covering their backs.
 
lexiedhb said:
I dont agree with this at all! Not everyone likes dogs, that does not make them "ridiculous" in the slightest, just different to you. Not everyone needs to be dog friendly, so there is no real need to try and get a kid to overcome a fear (you probably wouldnt if they were scared of spiders!)- people with dogs should control them well enough that they dont run/jump/sniff strangers, who may/may not like dogs.

Oh and just for the record, I adore dogs, and often have cuddles with the ones in our neighbourhood (obviously having asked first!!)!!
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I didn't say everyone had to like dogs. Of course they don't. And I do think parents should teach their children to wary to strange dogs, for safetys sake. But if a child is developing a fear of them for no apparent reason, I think the parent should do their best to help them get over it! Not make it worse. There are dogs everywhere, it would be a nightmare to be so scared of them that you can't even walk passed one. If you take my brother in law for example, nothing bad has ever happened to him, but his mother never did anything just to make him comfortable around dogs. He'd be the one crossing the road as a well behaved dogs walks passed ignoring him. I just think as there are dogs everywhere in this country his mum should have socailised him him more so that he wasn't so scared.

I don't let my dog approach strangers by the way.
 
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