'Y'all need to stop bringing your dogs in places that serve food': Customers share stories of entitled dog owners who bring their pets everywhere

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Sep 6, 2025 3:00 PM EDT

How are we all feeling about people who bring their furry friends everywhere? 

If you took your dog to the grocery store 30 years ago, it would stop people in their tracks. They might smile and ask to pet your pup, or they'd laugh, or they'd ask you why you brought Fido to get groceries with you. It was a total novelty, and unless you had a service animal, this just wasn't the norm. However, these days, dogs go everywhere. They're at the very crowded grocery store on a Saturday morning. They're at the fancy restaurant, slurping water from a dog dish. They're at the Target, the Walmart, the corner store. Everywhere you turn, people are bringing their dogs with them while shopping, and a lot of people do not care for this at all. 

I'm one of those people! I love dogs. But when I go to that crowded grocery store on a weekend and I'm blocked from the freezer aisle by a massive Doberman, it makes me nervous. What if a little kid steps on that dog and it flips out? What if the dog licks the produce? Why in the world does your massive pet, cute though they may be, need to be here with you right now? 

One answer is that a lot of people adopted pets during the events of the early 2020s, which we dare not speak of. These pets were used to their paw-rents being around them 24/7, and a lot of them developed anxiety whenever their parents leave the home. Instead of dealing with this, Mom or Dad just takes the pup with them everywhere now. 

However, as some people pointed out in response to this person's annoying discovery at a restaurant, there are plenty of times that dogs are making customers uncomfortable. Some people are allergic, while others just don't want to chow down at a fancy restaurant while listening to a dog loudly pant under the table. It's quite the divisive topic, as you can read all about down below. 

Next, read about this utter legend of an employee who became "employee of the year while secretly working 3 full-time jobs at once: "I had to… ask them to get [the video] removed." 

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  • 01

    "Y'all need to stop bringing your dogs in places that serve food"

    White dog with black spots in front of grocery store vegetable section
    via nrd on Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02
    This does not include service dogs. Y'all need to stop bringing your dogs in grocery stores, bars, restaurants, etc. I don't care how cute you think your dog is, it's disgusting. There is no reason why your dogs bare a should be sitting in a grocery basket. Do better.
    via u/IslandEquivalent2565
  • 03
    aintjoan I was walking into a small grocery store the other day and a woman walking a huge dog was looking like she was about to walk past the entrance when the dog decided to walk inside. She first said "No (whatever- dog-name), we're not going in here" and then just.... let the dog drag her in. I
    via u/aintjoan
  • 04
    watched her let it walk up and down near every aisle. smacking its tail against everything, and then eventually as I was checking out, she finally left -- with nothing. No purchases whatsoever, just literally walking her dog through the GROCERY STORE. Something is wrong with people, I swear.
    via u/aintjoan
  • 05
    afdc92 People will bring their dog into the grocery store because they say that their dog has anxiety and can't be left alone. I'm no dog expert, but I feel like if your dog's anxiety is so bad that they can't be left alone for an hour or two while you go shopping or get lunch with a friend, that's something that requires more serious intervention.
    via u/afdc92
  • 06
    scatk... Woman I saw walked in to a coffee shop bakery I go to all the time, dog goes up on 2 legs and put paws on the counter near the food. There is glass but still it was right there. Her response was "oh he is excited, he just wants a
    via u/scatkinson
  • 07
    treat" the people working gave her a dog treat and she left. Didn't buy any food or coffee just dropped off her dirty dog paws on the counter and left.
    via u/scatkinson
  • 08
    BakaHyatt The people who bring their dogs with them everywhere are unfortunately the same people who will try and fight you if you confront them about bringing their dogs everywhere. I worked retail and when people brought their dogs into my stores half the time I ended up cleaning up sh afterwards. or
    via u/BakaHyatt
  • 09
    RelaxErin A girl had a giant dog in Target with one of those retractable leashes. She was zoned out on her phone while the dog just pulled the leash longer and jumped on me. I generally consider myself a dog person, but I don't know your dog. I don't want random dogs jumping on me when I'm trying to buy laundry detergent.
    via u/RelaxErin
  • 10
    squid-toes I got licked by a dog in acme a few weeks ago. I'm allergic to dogs. I was in the produce section. The rest of my time was just "what else lick if he did that f licked me in passing?" Freak ass
    via u/squid-toes
  • 11
    sadsolocup The other day, I was inside of a Shop Rite. Lady had her dog in the top part of the cart where children sit. She was told not to. But then she said it was a service dog and conveniently "left the vest at home". It was a very small Pomeranian, if it makes a difference.
    via u/sadsolocup
  • 12
    barbackmtn Couldn't agree more. I was at Fiore for dinner one night. Some person came to get takeout with their dog in an extendable leash. It walked right up to our table and started sniffing my leg. Absurd.
    via u/barbackmtn
  • 13
    Motor-Juice-6648 This is the result of apartment dogs IMO. I had dogs growing up but we lived in a house and the dogs could be outside and had plenty of space to be a dog. We never took the dog shopping-that was NOT a thing.
    via u/Motor-Juice-6648
  • 14
    I don't believe dogs that can't fit in your backpack belong in small apartments, but that's me. At the very least owners need to clean up after them (in their apartment and in the building hallway) and not take them into grocery stores, cafes or restaurants.
    via u/Motor-Juice-6648
  • 15
    White dog with black spots with open mouth
    via Justin Veenema on Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 16
    jarOfstars Not to mention, I'm super allergic to dog hair. If I'm around dog dander for like 30 minutes, my lungs will start to close so I usually bring my inhaler and benedryl to any place I know will be heavy with dog dander.....which s ks is now my store and target. grocery
    via u/jarOfstars
  • 17
    mynameiskayteee I saw 2 dogs in Ikea today. In did a double-take both times. People are way too comfortable.
    via u/mynameiskayteee
  • 18
    Ima112519 Heirloom on 2nd. every time I see a dog's a hole pointing toward the produce. I don't buy fresh food there anymore.
    via u/Ima112519
  • 19
    Thefa... I take issue with the bars portion of this. Many bars are cool with you having your dog on the patio in the summer. I do that with my dog on occasion, but other than a patio beer on occasions, if it's not a park or a bike trail, she stays home. My dog isn't a purse or accessory.
    via u/Thefattestbeagle

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dogs restaurant service dogs food service entitled people service industry grocery store
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