Taking your dog shopping is something that many people love to do, as it lets you take your dog out and about with you for the day instead of leaving them at home while you run errands.
However, only a select amount of stores are known for being dog-friendly, and it’s important to know about the rules for taking your dog into a store before you show up to avoid stressful situations. Our article gives you details about taking your dog into a store and some popular stores with dog-friendly policies that might be in your area.
Can I Take My Dog Into Any Store?
In general, you cannot take your pet dog to any store. Public access rights into businesses, malls, and stores are restricted to service dogs, meaning that pet dogs will only be allowed into stores that specifically allow pets.
It’s important to note that if you do find a pet-friendly store, you should make sure that your dog is prepared for a shopping adventure, meaning that they are well-trained and well-behaved when in public.
Popular Dog-Friendly Stores
Even though most stores don’t have specific dog-friendly policies, there are some stores located throughout the United States that are notable for being pet-friendly and allowing dogs or even cats inside their locations. We give you an overview of the most popular dog-friendly stores below:
- Petco
- PetSmart
- TJ Maxx
- Bass Pro Shops
- Home Depot
- Lowe’s
- Barnes & Noble
Additionally, some restaurants in your area may have dog-friendly patios you can access, or dining areas that are dedicated to patrons who wish to shop and dine with their furry friends at their side.
Can I Take My Service Dog Into Any Store?
When it comes to accessing stores with a service dog, you are generally able to take your service dog into any store with you. This is because your public access rights with your service dog are protected at both a federal and state level, with the only exception being certain religious spaces.
Keep in mind that the only questions someone is allowed to ask you about your service dog while you enter a store are the following:
- Is your dog a service animal?
- What work or task has your dog been trained to perform?
You don’t need to answer anything outside of these questions, nor do you need to prove that your dog is a service animal by making them demonstrate their training. However, while it’s not legally required, you may still want to consider a service dog certificate to help settle any confrontations with shop owners.
Do Emotional Support Animals Have Access Rights?
Even though emotional support animals are highly beneficial to many and important companions, these animals do not have access rights in the same way that service dogs do. This is because emotional support animals are not trained as intensively as service dogs and their main task is to provide their owner with companionship.
If you want to take your emotional support animal into a store with you, you will need to access a store that has a dog-friendly or pet-friendly policy in place.
How Do I Find Out if a Store is Dog-Friendly?
If you are having trouble finding out if a store is dog-friendly, you can check directly on the store’s website; most stores will have a FAQ section where important questions about accessing the store are available, and you may be able to find their official dog policy in this section. For stores that are smaller or more local, you can visit the store in person without your dog or call ahead of visiting the store to double-check their dog-friendly policy and ensure you understand any applicable dog rules.
Safe Shopping With Your Dog
Shopping with your dog can be a fun activity, though it’s important to be sure that you only visit stores with a dog-friendly policy in place. Both local and national stores may allow you to bring in a well-trained or well-behaved dog as you shop, and individuals with service dogs should keep in mind that they do not need to adhere to any dog-friendly policies, as service dogs are generally welcome everywhere.
Always be sure that your dog is prepared for a shopping trip, and pay close attention to your pup’s comfort levels while inside a store to ensure you have a safe and fun shopping trip together.