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

A no from me too. My family are allergic to cats and dogs. John Lewis will lose a lot of trade if they take this attitude.
I made a complaint to M&S once about a pug in a foodstore and their reply was a bit dismissive even though I pointed out that the dog was actually standing on the checkout belt.
If people can't see what is wrong with animals in stores where will it end ? This week a dog, next week a pet lamb or goat FGS.

harrigran - you've obviously never heard of Emotional Support Animals! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotional_support_animal www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/emotional-support-animals-planes-flights-peacocks-marmoset-horse-a8190576.html

I know - it beggars belief.

Those links look a bit odd but the first one links to Wikipedia and the 2nd to a new article in the Independent

children in trolleys get to me too, fithy shoes in food trolleys, yuk. I never shop in JL, too far away but dogs would put me off anyway. Hair and dander get everywhere, unseen

A dog crèche is a good idea. No one can complain that dogs are not well accommodated for. We have recently returned from a week in Devon. There were dogs everywhere, inside and outside pubs/cafes/restaurants. Bowls of water and treats were available everywhere. I think people are already very accommodating to them.

srn63 I've encountered excited dogs in airports too. In each case they have been security dogs who seemed to find me and my handbags the most interesting items around!

The thought of trying to negotiate through a busy airport with excited dogs straining at their leashes - or worse still being let off to rush to their owners - is one more hazard I don't wish to encounter.

harrigran Our friend's DC had pet ferrets. If dogs are allowed into JL then why not ferrets?
Another friend used to take her Siamese cat for a walk on a lead.
If JL wish to be inclusive then they should not discriminate against people who own other animals than dogs.

It wouldn't bother me in the least.

But on a more positive note thought - another friend had a lovely black lab whose wagging tail could clear a coffee table of cups and plates. The thought of a few wagging tails in JL's china department sounds like enormous fun!

Not, I imagine, for the staff having to clear up.

Bad idea. The shops will smell different, the stock might too. Dog mess in large stores?

I recently saw a young man walk his dog around Tesco. I couldn't believe it! It was evening time when a lot of part time young staff are working and none of them dared say anything. I've also seen a man who drives a disabled scooter round Tesco and he has a small dog hidden under his blanket!

I do not want to see dogs in shops and restaurants. If there is an out door area and the dog is well behaved then it might be OK. However if it is also a children's play area then there is always the problem of possible transmission of disease
www.cpha.ca/human-diseases-transmitted-dog-poop

Brilliant idea. We live in an ncreasingly dog phobic society confining their presence to cute adverts and some weird self belief we are dog lovers. Go anywhere else in world and you won’t see such intolerance. We have lived alongside this species as a companion for at least 25k years. They have now no freedom and are relegated to slave status. So good for you John Lewis. Lead the way bring back some respect for our animal companions.

No, my youngest son and I are allergic anyway and would react if we sat where one had been. My son came up in a rash and got very wheezy on a ferry recently - dogs were only allowed upstairs in a separate lorry but on inspection I could dog hairs on our seats. People think if it’s just a tiny well behaved dog they can ignore the signs - and we had to pay the consequences.

I love dogs and have one myself. In my opinion it’s cruel to a dog to drag it around the shops. I understand if you have to pop in for something, but in no way is shopping a treat for any dog

I say no to dogs. The only ones that should be allowed are guide dogs and similar dogs who are properly trained to help someone and wear the proper “uniform”

I have to disagree RocknRoll5me Wanting your dog to go shopping with you in a busy department store is not a kindness to the dog. He/She would enjoy a walk in the great outdoors much more then being left to rest at home whilst we shop. We are not a nation of animal lovers you only have to look at all the rescue centres to see that. Some people treat their dogs like humans which is ridiculous, dogs need their boundaries to be happy and safe.

Whilst I don’t mind seeing the odd dog in a cafe I don’t want to sit near one whilst eating or drinking. Having said that, dogs aren’t exactly the cleanest of animals - they scratch, shake and lick themselves. If I walked into a cafe and saw half a dozen dogs in there I’d walk straight back out. Dogs in John Lewis/shopping centres is a big no no.

Absolutely brilliant post Rocknroll5me, could not agree more!!! I have never shopped in John Lewis but I certainly will now. Dogs are part of the family and yes some of us do treat them like humans, as sometimes they are the only companions people have.

I think we're the opposite of dog phobic in this country. If you go to holiday places they are everywhere.

I totally understand that they are sometimes the only companion people have and that's great but please don't expect everyone to feel the same.

This is beginning to sound like the results of the Brexit referendum! Two viewpoints which are poles apart, in general, and no real common ground (except perhaps dog creches)

I would have thought that it would cause a dog far to much stress walking around a shop that is maybe busy and getting knocked into and dragged about, shops can also be hot places even if it’s not outside.
A garden centre near us had a large area that dog owners can use, I miss having a dog so whenever my daughter takes me for a coffee we sit in that part, dogs also don’t stare at me the way children do

Rocknroll5me
bring back some respect for our animal companions ?
What a silly statement.
I think that most people who are not dog owners or lovers, would interfere if they saw one being mistreated.
We've read of strangers jumping into the sea to save dogs from drowning and many idiotic owners have left animals locked in vehicles during heatwaves.
Can you imagine what it must be like for a dog who, in a shop, sees only feet, knees and shopping bags not to mention having to negotiate buggies and mobility scooters.
They can be great companions, I agree, but you likening them to slaves...well, who d'oh the k domesticated them in the first place?
Who buys them toys? Who gets their tails docked and decks them out in items of clothing, paints their claws, dyes their fur and interbreeds them into caricatures of their original heritage?
Are these dog lovers?
Is allowing them into stores giving them freedom and respect?
If that's respecting animals then you need to think again.
It isn't.