If your dog has a hard time leaving your side, then you might want to bring them everywhere with you.
Some stores allow you to bring your dog with you and even put them right in the shopping cart.
Others only allow service dogs into their stores.
If you’re planning to shop at Target, then you may wonder if you can bring your puppy with you or if you need to leave them at home.
Are Dogs Allowed In Target?
No, dogs are not allowed in Target.
While there are some stores that allow you to bring your dog shopping with you, Target is not one of them.
That’s in part because Target isn’t specifically a pet store.
They’re a department store that also carries home goods and other items.
While they do have a pet section, their store’s focus isn’t on pet supplies.
Although Target does not allow just any dog owner to bring their dog into the store, they do allow service dogs into the store.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the government made it legal for those suffering from a disability to have their service animal with them in certain areas of a business.
They’re able to travel with their owners to places where the public can go, but they’re restricted or heavily discouraged from entering places where the public cannot go.
Because it’s a federal law, it means Target is unable to block service dogs from entering their stores.
That said, certain state governments might have differing laws that can complicate the issue.
Either way, unless your dog is a service animal, it cannot go with you to Target.
Why Aren’t Dogs Allowed In Target?
Since there are some stores that allow dogs inside with their owners, you may wonder what makes Target so different.
It all has to do with safety and sanitary concerns.
Here are some reasons why Target doesn’t allow dogs into their stores.
1. Sanitary Concerns
Target sells myriad different products.
Most Target stores also have a grocery store in them.
While some grocery sections may not be expansive in every store, most still have food items sitting out on tables.
Having a dog around food isn’t sanitary.
For one, there’s always a chance that the dog might smell something delicious and jump on the table in an attempt to eat it.
That can contaminate the whole table.
Target loses money as a result since they’re unable to sell the food.
There are also sanitary concerns about walking around the store in general.
Some dogs have trouble controlling their bladders.
They might have an accident while walking down one of the aisles.
Several people might come into contact with the mess before a worker cleans it.
Because dogs aren’t the cleanest animals out there, they can create unsanitary conditions.
Target doesn’t have the manpower or budget to deal with the sanitary problems that dogs bring into the stores.
As such, they avoid the problem entirely by keeping them out of their stores.
2.Safety Concerns
Another big concern that Target has is safety.
Service dogs go through rigorous training to ensure they’re comfortable around other people and animals.
They have a job to do.
Normal dogs don’t always have the same level of obedience training.
While some dogs might be okay around humans, they might not be okay around other dogs.
As such, if the dog encounters another dog in the store, then it could present a safety issue.
The two dogs might fight and end up causing damage to the merchandise or harm to store guests.
Then there are the dogs that don’t get along well with other humans.
If they believe that a person seems threatening to their owner, then they might attack.
The dog might even attack store workers.
Target could end up with some nasty lawsuits to deal with.
It’s a lot easier for the store to simply ban dogs that aren’t service dogs from entering their stores.
3.Merchandise Damage
A final concern Target has is merchandise damage.
Dogs don’t always know when something isn’t a toy.
As such, there are cases when someone might be walking their dog down the toy isolate.
The dog might see an interesting item that looks like a toy and start chewing on it.
That’s a ruined piece of merchandise that Target can’t sell.
Another big concern is food.
Like many other grocery stores, Target has several different food items that are displayed on low tables.
All a dog needs to do is stand up on his hind legs to get to it.
That’s food that Target can no longer sell.
Even though the dog may be on a leash, some people still don’t have great control over their dogs.
Since there’s a chance that Target might lose out on a sale because of a damaged product, they’d rather just bar dogs from entering the store entirely.
Are There Any Exceptions To Target’s No-Dog Policy?
Yes, there is one exception to Target’s no-dog policy.
The only dogs allowed in the store are service animals.
These are dogs that have gone through training to help provide some sort of service to their owners.
Their owners usually have some type of disability.
They might be blind, deaf, have some sort of condition that results in seizures, suffer from PTSD, or need to take medications regularly.
Whatever the disability is, the dog is there to assist them.
The dog might guide them through the store to help them find what they need.
They might know to go find help if their owner has a seizure and falls.
Others remind their owners when to take their medications.
Those who suffer from PTSD usually have their service animals help them stay grounded when suffering an anxiety or panic attack.
These dogs are working dogs.
They’re not pets, exactly, since they’re not around for companionship per se.
They’re there to make the individual’s life a bit easier.
As such, if you do see a dog in Target, then there’s a very good chance that they’re a service animal.
What Should You Do If You Encounter A Dog In Target?
When you do encounter a service animal at Target, you may immediately feel the desire to pet them.
After all, dogs are cute and difficult not to love.
However, interacting with the dog isn’t always the best choice.
Here’s what you should do if you encounter a dog at Target.
1. Act Normally And Calmly
One of the best things you can do if you find a dog in Target is to leave it be.
Continue with your shopping normally and calmly.
In most cases, the dog will ignore you if it’s a service animal.
If it’s not a service animal, then you can make yourself appear less threatening by just calmly shopping per usual.
2. Ask To Pet It If You Want
Not every person likes other people handling their service animals.
Others understand that people want to pet a cute dog and have no problem with it.
If you see a dog in Target, then you should always ask the owner first if it’s okay if you pet them.
If the owner declines your request, then you should respect their decision.
After all, service animals aren’t technically pets.
Their job is to work and help their owner stay safe.
3. Determine Who To Contact Should A Problem Arise
Finally, it’s a good idea to determine who you should speak to if you do see a dog in Target.
In most cases, you don’t need to report it since it’s likely a service animal.
However, if you don’t see any indication that the dog is a service animal, then you should know who to contact about it.
In most cases, this will be a manager.
If you can’t find a manager, then tell one of the sales associates, and they’ll get in contact with a manager.
They can handle the situation from there.
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Does Target Price Match Amazon? (Updated 2023)
