Do’s and Don'ts: Bringing your pet into stores

Socialization is a crucial aspect of any pup's day-to-day life. Having your pup run errands with you confidently and having them settle in busy environments is the best feeling. Not only is it a great way to provide your dog with mental stimulation/enrichment, but it is also a great way to build up your dog's confidence and create a stronger bond between you and your pup. Many places in Ottawa allow dogs into their stores; I’ll list a few of my favourites that are not pet stores below. Although pet stores are most commonly known, they can also be a place where your pup can get overstimulated quickly by all the different smells (dogs, treats, etc.). I recommend starting this way to build your pup's confidence slowly, and by choosing places like this, there will be more room for success.

You’ll want to keep an eye out for some key elements when looking for which pet-friendly store to take your pup to. Look for a large store with big aisles and lots of room to help navigate your most likely excited pup. Timing is also key in the beginning; you want to take your pup to the store when it’s relatively not busy, quiet and with minimal distractions.

Going somewhere busy right off the bat can create a stressful and negative experience for your dog, which we are trying our best to avoid to create a positive and successful outcome. One of my favourite places in Ottawa is the Staples on Bank St. It has all the key elements that I got listed above. I find the staff super friendly and are used to having dogs come in and out. They are respectful of you and your dog's space. This specific Staples has a coffee shop called Happy Goat. The staff loves every pup that comes in and has multiple options for treats for your dog. They have a sign that they point to asking if it’s ok to give your pet a treat without actually saying the words, I think this is genius, so it doesn’t draw too much excitement, especially if you weren’t planning on stopping at the coffee shop for a treat.

So what’s the next step? Now that you have found a store to bring your dog to, how do you make this experience successful, stress-free, and an overall positive experience? Frankly, it all starts at home. The basic fundamental training you teach your dog at home with minimal to no distractions now must be transferred to an environment with distractions. While in the store, practicing commands such as sit, lie down, eyes on me, and heal will help make this experience more productive. It will force your dog to focus on you instead of the distraction surrounding you both. By starting with one command, such as eyes on me, reward your dog with a treat every time they look at you. Reward them for eye contact even when they’re not being asked because if they know that they will get a treat for just looking at you, they will do it more frequently without you even having to ask. After one command becomes second nature to your dog, and they do it every time and consistently, you can add more commands each time you go to the store, continuing the same process with positive reinforcement. Creating a chain reaction that every time you go to the store, it’s a positive and confidence-building experience for you and your pup. Eventually, you will reach your goal of going to stores with a calm dog who knows the rules when going into busy environments.

Another tip when going into stores is to keep everyone from approaching your dog; your pet needs to know their focus is on you. This is key initially because they will be excited and want to say hi to everyone. Also, not everyone wants to have a dog jump on them while they are shopping, so your dog needs to understand that. That being said, pet stores and stores that offer treats can be done to show your pup the proper way to approach people. Having the person about to give your dog a treat, ask your dog to sit beforehand and wait till they’re calm before giving them the treat is totally ok.

Your dog is your best friend, a part of the family and how fun it is to know that you can bring your pet with you to run errands and not have to leave them in the car or tied to the front of the store. This process will take time and patience, and not every trip to the store will be successful, but every trip will be a learning experience for you and your pet.

Scroll down for a list of pet-friendly stores/patios in Ottawa:

List:

• Staples

• Home Depot

• Winners

• Home Sense

• Marshalls

• Birling

• Twist

• Twirl

• Arlington Five

• The Wine Shop

• Dessert First

• Beyond the Pale

• Canadian Tire

• Lowes

• Rona Garden Centre

• Best Buy

• Happy Goat

• Bridgehead (patio only)

• Bar Lupulus (patio)

• Bad Dog Co.

• Top of the World Skateshop

• Stray Dog Brewing

• Lululemon

• The King Eddy (patio)

• Mulligans (patio)

• Dreamland Cafe (patio)

• El Camino (patio)

• St. Louis (patio)

• Merry Dairy (patio)

• Mark’s Work Wearhouse

• Pot and Pantry

• Perfect Books

• The Gifted Type

• Tavern on the hill

• Bridgehead

• The Senate

• Birdie and Boogie