There are actually several potential dangers to both customers and dogs alike in Lidl.
Firstly, Lidl is a pretty cramped store.
Aisles are thin, and it is always pretty busy inside.
Added to the fact that they sell a lot of different products, from food all the way through to outdoor furniture, toys, and other large and cumbersome items.
All of which could potentially harm a dog, or another person, if they were to be knocked over.
And dogs can cause others to trip, too.
Beyond just the logistical challenges, not all dogs are well-behaved.
Some haven’t been properly socialized; some behave poorly in crowded areas or new environments they are not used to.
The Rules for Shopping with Your Dog
Regardless of the store, you’ll need to follow some basic rules when bringing your dog to a store.
If your dog isn’t able to consistently do these activities, return to your training–and to a professional dog trainer, if needed–to work on these skills.
Stores are only appropriate for non-reactive dogs who are dependable in a public setting.
Once you decide your dog is ready for a store visit, here are some helpful tips to make those first shopping trips a success:
Call first. Rules change. Managers change. While one store location might welcome you and your dog, another location of the same retail chain might have a strict no-dogs policy. Give your local store a call first and just ask: Is your store location dog-friendly?
Potty first. Make sure your dog is walked and has had the chance to potty before entering a store.
Pack a short leash. Stores are not the place for an extendable leash or even an long, fixed leash. I use a four-foot-long leash whenever entering a store with a dog, and often hold this leash even shorter .
Start slow. Start with the easiest stores–pet supply stores. They’re accustomed to dogs in the store and, if your dog gets too excited and lets out a bark, it’s not going to shock anyone. From there, work your way up to garden centers, smaller hardware stores and feed stores, then finally boutiques and large (often noisy) home centers.
Visit at a quiet time. On your dog’s first visit to a store, visit during off hours. You first visit might not even include any shopping–you might just practice entering the store (especially if your dog isn’t accustomed to automatic doors) and walking a few aisles.
No barking. Your dog needs to be able to politely walk the aisles at your side without barking at other shoppers, merchandise, or another dog in the store.
Give other shoppers plenty of room. Move out of the way of other shoppers and carts, keeping your dog at your side on a short leash. A good “watch me” command, accompanied by a small training treat, is really useful on crowded aisles.
Remember that everyone may not love your dog. It’s hard to believe but, yes, there are those out there who don’t like or are uncomfortable with dogs. The goal is for your dog to quietly accompany you, stopping when you stop, not trying to greet other people.
Clean up any accidents. To prevent potty accidents in the store, remember our suggestion above and walk your dog before entering–and keep a close eye, especially on male dogs, around columns or other features that previous four-legged shoppers could have potentially marked in the past. If your dog has a potty accident, clean it up immediately. Along with the poop bags in my dog walking bag, I also pack a YUCKY PUPPY poop bag carrier for dogs with a few folded paper towels and hand sanitizer just in case an accident should ever occur.
Watch your dog’s body language. Is your dog getting stressed? It’s time to cut the shopping short. Keep a close eye on your dog’s body language, looking for signs of stress like yawning, lip licking, stiffness, and more, especially when your dog is encountering new things (automatic doors, shopping carts, loudspeaker announcements, beeping sounds caused by loaders at home supply stores, etc.)
Never, ever lie about your dog being a service dog. Please, please, please remember to only go to stores that welcome PET dogs. Never lie about your dog being a highly-trained service dog. It is illegal (and punishments are getting more serious in some states) and just plain wrong. You’ll find plenty of shops below that welcome pet dogs at many locations; if you need to visit a store that isn’t dog-friendly (like a grocery store or any store that sells food), please leave your dog at home for a good nap and surprise him with a goody when you return!
Can you carry a dog into a shop?
There is no specific legislation around dogs in shops, whatever the business. Whether dogs are allowed in businesses, cafes, restaurants, pubs etc is entirely down to the owner. ^^^^^ This. The only area they are not allowed under law, is food preparation areas.
You cannot take or carry your dog into Tesco or Tesco Express unless it is a service or guide dog who is helping a person with a disability. This means that Tesco is not dog friendly in the traditional sense, and as to date has no plans to change their policy.
FAQ
Which UK stores allow dogs?
Dog-friendly shops
Many big names on the high street welcome dogs in their shops. This includes John Lewis, the Apple store, Cath Kidston, Harrods, Lush and Selfridges (in limited departments). This list is likely to be much longer, as being ‘dog-friendly’ is a personal rather than legal decision.
Can you take a dog into a supermarket UK?
In the UK, there is no specific law surrounding dogs in shops. For most types of businesses, including pubs, department stores and supermarkets, it is entirely down to the discretion of the owner.
Can I take my dog into B&M?
A spokesperson from B&M said: “As with a lot of other retailers that sell food for human consumption, B&M only allow guide dogs into our stores due to hygiene purposes.
Can a dog go in a supermarket?
Sadly though, no major grocery store chains allow pets inside, unless they are service animals.
