Originally posted by popcornbird
I wish people would be more considerate about taking their dogs INSIDE the store and especially at the cashier line, because no all people shopping at pet stores are used to dogs. Many people shopping for their birds, rabbits, cats, hamsters, rats, fish, and other pets aren't used to dogs, and it really freaks them out when one goes after them or even tries to go near them in the store. It always makes me so scared that I forget to buy the birds a new toy, or something I need to see before buying.
Sorry...not trying to be rude or anything......but I don't agree with you either. I *am* considerate with my dogs, and most of the other people I have seen there are too. I don't take Reggie or Smokey in the store...I tried that once, lol. Reggie growls and barks at the other dogs, Smokey pees on everything, and it was just *not* a good time with them. When I take Nebo, I keep him under control. I never intentionally get him close to other people, or other dogs..even though he does sometimes get really excited and want to see them. When I am at the cash register I put his leash on the floor and step on it while I pay...he can't move more then a foot away from me. And if he ever has an "accident" I always go to the clean-up station and clean it up...I have seen a few people that didn't do that which is kind of gross...

So many people were scared of him, he never lunged or tried to go towards them unless I told him to, but the comments were so funny "He looks like he could really take a hunk out of you!" "Can I pet him, will he bite?"
I swear every time that Melissa and I take Lady and Nebo into Petsmart/Petco I always get some sort of "Is he mean? Does he bite?" comment towards Nebo.......there's *never* any of that towards Lady. I guess he looks mean because he looks wolf-like? I don't even know. But I *do* like it when people ask me before they pet them, I wish everybody would teach their kids that.

And I have seen several people holding kittens, birds, etc. in the stores, and I've never seen anybody letting their dogs bother them. It seems to be that the people with dogs in Petsmart are more responsible with them then the people with kids in Wal-mart. LOL.

I guess my point is, the reason why I LIKE to go into Petsmart and Petco is because you can take dogs in the store. I really enjoy it. And I think the majority of the people who do bring their dogs in the store are very considerate. I can understand that you are afraid of dogs, I used to have a friend that was deathly afraid of dogs, and I'd have to lock mine up when he came over. But it's really not fair to tell the rest of us not to take our dogs in the store because you don't like dogs. I'm in Petco every day, and I go into Petsmart all the time.......and I've never seen so many dogs there that you can't just avoid them by walking in another isle...