Going around town with your pup/older dog - Page 4

I also took mine ( in arms) to our firearms shops :)

Melissa

I would def. try the vest/back pack idea!!!

here are a few other places that I don't think were listed.

Gander Mountain
walks along side roads with different traffic patterns (busy, slow, trains, etc)
landscape shops
Some malls allow pets, but rules may vary for each store (one of our malls has a pet night)
Also keep an ear open for different pet days at professional sport venues,

good luck

James - I have heard about different sporting venues having a pet day but I also heard many have brred restrictions with even some teams having GSD's on that list along with the normal usual suspects, pitbull, rottie, akita, etc.

I really hate how people/companies discriminate against big breeds when it is the little ankle biters that cause the most problems.

YEA  your right the ankle biters are just as likely if not more likely to bite, but i'm sure we can all agree that the large breeds cause more DAMAGE.

NEVER knew of a chihuaha having a human fatality. The few irresponsible owners make it hard on all of us

Good ideas all around. Can't remember seeing it but tourists town. St. Michaels, Md. during tourist season. Thousands of people. Vehicles a foot or less from you. One day is designated "Gone To The Dogs Day" On the Eastern Shore the towns have air horns/sirens for their public safety. Hang out near those places also. All the commotion/noise people running associated with work. A firing range, (not all day though), airports, airport parking lots, bus terminals, sporting events-tailgating, fireworks, car sale lots, (big ones) you're looking for a new vehicle for you and your pup.. Go to a playground, both for the people and second for the obstacles. Have some friends with dogs over and as long as none of the adults dominate socialize with them, that way they're not strangers and everyone knows the game rules. And as the one person stated, (depending on what your dog will be) everyone does not need to put hands on. Find someone with a farm, the wilderness, camping tthe unknowns, hiking. Just think about what we take for granted every day. What is new to us and what gives us the oohs and aghhs.

I have two awesome magizines, unfortunately can't think of the names right now. Might be "Dog Fancy" but these magazines tell about everywhere across the country that is dog friendly! Hotels etc; etc.

Good luck.

 There are not many indoor places here that allows dogs, but I do seek out a lot of the different areas and places that people have mentioned to expose my dogs to the real world. Especially since I live in a rural area, I make an extra effort to take my dogs into town and residential areas for socialization  - and I agree, socialization does not mean that the dogs have to interact with a thousand different people - just seeing crowds in different places, and being exposed to new places are excellent socialization opportunities. 

I've also walk around the local college and University - lots of patios, covered walkways, ramps, stairs, connecting balconies, etc - dogs love it! Some other places that may or not be available depending where one lives:

Local ski hill: hang out at the bottom of the runs and watch the kids zoom by on skis and snowboards, and watch the lineups for the lifts. 

Skateboard park.

Indoor ice arena. Watched hockey practice. 

Car dealership MegaSale. Huge parking lot event of a bazillion cars for sale. Spent the day with one of my dogs and bought a van. :)

Riding stables: walk through the barns and paddocks to see the horses. Sat in the bleachers of the indoor riding arena to watch riders exercising their horses. 

And since I work at the local airport, we've visited the hangars, and watched helicopters doing ground runs and flying by overhead.