Dogs jumping around in cars freaks me out and I’m a dog person. C’mon people for your safety AND theirs buy a doggy seatbelt if you’re going to have them in the car.
It’s not just the distraction either, if you are ever in an accident your darling puppy just became a missle launched at your head.
You said “**If we ask, politely, to bring our dogs into a place of business, and are refused, we thank them, and leave. But we will no longer patronize the establishment, with or without our dogs. ** We believe in voting with our wallet. Businesses and restaurants who want our business, and welcome our furry family will earn our loyalty and custom.”- bolding mine
You said NOTHING about a place that has “dogs welcome” signs all over it. If you were referring to places that say “dogs welcome” why would you be asking permission to go in? Why would you be refused? Your quote specifically implies a business that does not have clearly-stated dog-welcome policy. And it is to that quote that I’m responding. Don’t turn it around to suit your purposes. The words are there.
Moderately broad brush, there.
I have two dogs. I take them many places. I don’t take them places I know there’re unwelcome, nor do I intrude folk’s homes unannounced, but I often have them places you don’t expect them - Especially the larger of the two. Why? Because having an unsocialized 90# dog is a bad idea. She’s a trained animal-assisted therapy dog, and when I don’t have an active assignment for her, I still need to keep her socialized, adapted to all manner of human activities, and generally adapted to noise and chaos. Having an unsocialized 90# therapy dog isn’t just a bad idea, it utterly undoes the whole point of training her in the first place.
You don’t like my dog? Fine. Don’t approach her - And I won’t approach you. But don’t expect me to drop all the hard work I’ve put into her and take her ‘out of action’ just because you’ve got issues.
Apologies for getting your sex wrong and getting rolly eyes in response. It just came across that you were posting like a sheila.
Not much takes me aback these days, but this is really something. Your cute lil grin does not ameliorate the rudeness of your actions. If anything, it makes it worse.
Where did you get the notion that an invitation that includes your name and guest could possibly be broadened to include your dog/cat/hamster/snake/whatever?
Were you raised in a barn? So, you and your dog (oh, look how devoted you are to your pet! You must be a really good person!) go to weddings, receptions, christenings, bar mitzvahs etc? How about those corporate occasions–I have one coming up soon–a dinner reception to honor medical residents. I can bring a guest. Can I borrow your dog?
Short of doggy parties (and ye gods, yes, people have them), invitations are designed with humans in mind. Elevating your pet to the same category as humans will not win you friends–and I don’t care if the invite is not a formal do but a backyard weenie roast.
I wish more people would do this.
I don’t dislike dogs. I will pet your dog and pay attention to him etc, but I do not want him or her to become the focus of the conversation (and it’s been my experience that dog people who complain about parents talking endlessly about their kids turn around and profoundly bore others with tales of their extraordinary pets–witness** DMHO** in this very thread. His Huskies are wunder-dogs! Yawn. They’re dogs. Glad they’re well behaved. Move on.), I do not want to suffer through his “hijinks”–no, he’s usually really good! I just can’t understand this! He must smell your cat… I do not want to have to talk over his barking; I am tired of you being distracted by his whining to go out or in.
Yes, small children present can be just as annoying. Which is why small children are watched by sitters when the adults want to get together. If you can’t live without your dog (and this being the Dope, I feel I must qualify this as of course I don’t mean service dogs here), then please, stay home. Fido may be welcome in my home on some occasions, but I as hostess will decide when.
See, the fact is, that almost all over the state, anywhere we go, there are lots of establishments such as the ones I described. Other places, while not as prominently marked, are very accomodating and welcome our furry family. Since, almost any place we go, we know that there will be stores, shops and restaurants who have decided that allowing dogs is not only not an impediment, but actively encourage people to bring their four-footed family with them, we bring our girls with us wherever we go. Some stores which do not have an obvious “Dogs Welcome” sign still allow us to bring them in, but we ask to be sure.
Occasionally, the proprietor has decided not to permit dogs into the store. That is entirely their right to do so, as it is entirely within our right to not patronize that establishment. Anybody, anywhere, for whatever reason, or no reason at all, has the right to decide whether or not to shop at any given establishment. With or without dogs. Proprietors know this, and establish policies which, to them, seem most likely to increase business. The sad truth of reality is, however, that, “You can’t please everone.” A policy which would encourage one segment of your clientele to shop more frequently will, perforce, alienate another segment.
Rather than make a scene, we feel that, if enough people who own—and take responsible care of—their dogs let these business owners know how they feel, it may inspire other businesses to be more tolerant of shoppers who have dogs with them. Many, many businesses around this state, and, I presume, across the country have decided that dogs do not present the horrors which some on this board attribute to them.
You must live in another reality.
I cannot imagine a store that sold any kind of soft goods allowing critters that roll in their own poo to come in and rub themselves all over the merchandise. It’s just a matter of economics.
Dogs are, by nature filthy creatures. Give them a bath and they will go roll in dirt/dead things the first chance they get.
I can see letting your animals into a pet store or mechanics shop, or something like that, where their mere presence isn’t going to contaminate things, but if a store has anything that is going to be stained or end up taking on their stink then not only can I not imagine letting them in, i can’t imagine you wanting to go in and ruin their merchandise.
And come on, “four-footed family”!?!?
“furry family” !?!?
Really?
I thought that kind of talk was limited to crazy ladies who keep cats by the dozen.
…and you must be reading another thread. As I have stated (and re-stated) above, the stores where we take our dogs frequently have prominently displayed “Dogs Welcome!” signs. If the businesses involved had a problem with allowing dogs, they could choose to not allow dogs. If the corporate attorneys felt that allowing dogs into the store exposed them to some liability, they could choose to not allow dogs. If the corporate bean-counters felt that allowing dogs could destroy merchandise, they could choose to not allow dogs. If the property developer felt that their tenants would object to them advertising a dog-friendly environment for shoppers, they could choose to not allow dogs.
One of the retail properties I mentioned above is Aspen Grove. On their “Visitor Information” webpage they specifically state:
Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, Hallmark Cards, Banana Republic, Bath & Body Works, Build-a-Bear Workshop, Chico’s, Christopher & Banks, Coldwater Creek, Eddie Bauer Sportswear, Francesca’s Collections, Gap, Hot Mama, J. Jill, Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Lane Bryant, Lucky Brand Jeans, Origins, Pier 1 Imports, Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, Yankee Candle and many other shops and stores beg to differ with your assessment. We have been welcomed into all these businesses with our dogs at Aspen Grove.
Café de France, Champps, Coldstone Creamery, Noodles & Co., Panera Bread, Qdoba, Starbucks and Ted’s Montana Grill have all let us sit out on their patio and eat with our dogs.
I don’t have any idea what kind of reality it is that you seem to inhabit, but it certainly has no point of intersection with the plain and obvious reality here in Colorado where millions of people live in harmony with their dogs.
The fact is, I do not think my dogs are all that special. These businesses have made the decision to allow dogs, not because my own personal dogs are so well behaved, but that, in general, all the dogs who come into their stores have been well-manered and under control. As we have traveled the state, and been to many, many areas where our dogs were welcome, without fail, other peoples’ dogs have been polite and well-behaved. It may be because Coloradoans have more respect for their dogs, but it is obvious that they have taken the time to properly socialize their animals before they take them out in public. I am certain there are irresponsible pet owners in Colorado, who have ill-mannered and bad-tempered dogs, but, as a general rule, they are not the ones who take their dogs to public places.
And it is certainly obvious to me how little respect you must have for any animal unfortunate enough to have to look to you for support.
I would not shop at a store that allowed dogs, for most things. Dogs smell, and they shed. Neither of which I want on the things I buy.
And, no, dogs are not people, they are pets. Only people can be family members, as that term is understood. Referring to them as such makes me think you may have a little crazy in your blood. Or have no actual family.
Now, I like dogs (although I don’t want one), and have had several dogs I loved. But people who go on and on about their dogs and treat them like family members are annoying. Sorry, but not everyone wants dogs all over the place.
I admit that I don’t always go this far. I’ll say that the dog must go in the back yard, which is surrounded by a nice sturdy fence.
The French seem to have a very open attitude to dogs being present in restaurants. Never been to France, but I have been places frequented by French Folks (St Martin in particular). Many of the islands restaurants have the owners’ dog(s) present.
Thank god clothing stores and restaurants in my area don’t allow dogs! And in case anyone is wondering, I love dogs and have one. Wally is part of my family. But he doesn’t belong in The Gap.
::Crosses Denver off of places to live.::
Dog-friendly places, good for you; bad for me. I’ll vote with MY wallet and not shop in places that have dogs in them. I dunno; maybe dog-owners are different in different places; here, they are quite irresponsible about how their animals affect other people. I suspect every animal owner thinks they’re a great animal owner, and their animals are great, but I’ll tell you that they aren’t. I live near an off-leash area; I get to see on a weekly basis how responsible dog owners are (i.e. not very - “Muffy! Muffy! Come back, Muffy! Stop ripping apart that nice lady’s groceries, Muffy!”).
ETA: I forgot about how the dogs get walked off-leash TO the off-leash area; hey, dog owners - until you hit the “Off-leash area” sign, it ain’t an off-leash area!
And what happens when they are not? What if a dog bites someone or destroys merchandise? What if fill in the blank? It is not unreasonable of business owners to limit who frequents their store due to liability or even hygiene concerns. I see no reason at all for dogs to be welcome everywhere. I don’t understand why you think that your dogs (or any other well behaved dogs) SHOULD be welcome everywhere.
Dogs(pets) are not people–cutesy sentiments aside–and should not be treated as such. Love your dogs. Value their companionship and the pleasure they bring to your life, treat them well and keep them safe, but they are not people and do not have the same rights as people.
It doesn’t have anything to do with how socialized your mutt is. I don’t want to buy clothes or furniture or anything, for that matter, after you animal has drooled, shed, wiped itself, or pissed on it.
I take my dog with me if I can because she likes the company. It’s as straightforward as that.
That doesn’t mean everywhere, though - I wouldn’t want to try and take her in a clothes shop, for example, or a cinema, or a posh restaurant unless we were sitting outside. Of course, if a business does allow me to take my dog in then that means they’re going to get more of my money in the future.
There’s a bloke in my neighbourhood who takes his pet rabbit everywhere he goes.
Germans too. I understand the same is true for pubs in the U.K. Of course, the dogs I saw in Germany may as well have been statues, for as much as they interacted with people around them. IMHO, this is something that should be decided by the property owner, and only the property owner. S/he is best able to decide the effect of hir clients’ pets on hir merchandise.
I take my dog most places with me since he is an escape genius but doesn’t mind being left in the car. I also leave him in the car when I go in, pet store or work he stays in the bed. Of course I don’t take him to work most days, typically one day a week, and when I do I’m in the field not the office but I don’t see any problem with having him ride around with me.
I’d take him in more places but he likes other dogs and while I can control him his whining to go play with the other dogs is annoying to everyone. I also live in Colorado and I’d agree that most places are extremely dog friendly and I haven’t seen anything worse than a dog barking at people out of the window of his owner’s car. In general I think the dogs that are taken out more become better behaved then those that are only allowed out of the house to go to the vet.
I do take my dog over to other people’s house but I always ask first and if I don’t think they’re really happy about the idea I’ll leave him in the truck while I’m inside. If I don’t think the situation is appropriate for a dog, my friend’s daughter’s 2nd birthday party, I won’t even ask and he stays in the truck. On the other hand I have a friend with two labs that lives out in the country and at his crawfish boil several people brought their dogs and they just ran around. No food was stolen off of plates, no one was drooled on, and in general the dogs were ignored while they played happily with each other. Then again the people I hang out with are the types that like to have dogs around as long as they are well behaved and aren’t afraid to correct someone else’s dog if they are about to misbehave and no one gets upset about their dog getting yelled at or smacked.
And this is precisely the point I have been making over and over (and over and over… :rolleyes:) in this thread.
The shops, stores, restaurants and other businesses have made the determination, long before I aquired my dogs, that they would welcome shoppers/diners/patrons and their dogs due to whatever business model suited them. If they feel that some shoppers will stay away because “[d]ogs are, by nature filthy creatures. Give them a bath and they will go roll in dirt/dead things the first chance they get,” they have to decide whether they will lose more customers than they gain. That is purely a business decision.
The businesses with which I come in contact have decided, for whatever their reasons, not to be concerned with customers who “don’t want to buy clothes or furniture or anything, for that matter, after you [sic] animal has drooled, shed, wiped itself, or pissed on it.” If they have the attitude that the community would more likely spend money at their establishment if they allowed, even encouraged dog owners to bring their animals shopping with them, why would any object?
It is true, as has been stated many times here in this thread, that people would refuse to do business with a proprietor who allowed dogs on his business property. Yet if I choose to preferentially do business with a proprietor who allows me to bring my dog, “[w]hile it’s certainly your right to do so, it’s ridiculous to punish a business owner for setting a policy that makes sense for their business and that they choose to enforce unilaterally rather than attempt to make a decision based on each individual situation.”
hmmm…:dubious:
All I have been trying to say is, it is up to the individual business whether they choose to allow dogs or not. In Colorado, many businesses have come to the conclusion that they stand to make more profit by allowing dogs rather than turning them away. Because dog-friendly enviroinments are so ubiquitous here, I and many residents of this state have taken to bringing our beloved dogs with us wherever our travels take us, and it seems to bother nobody.
Letting a dog into a store is only partially about whether they are properly socialized or well behaved. Even the most angelic dog in the universe is still going to do things like shake itself off when coming in from the rain, and that will launch water and fur all over the place. Shedding, drooling, etc. all can cause damage even if the dog is a perfect gentleman. There’s also the fact that dogs take up room in the aisle, which can be narrow enough already in a small neighbourhood store. I don’t think I’d appreciate trying to manoeuvre around someone with two large huskies attached to him.
I love dogs, I have a dog, and I like to see and play with other peoples dogs. A dog can be perfectly well socialized without having to come into every single place with it’s owner. Dogs at the park, on the sidewalk, in the pet store, even on the patio of some restaurants and bars is fine. But in a clothing store, or a furniture store, or inside a nice restaurant - um, no thank you. Colorado must be very unusual in that regard, I’ve never encountered that attitude anywhere. And while I’m no expert, I’ve been to Britain and France and Germany - dogs are indeed commonplace in pubs and pub-style restaurants, but they sure as hell aren’t in The Gap.