loose dog in small local Sainsbury

No matter if we like dogs, love them, hate them or have allergies the fact we need to know is does Sainsbury have a no dogs in the store rule, apart from service dogs? Do supermarkets generally have this rule? If so then a young guy with a dog can’t just wander in with one and if the store allows him to do this, why do they? Many smaller supermarkets like the Co-op have food displayed low down, baked goods and so on.
It’s like a park having a no walking on the grass sign, but one person indulgently being allowed to.

GrannyGravy13

ViceVersa

To those with dog allergies, how would you cope if there was a service dog present where you were? Genuine question, by the way, I'm not having a go at anyone. Say for instance you had to go to a hospital appointment, but there was a blind person with their dog in the waiting room?

I would have to tell whoever was in charge and ask to be seated elsewhere, whilst taking an immediate large dose of antihistamines.

In a hospital/GP/dental situation this has always been possible.

Ok, I understand, thanks for the speedy reply. This thread just got me wondering what people would do in such a scenario.

ViceVersa I also always have an emergency strip of steroids in my bag, if the antihistamines do not work, along with various inhalers.

I was devastated when we discovered that my asthma was exacerbated by dogs, and was getting worse, having grown up with them in the family home, and having them myself when married.

Same for my son ViceVersa. Sometimes it gets awkward on public transport. He once had a man with a guide dog come sit next to him. My son explained why he was immediately moving away, and the blind man was very understanding and offered to move but my son said no it was easier for him to move. GG my son always has steroids and inhalers on him, he grew up with cats and his reaction to them is even quicker than dogs, a matter of seconds.

Mojack - typical dog owner answer. Having a dog seems to bring out the worst in people. Totally selfish regarding people with phobias, allergies and who are hygienic. It is pointless saying, "Go somewhere dogs aren't allowed. " The problem is, they appear to be allowed virtually everywhere, places that would have been unheard of only a few years ago such as eating establishments and clothes shops.

I do think some dog owners have become more entitled as to what is appropriate for their pet and some have no clue about boundaries or training either.
I speak as one who has owned dogs, although, sadly, not now.

Yes, dogs are everywhere. They are part of our families, like toddlers or old people and we like to have them with us wherever we go.
Very few people are allergic to dogs and almost all dogs are friendly. They can’t safely be left outside shops and WHSmiths, which allows dogs in, has chocolate down to floor level so is not safe for dogs.
Supermarkets are probably the only place dogs shouldn’t be.

Allira

I do think some dog owners have become more entitled as to what is appropriate for their pet and some have no clue about boundaries or training either.
I speak as one who has owned dogs, although, sadly, not now.

Definitely the case. I think the problem has been exacerbated by those who got dogs on a whim during Covid, so the dogs probably weren't properly trained or socialised, and we're now seeing the results of that. Far too many get them as some kind of novelty or fashion accessory now, and that's not fair on anyone, least of all the poor dogs.

Watermeadow - As earlier stated a typical entitled dog owner answer. Not everyone loves your dog as much as you do.

Bukkie

Watermeadow - As earlier stated a typical entitled dog owner answer. Not everyone loves your dog as much as you do.

Totally unfair.
Nothing in that answer merits the scathing “entitled”
Goodness what a load of grumpy grans we have today.

RosieandherMaw I am definitely not grumpy but I would like to stay alive.

(Have been resuscitated twice, scary for family, I was unaware)

watermeadow Very few people are allergic to dogs and almost all dogs are friendly.
Oh well that's OK then. GG and my son don't actually count, if they die they die <shrugs>
I do believe I've read annoyed comments from dog owners who have reactive dogs they keep on a lead when someone else's unleashed 'friendly dog' bounds up to say 'hello'. They've complained about the lack of control and consideration when the other owner says 's/he's only being friendly'.

Reactive dogs can be trained not to be reactive. My dog is super friendly with everyone whether humans or other dogs. I have to curb her enthusiasm when she spots someone, whether human or canine, particularly if the other person/people do not have a dog in tow. If they do have a dog and it is aggressive or agitated my dog has the sense to back off. It seems to me that reactive dogs have owners who pass on the message to their dogs that other dogs are a threat but if they trained them properly they could learn to like other dogs. Life would then be more pleasant for both dog and owner.

Unfortunately, it's not always as simple as that. Some dogs will be reactive no matter what kind of training they are given. A great deal depends on why they are reactive in the first place. If it is a rescue dog, for instance, the owner may well have no idea of how it came to be reactive, making solving the problem a lot harder.

My comment was obviously a generalisation. With adopted dogs (of which I have had a few) it is more difficult but nevertheless, if dogs in general are trained from puppyhood not to be scared of other dogs it is a good start. My grandson's 18 month old French Bulldog bitch has started to be aggressive with other dogs which is no doubt a breed characteristic but with proper training he will hopefully be able to overcome this (to some extent anyway). It's just that all too often the reaction from a dog's owner is one of fear when they meet my own dog which is totally unnecessary as she is a Labrador and completely non aggressive which should be pretty obvious to anyone that meets her.

I remember when I was a child in the seventies that there were campaigns to change the law and make it illegal for dogs, apart from assistance dogs, to be allowed in shops. Most people were very happy about this, as far as I recall. Since the pandemic, there has been more and lenience about where dogs are allowed and, even though I am a dog owner and lover, l do not agree with it. A loose dog in Sainsbury’s is a step too far and l agree with others that it would be a good idea to complain to someone higher up in the company.

Also, @watermeadow, there are many more of us who are allergic to dogs than you might realise. My dog is a Cairn Terrier and does not moult - one of the reasons we chose him - which means he is generally not a problem for people like me who are allergic to most breeds of dog. Cats are even worse for me.

I agree with Caleo!

Lots of places don’t take dogs try those

I suppose it is just possible that the young man has an unseen disability and the dog was therefore an assistance dog...the staff may well have known this but it would not be appropriate to tell the OP .

Naughtyneine

I suppose it is just possible that the young man has an unseen disability and the dog was therefore an assistance dog...the staff may well have known this but it would not be appropriate to tell the OP .

Surely an assistance dog should have been on a lead though?

Calendargirl

Naughtyneine

I suppose it is just possible that the young man has an unseen disability and the dog was therefore an assistance dog...the staff may well have known this but it would not be appropriate to tell the OP .

Surely an assistance dog should have been on a lead though?

If it was a real assistance dog, then yes, it would have been on a lead or harness.

Lovetopaint037

The shop was used to the dog coming in who was obviously well behaved (despite being a mongrel). I understand not wanting a store full of dogs but this was a small local store and the customer was a regular. When you see other customers in their pyjamas or nightdresses looking as if they have just rolled out of bed and possibly helping themselves to items in the bakery section or someone on roller skates then give me a well behaved dog any day.

I couldn’t have put it better myself.
The staff were obviously used to the dog who probably behaved very well.

Yes in normal circumstances you would think the dog would be on a lead/harness but if the disability was a mental rather than physical one then maybe the young man wasn't able to comply with the norm.

Caleo

My Romanian can eat off my fork but I have almost trained him to sit politely while he does so.

A plate well licked by a dog saves on the washing up liquid.

🤣🤣🤣