'What's the deal?': Ruffled tradie questions hardware store’s pet policy

Stores and shopping centres have been more welcoming to our furry pals by introducing a pets-allowed policy.

Hardware giant Bunnings is no exception, as their pet-friendly rule has existed for over seven years.

However, some shoppers have a bone to pick on the paw-licy.


Recently, a 'grumpy' tradie took to social media to voice his frustration, sparking a flurry of responses from fellow Aussies.

'What's the deal with all the people taking their dogs to Bunnings?' the tradie wrote in a post.

'I get that it's allowed, but I don't understand the logic behind anyone wanting to bring their dog to a hardware store. The person went on to say that they find dogs in the hardware store "irritating and stupid".'


compressed-dog-at-bunnings.jpeg
Bunnings' pet policy has been in effect for seven years, allowing shoppers to take their pets along while shopping for home essentials. Image Credit: Facebook/Dogs of Bunnings


'It's bad enough with the amount of people who wander slowly and aimlessly, with seemingly no awareness that they're blocking the aisle. Now I find myself navigating around dogs,' he continued.

'I'm a cabinetmaker whose goal is to get in, get my s***, and get out. Am I so out of touch, or are the kids wrong here?'
The sentiment was echoed by others who shared their own experiences.

'It just seems like more trouble than it's worth allowing access,' one commenter wrote.

'They carry on, try to piss on everything, eat fertiliser, chew on random s***. It puts my anxiety through the roof. There's a time and place for dogs and shops are not it, unless it's a service animal,' another agreed with the tradie's sentiment.


On the flip side, some defend the policy.

'If my dog stays within the trolley and doesn't do any of the above, is that okay?' one wrote. 'I'd rather have him with me than leave him in the car.'

'The only reason to take a dog to Bunnings is if it's already in the car, and you're popping in to grab something quickly,' someone responded.

'The alternative is leaving the dog in the car, which is often unforgivable. Bunnings is not a social outing with or without a dog.'
Despite the social media buzz, Bunnings stood by its policy.

'We've been welcoming pets into our stores, and love the feedback from customers about how much they enjoy bringing them along when they're shopping with us,' Managing Director Mike Schneider shared.


The positive feedback led to the launch of Bunnings' Pets section—the shop's most significant category expansion in over two decades.

'The strong customer take-up of this offer has exceeded our expectations, underscoring the category's popularity and its resonance with pet owners,' Schneider added.

'Like many other retailers, we take a commonsense approach when welcoming pets into our stores. The feedback we receive shows that the vast majority of owners are respectful of other customers and our team when they're in the store.

Schneider also assured customers that Bunnings staff are always available to help if customers have any concerns about their shopping experience.


Bunnings’ pet-friendly policy could be a boon for pet owners, allowing them to combine a trip to the hardware store with a walk with their four-legged companion.

However, if you're not keen on navigating around pets while shopping, this policy might be a nuisance.

Respect and consideration for others are essential and should be kept in mind when planning to bring our furry pals along.
Key Takeaways

  • A tradie ignited a social media debate over Bunnings' pets-allowed policy, expressing frustration with navigating around them during shopping trips.
  • Some Australians agreed with the tradie, questioning the practicality of bringing pets to a busy store. In contrast, others defended the practice under certain conditions.
  • Bunnings Managing Director Mike Schneider stated that they're satisfied with how pets and their owners behave in stores and have no plans to change their pet-friendly policy.
  • Bunnings' pet-friendly policy has been in place for about seven years, and has also helped the launch of the store's Pets section.
What are your thoughts on the Bunnings dog policy? Have you had any experiences with pets in the store? Share your stories and opinions in the comments below!
 
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Responsible adults and pet owners should know their dogs social abilities and if they are reactive to others do not take them into the store. No different to taking them to say a dog park.
Yes there is a difference between Bunnings and a dog park for dogs. Bunnings has people, dog parks have dogs WITH their owners; someone without a dog will not be going to a dog park (which is usually fenced off for that purpose). Would you be happy to see a person WITHOUT a dog taking up your space or seat in a dog park when you or another person needs to sit down? I don’t think so, hence the difference.
 
My husband gets upset with me when I comment (to him) about the body odour of some people, but it stinks out the whole aisle they’ve been in whether that be in Bunnings, a liquor shop or a supermarket. So I know how you feel.
Years ago, I took my son to the Sydney Aquarium when we were smothered by an invisible cloud of a toxin emitted by someone masquerading as a human.

The culprit? A Muslim witch pushing a dual pram with two offspring with no way to pass due to the narrowness of the passageway. So we endured a rancid combination of stale onion and garlic, raw sewage and diseased female secretions. How one could not smell such a stench on their own body is beyond me! She made a piggery smell like Chanel No.5.
 
Some people just like to complain. I take my well behaved staffy with me everywhere but if need be she comes in to Bunnings with me. She is my comfort dog as I suffer bad anxiety & PTSD. She absolutely luvs Bunnings & so do I. You just don't judge people as you don't know their story.
Most of the responders here will agree with you and others that service dogs are OK because they are very well trained and a necessity for their owners. We are just expressing our opinions as you are also free to do.

However, Dogs attached to that ‘invisible umbilical cord’, as has been said here, should have no place in shops unless they are service dogs. Why can’t people leave the dog at home (if necessary IN the house) for one or two hours while they shop? They will get a much bigger resounding welcome when the owner returns. We’ve all had that experience when returning to pets left at home. Do they take them to work also just because they don’t want to be parted? SERVICE DOGS ARE A NECESSITY AND WELCOME IN SHOPS FOR THAT EXACT PURPOSE.
 
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Except for the sausage sizzle, Bunnings do not sell food for human consumption. So it wouldn't worry me if the trolley has been disinfected or not.

For all we know, the dog, cat, ferret, hamster or whatever may be more hygienic than you or me.
Veggiepatch, I’m surprised at your comment.

Your comments about animals being, possibly, more hygienic than us - think again! Do animals not drool, do they wipe their bums after defecating or urinating? And those same bums are seated either in the trolley seat or main part of the trolley where we will later put our purchases, they can drool over the area and we have to put our hands on those same areas?? Please think again.

Bunnings do not sell food for human consumption, yes, but our same human hands have to touch that uncleaned trolley - NOW TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING - then we all touch the products we buy or may not buy but still touch to inspect or read the instructions, then touch our credit cards to pay, car keys to drive away, house keys to get inside our homes etc. etc. etc!; think of all the things you unconsciously touch BEFORE you even wash your hands to prepare your food, or even to make yourself a much needed cup of coffee as soon as you return home. It is staring you in the face.
 
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Your comments about animals being, possibly, more hygienic than us - think again! Do animals not drool, do they wipe their bums after defecating or urinating? And those same bums are seated either in the trolley seat or main part of the trolley where we will later put our purchases, they can drool over the area and we have to put our hands on those same areas?? Please think again.

Bunnings do not sell food for human consumption, yes, but our same human hands have to touch that uncleaned trolley - NOW TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING - then we all touch the products we buy or may not buy but still touch to inspect or read the instructions, then touch our credit cards to pay, car keys to drive away, house keys to get inside our homes etc. etc. etc!, WAKE UP and think of all the things you unconsciously touch BEFORE you even wash your hands to prepare your food, or even to make yourself a much needed cup of coffee as soon as you return home. It is staring you in the face.
What about the Bunnings Cafe??? It's not surprising that people are starting to value animals more than humans. Ridiculous!
 
What a whinging tradie, we take our dog to Bunnings but she's always in a trolley, so what's the difference between that and someone pushing a trolley full of hardware stuff??
 
Unbelievable.... dogs in strollers, dogs in carts, dogs everywhere.... it's a hardware store... one day my husband and I went to get some renovation supplies, but the exit was blocked by 2 ladies yakking away with their dogs also checking each other out.... when my husband asked them to move out of the way so we could get the trolley to the car, he was rudely told he was rude..... go figure.
They think more of their dogs than being decent humans 🙄
 
Veggiepatch I’m surprised at your comment so please read on.

Your comments about animals being, possibly, more hygienic than us - think again! Do animals not drool, do they wipe their bums after defecating or urinating? And those same bums are seated either in the trolley seat or main part of the trolley where we will later put our purchases, they can drool over the area and we have to put our hands on those same areas?? Please think again.

Bunnings do not sell food for human consumption, yes, but our same human hands have to touch that uncleaned trolley - NOW TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING - then we all touch the products we buy or may not buy but still touch to inspect or read the instructions, then touch our credit cards to pay, car keys to drive away, house keys to get inside our homes etc. etc. etc!, - think of all the things you unconsciously touch BEFORE you even wash your hands to prepare your food, or even to make a much needed cup of coffee. They are numerous.
 
Most of the responders here will agree with you and others that service dogs are OK because they are very well trained and a necessity for their owners. We are just expressing our opinions as you are also free to do.

However, Dogs attached to that ‘invisible umbilical cord’, as has been said here, should have no place in shops unless they are service dogs. Why can’t people leave the dog at home (if necessary IN the house) for one or two hours while they shop? They will get a much bigger resounding welcome when the owner returns. We’ve all had that experience when returning to pets left at home. Do they take them to work also just because they don’t want to be parted? SERVICE DOGS ARE A NECESSITY AND WELCOME IN SHOPS FOR THAT EXACT PURPOSE.
Agree, if the home is not safe place to leave an animal then the human shouldn't have one??
 
There are WAY more bacteria in your mouth than on your hands....about 615 species on average in your mouth to about 150 types on your hands, according to a study conducted by the Harvard School of Medicine.

It may surprise you but humans have slightly more bacteria in the mouths than dogs, but they are quite different types of mouth flora. Unless you have an open wound, there is very little risk of contracting a disease from a dog by licking you. This is due to the human skin having a low absorption rate of saliva. Don't worry - this surprised me as well.

Looks like there are a few old wives' tales running around which are hard to budge.
 
How about keeping the Animals inside the Trolley and loop the leash in the sides of it so they can't get out or bite anyone that passes by! Have them with you but restrain them so they don't cause any offence to others. That is Common Courtesy! Thx All.
 
Never met a dog that doesn’t lick its own ass and we allow it in trollies and in the store ???? If you can’t be away from your dog for 20 minutes don’t come shopping. Your the one with the problem!!!1717045347625.jpeg
 
Just leave your dog safely at home when shopping. That would fix the hot car excuse. Other people are allergic to dogs You are then responsible when they become ill. People need to shop. Dogs do not!
 
To the tradie who complained. Exercise some patience if you're being held up by a trolley that is in your way. Go around it or use another aisle. As a frequent customer to Bunnings, I have only seen dog owners with their dogs in the trolleys being very respectful of others. I'd say if that's all he has to complain about - he needs to be grateful that he has a Bunnings he can visit and buy from. No one likes whiners!
 
Some people just like to complain. I take my well behaved staffy with me everywhere but if need be she comes in to Bunnings with me. She is my comfort dog as I suffer bad anxiety & PTSD. She absolutely luvs Bunnings & so do I. You just don't judge people as you don't know their story.
Way too many people have no tolerance for others.
 
I like to take my dog to Bunnings so I have someone to consult with when I am trying to decide what I should get! I have never seen a problem with a dog in Bunnings. I have seen a number of problems with small children. Maybe they should ban small children from the store.
The children are not trained to have manners or a code of behavior.
 

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