Blueberry’s pet store incident

[Piper's mom]

When I took Blueberry out today we encountered a large bully breed type dog that approached her, got in her face rudely and as I turned to get it away it kept circling and getting back in hers. Blueberry wanted nothing to do with this dog, the clerk/owner (I believe, I stalked her on Facebook and saw the dog with her) called the dog 3 times to come and it ignored her when finally the owner of the store grabbed her dog and put it in a room.
I did my shopping and while the clerk never apologized she did say her dog had never done that before (ya right lol) and I said perhaps the dog should’ve been on a leash she said oh ‘I’m a dog trainer’ I NEVER let him meet another dog on a leash. I wanted to tell her you ain’t no dog trainer but I held my tongue.
Blueberry is fine (too bad she didn’t pee at THAT pet store ) and none the worse for wear.
I thought about contacting the store, just to give them a heads up what a dangerous situation this could be…and I sat on it for 4 hours but finally sent them an email.
This is it…

Hi there…I’d stopped in at your Regent/Brewster store this afternoon (November 17, 2025) to get some treats for my dog and seeing as it was my dog Blueberry’s birthday I brought her with me. Just for your information Blueberry is a 20 pound Bi Blue Sheltie.
As soon as we walked in the store a large (60+? Pound) bully breed type dog approached my dog in a pushy manner, getting in her face. As I turned to get her away this dog turned continuously sticking its nose in her face in a very rude manner (rude in my opinion, not quite aggressive but pushy behaviour like this can lead to a fight ) and it took the owner (I’m assuming anyway) and clerk 3 times of attempting to call her dog back. At this point the owner of the store (I don’t know his name) took the dog and put it in a room away from us. I did finish my shopping and while the clerk never apologized (she never was clear it was her dog) she did say her dog had never done this behaviour before.
This incident has been on my mind since it happened and I’ve been on the fence about writing this…I just feel as a pet owner and patron I feel that this incident could've been avoided had that dog been on a leash. No pet owner should have to worry about their dog being approached by a large unknown dog in a pet store…a store where you are encouraged to bring your pet. Especially by a dog that does NOT have perfect recall…clearly shown by the fact the clerk called the dog 3 times without it getting out of my dog’s face.
I do realize this is your store and you can set your own rules, I just wanted to give you a heads up to how much of a dangerous situation this could be…even dog daycares in Winnipeg must not allow small dogs and large dogs to play together seeing as how some larger breeds see smaller breeds as prey which could easily lead to an attack.
I like your stores and I hope you do well however I’m not sure I’ll return as I’m not comfortable bringing my dogs into a store that allows large unreliable dogs to wander the store.
I just wanted to bring this to your attention.
Thank you,
This was the dog that got in her face…Blueberry’s head could’ve fit in its mouth!

What is your opinion about pet stores allowing their pet dogs to wander? I can see if it’s a store that doesn’t allow pets…my physiotherapist had a dog occasionally in their office. I get that (so long as you don’t have anyone afraid of them)…you certainly don’t have to worry about other dogs. But a pet store that encourages you to bring your dog in…it’s a recipe for disaster!

 

[Ann]

Good for you letting them know! No one wants to get people in trouble but you are so right about incidences of large aggressive dogs attacking Shelties. I don’t have a problem with dogs in pet stores but the owner should have immediately corralled and leashed or confined that dog. If anything had happened, you would have a nice lawsuit against the store and I’m sure the owners know that.

It’s too bad Blueberry had that happen on her birthday but I’m sure you got some extra treats to make up for it!

 

[Ron Atkinson]

They would loose my business and I would think about carbon copying your e-mail to the landlord if there is one. Definitely Not Cool

 

[Piper's mom]

Good for you letting them know! No one wants to get people in trouble but you are so right about incidences of large aggressive dogs attacking Shelties. I don’t have a problem with dogs in pet stores but the owner should have immediately corralled and leashed or confined that dog. If anything had happened, you would have a nice lawsuit against the store and I’m sure the owners know that.

It’s too bad Blueberry had that happen on her birthday but I’m sure you got some extra treats to make up for it!

Blueberry was none the worse for ware, that’s for sure. I’ve experienced dogs in pet stores before as well but they’ve never had the run of the store (they were behind the counter) and usually much better behaved. Not this big bully breed which I don’t trust at all. Not a pure bred, I think she said he was a cattle dog/mastiff…and probably a few others.

 

[Piper's mom]

They would loose my business and I would think about carbon copying your e-mail to the landlord if there is one. Definitely Not Cool

Interesting…I never thought of the landlord. I’m not there yet, it wasn’t the store owner’s dog but the clerk’s (who is also the groomer). I’d hate to get the owner in trouble if he’s willing to not allow it or at the least post a notice on the door. I’ll see what kind of response I get first.
In my opinion if a dog doesn’t come when called I wouldn’t trust them off leash.

 

[Sharon7]

In a situation where you are allowed to bring your dog in I think it's common sense to have absolute control of a store employee dog. I think it's right to let them know. People are way too casual about big breed dogs harassing or just being rude to smaller dogs.

 

[SheepOfBlue]

Behind the counter unless the dogs know each other and are friendly in past. Sca would have been the dog to go and look behind the counter for his buddy. At that point if they want let the dog free. JMO

 

[woof]

That kind of thing always bothers me about being in a public place with my dogs. Years ago I was walking my border collie shepard mix, he has cancer and was not in great shape but we would go for slow walks. I stopped to talk with a neighbor and a golden retriever came running down the hill and immediately attacked my dog-- he was shaking my dog- the neighbor and I were try to separate them, I was hitting the golden as hard as I could and finally he let go and saunters back off to his home. You can never tell and what small thing will set some breeds off. You were right to be concerned, I am sure if Blueberry had give the wrong body language twitch he might well have attacked perhaps if she were a he??? I love the old "oh he has never done that before". I like pet store owners with friendly cats better than with friendly dogs. Most dogs are fine but that one who isn't can change everything. My b collie mix would never go for walks again.... I never meet dogs or let mine meet dogs that aren't on a leash... When you were in the store you were on HIS territory his home..

 

[Piper's mom]

That kind of thing always bothers me about being in a public place with my dogs. Years ago I was walking my border collie shepard mix, he has cancer and was not in great shape but we would go for slow walks. I stopped to talk with a neighbor and a golden retriever came running down the hill and immediately attacked my dog-- he was shaking my dog- the neighbor and I were try to separate them, I was hitting the golden as hard as I could and finally he let go and saunters back off to his home. You can never tell and what small thing will set some breeds off. You were right to be concerned, I am sure if Blueberry had give the wrong body language twitch he might well have attacked perhaps if she were a he??? I love the old "oh he has never done that before". I like pet store owners with friendly cats better than with friendly dogs. Most dogs are fine but that one who isn't can change everything. My b collie mix would never go for walks again.... I never meet dogs or let mine meet dogs that aren't on a leash... When you were in the store you were on HIS territory his home..

Exactly his territory! And this woman is a ‘dog trainer’, said to me as if to imply she knows everything! I got Piper to his OTCH but I’d never imply to anyone that I was more informed than they especially when they clearly couldn’t even see their nose right in front of their face. Your not a trainer when you are blind to your own dog’s problems.

It still angers me and I’ve yet to receive an email back. If I don’t hear back I may escalate it by calling our animal services and see if anything in our responsible pet ownership bylaws would apply to a business owner. If it doesn’t then I’ll discuss how can I make a complaint about how it should apply.

 

[Calliesmom]

most of our stores have signs saying well behaved pets on leash are welcome- if that's similar there, then store dog should also be on leash or otherwise contained.
luckily, I've never been in a store with any of mine where there was an offleash dog. I have had to avoid oblivious owners with on leash dogs by switching aisles until that person/dog moved on.