I am fed up with seeing peoples dogs tied up out side shops . It always worries me. They could get stolen . And to see the worried face of a dog looking for its owner breaks my heart. I am also shocked at how long the dogs are left for. When I see a dog tied up I stay in the street to keep an eye on the dog till the owner returns. And have found my self waiting up to half an hour or more. Its so sad. I never know if the dog has been dumped or just left wile the owner go's shopping. Its not fair on the dog. When will people learn ?

I know i always find this really tight, some just sit there looking all sad not knowing whats going on and i often wonder if the dog will still be there when the owner comes back out, never ever left my dog outside a shop tired up and dont intend doing!! Luckily if i happen to be in that situation usually in a town centre, i sneak him in with him being small i get away with carrying him, but obviously a normal supermarket would never allow it. But why take your dog to the supermarket with you or to the shop, unless its a guide dog obviously etc... I know we get in these situations from time to time, but how are they so confident the dog wont get robbed!

Yes I always feel sorry for the dogs, I spotted one cuddling up to a starbucks window and realised his Dad & "son" were the otherside of the starbucks window, his eyes never left their faces. We always have a few outside of Sainsbury,s as well. I am amazed why people take them shopping, I did it once and neither one of us enjoyed the experiance. But leave them tied up outside NO WAY, they are better off at home.

I see dogs tied to poles all the time.  Especially at Tim Hortons!  They buzz in to get a coffee, while the dog is outside.  I would never do it!

Wonder though, what their reaction would be, if they came out and found their dog stolen.  I bet then they would learn.  Pitty it would have to come to that though.

I have to admit that until recently when I walked with the dogs everywhere I would combine their walks with errands.

It is a risk, but they would have missed many walks if I did not take them with me, the fact that I have five of a medium size breed that people don't assume to be friendly does help.

Also in my local area I am well known with the dogs.  they also wear tags that state they are chipped and tattooed.

This gives me loads of opportunity for the dogs to socialise with people and they are bombproof with traffic and crowds.

I occasionally tie mine up outside the village shop whilst I pop in for a paper, they sit and watch the world go by, they certainly dont pine for me (they were taught to be left in various situations from a young age) and I can keep an eye on them all the time. Mine also have the theft deterrant of "Tattooed, chipped and DNA profiled" on their name tags - not sure how effective that would be though.  I would never leave them outside sainsburys though, I saw a little scruffy x-breed tied up outside sainsburys the other day, howling his little head off :(

I have always let my dogs stay outside a shop when I've been up town.
I never used to tie my first dog and she would eventually wonder around superdrug trying to find me!

I have once nipped into a newsagents and got Tinkerbell to wait outside since, but have been 5 minutes and can see her at all times.
Usually I see about 3 kids cuddling her when this happened last time as she has the look & size of a puppy!

I suppose living in a small seaside town we don't get any dog napping around here. I would feel different about a pedigree pup though. I didn't leave Snoop when young, once he slipped his collar & ran away from my ex BF in the high street at about 4 months old and luckily he went into the pub on the high street!

> I occasionally tie mine up outside the village shop whilst I pop in for a paper,

Me too, I was going to post earlier when I read this but didn't want to get **shouted** at for it!  Our local Tesco's is on the way to where we walk to dogs & I'm only ever gone 2 mins max plus they have a glass front & I tie her in a place I can see her at all times.  Mol doesn't seem to fussed by it all, she gets a lot of strokes etc, probably likes the attention plus we normally call into the pet shop next door so she can have a treat!!

I have never and would never tie mine up outside anywhere - IMO it's too much of a risk.  They are open to being stolen, attacked by another dog or possibly frightened or taunted by children et al.

I never left my daughter in her pram outside a shop either :)  Another major no-no IMO!

That would be my biggest fear Teri, not them getting stolen but getting wound up by kids - which is why I always keep an eye on them.  once or twice ive been outside and told kids not to go near them.

Oh I still haven't got my knockers untwisted fromthe last time this subject came up... Lol :-D ;)

I think it depends on your neighbourhood, the position of the shop, visibility etc.  We assess risks all the time.  We drive our dogs up and down the country to shows and even just for a run out somewhere, often in the hatch of cars where there is no protection in the event of an accident but we do it because the benefit to them, or us, is worth it.  I feel it is the same taking them along on the jaunt to the shops. 

I,m with Teri on this one,Apart from the fact my breed have to keep you in their sights at all times or all hell would break loose,there are far two many owners around here who let their dogs do exactly as they please and if one of them were to run up to my little madam  I,m afraid she,d give them one heck of a talking too and god forbid if a child was involved in the fraccus.
Its so easy for a child to be nipped or a lead too snap and as the big dogs usualy get the blame if its their fault or not  I,d really rather leave my dog safely at home.
Sharon

Knickers!!!
I meant knickers!!
(cant edit or it makes the link go funny)

:-O

....speaking of Knockers......
ROFL!!

:-D :-D

LOL - we're a repetitive bunch aren't we :-D

KFC is closed and I was sooo distressed that I treated us to an Indian takeaway.
I dont like going through the dark streets alone so took one large- black brindle bitch aka 'blackdog'.
To collect my meal I had to leave her in a sit (too nippy this time of year for a down) stay until I collected my food from the shop. Just a few minutes but it caused the waiters to go out to see 'the good boy'. "Oh He listens to you - amazing" so they promptly went back to get her a popadom.

I never tie dogs up outside anywhere and never leave the Cavaliers in cars or unattended.Even in my garden they always have a boxer to make sure they're 'nick-proofed'

You're never going to get over the KFC closure are you hun :(  Indian takeaway or not, there's just no true sub for a KFC!

I don't expect my terrorist bunch would be in danger of being nicked but then I don't expect they'd be in danger of remaining in a 'stay' either - especially not with the scent of pakora in the air, they'd be in along with me and heading for the kitchen :-D

to think that a small seaside town is safe from dog theft is sheer lunacy....nowhere is safe...NO WHERE. I hear all the time of dogs stolen from tiny towns and villages.
As for dogs outside shops....sorry but it makes my blood boil.  I remember a number of years ago now someone I know did this with their old lab......they heard a commotion outside andwent out to find police/screamig hysterical woman.....turns out this woman walked by with toddler...toddler (not under control of parent) rushed up to lab (which was alsleep waiting for owner outside cafe)...dog woke with a start and snapped at small child. Guess what??? it wasnt the childs fault of course :( :( :( dog was put to sleep :( I know another time someone I know tied a dog to a bollard outside a post office....something scared the dog (usually bomb proof) and it took off and snapped lead, ran out into road and killed when hit by passing car. both of these happened in small seaside towns!!!!! :(

Thing is, if we had something awkward or heavy to carry out of somewhere that necessitated leaving coat or bag outside a shop we wouldn't, because we'd immediately think it might get pinched - and they're easily replaceable inanimate objects! 

Our dogs aren't replaceable and never can be :(  Any risk, and there are multiple forms of risk in this scenario, is too much for me or mine

Stuff could happen when you are with them.  We all take calculated risks in our lives.  If we left them at home the house could catch fire and nobody there to let them out.
I'm not sure that the seaside bit is not a red herring :-) it's more relevent that is a a location that you have a handle on.

> We all take calculated risks in our lives

Surely it seems sensible to go with the lowest common denominator in such calculations :) 

I wouldn't leave mine outside anywhere or in the car. I have had friends who's dogs have been untied and taken and others who've had their cars pinched with their dogs inside. Fortunately they were all returned ok.

> Surely it seems sensible to go with the lowest common denominator in such calculations

I think I am taking the lowest common denominator from the risks and benefits in my particular situation.

>Knickers!!!

I meant knickers!!
(cant edit or it makes the link go funny)

no no, you having your knockers tied up left a much funnier picture !!

My dog is my baby. And I could never leave her outside a shop. I was asked at a dog show if I would put her in the car for a bit and take a brake, but I could not do that ether. I only take her to town if there is two of us so one can watch her. It only takes a second for someone to take a dog. When I was living in wales a dog was left tied up outside a shop and the owner never came back, the dog had been dumped. Now if I see a dog tied up I spend ages waiting to see if the owner comes back. This morning I spent a good 20 mins waiting with a dog who's owner had gone shopping. It made me so angry anyone could have taken that dog or it could have got lose or been hurt. And only I was there to be his garden angel. :(

Does there have to be a right answer, isn't it OK for each person to assess the risk based on a number of criteria? 

Before we moved, I would regularly see a very elderly man and his equally elderly dog on a walk to the shops.  I met them several times too at both ends of the day.  His dog would wait outside the newsagents, then go into the grocers with his owner for a carrot and eat that whilst waiting outside the Spar shop.  They did this most weekday mornings.  On Friday evenings we'd see them at the Fish & Chip shop, the dog would wait outside the back door and one of the girls would pass him something in his own cardboard dish.

I recall getting quite upset when I saw the gent without his dog for a few days but he was soon back on the job.  I must say the sight of these two smart chaps setting off each day used to reassure me that all was well in the world - I'm not sure why, sentimental perhaps.

I'm sure that this daily outing was not only important to them but necessary and the benefits for each of them in this case far outweigh the risk.  I'd like to imagine they are still together but I suppose it's a bit unlikely given their ages when we left the area - I hope they both went together.

The dogs I see are left for a long time, and the owner is no where in sight. I did have a cross breed myself many years ago  that would wait outside the post office when I went in, but I could see her at all times and every one new she was mine so I had lots of eyes on her. . To see a old man with his faithful dog waiting just outside a shop is fine by me, its the dogs left tied for ages as the owners disappear that really gets me angry. If they cant see the dog how do they know its OK?

> Does there have to be a right answer, isn't it OK for each person to assess the risk based on a number of criteria?

IMO based on the number of risks versus leaving the dog at home alone for an extended period, the right answer would be to leave the dog at home :) Dogs left tied up unattended are vulnerable - more so in some areas than others, but always vulnerable and to multiple risks unfortunately, only some of which have been mentioned. 

Just to address the risk of theft for eg,  dogs are not necessarily stolen only for the purpose of a 'free' pet but also as potential breeding machines and possibly dog fighting or equally terrifying 'baiting' purposes - so not only the perceived 'valuable' pedigree is at risk but also mongrels, elderly dogs etc too and I'd be surprised if someone intending to steal a dog took time to read it's tags rather than make a swift getaway.  Dogs taken for a purpose for which it turns out they are of no use would at best be dumped goodness knows where unless there was perhaps the opportunity of a reward (in itself reason for some to kidnap dogs).

Of course these are my opinions, my choice and what I would advocate to anyone asking advice on the matter - not much point in me advocating someone else's opinion based on their risk assessment or criteria, especially when same doesn't meet my personal standards

regards, Teri

My OH works evenings in Sainsbury's and he sees a lady come in most nights who ties her 2 small crossbreeds outside the shop. 

One night he happened to notice 2 yobs with a Bull mastiff finding it incredibly funny that these 2 poor dogs were terrified of their own dog and kept taking it right up to them whilst they wee'd themselves with fright.   Luckily the dog itself wasn't aggressive. OH had to tell them to get lost and when he searched the store to find the owner she said that they had previously both been attacked by a similar type of dog.

I would never leave my guys outside a shop, they are far too precious to me and although I am not generally a negative person, I wouldn't trust any stranger to be un-supervised around my family.

My Gran used to leave her very obedient and much loved Rough Collie outside her local shop (small village and about 30 years ago) while she popped in. One day a small boy came along, picked up lead and asked dog to come with him. Dog wouldn't go as my Gran had asked him to 'stay' and when my Gran came out of the shop, she found said child kicking her beloved dog in the stomach. It caused some kind of internal injury which led to the dog having to be PTS.

I would never, ever leave my dog anywhere outside alone or unnattended, just like I wouldn't leave my children anywhere unnattended, and I would imagine dogs more likely to be stolen or hurt than children. Both children and dogs are far too important for me to take any such risk with them. I simply don't need to.

> IMO based on the number of risks versus leaving the dog at home alone for an extended period, the right answer would be to leave the dog at home

I totally agree with Teri.

I look at it like this, 'how much do I value my dog? Would I leave a child or an expensive ring outside the shop or any other possesion that you hold most dear? No I wouldn't.
If part of the dogs excercise is a trip to the shops then maybe a re-think on the routine is needed, after all it's not a lot of fun for them tied up outside Tesco on a dark blowy night or any for that matter.

I see many a pooch tied up outside our local store, if it's a pretty little thing or a strapping handsome pedigree then some nurk could nick it for breeding, if it's a meaty looking cross breed then some thug could take it for fighting and the mongrels with their own special charms that are somebodies love can all end up in a bad way.

Just when you thought you'd done the right thing by having your phone number etc on the dogs tag your phone rings and somebody wants money for the return of your dog.
They're nicked for drug money too.

I live near a small market town in Warwickshire and last year there were eighteen dogs stolen whilst tied up outside retail outlets in the town and surrounding villages during the week before Christmas.  The Dog Warden I spoke to said that it was just the 'norm' - presents for Christmas!  :-( 

BE WARNED!   

I would not dream of leaving my dog outside Tescos on a dark and blowy night nor any sink estate where yobs are likely to be lurking.
I think we need to keep a sense of proportion.  The town that I am talking about is somewhat unusual in being almost completely populated during the day by middle aged walkers and middle class families and a large proportion of them are dog owners themselves.  Like me I doubt they would be backwards in coming forwards if a child was tormenting or upsetting a dog and I would imagine if you left a coat or bag outside it would be gone when you came out beside some busy body would have had it away to the lost property.
Where I shop has a large pedestrian area outside the glass front to the inside/outside cafeteria where many of those people are eating with their dogs secured outside.  I have never seen any theft recorded in our local rag, which records every episode of littering, and as there is never less that half a dozen dogs there at anytime the opportunities would presumably be higher than many other places.  If a thief did chance by he would be hard pushed to know which dog belonged to which person observing from the cafeteria.  On the way to the shop is a lovely river side walk through the park and I like to shop on foot anyway.  Why should I not consider taking my dog with me? I would not leave a youngster and I would not leave my oldie.
I am sure we have all heard of dogs being injured or worse in car accidents and trapped in housefires but do we say it is below all our standards to ever travel with them on an unecessary journey or leave them alone without a human to help them escape?  I am sure we are all adult enough to evaluate sensibly what is a reasonable risk in an area that we know well.

In responding to Teri I did not realise that her response may have been to comments that you may have made Isabel, I am guilty of not reading the whole thread and just picking up on the concept of leaving dogs outside stores.

Whilst I appreciate what you say about your own particular area and the safety factor that you feel exists there I still feel that for myself I would not leave my girls unattended. I too live in a very middle class area, an area frequented by more mature people, I walk my dogs in a very dog friendly water reserve, but I would still not leave my girls.

I would still leave my girls at home rather than outside my local store be it Tesco, OneStop or what have you.

I feel that my dog or dogs are more likely to get nicked left outside a shop than my house is to burn down, I have some control over the fire risks in my home I have no control over the plebs that can and do roam our streets

Hi Nicola

>In responding to Teri I did not realise that her response may have been to comments that you may have made Isabel,

It wasn't, my reply was (in the main) to dogs a babe - not that it matters to me who does or doesn't agree with any poster but since it concerns you for whatever reason, better to clarify :)

Isabel does appear to have picked something up (metaphorically speaking  ;) ) re jackets and bags from my earlier comments but that would seem to be where the similarity between our posts ends.  Not an unusual occurence LOL as it's rare to come upon topics where we share similar views however I believe that we each respect the other's dedication and genuine love of our respective canine families so we have something in common :-D

As to whether living in Lapland, Legoland or LaLaLand carries lesser or greater risks on the topic of discussion is a matter of opinion - and I think mine's been covered thoroughly enough :-p

(unless we go down the route of linking to google maps for comparison of idyllic settings - or cut straight to the chase and run a PNC check on post codes    methinks best not ;) )

regards, Teri

The issue that concerns me is not so much theft (in a situation as Isabel has given for example) But that in a public place I have a duty of care and that as a responsible dog owner I cant justify (where I had a choice to) not being able to react appropriately if a child (of any class!!) shoved a power ranger down my dogs ear!

I can see both sides of this...but in a public place,there are so many other variables even in Pleasantsville.

I'd imagine that if a dog tied up and left unattended was provoked into snapping, however normally good natured, that the owner would be legally held entirely responsible for allowing their dog to be 'out of control in a public place' ..............

I'm sure they would.
I have a total understanding of all the reasons that people may have to steal dogs and all the things that people/children may do to provoke a dog but I also have a clear understanding of the probabilities of any of this occuring in my particular situation.

I am lucky to have hundreds of acres of country park to walk in, complete with a lovely cafe with plenty of outside seating. Although most of the visitors are dog walkers, the cafe does not allow dogs inside and there is no way of ordering without going inside!! Every day I walk past and would love a cup of tea, but wont risk leaving my girl tied up outside. I just don't feel the risk is one I would like to take.

Once a week I make the effort to take Jade into town just for a bit of window shopping, and we sit and share a bacon sandwich outside a cafe bar with outside service. I do get a few odd looks sitting outside in the freezing cold. I do think it's a great way to socialise our dogs and I love the way older people open up as they fuss Jade and tell me tales about pets they used to have. Yesterday I had an elderly gentleman come and join us, he seemed so sad and when he sat down Jade rested her chin on his knee as he quietly stroked her. At first he only talked to her, then with misty eyes he told me he had just had his dog taken off him as it had nipped his carer. He was so sad I could have cried for him, he said he missed having his dog to talk to and that nowadays people didn't have the time to stop and talk to a silly old man anymore. We spent quite a while chatting and it was so nice to share Jade with him for the 15 minutes of so that we sat together, it really made me feel very lucky to have her.

What a lovely story that poor old man bet that made his day having love's from your dog.

We are lucky in town we are allowed to take our dogs into a cafe !
Used to love having lunch with my girlfriends, have toastie hot chocolate then head off to the beach for a walk.

Feel quite offended that some have said I do not value my dogs as I used to leave them outside a shop.

I also have amazing wide open spaces but I think it is good for dogs to learn how to cope with the high street. A rescue dog I had never had been down town and was a nervous wreck so started with a walk down early Sunday mornings so no scary lorries etc, she loved it in the end and coped well with sitting outside while I got a paper.
I would not do a weeks shopping at tesco's because way to many people in and out and scary trolleys too.  

Most of our local shops allow dogs in :) even the odd cafe, the ones that don't allow dogs in usually have a special place where the dogs can be tethered and they provide a bowl with water so the dogs can have a drink if they are thirsty :)

I love living here x

i would never leave my dogs tied up outside a shop!
i however have left my children!!! but noone ever took them!
it doesnt stop me trying though
my 25year old is getting wise to my tricks now and follows me home!
(this is a joke by the way)
did forget my mums dog once but he was still where i had tied him 3 hours later!!!

When the children were small the dog always came to and from school with me,he was allowed in the playground and sat out side the local shop while I did errands on the way home. He knew everybody and they knew him and he was perfectly happy. The dogs I have now do not like it so I dont do it. There have also been a number of thefts so I just wont take the risk.

my 25year old is getting wise to my tricks now and follows me home!


Daughter  is off travelling in the spring, she has asked me not to move while she is gone ;-)

My mum and dad lived on Anglesey and i moved away to Cheshire.. we parted on bad terms!
however after a year i decided that enough was enough and that i would contact them  ..
i phoned them and a strange voice answered the phone..this wasnt unusual as it was a hotel and one of the guests could have been passing the phone when it rang..
what was unusual though was when she said sorry mr and Mrs Jones moved out 6 months ago and didnt leave a forwarding address!!!
she was the new owner...