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Does Home Depot Allow Dogs?

By: Author Paris Permenter

We always seem to have one home improvement project or another underway so we make a lot of trips to the store–and it’s always fun to bring our dogs along to dog-friendly stores, too. We frequently shop at The Home Depot. If you’re wondering if dogs can go into Home Depot, the quick answer is: maybe.

Are dogs allowed in Home Depot stores in the US? In Canada?

Can Dogs Go Into Home Depot?

The official policy is that only service dogs are permitted in Home Depot stores–but we rarely go to our local Home Depot store without seeing at least one dog. But that’s not the case at every location.

In fact, you will see a sign at the door:

Service dog sign at entrance to Home Depot

But, dogs are a common sight in many Home Depot locations; in fact, you’ll even find dogs featured on the company Instagram account sometimes:

So what’s the deal?

The decision on whether or not to make a location dog-friendly is in the hands of the store manager so you will find some U.S. Home Depot stores that welcome dogs and perhaps some that do not. (See below for Home Depot stores in Canada which have a different policy.)

The key is to call ahead and ask if your store welcomes pet dogs. Check the store locator for your location and give them a quick call.

Sharing Your Home Depot Photos on Social Media

If you determine your Home Depot store is dog friendly, don’t forget to share a photo on your favorite social media account and tag the photo with #dogsofhomedepot.

And be sure to say where the photo was taken to let other dog lovers know which store locations might be the most dog friendly!

Should You Take Your Dog to Home Depot?

Once you determine your Home Depot store is dog-friendly, you want to do your part to make sure the store remains dog friendly–and that means taking a few extra steps before and during your shopping excursion.

Before Your Trip

  • Pack a leash no longer than 6 feet. This will help prevent your dog from becoming tangled in displays and minimize tripping risk for other shoppers. You’ll want your dog to remain at your side during your shopping.
  • Leave the retractable leash at home. Retractable leashes can really present a tripping risk in the store.
  • Pack a cleanup kit. Along with poop bags, pack some paper towels and hand sanitizer. You never know.

During Your Trip

  • Make a potty stop before entering the store. Even if your dog peed before leaving home, take a few minutes to visit the trees in the parking lot.
  • Keep your dog nearby. For both the safety of your dog and fellow shoppers, keep your dog at your side while shopping. Not all people like dogs or want to be near your dog (hard to believe, right?!)
  • Pick up any accidents immediately. If your dog has an accident, pick it up immediately. Especially if you have a male dog who likes to mark, keep a special eye out. Speed up your walking when passing those or distract your dog with a treat.

Should you take your dog to Home Depot?

Once you verify that your local Home Depot will allow leashed dogs in the store, you have decision to make: SHOULD you take your dog shopping with you?

Well, the answer depends on your dog.

Home improvement stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot are loud, let’s face it. Between the beeping load movers and the crash of lumber, the sound level in home improvement stores can be disconcerting for even confident dogs.

Don’t take your dog to Home Depot unless you are sure that your dog is ready. If it’s your dog’s first time in a dog-friendly store, start at a quieter store like Tuesday Morning or Bass Pro Shops and work your way up to large, loud stores.

Can Service Dogs go to The Home Depot?

Yes, a trained service dog that is required to assist you is allowed in any store under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):

“Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.” — Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Please note that this ONLY covers trained service dogs; it does not include emotional support dogs.

If your dog is not a trained service dog, do not attempt to misrepresent your dog as a service dog. Depending on where you live, misprepresenting your dog as a service dog can carry a fine of up to $1000.

Are dogs allowed in The Home Depot Canada stores?

The Home Depot Canada stores have a no-pet policy. According to the Home Depot Canada’s official animal policy:

“The Home Depot Canada follows a strict no animals in-store policy. The safety of our customers and associates is our number one priority. Certified service animals are an exception to this policy and are welcome in our stores. “

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Can I Bring My Dog in Home Depot?
Paris Permenter
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This post originally appeared on DogTipper.com and is the sole property of DogTipper.com.