On 4/18/2019 at 12:39 PM, Twotoes said:

Never see a large dog owner walk their dog using a golf cart. 

I have seen more large dogs walked that way than small, but neither one has been common most places we go. Not many RVers travel with a golf cart.

Edited April 18 by Kirk W

We have never left anything behind.  When we have neglected to have a bag (hey, I thought YOU had them), one of us stays behind and waits for the other to get a bag.  It's just not that much effort.  We also clean up after others if we notice it.

What I'm really sick of is the rampact dog racism in parks, which make our AmStaff unwelcome in half of the parks.  He loves everyone and everything, but he's considered vicious and not allowed.  Idiots.  Meanwhile he was attacked by an off leash Corgi in another park, and the host's answer was, "Well I didn't see it happen."  (Also our dog's reaction was "whatever" because that's his demeanor.)

Both of the things above are a big part of why we try to avoid RV parks.

Edited April 19 by Carlos

I suppose I think in an entirely different way. The issue of dogs and their owners isn't ethics or morals when you are running a business. In any situation, people will do the wrong thing. We as a society are limiting literally everything that is possibly allowed in the interest of what's easiest. When this happens, a lot of people suffer unnecessarily. Kids, dogs, stores, etc. Everyone spends tons of time on the moral issues here when you aren't going to change it. No one is going to see the people these rules are meant for on these forums nor are these rules going to really affect them because they just don't care. It's pointless.

Here's what just frustrates the hell out of me. You are a business. You are a store, a hotel, an owner of a building, etc. You will always deal with people that are inconsiderate. So the bottom line is to get all up in arms to prove a point and achieve nothing but drive away business of good people or assume that every person is going to do the same? Back in the day, that wasn't an option because people needed the patrons. And you are a business. You don't like the kids bawling and running around, leaving toys and trashing areas? No kids allowed (and there are places like this.....). You don't like the way some pet owners act? No pets allowed. You had some shoplifters in your large store? Shut down half your registers, restrict door entrances based on your convenience, check every living person's receipt and stare at them at check out as if you are running a prison. See where this is going?

We have two chihuahuas. One is 4 lbs and one is 8 lbs. They are both 9. If you sit them in any grass, you can see a nose and part of a head. So we take them to one of the last campgrounds that allows pets in an area. We take them on their little harnesses for a walk. Bella, the 4 lb baby will not go to the bathroom outside now. Only on her pee pad. She will circle in any given area for minutes and not do anything. So these obnoxious young people are watching us and yell out that we didn't pick up after our dog in a rude manner. My husband and I are very confused. One becomes confrontational and we say but she didn't go to the bathroom. She is across a field at a picnic table and then comes closer yelling (I would assume drunk) and starts looking around the area. Now we have a dog stroller and a large plastic bone attached to it with a huge roll of bright red doggie bags. You get the idea. My husband and I pick up the dog and leave. Next day we have the park coming to us. I showed them Bella, our old and tiny chihuahua. We get this straight but we just were done. We left. This is just getting absurd. You have to deal with all kinds of stuff when you offer a service. Period. Make the rules, try to enforce them. And deal with it when they aren't enforced. But now we are apparently a country of extremes so we just prohibit everybody. It's really just insane and pointless.

To complain about people that don't do the right thing is just pointless. That's not going to change anything. Nor will just prohibiting everything. Stores that don't limit pets like Ollies and Home Depot still have those customers that will comment about your dog just for existing based on their own extreme sense of justice from personal experience. My husband are retiring and want to become camp hosts instead of just campers. We will not retire without our chihuahuas. If parks stop allowing pets, we won't use them. Probably many people can say that. That's the issue. Period. Figure out how to run a business that treats everyone fairly and deal with the hassles all businesses have to deal with in making money. If you have a complaint about another camper and their dog; complain and let the business handle it. If you are a worker at this business (as I have been at other campgrounds in the past); do your job. You should know by now dealing with inconsiderate people is part of it.

We don't travel with dogs or cats because we don't want to pick up after them. I live on a small ranch in SE Texas and I just let my dogs run free. It has never been a problem and that is what we are used to. I sometimes think that I would like a dog with us but then I remember about picking up their mess. I am lucky that I have two of my children and their children living on my ranch and thay take care of my dogs and barn cats when we are gone.

  On 5/20/2019 at 2:15 AM, whj469 said:

We don't travel with dogs or cats because we don't want to pick up after them. I live on a small ranch in SE Texas and I just let my dogs run free. It has never been a problem and that is what we are used to. I sometimes think that I would like a dog with us but then I remember about picking up their mess. I am lucky that I have two of my children and their children living on my ranch and thay take care of my dogs and barn cats when we are gone.

Even if you did decide to travel with them I'm guessing you would not push them around the campground in a baby stroller, or take them to the grocery store with you, or into restaurants either?

We are seeing more and more of this bazar behavior from our generation.  

  On 5/24/2019 at 10:42 PM, FL-JOE said:

Even if you did decide to travel with them I'm guessing you would not push them around the campground in a baby stroller, or take them to the grocery store with you, or into restaurants either?

We are seeing more and more of this bazar behavior from our generation.  

I was in Lowe's a few days ago and I came around the corner to come face to face with a huge Rottweiler.  He was on a leash held by a 70'ish little lady of about 90 lbs.  If that Rot had wanted to, he could have drug that little lady and me both out in the parking lot and buried us together.

I guess it could have been a legitimate service dog, I don't know.  I watched them out of curiosity for several minutes and he was all over the place, not the typical stand still by the master well behaved animal.

I guess it's a good thing I'll be moving on from this world in a few years or less.  I just don't understand what's going on.

Lowe's, Home Depot, Ace, and similar places specifically allow dogs of all types.  As far as I know, they always have, or at least for over 20 years.  People have brought their dogs to the hardware store for a hundred years or more.  There are many other places that welcome dogs too, such as Best Buy and some outdoor stores.  Oddly enough REI prohibits them, which made it useless for trying to buy working/hiking vests for our dogs.  We just took the dogs and our money to another store.

We have one dog we don't take in public much because he's reactive.  We have another dog that goes with us a lot, because he absolutely loves everyone.  He's had a tour of Lowe's because the employees loved him so much.  Either way, both go out on top quality prong collars which allow my 110 pound wife to fully control any size dog.

I'm from Illinois but from 1980 we spent at least 2 weeks out of every winter in Florida.  I never observed a dog riding in a shopping cart in a grocery store until probably around 2010 or later, and even then it was not a common sight.  The very first time I every observed a dog in a Lowe's, Home Depot, Farm & Fleet, Tractor Supply, or hardware store of any type was probably only 7 or 8 years ago.  Maybe it has been different in other parts of the country.

The last 3 or 4 years in Florida it is almost a common sight to see dogs in grocery store shopping carts, in baby strollers in all retail establishments, including restaurants.  In addition, there are few if any places a dog is not welcome if on a leash.  I guess my question is what if you are allergic to pet dander?   Are you just suppose to deal with being forced to have contact in public with these folks fur-babies?  

I know most dog owners think EVERYONE loves their dog.  I've got new for them, everyone does not love their dog.

In the West, dogs in non-grocery stores have been normal for a very long time.  Like I said, particularly in hardware, feed, and such stores.  But I have absolutely never seen a dog in a cart in a grocery store.  So maybe that's a Florida thing?

As far as allergies, they are like all other allergies.  If you're allergic to something generally in the air, you're going to be exposed to it no matter what.  Generally however in public you're not going to be touching the dog or even anywhere really near it, so it's not hugely different.  I'm very allergic to some women's perfume and will just start sneezing.  So I avoid malls.  Should women with perfume be banned to ease my symptoms?  No, I just avoid heavy concentrations of it.

I've been going in and out of hardware stores for almost 70 years and I never saw a dog in one until 2 or 3 years ago.  Sure, back in the 50's before air conditioning, it was common to see a dog hanging around a feed store.  But, it was the owner's dog, not the customer's.

I've also spent a lot of time the last eleven years in New Mexico and Colorado.  I think those would qualify as in the "West".  Never saw anyone bring their dog into Lowe's or Home Depot or any other retail store.  Maybe it's chic in Phoenix or Denver or Albuquerque, but I don't really think it's that common elsewhere.  I won't mention California, that place is off the wall weird in lot's of respects.  No offense Carlos.  ?