Dogs and shopping

lostinrates

krlyr wrote: »

I wouldn't do it for various reasons. Risk of theft (remember dogs aren't just stolen because someone wants them - dog thieves know that YOU love your dog so they are sometimes stolen for ransom), someone harming the dog (heard a horrible case of a dog being snatched and drowned in a nearby river), someone claiming to have been bitten, someone actually being bitten (animals can all be pushed beyond their limits) and so on.

Thanks. Ransom is something that concerns me. I've known it happen a bit. It hadn't really occurred to me though that so done might snatch and run, but I don't see why its not possible, I think that's a very valid risk.


I'll be honest, apart from pushing the petting issues I hadn't considered the stealing to torture for fun thing . . Yuck.
these are two very big arguments against, I agree. .

They shouldn't stop us pottling in town centres though, Having a window shop.


Aileth, I have a feeling a warning he were dangerous might push people to try and prove he wasn't.

People seem to feel they have something to prove with animals. Its not helpful.

aileth

Not sure what breed your dog is too, but some breeds are stolen to be used as bait in dog fights.

WTFH

Most of the time I would not do it. The dog will stay in the car or come in the shop. Although you risk having your car broken into and the dog stolen from there. You ca read scare stories about anything you want to, and repeat them until the cows come home. Thankfully, many of the scare stories are made up, and 99.99% of the uk population will not steal every dog they see.

So, without know where the shop is, etc, I would not make a blanket statement.
There are two shops where I will leave my dog outside without any problem. One is in a small village and if I go into the shop, it's to get a pint of milk, or similar. I'm not in for more than 5 minutes, the windows are big and I have a good view out. The staff also keep an eye out when they see people attaching dog leads to the lead hook they have put on the wall outside the shop. The other shop is a butcher/farm shop which is located at the back of a pub car park in the middle of the country.
I wouldn't leave her outside a shop in a town.

trolleyrun

I wouldn't leave my dog outside a shop. She's the ideal size for a bait dog and even though I live in a village, there are some unsavoury characters about. I also think Pipsqueak was abandoned in a previous life so it would freak her out. She comes into PAH with me and they love her in there, but very few shops allow dogs around here. She stays in the car if I need to go anywhere and she feels safe there.

skintandscared_2

My OH had to go to the chemists to pick up a prescription. He picked up our pup (small fluffy Jack Russell) and carried him in the chemists, but was told the dog had to stay outside. So he reluctantly tied him up outside. Went in to get the prescription and while they were faffing around doing it for him he watched out of the window. A lady approached our pup and fussed him, then bent over and untied his lead from the railings!!!! :eek: My OH dashed outside and asked what the f**k she thought she was doing. She said our pup looked lonely and she wanted to give him a cuddle. Then blushed and said "oh, actually, I probably shouldn't have done that should I" and went on her way.

I know I'm biased but our pup is the fluffiest, cutest little thing and he's sooo friendly he will try and lick everyone who comes near him. Everyone who sees him wants him because he's so flippin cute. Honestly, I would never in a million years tie him up outside a shop (and OH has promised he never will either!!!)

zaksmum

I always take my dogs to the local shops and leave them outside only where I can see them.

I think it's helped to make them well socialised and they are both happy to be taken along with me. They wait quietly outside the shops for the couple of minutes I'm in there and they can see me at all times so no anxiety from them.

I wouldn't leave them if I couldn't see them though.

Fosterdog

It's not something I could bring myself to do for all of the reasons already mentioned. I do sometimes take one or both of mine to the local shop if I need something quick or if we are out of gas or electric (on pre pay), I'm lucky that the shop counter faces the door so the few times I've need to the shop owner has come out, I've told him what I want and given him the money while I wait with the dogs and he brings out any change and my goods.

I'm in a rural village where everyone knows everyone though, I wouldn't have the same trust if I hadn't lived here my whole life.

lostinrates

trolleyrun wrote: »

I wouldn't leave my dog outside a shop. She's the ideal size for a bait dog and even though I live in a village, there are some unsavoury characters about. I also think Pipsqueak was abandoned in a previous life so it would freak her out. She comes into PAH with me and they love her in there, but very few shops allow dogs around here. She stays in the car if I need to go anywhere and she feels safe there.

Kiwi, this dog, and big dog, the biggest of my three, are both adore at pets at home. . Dog dog ( my middle dog) makes a point of refusing to talk to any one at pets at home so I never take her in ...no point:D


Its more the sort of pottering stimulation though. Kiwi likes training at home somewhat ( though he goes deaf when he bored) he likes walks and chores with the horses and chickens but what he really likes is doing what I /we are doing and going about the place.


He really did seem to enjoy pottering about the town today. For example, i very rarely get coffee out but we saw some people having a coffee with their beautiful terrier with them.

Maybe were I to take a newspaper somewhere ever now as a again and sit outside, leaving kiwi to order some coffee might be possible in a nice place. But maybe the better plan is to find somewhere where they come to tables outside too. Then he can watch the slightly busier world go by.



I'm also aware as a country dog, that I'd like him to be more town aware, if our circumstances were ever to change he and dog dog might want to be prepared for such an eventuality. Its unlikely, but better to be prepared than not.

Katiehound

This was an exercise in part of the KG Good Citizen test gold level some years ago (maybe it still is) to leave your dog tied up and be out of sight for a number of minutes with the dog staying quiet. I used to walk my dogs into town and tie them up outside whilst I dashed in for items (small shops and a small supermarket.)
Now however the situation seems to have changed because dogs are being stolen and some parents don't have the wit to keep their toddlers away! My dogs were fine with children but possibly not with a toddler at their level pointing fingers in their eyes! Sadly there is so much talk of litigation I think you are putting yourself, and your dogs at risk. Anyone could say your dog knocked my child over (hit them with waggy tail?) bit me..whatever......
Walk through town: fine, walk into certain dog friendly shops : fine , sit in dog friendly cafes: perfect, tie them up outside a building? No

codemonkey

I wouldn't do this because a few dogs have been stolen from outside our nearest supermarket and some have "gone missing" on walks. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to CD.