You’ve planned a road trip with your canine companion in tow, and decide to drop into your local store to pick up a few essentials along the way… Only to find out that it doesn’t allow pets.
It usually isn’t safe to leave a dog alone in a car for lengthy periods, especially under the hot summer sun. That means you’ll typically have to sacrifice your shopping trip and rearrange it for a day when you don’t have your pup with you — something that can be incredibly frustrating if you’re in need of urgent supplies.
However, there are a fair few stores out there that do allow you to shop with your dog, and luckily for us pup parents, HomeGoods is one of them! Today, we’ll delve further into HomeGood’s pet policy and discuss everything else you need to know about bringing a dog to a store. We’ll also share a few other pet-friendly stores.
What Is HomeGoods?
HomeGoods is a popular retail store chain that primarily stocks homeware goods, including furniture, decorations, rugs, bedding, bathroom accessories, and kitchen essentials. HomeGoods currently has more than 900 stores throughout the United States.
Can I Bring My Dog to HomeGoods?
Yes, HomeGoods stores do generally welcome dogs through their doors. The exact pet policy can vary depending on location, so always phone up your local HomeGoods in advance to find out whether they’ll accommodate your dog. Some stores, for example, do have breed or size restrictions in place, even if they do accept pets onto the premises.
Most HomeGoods accept dogs as long as they’re well-behaved, fully vaccinated, housebroken, and won’t disrupt other customers in the store. Dogs should also be kept on a tight leash and under their owners’ control at all times.
Are Service Dogs Allowed in HomeGoods?
Service dogs are permitted entry into all HomeGoods stores and can not be subjected to any pet policies, breed, or size restrictions in place.
This is because service dogs are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) federal law. The ADA recognizes that service dogs have a crucial, often life-saving role and must always be by their handler’s side, and they therefore grant them public access rights.
You do not need to ask permission to bring a service dog into HomeGoods. Under the ADA, store employers are only legally allowed to ask you two questions:
- “Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?”
- “What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
According to the ADA, service dogs must also be harnessed, tethered, or leashed, unless this interferes with their trained tasks.
If the staff deny your service dog entry or ask any further questions, this is usually a breach of your rights. A store can only have your service dog removed from the premises if they are out of control, endangering other customers, or aren’t housebroken.
For clarity’s sake, your service dog can not be denied access because another customer has a phobia of dogs or a pet allergy. The ADA states that the business should instead work to reasonably accommodate both customers, usually by assigning them to separate areas of the building.
Are Emotional Support Animals Allowed in HomeGoods?
Emotional support animals, or ESAs, are similar to service animals in the sense that they provide therapeutic relief to individuals with disabilities. However, they do have a few key differences.
Emotional support animals are only prescribed to people with emotional or mental disabilities, and they also aren’t trained to perform any tasks. They instead assist their owners solely through their companionship; their physical presence offers comfort and helps to ease loneliness. Any species can also become legally recognized as an ESA.
Emotional support animals are not protected under the ADA because they aren’t considered working dogs. Due to this, they aren’t granted public access rights and are treated as pets in virtually every state.
Since HomeGoods typically allows dogs, it’s safe to assume that your emotional support dog will be permitted entry, too. However, they will need to abide by any pet policies or restrictions in place.
it is not clear whether HomeGoods allows other ESA species — there is no universal policy and it is ultimately up to each store’s discretion. For this reason, it’s important to contact your local HomeGoods directly and ask if they accommodate your animal. Explain their species, size, and how you intend to keep them under your control.
Tips for Bringing Your Dog to HomeGoods
Want to bring your pup to your next HomeGoods adventure? Great! You’re in for a whole load of fun and your pup is sure to help you “sniff” out the best supplies. However, it’s important you prepare them for a public setting so that they won’t get overwhelmed or disrupt other customers.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind for your first store trip:
Teach Them Basic Obedience
No matter whether they’re a service dog, a pet, or an emotional support dog, your dog should know their basic obedience and be able to respond to commands reliably. Without their basic obedience mastered, they can be denied entry into HomeGoods. Your dog should know commands such as “sit,” “stay,” “come,” “lie down,” “leave it,” and “drop it.”
Most dogs respond to training well as long as you’re patient and use positive reinforcement measures. However, don’t be afraid to get in touch with a professional trainer or behaviorist if you need help with your dog’s training.
Don’t Forget a Leash
Almost all stores that do allow pets require you to keep them leashed so that they can’t wander off and disrupt employees, other customers, or service animals at work. Try to stick to a short, tight leash that’ll give you full control over your pup (no more than six feet in length).
Avoid using a retractable leash in a store. This is because the design encourages you to lengthen the leash over time as your dog pulls, and there can also be dire consequences if the mechanism inside the leash fails.
Prepare Your Dog for Busy Environments
A hectic store can be an overwhelming environment for dogs. You can help prepare them for this kind of environment by taking them to all different areas throughout your neighborhood, starting with quiet areas and then gradually working your way up.
Create positive experiences in each area by feeding your dog treats, giving them praise, and playing games with them.
Put Their Needs First
You may love the idea of having your pet join you on all your shopping adventures, but remember to put their needs first. Many dogs find stores anxiety-inducing and stressful, especially large (and often busy) stores like HomeGoods.
If this is the case for your pup, avoid taking them to the store. Instead, you can hire a dogsitter or ask a family member to supervise them when you go shopping.
While it can be tough to tell when your dog is struggling and feeling stressed, there are a few signs to watch out for, such as excessive yawning, licking, pacing, panting, and trembling. More obvious signs of stress include their tail tucked between their legs and their ears pinned back.
What Other Stores Allow Dogs?
If your local HomeGoods doesn’t allow dogs, don’t sweat it. There are plenty of other stores in the US that do! Some stores that typically allow dogs include:
- J. Maxx
- Michaels
- Marshalls
- Ross
- Harbor Freight
- Hobby Lobby
- Petco
- Old Navy
- Lowes
- Tractor Supply Co
- Barnes & Noble
- PetSmart
- Home Depot
- Pottery Barn
- Macy’s
Why Do Stores Ban Dogs?
Stores ban dogs from their premises for a variety of reasons, though it’s generally due to health and safety concerns such as:
- Poorly-behaved dogs may be aggressive and endanger other customers shopping at the store
- Dogs that aren’t housebroken may soil the premises, causing unsanitary, smelly messes
- Dogs can spread fleas, mites, and other parasites throughout the store
- Pet dogs that aren’t properly trained may interfere with staff operations, distract service dogs at work, or cause property damage
- Dogs can trigger allergies in some people
Hounds at HomeGoods: Final Recap
Most HomeGoods stores in the US welcome dogs that are well-trained and leashed, but since the pet policy can vary depending on location, always get in touch with the staff at the HomeGoods store you plan to visit in advance. They will be able to discuss the specifics of their pet policy with you.
Service dogs are always allowed in HomeGoods as they are granted public access rights under the ADA. They are also exempt from breed bans and don’t need to be leashed on the premises if being tethered interferes with their tasks.
However, be mindful that emotional support dogs are treated as pets and are not considered working dogs. They must follow HomeGood’s standard pet policies.