Ikea has a specific dog policy that only allows certain types of dogs into the stores. It is important to pay attention to the Ikea dog policy if you wish to visit this store and bring your dog with you – you don’t want to arrive at the store and be turned away, as this can create a stressful shopping trip for you and your pup. Our article gives you further details on whether or not dogs are allowed in Ikea and how this store approaches their official dog policy.
Ikea’s Official Dog Policy
The official Ikea dog policy can be somewhat confusing, as this chain of stores previously allowed dogs inside their United States stores. Some Ikea stores outside of the United States still allow all kinds of dogs inside, dependent on specific location policies and regulations. However, if you are entering Ikea in the United States, only service dogs are permitted into these establishments.
Ikea adopted its official service dog-only dog policy within the past few years, and every store in the United States upholds this policy. The policy aligns with federal access protection rights that are granted by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and any individual wishing to enter into an Ikea store with their service animal cannot be denied.
That being said, Ikea employees are allowed to screen individuals attempting to enter the store with their service animals to ensure that the dog truly is a service dog and that the individual needs assistance while shopping in Ikea.
If you have any questions about your local Ikea’s service dog or pet policy, you should contact that store directly to ensure you understand your access rights.
What Can Be Asked of My Service Dog by Ikea Employees?
As you attempt to enter your local Ikea with your service dog, Ikea employees are permitted to ask you two questions about your assistance animal; these questions are also legal under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
You may be asked:
- Is your dog a service animal?
- What work or task has your service animal been trained to perform?
You are required to answer these questions, but you are not required to provide additional details or in-depth explanations of your medical condition or disability. Ikea employees cannot ask that you prove your service dog’s training in any way, and you are not required to show identification cards or make your service dog wear a vest or a harness, though many individuals choose to equip their service animal with a marked vest for easy identification.
If you are denied access to an Ikea store despite answering the required questions, the store employees may be in violation of the ADA. You may need to pursue legal counsel if you believe that your service animal access rights have been infringed.
When Can Ikea Deny My Service Dog Entry?
In very limited circumstances, Ikea may be able to deny your service dog entry into an Ikea alongside you. In most cases, your service dog will need to be out of control, destructive, aggressive, or dangerous to you or other patrons of the stores in order for it to be denied. Fortunately, this does not happen often with legitimate service dogs, as these animals are highly trained and typically very focused on the work and assistance they are performing for their owner.
Can I Bring My Emotional Support Dog to Ikea?
Emotional support dogs are not considered service animals, as these dogs are not trained to help with disability-related tasks, nor are they granted wide-reaching public access rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Because Ikea does not permit pets or dogs into their U.S.-based stores, you will not be able to bring your emotional support dog into an Ikea with you. Your emotional support dog will only be able to accompany you to spaces that have pet and dog-friendly policies.
Understanding Your Service Dog Access Rights
Whether you are entering an Ikea or looking to bring your service dog with you to another location, it is important to understand your service dog access rights. The Americans with Disabilities Act protects your access rights to the majority of private and public spaces, meaning you can take your service dog with you for assistance at any business, store, restaurant, bar, or mall you would like to enter.
The only major exception to the wide-reaching public access rights that the ADA grants individuals with service dogs is religious spaces. You may need to check with a religious space directly to ensure it is acceptable to bring your service dog inside with you when visiting.
How to Make Sure Your Service Dog Is Ready for Ikea
Taking your service dog into an Ikea can be a little bit stressful if you haven’t visited such a large and busy store before. However, if your service dog is properly trained and focused, you should be able to complete this task without any issues.
Before going into the Ikea, make sure your dog has had plenty of time to use the bathroom and get a little of their energy out before they start work. Handle them as you usually do with any best or harness attached, and allow them to guide you into the Ikea or otherwise complete their service dog tasks as usual.
If you sense that your service dog is becoming uncomfortable in the Ikea, you can always have them take things slow or keep your trips short until they are fully ready for a full-length Ikea trip. Any concerns about your service dog’s ability to provide you with assistance in an Ikea should be addressed by a professional trainer or the organization that initially trained your service animal.
Keeping Your Assistance Animal at Your Side
For many individuals who suffer from disabilities, keeping their service animal at their side, even in a store like Ikea, is essential to ensuring they can complete their shopping peacefully and without difficulty.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) allows service animals to accompany their owners into stores like Ikea, as well as protected access rights for many other businesses and public and private areas. If you have questions or concerns about your local Ikea’s pet policy or handling of your service dog access rights, you can contact the company directly for guidance.