dog in shopping cart rant

I agree that if the store doesn't want dogs in there, then that should be acceptable. Well, yes, he shouldn't have tried to pick the dog up, but if you had refused to leave ( or put the dog in the cart) what were they supposed to do anyway? I did not know that stores like Home Depot allowed dogs in anyway. The only store I've ever thought about bringing my dog in to is a Petsmart, where dogs are allowed (but some people I do not understand at all--- the dogs are totally misbehaving but they're still allowed. I would Never let my dog get away with misbehaving/pulling/barking/bothering other people or dogs, etc). I did ask at Farm and Fleet to bring my dog in once, so I could try on a collar, and they had no problem with that, but otherwise I have not tried to bring her in. 

Oh, yeah, we had an incident in a Petsmart store a while back, that I thought I would mention on here. Kinda gets me mad, though. lol
 I was with my friends and we had 4 dogs with us in Petsmart, and were walking around with them for a while. Then we went to the back of the store and were playing around a little, working with the dogs ( having them stay, come and heel, just to practice). Then the manager I think it was came up  and told us we weren't allowed to train the dogs in the store, and so we were like "Ok, if they have a problem with it then we won't do it". So then we kept walking around the store and looking at stuff for quite a while. And the same guy was sitting in a chair and watching us the whole time, like he expected us to be doing something wrong! And then a little while later he came up Again, and  started 'yelling' at us for 'training' the dogs! And here's what we were doing-- Having the dog heel when we were walking around, and not letting them wander wherever they wanted. And we would also have them sit if we stopped to look at something. Does that sound like a problem to you? I was kind of shocked that a store would NOT want dogs that are well behaved. His only reason was that we were trying to distract other customers from their dog trainers! So anyway, he was pretty rude about it; he was like " I asked you  to stop training your dogs in here and since you refused to do it, you're going to have to either stop training your dogs or leave."  I could understand them not wanting us to actually work with the dogs in the store, like we were doing the first time, but all we did after that was have the dogs behave nicely while we were looking at stuff. So of course we left, and went over to Petco, where, I might add, they were much nicer!

So, sorry, this is kind of off topic, but it was just something that I was thinking about.

Having worked for Lowe's prior to Dog.com I have to weigh in on this one...
 
We(Lowe's I worked in) always allowed pets to come in, many small dogs did ride in the carts while the owner was shopping. Some however did come in leashed, if you want to call it that. I often would take my dogs in for socializing and training on my off hours. One incident with a customer and the liability for the company came when a dog who was not in control jumped on another customer and then almost took down one of our managers.
 The rule then became as it always was that only service dogs were permitted in the store. There was always a label on the door to that effect but we allowed dogs prior to this event.
 Since the company is liable for the safety of it's shoppers the rules they enforce must reflect that to be consistant and fair to all involved.
 
 

the Canadian Tire we go to
(oops sorry...Like Ace Hardware w/ auto parts)
allows dogs no problem...the retail store I work at allows dogs,
but in carts only...we politely explain that it's for the dogs safety because of little kids running around (on Heelies usually) and some
of our customers are afraid of dogs..(we've had complaints)...
it's sort of a compromise....Remember that all dog owners are "not all experts in training" and some would let them run around and get hurt & then blame the customer that hurt them, or whatever...
...remember we're just trying our best to help all customers....

I think the manager was out of line in his manner and that his attempting to pick up Pudge was not brilliant, but if the store isn't geared toward dogs (heck, even if it is) they don't have to allow dogs.  There's a surplus store up the street from us that is small dog friendly, but I don't walk Star in the store out of respect for the fact that I could very easily be kicked out.  If she rides in the cart, I put down my jacket/sweater for her to lay on, if I have no cart, I carry her in the store.  Plus, the policy was put in place to protect dogs, so HD should get some credit for that (though the mental image of me getting 110 lb Kahaus into a cart is causing some giggles).

I have seen dogs in Lowes and Home depot, hubby is a little addicted we are there A LOT!  They are always small dogs though, I have NEVER seen a dog over 15 lbs in any of our stores.
 
Kind of makes me mad, my dogs would love to go and walk around in there and shop with us, but again they are bigger dogs and they can't [sm=no%20no%20smiley.gif]
So, big dogs are out, some don't fit in carts and others are just too big to be in one.  How sad that it is we can't take them everywhere.
 
I do agree that the manager had no right to pick up the dog though, my dogs probably would have nipped at him.
 
 

what if (like me) you are in the process of training your dog. my dog is never more than a leash length away, but he is still pulling like mad. we are working on it, but until he will walk nicely on the leash should i just leave him home? would he ever learn to walk nicely through the store unless i take him there?

My honest answer to that would be yes, leave him home.  First, he needs to be walking nicely without distractions from a situation like a store before you advance to training with distractions. 

I've also read around the threads here recently that stores are not a good place to bring your dog for socialization.  At least not when he's still learning. 

 I see your point, but It just threw me innitially becuse before this incident our dogs were welcome ot shop with us in this store with no problem

This is what happens when something happens, it ruins it for everyone.  People take advantage and don't use good judement.  For example--technically, I could bring Willow into Petsmart.  But, I don't do that because I know she's not well socialized, not good with other dogs, etc.  Also, the other problem I think is that everyone has a different definition of "well trained".  While most of us here agree, the outside world might see not much wrong with the problems that caused to revised policies.  []

I say they should have their policy posted and the manager could have handled the situation better. I understand the need for policies and I can respect that, but trying to pick up the dog was out of line.
 
I can't imagine what would happen if someone tried to pick Boss up and put him in a cart... but then again that's why I don't take him out very often and when he goes to the pet store he has his muzzle on and I limit the number of people I allow him to interact with. He gets overwhelmed. I take him out to the car before I stand in the check out lane.

ORIGINAL: Firestorm

Wouldn't it be more dangerous for a dog to be in the cart....what if the decide to jump out?  Hmmm....The manager was out of line.

Certainly is dangerous.  Last week this happened to a couple with their bulldog.  They came running into the vets saying he just fell out of a cart on his head at Petsmart.   X-rays were taken and he was okay, I think they should have paid more attention to him in the cart. JMO

I guess it's not really the new policy that irks me, but the fact that it changed over the coarse of a week, and there was no warning or posting of a new policy in a store where there are generally quite a few dogs that frequent with their owners.  Oh, and I will not forget the way this manager handles the situation.  I did not argue with him untill he tried to pick up my dog, I remained calm and tried to explain, but I didn't really argue until he put his hands on my dog.  Then I kinda argued(read: vented out loud) as I headed for the door.  I havn't filled out the card yet, I'm waiting to calm down first so I can write a well worded letter detailing the manager's actions and my suggestions for posting the new policy to avoid these situations in the future.  But I am going to express my concern for the safety of employees who take it upon them selves to try to "bully" big strange dogs into carts with out permission of the owner. 
 
Any suggestions on what needs to be included/excluded?? 
 
Meg
 
 

I agree that if thats their policy then thats their policy.  At least they allow the dogs at all.  Now, if he was rude thats not right... and picking up your dog!  OMG.  I dont think he would dare do that if you had a four year old child standing with you.... well, IMO, its the same for us doggie lovers.. they ARE our kids.  That would have made me sooo mad!

I could call Shadow a service dog. He wards off silly people that think a 60 lb dog should ride in a cart.
 
OTOH, many people do not train their animals and they become a problem for others. So, I can see where allowing only service animals reduces the store liability and makes it easier for other customers who are there for seme wood screws but not a kiss or growl from a Cane Corso.
 

Off topic but what does OTOH mean?

I never knew that Home Depot even allowed dogs in their stores, not here, have never seen one there.  I take April to the doggy stores, she loves riding in the basket, but then, she is just a little dog too.  We walk around the store for a bit, then when I want to shop, she goes in the basket.  I'd have ask for the manager right away if that would have been me, manager was probably in the store at the time. Here is a picture taken of her in the store in the basket.

ORIGINAL: Firestorm

Off topic but what does OTOH mean?

Firestorm - It means On The Other Hand

I agree with the concensus so far.  I too wish all stores allowed us to bring our dogs, but at the same time I am sure some dog owners are not the best judges on thier dog's obedience and things could get out of hand fairly quickly.  I will take Dasher with me to the pet store as well as to certain offices as I am running errands.  If I know I am just popping in and he is small no one really minds.  But if someone tried to pick him up without my permission...look out! I know I would be fuming!! [:@]