Company Blog

Dogs Go Shopping

by Adam Zack — January 11, 2017

A pet problem?

Dogs Go Shopping

By Adam Zack

The biggest issue facing grocers today is not a labor shortage, it’s not inflation, it’s not Amazon. Those things are nothing compared to the Pet Problem. Pets used to be left in the car, or tied up outside the store. Then an old lady in Modesto brought her teacup poodle to the Shop ‘n Save in her purse. When no one said anything, she started putting it in the kids’ seat of her shopping cart. Seth the friendly realtor noticed and though “Damn, I guess it’s OK to bring Muffy in shopping with me.” And he did. The “No Pets Allowed” signs were suddenly too small for dog owners to see and the next thing you know pets were making shopping trips to the malls, Home Depot and grocery stores. It started happening all the time. Grocers, blindsided by this pet frenzy were at a loss. When the pet toting customers were confronted and told that no pets were allowed in grocery stores they became indignant and offended, swearing never to set foot in this dog-hating establishment again! Soon, a movement was started and little red vests for dogs that said “Service Animal” became the “I wish I would have invented that” investment and government, with nothing better to do with our taxes, came up with new laws that allow service animals anywhere and stripped us of our right to ask for proof if the owner declared it a service animal. We’re not talking Jim with the red tipped cane and the awesome German Shepard. It’s Millie with the little Shih Tzu and Teddy with the cocker spaniel. So how do we cope with it? In California it seems almost a lost cause. Big, bold, prominent signage at the front door seems to work about half the time. A dog friendly post to tie clip the leash to and a water bowl at the front door help slightly and make you look like you care. And straightforward verbal approach of “I’m sorry, pets aren’t allowed in the store due to health department laws” works sometimes, but is also often met with “It’s a service animal!!!” Sorry – looks like an ankle biter to me, ma’am.

The frustration behind this so-called Pet Problem really comes down to one thing: the modern dog has gone from backyard companion to full-time sidekick, and the rules haven’t kept up. Dogs are no longer just pets to many owners; they’re family members, emotional support, running buddies, and sometimes questionable “service animals” with impressive social lives. This cultural shift puts businesses in an awkward position, forced to balance public health rules, customer satisfaction, and the very real risk of confrontation. What was once a simple “no pets allowed” policy has turned into a daily negotiation, with grocers and store managers caught between enforcing regulations and avoiding viral outrage fueled by offended dog owners.

Interestingly, this same evolution of dog ownership has driven a boom in tools designed to manage dogs responsibly—especially outside controlled environments. For owners who truly rely on their dogs for work, training, or outdoor activities, technology has stepped in where common sense sometimes fails. Systems like Garmin Alpha are designed not for grocery aisles but for tracking, training, and safely managing dogs in the field, where knowing a dog’s location and behavior actually matters. The contrast is telling: responsible dog handling is less about where a dog can go and more about understanding where it should. As dogs continue to occupy a bigger role in everyday life, the solution isn’t pretending every leash comes with special privileges—it’s using the right tools, boundaries, and respect for shared spaces so humans and dogs can coexist without turning the produce section into a kennel.

dogpicadam