What the hell is up with the idiots who own dogs!?
I just got back form the bank, the bank mind you, and some idiot comes barging in to the lobby with a large dog and proceeds as if this is normal behavior. The dog is jumping around and barking and they are pretending the beast doesn’t even exist.
Have we sunk so low as a society that there is no place anymore that idiot dog owners think is inappropriate to drag their mutts?
Why would anyone even want to drag their dog into a bank in the first place? Can somebody shed a light on why anyone thinks taking a dog, especially, a completely uncontrollable one, into a professional setting is a sane thing to do?
I’m about to abdicate from the human race. The idiocy of our “because I wanna, and you can stop me” culture has about maxed out. Does anyone ever even stop to think, “Is this a good idea?” or is the only deciding factor just “Is anyone willing to try and stop me?”
My bank gives my dog biscuits. Of course, he neither jumps or barks, or I wouldn’t take him in.
Yesterday I took him into the jeweller to pick up my ring. Because when I dropped it off, they watched me tie him out front, and when I came in, they made a point of saying, I was welcome to bring him in. So I did. Shrug.
I used to take him into a local hardware store too, but they moved across town. Those are the only places he goes in. Because each place made a point of saying he was welcome. Usually he just waits patiently outside.
People don’t freak about it here, they all seem pretty casual.
The drive thru at my bank gives dog biscuits. It never occurred to me to bring her into the lobby. I mean, it’s not like she has her own savings account or anything.
I used to take my dog to a bank, decades ago. I’m pretty sure the bank did not mind because they had dog treats that they handed out to them (along with hard candies for the little kids, or whoever).
Of course that was back in the days when people pretty much had to go to banks. I think the only reason to go inside one today is to get a loan or refi or something, which is going to be a much more long and drawn out process, and yeah, you probably wouldn’t want to take your dog.
My current dog loves going into “people” stores. I only take him into places where they do still give treats, which as far as I can tell is pet stores and Ace Hardware. I’m not counting Starbucks because the dog can’t go inside and a puppucino is not really a very good treat.
But, two reasons, one, the dog likes it, and is being socialized (still not a good enough reason for a badly behaved dog, really) and two, they happened to have the dog with them and needed to run into the store/bank and didn’t want to leave the dog in the car or tie it up outside. Again, no excuse for a badly behaved dog, but these are some reasons.
(I used to work in a fairly small office where we had an occasional dog day and everybody brought in their dogs. It was a lot of fun. Uh, probably less work got done on those days than usual.)
I love taking my dogs everywhere too. But The Rule is that when in public they must be On Best Behavior. And they always are (although we’re working on teaching the new Young Punk dog not to jump on people). People who bring ill-mannered dogs into public places should be kicked out. Also, people who have their dogs on flex-leads should be kicked out. They’re fine for training, but crap for controlling your dog.
I have a cute photo of my Capri in a clothing store standing in front of a display of pants with a sign saying “Capris $9.99”.
Frankly, no, we haven’t. What we have are some idiots. As population rises, so do the absolute number of idiots. Once you see an idiot in action, you have acquired an “idiot-shaped hole” in your eye - you’re predisposed to notice the idiots more readily - And then you get a bunch of bias confirmation events.
I will note, however, that as the population becomes inceasingly urban, the connection between animal husbandry skills and people needing said skills (including how to handle your dog) does appear growing increasingly strained.
There’s nothing wrong with taking a properly behaved dog into many places of business if the place is OK with it, and many are. As mentioned, some places even encourage it by giving the dog treats or having a bowl of water out for them.
Yes, some people are idiots, but idiocy works both ways. One of the few times I was admonished for having my dog in a place of business was … at the vet’s! In the vet’s waiting room. It obviously wasn’t by any of the staff, it was some neurotic nutbar with a crazy cat. My dog is large and calm and cares nothing for cats – they will sometimes hiss at him when we’re on a walk and he just completely ignores them. At the vet’s, he was lying down and resting as he usually does when we wait, but this lunatic’s cat was having a fit at the sight of him. So the lunatic laid into me for… I’m not sure what, I think the fact that my dog existed. I don’t know what the lunatic wanted me to do with him in a vet’s waiting room. I think the staff eventually calmed them both down. They may have given tranquilizers to both the lunatic and his crazy cat.
My vets has separate seating for dog owners and people with animals in baskets. there are shelves to put the baskets on and seating in front. Much better for the cats and rabbits and so on.
This was pretty close to that – it’s a large waiting area, and my dog and the lunatic with the psychotic cat were on opposite ends quite far apart. And my dog, in keeping with his disdain for cats, wasn’t even looking at it. He was quietly lying down. I’ve actually always been amused by the fact that – perhaps in part because he’s a big dog with lots of self-confidence – his contempt for cats is so total that he doesn’t even acknowledge their existence, even when they try to provoke him.
The only places of business around here that I even remember seeing dogs are vets, pet stores, the airport, and the occasional bar. I’m surprised at how common this seems to be elsewhere (and I am a dog owner.)
I spend a fair amount of time in a village that is very dog friendly. Not only do you find dogs in the bank and in the post office, but in the liquor store and coffee shop too. As in dog biscuits for all visitors level of dog friendly. The one store that isn’t super dog friendly, it isn’t because of the proprietors or the staff, but because of the resident cat. He does not approve of dogs. The only place that doesn’t allow non-service animals is the grocery store, which is part of a nationwide chain. I posit that if it were locally owned, dogs would be allowed. In fact, if the outside temps aren’t between 40 and 60, you are more likely to get yelled at for leaving your dogs in the car than taking them in with you. The funny thing? I’ve never seen an ill behaved dog in this place.
Where I actually live? Dogs at Home Depot, Lowes or the pet store only. Sadly, the majority of dogs I see are barking, leaping chaos in dog form. It does mean my dogs don’t get to go on as many adventures (their favorite thing), but such is life in the 'burbs.
(Yeah, after a few minutes of puzzlement I eventually noticed what you were referring to. But I decided to post anyway, because I like to make dumb jokes on line, and you can stop me. )
My small office, in a small town, has a Bennington terrier “mascot” – actually the boss’ pet – who greets everyone when she hears the front door open. Not surprising, since she usually gets a treat from the visitor, or at least some attention. If no more attention is forthcoming, she retires to her bed under the boss’ desk.
I’ve never had a visitor who objected. Even the mailman loves her. When the boss goes home, the dog runs to the store next door and waits for someone to let her in for yet another treat. She rarely barks and never is a nuisance.
:smack:
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