In town last week was a lady with a pleasant collie. The lady tried to take the dog into several charity shops and was told that the dog was not allowed because it was "policy"! One assistant even told the lady to tie her dog up on a swinging sign outside the shop. This resulted in me standing on guard for 5 mins. to make sure the friendly dog wasn't stolen or dragged the sign into the road. Surely we must be able to do something about shops having such a ridiculous policy? I shall never again donate any goods to a shop which doesn't allow dogs inside but I am a voice in a wilderness. The only places into which dogs are legally not allowed is where food is COOKED. They can be where food is SERVED. I remember my puppy not even being allowed into our library. How ridiculous. Why are we Brits so prejudiced? The continentals allow dogs everywhere, including restaurants and they don't seem to be dropping like flies from dog related illnesses. That's my "bah humbug" over (for now.)

It was some years ago now but Daughter and I regularly used to take her Rott into town to keep up the 'meet & greet' sessions, always went into W H Smiths as one of the ladies on a till was a Witchita fan, suddenly got told 'out please, no dogs allowed', we queried the lack or signs and got told 'new policy'. The lady told me the 'new policy' was a new manager who was scared of dogs !!!

They can exclude dogs if they wish I'm afraid. Probably due to the amount of irresponsible owners about. When I was a cleaner in a builders merchants they allowed dogs in although it wasn't often someone brought one in. Well one day after I had just finished mopping the shop floor I noticed a lady with a young pup chatting to another costumer paying no attention to the puppy. Well not long later I saw the lady quickly leaving holding the puppy. I found out why when I found a puddle of wee where I saw the owner standing chatting. The owner hadent even told someone the pup had gone to the toilet (let alone offered to clean it up) she just left it there and walked out.

tell me about it!!!! the amount of times i have said to shops.job centre etc all signs say is nodogs only guide dogs my two are my compions etc bit like care dogs they are trianed to help me etc
i have had few good rants trying to explain that their wide range of class of dogs that help people but no ones intresed if i have to go out on bad day i take lord h getting fed up havinh to leave him out side when i need him
people do not care they are rude and irogant !!!"!

I can totally understand why dogs are not allowed in shops, unless of course they are guide dogs, a shop is not the place for our four legged friends for hygiene reasons, and over all safety of staff and other customers, but above all the dog.
I've never understood why owners take their dogs to tesco and leave the poor thing tide up outside!, I would never in a million years leave my lad unattended whilst I shopped !!!

I am a volunteer in a Charity shop and we do allow dogs in our shop, but I have to say, we have had to clear up pooh!  Annoyingly its usually left for us to find - or rather smell, owners never attempt to clear it up or tell anyone.  Again, its the irresponsible few that ruin even the simple things for the majority of us...

There are a few shops that allow dogs as we've discovered recently.
We have a motorhome and take the dog with us and on occasions will visit a local town and prefer not to leave the dog behind (most campsites do not allow you to leave dogs unattended in vans in case they continuously bark). We've discovered that most outdoor clothing shops like Mountain Warehouse will allow dogs in. We usually take it in turns to go into shops whilst the other one finds a comfy seat, but have often had one of the shop assistants stick there head out of the door and say you can bring the dog in.
Alternatively, go to Woodbridge in Suffolk. They are a dog friendly town and most of the (independent) shops allow dogs in, none of the 'chains' do.

Watching the amount of people at shows who allow their males to cock their legs over anything and everything, seemingly oblivious, I am not surprised shops ban dogs!

I agree to some extent BUT unfortunately this is as a result of people taking dogs into shops and then said dogs lifting their legs, or worse, in there.   Yes, you see dogs EVERYWHERE in Europe, but the difference is their dogs are TRAINED and you hardly ever, if ever, see any messes around in their towns, shops, restaurants in the same way you do in the UK!    It's like with renting - once bitten, twice shy.   If people let their dogs run riot, this is the result, unfortunately.   It's easier to say no dogs.

I do hate it when I see dogs tied up outside stores - it happens all the time down here on the N.Cornwall coast.   Only yesterday did I see a very pretty Whippet outside Morrisons.   Something I'd NEVER do.   But crime isn't quite so rife down here!

I agree mamabas, the level of "basic" training in mainland Europe is much better than in the UK. Friends in Germany would consider their dog to have basic good manners if it was housebroken, calm, able to sit/down/stay/wait/leave, walk nicely on the lead and greet strange people calmly. People round here seem quite content to stop at housebroken...

I think it's nice if dogs can come into places/shops, but understand why it's not always a great idea. Last summer we were in a dog friendly cafe and someone brought their in-season birch in! Total chaos ensued, it's not a dog friendly cafe any more!

The problem, as ever, isn't the dogs, but their humans.

I do go to France a lot and different regions. Yes dogs allowed in bars,restaurants and small shops. There used to be a lot of dog poo in smaller towns but we have noticed now dog signs and bins now.
We have been in tea shop gardens/conservatories and pubs inside and out eating meals too with our dog.
It's up to the manager of pub if they welcome dogs. The more tourist/hikers area it's carte blanc dogs are allowed. .. I've always taken dog bags and wet wipes in with me. My boy has not cocker his leg inside at all same as at home. Outside he does.

I don't take my dogs shopping and so would not have the problem but when I am in a shop I don't want to be greeted by a dog, I am usually wearing my very few non-hairy clothes and even so dogs always want to make a bee line for me.  As for dogs on the continent sadly the last time I went to France the amount of dog poo on every street and piece of grass was nauseating, in the hot weather the smell permeates the cities. French local authorities have special dog poo cleaning vans like street sweepers which go round and deal with the problem. Interestingly I have a French friend who lives here and regularly visits France with her dogs who are extremely well behaved, she says that most French people have a horror of picking up after their dogs and think she is peculiar when she does it, apparently she has been told loads of times that she is "dirty" for doing it.  I imagine that things are different in other continental countries so can't speak for them

what really pees me of is shops only allowy guide dogs mine are compaion they help me .i have had so many arguments trying to explain wide range of health dogs etc i had argument in my local jobcentre i was so ill having bad week etc i said to one of ladies i need my care dog in with me she said no only guide dogs i told her about deaf.medical dection etc etc etc she said i was lying if i need help they have first aider she was right cheeky bitch had to leave lord h tied up out side job centre all he did was park and cheeky smile on his face the cheeky bitch then conplaind to me that my dog was dangours and out of control which he not if i am really ill or having panic attack he does not move form my.side he will nuzzle in to me and nudge my hands
i went stright to manger put complant in she said she was not aware of wide range of care.compaion deaf.diabets fogs etc i got apogly and cheeky bitch been lot nicer
everytime i see sign saying only guide dogs i do go in to shop etc and explane wide range of health dogs

> As for dogs on the continent sadly the last time I went to France the amount of dog poo on every street and piece of grass was nauseating, in the hot weather the smell permeates the cities. French local authorities have special dog poo cleaning vans like street sweepers which go round and deal with the problem. Interestingly I have a French friend who lives here and regularly visits France with her dogs who are extremely well behaved, she says that most French people have a horror of picking up after their dogs and think she is peculiar when she does it, apparently she has been told loads of times that she is "dirty" for doing it.  I imagine that things are different in other continental countries so can't speak for them

Ahh the French!!   Well their outside toilets (Paris) smell dreadful (or used to - it's been ions since I last visited that city) so it's hardly any surprise to me re their approach to dogs!!!    My experience has been of Germany, Switzerland and Austria where I never saw any dog as much as cock his leg, let alone have a BM other than in an appropriate place     In fact visiting a friend who is lucky enough to live near Geneva, and going into her nearest smaller town, there were dogs with their owners EVERYWHERE but absolutely no sign of any fouling at all.   It was so remarkable, that I did notice.

This was discussed in an earlier post and still applies.

I think you will find that although there are lots of different categories - ie hearing dogs, assistance dogs, canine partners for independence, etc they all have to be registered with the parent organisation to be covered by the legislation that allows entry into places like shops, restaurants and the like.

Also my neighbour has a hearing dog and was told that he HAD to be wearing his 'uniform' coat to be obviously identifiable as an officially registered assistance dog.

> what really pees me of is shops only allowy guide dogs mine are compaion they help me .i have had so many arguments trying to explain wide range of health dogs etc i had argument in my local jobcentre i was so ill having bad week etc i said to one of ladies i need my care dog in with me she said no only guide dogs i told her about deaf.medical dection etc etc etc

From what I've read Recognised Assistance dogs is one trained by the guide dogs for the blind on an organisation which is a registered member of Assistance Dogs (UK) they include the deaf and medical alert one's from certain organizations and their owners who carry ID for them are now also covered the same as guide dogs and cannot be refused entry to anywhere. So a pet who may help someone in some way but is not a trained assistance dog from one of the 6 recognised organizations would not be classed as an assistance dog.
I can see why, in America anyone can train and claim their own pet dog as an assistant dog and there have been problems with some of there 'assistant' dogs being badly trained and even aggressive.
If shops had to let you take in your pet dogs they would have to let everyone and it won't be long untill the wrong owners/dogs go in causing problems.

unfortanly my old boy was not trained by any organisions
my late mother trained hers and showed me how to to train mine
i have got forms from therpy dogs to get my two assesed as therpy dogs

the auld kirk charity shop in my.village use to let dogs in but their now sign up saying only guide dogs
only other shop in village that alwoys dogs is old fashioned type ironmongers and hairdressers

Being therapy dogs still won't allow you to take them into any establishments that don't allow non-assistance dogs, although having therapy dogs is still a lovely thing to do if you can.

TBH, I'm not annoyed that dogs in general aren't allowed in.  With the attitude so many have in this country of 'I don't care what anyone else thinks', it would be a recipe for mayhem with badly behaved dogs running amok and it would only take a handful to ruin it for everyone else, just as happens in parks and the like.

The difficulty with therapy dogs is that some people are using "normal" dogs they trained themselves because it is so hard to access a therapy dog.

For instance i have every intention of training my dog to assist my autistic son and have done extensive research into how to do so.  We looked into getting him an "official" assistance dog but currently the people who provide dogs for autistic individuals have a closed waiting list.  It has been closed for several years and when i enquired i was told it would remain closed for more years as it is so oversubscribed.  The dogs are for children aged 3-10, and by the time the list re-opens and we go on the bottom of it he is likely to be over 10 by the time we get to the top.  So we have little choice, and i know that however beautifully trained and useful our dog proves to be, my son will not be able to have him at school, in shops or any of the other places he might really benefit from the assistance.  I completely agree that just letting anyone say "it's an assistance dog!" is a terrible idea.  But i would LOVE it if these parent organisations would set a (however stringent) set of "exams" for a dog to pass and award it assistance status for passing.  Our only other choice is to buy a trained dog from America.  Last i heard they cost thousands and thousands of pounds and i know one family who began the process and the dog got caught up in some sort of customs/welfare/import situation and was seized and kennelled for 15 months, after which time its training needed to be completely refreshed and it never came to the family at all.

Quite frankly shops and other establishments are quite within their rights to only allow guide dogs/registered assistance dogs in. I wouldn't want to be dragging my dogs around the shops, I cant understand this. However the one place which seems accepting of me allowing to take a dog in is the bank, they too have guide dogs only but they've never questioned me ot anyone else foe that matter and I think that with them being under total control they don't mind. Bars, cafes and restaurants which have the space to allow dogs often do, especially those in the countryside, often big city places are far too busy for dogs anyway and not really somewhere I deem suitable for a pet dog.
If you want to go shopping just leave your dogs at home, quite simple and no amount of ranting with change their minds as most places have these rules set by head office. If I had someone ranting at me wanting their dog to be let in I'm almost certain I would ban the person from entering too. Not sure why we think its our right to take our dogs everywhere we go??

Sounds like ADUK could do with having more originations join to help meet demand. I do wonder if they allowed commercial organisations to join up as well as just charities what diffrence it would make to waiting times. They would still have to be checked out and ok they will likley cost the client as they would want to make a profit being commercial but if it ment more people could get the assistance they need.

I would say ha be you tried 'dogs for good' as Their age range for autism is 3-16. But their website also says they are not taking on new people.

Realy sounds like they are overwhelmed by the demand at the moment. It would be good if there was one who trained the person's orignal dog like the one who does it for the physically disabled.

Why should you get special treatment? Assistance dogs and guide dogs are trained, professionally to a high standard. Uncle Tom cobbley and all could claim their dogs 'help' them?  To be allowed anywhere get your 'help' dogs registered as assistance dogs, prove you need the dogs with you all the time, they will be assigned a special jacket only available to registered assistance dogs, end of problem. Dogs aren't allowed into shops or businesses for hygiene and allergy reasons. Calling someone a bitch for applying the rules really isn't very nice at all. They probably are nicer to you because they dread the furore if you're asked to take your dog out again...or can't be bothered dealing with your tantrums. It seems to me, reading the forum, that you have a lot of issues and would be better seeking professional help and counselling rather than let things get on top of you.

A few of us have serious health issues, but we don't go round calling people bitches, wether to their face or behind their backs. No-one likes a miserable grumpy whinging friend, maybe if you could try to adopt a more positive focus and personality you would have more friends to support you.

The charities are all totally overwhelmed. Part of the problem is that autism is a spectrum disorder, so one person might need a dog that can help someone calm down when suffering a sensory overload, another might need one who can physically keep them safe (say by being harnessed together and dog providing gentle resistance to keep child on the pavement), another might need a dog that can understand makaton signals language signals as they are non verbal, another might just need a calm companion to scratch and help them stay calm in difficult situations like school or out in public. So training them is quite personalised and thus very time consuming and expensive. In America lots of people crowdfund to get a dog, but in the UK it isn't that simple because it might be hard or impossible to actually get the dog and you won't be able to utilise it fully anyway. By getting a pet dog I am basically taking us out of the running as most charities specify the assistance dog is the only dog in a household. But his childhood won't last forever, I can't bring myself to just wait and hope, when it might mean him never getting any of the benefits a dog would provide. So I'm just diving in

what really pees me of is shops only allowy guide dogs mine are compaion they help me .i have had so many arguments trying to explain wide range of health dogs etc i had argument in my local jobcentre i was so ill having bad week etc i said to one of ladies i need my care dog in with me she said no only guide dogs i told her about deaf.medical dection etc etc etc

Unfortunately there is no such thing as official therapy dogs in the UK, but they do exit in the US. Only dogs that have officially passed tests such a guide dogs, hearing dogs, assistance dogs etc are allowed into shops. Otherwise anyone could make up a story, if they have no proof.

If you need your dog with you to cope, you need to ask for help with mental health problems. I have had problems for a year now which are only getting worse. I have panic disorder and agoraphobia. I cannot be home alone, I cannot go into shops on my own (and even with my husband I find it very frightening to go inside a shop -the places easiest for me to cope with are anything dog related), I cannot even walk my dogs alone. But I have a team of Community Psychiatric Nurses that are working with me 3 times a week, and one thing they are going to do is help me go outside on my own -at first with a dog just around where I live. It's very similar to training dogs -you take it in very, very small steps over a long period of time. If you're having these problems you shouldn't even be going to the job centre surely, as you'd be unlikely to find a job where you could bring a dog with you? I know you said you were rejected for PIP, but have you done the applications yourself? I had help from an organisation, they did all the paperwork, all the phonecalls, I just had to collect supporting evidence such as psychologist and psychiatrist and CPN and GP reports. There's bound to be places like that everywhere, and they know how to word things -but you NEED evidence.  It's all a long process, it's taken me a year to get the CPNs, but the first step is always your GP and then asking to be referred to a psychiatrist for assessment, which then may lead to further referrals etc etc.

But i would LOVE it if these parent organisations would set a (however stringent) set of "exams" for a dog to pass and award it assistance status for passing.

I'm not sure if they deal with chidlren and autism, but try Dog AID. They will let the person train their own pet dog -as long as it is aged under 5, isn't aggressive etc. They too are seriously oversubscribed but they DO have set tests that they will let any trainer do with your dogs and then pass, as long as they are satisifed with the trainer's accreditation, of course. (I had to look into this as a dog I bred is effectively already working as an assistance dog -minus being able to get inside shops etc- and Dog AID just don't have enough trainers and kept having to put the owner off -yet he applied before getting his pup.)

To be allowed anywhere get your 'help' dogs registered as assistance dogs, prove you need the dogs with you all the time, they will be assigned a special jacket only available to registered assistance dogs, end of problem.

ONLY if there are physical disabilities serious enough for the dog to have to help with. There is no such thing as mental health dogs in the UK. There is a trial scheme currently going on, can't remember where now but think it might have been Somerset, so fingers crossed. Also there are only two organisations in the UK that allow your own pet dog to be trained as an assistance dog, the rest supply the dogs.

i have reported this tread to admin it is slander to say someone has mental illness when they have not
i.suffer falls which is no ones buisness even my pip claim is no buisness
but to slander and say i have mental illness is disgussting i will be asking my doctor to give me letter to prove it and quite happy to email it to admin
i am really sick of all crap on her and to be called mentally ill is very disgusting
i have very week left leg yes again i can prove this
people should think before they post
i am already taken legal action against someone for slander and disgusting rumots which cost me my buisness and friends

??? Who & where has anyone directly stated you have mental health issues ?

You have complained you cannot take your dog into places because he/she is not an officially trained assistance dog, you have in the past written about your health issues & refusal of PIP(not sure what that actually is) no one else.

There is no one who has written about your health issues without you mentioned them(whatever they are.

There are few people who go through their lives without health issues at sometime, more serious for some than others.

You've mentioned in this thread about panic attacks, they are brought on by anxiety which is a form of physiological fear,this falls under mental health in terms of medical facts.
Just like depression, anxiety is under the same bracket.
There is no slander here as that is the spoken word. Do you mean libel which is the written word, people are only commenting on what you actually type in this post and previous posts as you have typed on many threads about all the medical problems you face. I feel like I know your full medical history from all the detailed posts you make, which actually probably isn't that good because I don't want to know but its typed everywhere all over this forum.

Quite frankly if your health is no ones business then stop typing about it all over this forum, I really don't want to know but have clicked on a topic you've not started and reading through and you post and often turn it around to your health and sometimes in great detail too.

I don't want to know about your health and when someone as they have above has offered you advice you get your knickers in a twist and start playing the victim card, you cant have it both ways.

One minute woe is me and wanting sympathy and then when others have tried to help you've thrown it back in their faces and played the I'm being bullied card because you don't agree with it.

groveclydpoint,

no one has accused you of being mental, mad or anything else and no one has slandered you. Members have responded to the information that you yourself have supplied in your own posts since you arrived here. Please remember that this is a public forum and if you (or anyone else) post on public forums, then you (and they) must expect replies. Sometimes those replies may challenge what is said and may not be what you (or they) expect or wish to hear. That is the nature of the beast.  That is how forums work and it applies to every post ever made on this forum. If you (or anyone else) do not wish to read others peoples replies, thoughts and suggestions to what you (or they) post, then please do not post. And no, I am not telling you (or anyone else) not to post, so please dismiss that accusation before it forms...