Oh yes, it is encouraged! I lvoe to go int here and just play with all the visiting dogs - after asking permission to pet, of course!

I have taken Sugar a few times, to get her used to be out and about and socialized. I try to make her walk, and not pick her up. Big dogs scare her, large groups of people scare her, and I am trying to desensitize her a bit.

I take my cats as well - one at a time, of course! As long as they are on a leash and harness, they are welcome. I have to carry them for the most part. Sparkle LOVES to roam the entire length of the shelf of pet beds testing and tryng each one. Then we move to the Cat Tree aisle. If she finds one she likes, she settles in. I've had trouble wiggling her out! Some of them have little cubby holes up at the top, and that is where she settles.

We don't have any size limits.

I took Sugar in our Home Depot, I had her in a carriage. I was asked to take her out to the car, they said it wasn't safe. But there is an older couple I see in there with their maltese pair ALL the time! I guess I just hit the wrong manager-on-duty!

I also take Sgar in where I buy the Chicken Soup fr the Dog and Cat Lover's food. It is an animal supply store, with tons of things for sheep, cows, goats, horses. Sugar just LOVES all the smells, he he.