Where to take a dog indoors?

October 11, 2011 9:35 AM

Where can I take a well-behaved 70 lbs dog and go indoors (like a mall) within a 100-mile radius of Los Angeles? We already go to PetSmart and PetCo.
posted by millerizer to Pets & Animals (5 answers total)

My rule of thumb has always been that if a place doesn't serve/carry food, I can probably take my dog there. My dog likes to go the bank, the video store, and the drugstore.
posted by kate blank at 9:42 AM on October 11, 2011 [2 favorites]

Check with individual stores, but most Lowes and Home Depots allow dogs. Also, motorcycle and garden shops are usually dog-friendly.
posted by workerant at 9:58 AM on October 11, 2011

I wouldn't go so far as to assume that any place that doesn't serve food allows dogs, particularly a larger dog -- definitely second the suggestion to check with individual stores. Dogfriendly.com has city guides for LA and nearby that list stores, malls, etc. that allow dogs.
posted by Siobhan at 10:09 AM on October 11, 2011 [1 favorite]

I am trying to train my dog to be an assistance dog for me. I call ahead and get the okay from the different stores. When I worked and Michael's Craft Store we'd let dogs come in, but it depends on the management.

Today I took my dog into Tandy Leather. I thought she'd love it but for some reason it freaked her out! I just called ahead and asked, they said it was no problem.

A lot of restaurants that have patio seating will allow dogs even if they aren't service animals, call ahead and ask.
posted by TooFewShoes at 10:18 AM on October 11, 2011

Most Sheratons in the US allow dogs to stay in guest rooms, so I bet they'd allow you in the lobby.
posted by troublesome at 8:09 PM on October 11, 2011