That’s very sweet, But having treated patients with fears/phobias, the most effective long-term treatment requires a successive desensitization to the feared object. A one time pet petting doesn’t usually solve the problem in and of itself.
Bottom line there are some places that are better to take pets than others. And if you’re going to take a pet with you, please make sure it is a well behaved one and on a leash.
They are way too smart for me! When we were looking for a rescue at an event years ago, there was a beautiful poodle who had a crowd around her. I looked in her eyes and knew she was extremely intelligent - we were like nope, I don’t want that challenge!
Most of us like/love dogs. Especially our own. But every dog owner should not discount the fact that dogs are not a positive for everyone for a variety of reasons. I guess if a business decides it’s “pet friendly” that’s cool but don’t assume that everyone wants to smile or touch or ogle over your pet.
Outings are good for dogs! But you can take your dog to a park, a car ride, an outside ice cream shop for a pup cup, to a friend or family members house if they approve, around your neighborhood, on a trip with you. I think they will be ok if they don’t make every trip to Home Depot or the local brewery.
As a person with a dog allergy, I would not approve of non-service dogs in home depot/loews. Just because it is a big warehouse store doesn’t mean that dog allergens won’t effect other people.
I agree- I have a people/dog loving golden retriever but I recognize people have allergies and while “everyone loves him and he’s so well behaved” - that is MY opinion of him and others may not agree. So, he stays home.
I love poodles. Especially standard poodles.
But…friends of ours had a very sweet poodle. He licked my son who immediately broke out in hives. So much for non-allergenic! OTOH - neither of our (now deceased) beagles nor our grandbeagle licks people and S has never had an issue with those dogs.
YMMV
I had a similar experience. I have dog allergies and once a “hypoallergenic” poodle touched my leg and I got a rash. People don’t believe me when I tell them these things, they think I just don’t like dogs.
I’ve been volunteering with a local therapy dog group for the past ten years. The training is intensive and each therapy dog team has to pass a test that can be challenging for even the best trained dogs. Even then, we only go in public spaces where we are invited: schools, hospitals, nursing homes, community events, funerals, etc. My first dog was a natural at therapy dog work and we were asked multiple times to work with kids who had a fear of dogs, as well as with young puppies who became fearful after being attacked by a bigger dog. It was so cool watching him “work” - basically laying relaxed and still for long periods of time while the kids (or puppies) first ignored him and then slowly came closer over time, eventually interacting with him while he stayed calm and still.
Even though my dogs are very well-trained, I’m careful where I take them when we are just out for a walk. Many dog owners have sweet dogs, but are clueless when it comes to doggie body language and other cues. A strange dog pulling on a leash (or worse, off leash) and running into the face of another dog is an accident waiting to happen. People also don’t always pay attention to the dog at the end of their leash. I almost tripped over a tiny dog pulling on her leash inside a busy mall this week. The owner was chatting with her friend and not watching which way the dog was pulling.
I think this is just another example of people believing their comfort, enjoyment, convenience, etc. in public is more important that anyone else’s. It ranks up there with people talking on speakerphones in public, walking in nature with music playing loudly (instead of wearing ear buds/headphones), and letting kids be super rowdy in a nice restaurant and not responding in anyway. And I realize as I read this I sound grumpy. I’m not at all, but I do get annoyed when people think that every public space is theirs to do as they wish and to not care at all about how it impacts those around them.
I adore dogs and believe I have the best dog in the world (wink, wink) but I totally realize that not everyone else feels the same way.
I have two Labradors. One is 11 and loves people. One is five and is what I would call nervous around new people. Both are fearful and reactive with unleashed dogs, so they are always leashed and under my control. A big outing for them is a trip to the park or out for ice cream, where they wait in the car while we get their pup cups. Not in a million years would I take them to Lowe’s or Home Depot - it would be stressful for them and for me.
I think increasingly people are indifferent to the needs and rights of others, including their own dogs. I have had parents get upset because I wouldn’t let their child pet the Sabapups. They aren’t around children enough to be certain of their behavior and I want to protect them from a stressful situation. If I let the child pet them and Sabapup #2 jumped on them, the child fell and hit their head, I’m sure the parents would be blaming me even if I had warned them. So i just say sorry, no.
Dogs aren’t people. They won’t be upset if they have to stay at home. They don’t know if you’re going to a really fun park with WATER or if you’re going to a doctor’s appointment. When we go on vacation, they board at a really fun country place. They don’t care if I’m walking the beach. They’re chasing balls and swimming!
I approve and relate to this message!
My son has reminded me more than once when talking about leaving our dog/his dog for a few hours or overnight or whatever - “mom, he’s/she’s a dog - they will be fine!” (as long as they have a safe place to be and a good caretaker!)
Our local Lowes and HD are very welcoming to dogs and even have dog biscuits at some of the registers. Allergies are definitely something to take seriously so I would encourage those with them to email the corporate offices of both and express your concerns.
On another note, I was shopping in Nordstrom the other day (which anchors our mall) and saw a lady with a very large dog, just casually shopping.
My own dog, a terrier mix rescue, would suffer a ton of anxiety if I took him to a store or restaurant. His favorite outing is from his food bowl to the couch!
We have several very popular dog-themed breweries in our city, with “dog” or “bark” in the name of the establishment, so if allergies or fear of dogs is an issue, I would definitely skip those when choosing a brewery. Even so, my kids have told me that they’ve witnessed bad dog behavior on occasion, while there.
Yes, yes - emotional support dogs - thank you!
I flew yesterday. There were several small dogs in carry cases in the lounge. There was a large Husky on my flight. Very sedate. Someone petted him as he went down the aisle. The owner didn’t say anything so I don’t know if this was a service dog. I believe one is not supposed to pet a service dog when they are working.
National Dog Show on. Beautiful and amazing breeds.
Vito the pug my favorite so far.
Wonder how these dogs fare travelling or in hotels, restaurants.
This makes me think of the 2000 movie Best in Show. So funny!
We were in Ocean City NJ and I think it was either late fall or early spring. There were Bassett hounds EVERYWHERE. Everyone seemed to be walking a Bassett hound! Or two or three.
We finally asked someone…and apparently there was a Bassett hound convention and show and folks from all over the place had come to the event.
I didn’t see any pooches inside…anywhere (we were not staying at a hotel), or on the boardwalk. But there were apparently hundreds there for a few days! So…I guess the hotels must have been accommodating in some way!
It was cool that Vito won Best of Show!
We have been visiting the same tree farm for over 20 years. Very dog friendly as almost everything is outdoors. No dogs in the gift shop. This place gets more and more crowded every year. We took our dog. This was the first year that there were dogs off leash. We saw it twice! I don’t think I need to list the numerous reasons why this is outrageous. In neither case did we know who the owner was - dogs just running around unattended. As I always say - it’s not the dog, it’s the owner.
I’m sitting in an outdoor patio waiting for my doctor appointment; it’s open to the parking lot. A woman walks in with a small leashed dog and sits near me. I glance over and go back to my phone. The dog starts barking. The woman and dog start over towards me and she says, “Let’s say hello.” I said “sorry, I’m not a dog person.” So she says, “We’ll leave and not bother you.” And they did.
Yeah, sorry, I’m not petting strange dogs who bark at me.