By Gail Marsh
I really hadn’t given it much thought about dogs in public spaces. That is until reader LadyDi commented on an article that appeared here. Here’s her comment:
America: this dog-obsession has to END. Dogs have NO BUSINESS on any public beach! No one ever thinks about the effect a dog may have on people who suffer from pet allergies or how it may affect people that have been traumatized by a dog attack. So selfish.
They are not ‘fur babies’; they are animals; they do not belong in a grocery store, a restaurant, a drug store, a campground or anywhere else in PUBLIC – this is a health issue as well.
Sorry, I know this will not be a popular post but that is how I feel. And, yes, I have had numerous dogs in my lifetime; I just didn’t subject other people to MY DOG.
Where it began
I think the very first time I saw a dog inside a store (not a vet’s office or pet supply franchise) was at The Home Depot. I was surprised to see a rather large dog trailing after a guy who carried several two-by-fours on both shoulders. I thought at the time, “What a well-trained dog.”
The mall
A brand-new outlet mall was constructed soon after my first “dog in public spaces” incident. The mall advertised itself as the first “dog-friendly” mall in the area. The outdoor shopping area featured dog-friendly amenities: green space with poo bag dispensers, benches where dog owners could sit with their pets, fake fire hydrants, and more.
Individual stores within the mall often placed water bowls outside their establishments and several merchandisers posted “Dogs are welcome inside” signs in their storefront windows. It was a kitschy and upbeat mall, and I enjoyed walking the length of it because I could see so many different kinds of pups! But I soured somewhat about dogs in public spaces the day when I was in a changing room trying on a skirt. Suddenly a large dog’s snout appeared and began snuffling well under the door. I jumped back, startled.
More places
Soon after the dog-friendly mall incident, I began to see dogs almost everywhere. They rode in grocery store carts. They sat beside their owners in outdoor restaurant venues. Dogs seemed to go wherever and whenever their master left the house. Just a few months ago I saw a dog in church! (No, it wasn’t a service dog.)
Weddings?
Just this week I learned that in certain states, your pup can be a witness to your wedding. I’d heard of dog ring bearers, but a witness? Do they sign the marriage certificate with their right paw print?
Your thoughts
LadyDi’s comment along with my musings prompted this poll. Please register your feelings and leave a comment if you wish.
RELATED
- Dog owners: If/when getting a new dog, do you favor a male or female?
- Pet owners: If given the chance, would you clone your pet?
- Dog owners: Do you use campground dog parks?
RVDT2708
I have no problem with pets in public places, except sit down restraunts, if the animal is well behaved. However I feel that aggressive animals reguardless of breed should be restricted. I realize this could be very difficult to enforce as there is always that person who has an aggressive pet and seems to derive pleasure in other peoples discomfort. Maybe it should be that person who is barred from public places.
Absolutely not! They are animals, and should not be in public areas, especially a food store or restaurant! Are you that insecure that you cant be without your mutt for an hour or two?We were in a restaurant in Florida, and a huge dog took a stinky dump on the floor. The owner expected the waiter to clean it up. The waiter refused, and would not go back to their table until they cleaned it up. Good for him? I refuse to go in a restaurant that allows dogs.
There is no way to effectively monitor this (big dog vs small dog, this breed, that breed). It’s either a allowed or not allowed option. I vote for not allowed.
We trial our dogs, but I agree. No dogs in restaurants or other food venues.
Folks, all I see here are cultural biases.
In Germany (I suspect much of Europe), trained dogs (with their equally trained owners) are pretty much allowed everywhere unless specifically posted. Yes, that includes indoor sit-down restaurants.
Why do we here in the United States allow service dogs in public spaces? Because both dog and owner are trained for public spaces. Are the other posters proclaiming ‘no dogs’ saying they should also be blocked?
I personally have no problem with dogs in public spaces – provided dog and handler are trained.
In Germany, dogs are well trained. In the US, not at all. A well trained service dog is okay with me. A harness from Amazon labeled ‘service dog’ is not trained.
Jim, I think the bigger question is “why”.
I agree, a well trained dog can probably sit quietly under the table while their owner dines, takes in a movie or reads in the library but why? Why force the dog to sit and do absolutely nothing while his “masters” are entertained by the venue at hand?
A service dog’s presence has purpose that the public should give the courtesy of tolerance but using an animal that’s trained or untrained to be an accessory, a virtue signal or a replacement child? Nah, in my opinion that’s just wrong.
Safe travels!
After reading so many comments about camping, here in RVT, it appears to me that both people and pets are better trained in other countries as opposed to here in “I have MY rights USA.”
It’s not the dog that bothers me. It’s the untrained owner that gets to me. We go to dog Trials up and down the East Coast. It is not uncommon to see hundreds of dogs at a Jack Russell Trial. There are rules for everyone and if you- the owner- breaks a rule you are asked to leave. Politely or otherwise and you loose all of your entry fees. Rules for dogs and people- go figure.
If Outdoors yes, no problem but not in stores (pet stores excluded). I have been to a Big Box lumber store and witnessed two dogs getting into a fight. Not an issue except for the fact that hair and dander were flying all around and my dear wife is highly allergic. She had to leave the store but no one addressed either dog owner after it was settled. I see far too many in grocery stores and even restaurants. We have been in an Olive Garden eating and enjoying each others company and a lady brought in a small dog in a back-pack. Before too long that sweet little thing was not only yipping but full blown barking, so she took it out, put it on the table and let it eat off her plate. Infuriating!
Genuine, certified service dogs, yes. Pets, absolutely not, except where they are welcomed by signs. We take our German Shepherd almost everywhere and one of us stays with her while the other shops. She is very well behaved, but no dog is 100% predictable. We don’t push the matter knowing some people are not comfortable around dogs. It’s called respect. One exception to shopping is Pet Land, where she is welcome.
The one thing that really bothers me is the ones in grocery stores or restaurants, especially the small so called therapy dogs.
These are NOT service dogs! Service dogs go through a rigorous training period centered on the needs of the owner.
The little “fur babies” riding around in a shopping cart may be a health hazard to the next person using the cart.
I know there will be flack from these owners.
I don’t put anything in the shopping cart, baby seat for the same reason
It is not the dogs that are a problem. It is the person with the dog. The vast majority of dogs are untrained, and allowed to do what they want, or the people just don’t care what the dog does. You have to be aware of what your dog is doing at all times. I have trained dogs or been a dog handler for over 50 years, and we trained the handlers how to train the dogs. I am afraid that dogs are turning into a fashion statement or a status symbol “Hey, look at me, I got a dog”
Yes, dogs should be allowed in public places as long as I can bring my “Emotional Support Monkey” in those same public places!
After all we all should be against any type of discrimination!
I love seeing well behaved dogs in public. I don’t like seeing yappy, nippy or aggressive dogs anywhere. We have 2 well behaved large dogs. We take them with us wherever they are welcome. We ask of we don’t know the policy. When we go to town (100 miles) we take them. If they can’t go inside a business & the weather isn’t ok for leaving them in the car, one of us stays with them to regulate the temperature as needed. And we aren’t fully dressed if we don’t have poop bags in a pocket so we can use them immediately when needed.
We were in a Fleet Farm store once and the owner wasn’t paying any attention to his dog who was on a leash beside him. The dog started sniffing and licking the candy bars that were on a counter low enough for him to reach! Yuck! Some people have to ruin it for everyone else.
I have no problems with dogs In public places if they act properly, not all dogs behave well in all situations. Although my dog was very friendly and well behaved I wouldn’t take him to certain places, he was a rescue and had many issues. After a while he got over many things but always hated bikes and didn’t like people approaching if they had canes or tools with long handles. Many think their pets are so precious you must adjust to them and any issues are your fault.
Our dog is a Trained and Certified Service Animal, completed a comprehensive Two Week Service Dog Boot/Training School. She sits under the table at restaurants, never makes a peep of noise, never is aggressive, wears a red service dog vest and has an engraved medallion on her collar and a photo ID Card with her school certification. I am a 100% Disabled Combat Veteran, and she is also my best friend, furry or not!
I could not vote on your poll. There was no option for me to say yes to service dogs who are “working” for their owner. But no to all other dogs, including “therapy” dogs. I especially do not like to see dogs in restaurants or grocery stores where they are around food items. But I also say yes to pet stores and perhaps outdoor eating areas if there is wide open space for those individuals not wanting to be close to the animals.
Leave the dogs home!!!!
Preach!
If you don’t like dogs being in public places, I would humbly suggest Not going to Europe. I was stationed in Germany, my 1st encounter with dogs in a public place, where 95-98% of people were accompanied by their pets. After thinking about it, I realized that the animals were very well trained & just “hung out” with their owners. Personally I have found that trained dogs are better behaved than a lot of people.
Enclosed venues, no, absolutely not! Outside, maybe, it depends on venue/circumstances. We have a dog, it stays wherever home is parked when we go out.
I’m a small dog owner that does take 1 with me almost wherever I go. No sense in having a dog if she’s left at home all the time. Also, our home is a constant traveling camper. But, if a dog is in public spaces, they should be well behaved, on a short leash, n not interfere with other people. Not inside restaurants but outside sitting spaces only. The owner should carry clean up material INCLUDING disinfecting wipes for potential accidents, n clean it up themselves. If she can’t go somewhere, n there are lots of places, I just don’t go. Rules are there for a reason (think parks, the arts, health codes, etc) AND, they should not be a barker!
You sound like the type of dog owner that gives the rest of us a bad name!! I 😘 my fur baby,but she stays comfortable in our Moho. Never barks .. we have a monitor so yes we do know when we are gone… always picked up after and respectful o
She is not a fur baby, she is an animal!
Animals have babies too. Fur babies.
There shouldn’t be any pets in public spaces except for certified service dogs. Leaving your pets at home is the best plan and one can train their pets to behave when they are home alone. It is selfish to expect others to tolerate your pets everywhere you want to be and where the rest of us want to be as well. I really do wish that parks would have separate areas for people with pets.
Thank you for the question, Gail! We leave our dog at home sometimes and take him with us at other times. We tend to patronize places that are dog-friendly (so long as the dog is well-behaved and controlled by its owners). I can see LadyDi’s position although I don’t share it. As a side note, I was tested 4 or 5 years ago to determine what allergies I have. One of my major three allergies is to dogs. I currently get an allergy shot each month to control my reaction to those three things. Have a great day and safe travels!
Service dogs, yes ….. other pet dogs, no. Specifically, restaurants and food markets. Geez, isn’t it just common sense and courtesy to others? I have had dogs my entire life and would never think about taking her to these places. Couple days ago at a grocery store, I saw an elderly man with a dog bed in his shopping cart with three small dogs. Wife asked a store employee if they allow it. He said management fears being sued, so they ignore it. He said the store has to put those carts aside and steam clean them.
There are many valid points being expressed here. The concerns about unpredictable behavior, lack of attention and/or supervision by the owner, the respect for others in these situations. While this discussion zeroes in on dogs, I would submit the same issues are many times extended to cats, other ‘pets’, and… kids…Jus’ Sayin’
I live in my RV. My dog has to come inside with me when I shop. Can’t leave him in the truck when it’s over 100 degrees outside. He behaves much better than most children. He is kept on a short lead and not allowed near the food on the shelves. All of us have seen well behaved kids and dogs and we have seen monsters (both human and animal) in stores. Just like with breed restrictions, there is no one answer that fits all situations.
While I don’t mind it (my vote) we don’t take any of our dogs with us to shop or restaurants that are dog friendly. Too much stimuli and we never trained them for that setting. We don’t even take our dogs on trails or places where dogs are allowed if crowded. You cannot predict how your dog is going to react. Out of our five, there is one that will decide 1 out of hundred people she doesn’t like. We have never found what triggers her. She doesn’t bite but hair raises and she growls. It is unsettling to us. Our pampered pooches prefer their comfy RV.
I love dogs! The biggest part of the problem isn’t the dog as much as it is the owner. How many times have people been bitten by a dog that “is friendly”? I’m fine with a well trained dog in Home Depot or Lowes etc. However where there is food served or prepared is another subject. I don’t have a problem with a restaurant having an designated outdoor area, with signage, for dining with your dog on a leash. I have seen dogs urinate in Walmart even deposit a number 2! I worked in and ran restaurants and we would have been closed down for having a dog in the kitchen! I am fine with a well trained service dog but a vest does not a well trained dog make! It’s not a simple issue.
While in Page, AZ this summer my wife and I attended Catholic Mass. The elderly Priest processes with his walker and had 2 Black Lab service dogs that also attended Mass and laid down in the Sacristy doorway until Mass was concluded. It was a beautiful thing to be there and observe God at work.