Dogs now allowed in John Lewis stores - good idea or not?

I’m scared of dogs. Meeting one in John Lewis could make me anxious and put me off shopping there.

it's disgusting. John lewis, the last bastion of our honourable heritage ( and crazy prices), will allow some dirty Labrador to sniff my extremities.

I don't think JL&P will be inundated with dogs. Most people will avoid taking them just as most people avoid dragging their children along if they can. I'm amazed at the number of people who say they will avoid a shop in case they see a dog.

Terrible idea. Puts me right off. Not fair on the dogs either.

And supposing the dog does wee or poo and the owner does what many do and walks away - then what? Or start fighting with another dog? The 2 I witnessed in the garden centre cafe weren’t Rottweilers.

Of course tired, bored children are annoying - but this is about whether JL department store is a place for dogs.

That was totally meant for someone else!

How was slimming world?

A lot of anti-doggers seem very ignorant about the animal which shares our homes.
Almost all pet dogs are as housetrained as humans. They don’t wee and poo indoors nor bite random strangers.
Nobody’s going into John Lewis with a feral Rottweiler and they obviously wouldn’t be buying clothes with a dog in tow.
Tired bored children would be more trouble than a well trained pet.

We lived in Germany for 3 years and dogs were allowed everywhere except food shops. It was bliss to be able to have a day out in the city centre without one of us having to stand outside shops with dogs. I don't see any problem with it, bring it on, it certainly made us spend more money in the shops and I presume that is why John Lewis are doing this. By the way everyone took their dogs into the airport when meeting or picking people up too, it was lovely to see how excited the dogs were to see someone that they hadn't seen for a while.

Oh it will all be wonderful until, God forbid, someone gets bit by a dog that isn't social and then just watch the litigation lawyers swoop in when a claim is pursued. John Lewis will wonder what has hit them !

I'm looking forward to the day when I saunter into John Lewis and find that some poor mutt has been dragged around the store for too long and has cocked his leg up against a rail of clothing. Or perhaps left "parcels" on the carpets for customers to tread in.

And the distinct odour of wet dog mixed in with the heady scents of Jo Malone candles and Chanel 5.

John Lewis has taken leave of their senses on this one and I'll be shopping there even less than I do now..

I don’t think they’ve thought it through, their stores are going to be full of dogs and their owners, and everyone else will keep away

That’s definitely a <shrug> response from JL isn’t it?

I actually don’t want to have to find a sales assistant who is free and report any untoward behaviour with a dog - I want to shop in peace without the stress of a poorly trained dog and its disinterested owner or having to traipse the store to find a member of staff who is free. I also don’t want to have to pass the burden of a challenging conversation onto an assistant who isn’t getting paid nearly enough to have to deal with an irate dog owner who is being informed that their dog doesn’t fall under the ‘well behaved’ category. Online shopping for me now.

Gabriella
I think you are right!

Lindylou

I’m surprised at that response, it does sound like a like it or lump it answer, I’m not a fan of dogs, I think they’re fine running around a field, as nature intended, but absolutely not a department store.
So many people seem to have dogs now, and don’t have any qualms about taking them to the most inappropriate places.

Sorry John Lewis, I think it’s a crazy idea

Awful, along with kids on scooters.

I think a petition is the answer.

...even more inclusive ?
What are they on about?
People shop in stores, not dogs, so how is allowing dogs in stores being more inclusive of the shopper.
Blooming ridiculous.
All because a stupid woman wants her dog to choose it's own birthday gift.
Ok...why not take a barn owl on a jesse or a parrot?
Let them get out of that one. Haha
They are pets too and shouldn't be discriminated against.

Anyone who really cared about their dog would not subject them to this experience.
Assistance dogs are trained to deal with this type of environment, the average family pet is not.

I never shop in John Lewis and I certainly won't now.

Shops are crowed enough at the best of times, it will horrendous at Christmas and during the sales. Not really happy about it.

My husband emailed John Lewis earlier to say he wasn't too happy with dogs now being allowed in the store. Here is their response

"Thank you for your enquiry. John Lewis has permitted assistance dogs into their stores for a long time and are now permitting customers to bring in any well behaved dogs now so we can we can be even more inclusive of anyone who would like to visit our stores .

I am sorry to hear that you are not happy with this decision. If when you are visiting John Lewis you see anything untoward happen with a dog and their owner please feel to bring it to the attention of the partners on that floor."

Clearly then not "more inclusive" for those who are uncomfortable around dogs and more or less saying if you don't like it you can lump it!!

Not happy about dogs on escalators and the lifts are always pretty full.

Gabriella

Exactly! Why in the world would anyone want to take dog shopping?

There is s place for dogs, but not in department stores, I shall definitely be avoiding John Lewis

I love dogs and have two of my own but not sure that they would enjoy being in a shop full of strangers, or the shopping experience in general.
In this weather it must be hell for them
I think one of the reasons dogs get taken shopping with their owners is that they often cannot be left home alone .

Katy - I think they communicate by mind meld

I don't think they will necessarily be large or anti-social, more middle class free-spirits whose owners drive Land Rovers and park across 2 spaces in the JL car park (apologies to any LR drivers on here - I'm sure you don't park like that ). The little pooches that are carried don't have to be on leads so if they wee (or worse) they'll do it on the owner's coat rather than the stock.