Are Dogs Allowed in Home Depot?

Early socialization is so important for a puppy’s long-term wellbeing. Do you ever go to the store and notice signs like “No dogs allowed” or “Service dogs only”?

Yet you might still see several pet dogs in there when you go in to browse. So are dogs allowed in home depot? Let’s find out:

So, can you bring your dog to Home Depot?

Well, it’s hit and miss. Home Depot is a chain, and you’d think the whole chain would have the same policy towards everything. But actually, each individual Home Depot store is unique.

Most Home Depots these days have a sign saying “Service dogs only” on the door, so some Home Depots will not allow dogs to enter if they are not technically dogs who provide you with a service of some kind.

This being said, many customers of Home Depot say that they have been permitted to bring their pet dog into their local Home Depot store all the time, even though the store displays this sign.

At one branch of the Home Depot, a daily scavenger hunt is held – treats are scattered around the store while lots of puppies sniff them out. It is great fun and an amazing mood booster for both workers and owners, as well as a good workout and good training for the pups.

So yes – you can bring a well-behaved dog along to most branches of the Home Depot. But consider phoning or messaging ahead to check. Their number is 1-800-HOME-DEPOT 1-800-466-3337.

When the DIY project is drool-worthy. Thanks for sharing, kona_the_service_pup on IG! pic.twitter.com/mSCSrHP5On

— The Home Depot (@HomeDepot) September 14, 2021

Why bring your dog to Home Depot?

First of all, why would anyone want to bring their dog to Home Depot? Home Depot is a well-known chain of home improvement stores, so it’s not like there’s much of a reason to bring your dog along.

But Home Depot is a store that is partially outdoors, with wide, spacious aisles both inside and out. This is the kind of environment that most dogs would like to be in.

Plus, your dog has the opportunity to relieve themselves in the outdoor area of the Home Depot if they need to. As well as this, most stores belonging to the Home Depot chain are situated in large warehouse spaces near other similar businesses like PetCo or PetSense.

So if customers are bringing their dogs into other stores in the area anyway, it makes good business sense for Home Depot to welcome dogs too.

Should you bring your dog to Home Depot?

Bringing your dog to a store like Home Depot is a great way for them to socialize with other dogs there, while you complete vital shopping. There’s many a story out there about dogs who grew up getting socialized regularly in their local branch of The Home Depot.

Some branches of the Home Depot hold various informal dog training events to help you socialize your puppy, too.

But many Home Depot stores don’t actually explicitly allow dogs. You may hear through word of mouth that they do, and you may see lots of dogs around when you visit, but there might be nothing in the Home Depot’s store policy that welcomes dogs.

Will your dog be welcome at Home Depot?

When they aren’t busy, workers at the Home Depot greatly enjoy taking a break to pet a friendly pooch. Some workers will even cut off a stick or two from the lumber, to play fetch with pups who come to visit.

Check out the Facebook page or website of your local branch of the Home Depot – you might discover that your local Home Depot holds some informal dog training events, like the puppy treat scavenging hunts we previously mentioned, or guide dog training.

If they don’t offer any events like this, why not ask a member of staff if you can set one up yourself?

This is a great way for your local canine community to meet up and discuss dog training, after all.

As we’ve previously mentioned, most of the staff who work at the Home Depot absolutely adore it when dogs come to visit them. And what better hub can there be than the expansive warehouse building of a Home Depot?

Official Pet Policy at Home Depot

Home Depot store 2806 has a unique canine connection to service. The store is home to three service dogs, Breena, Fritta, and Truffles, who are trained for the unique needs of their owners.

You can read their full article here.

What precautions should I take?

First of all, what type of building is the Home Depot you plan to visit? Is it a large branch that isn’t very busy? Or a small, cramped store? Could your dog knock anything over? Also, consider trying to visit on the most peaceful hours or days of the week, or during dedicated canine events.

The Home Depot also holds a few other events – they are well known for their Kids Workshops, for example. These events generate a lot of buzz and can get extremely busy. Even if your local Home Depot is usually very accepting of your dog, it is worth keeping track of when these events are held and avoiding them.

As well as this, think about your dog’s behavior. The typical Home Depot is a peaceful enough place, but it can get busy. You may encounter crowds of other shoppers, or large stocking carts may pass by. If you bring your dog along, will they be able to handle this?

Will they jump up on other shoppers? Will loud noises scare your dog? What will your dog do if they encounter other dogs – are they in any way likely to bite other dogs?

If you worry about any of these things, it may not be a good idea to bring your dog into the Home Depot. At least not during their most busy hours.

The Home Depot can be a great place to socialize your puppy, too. But if your puppy is not yet properly house trained, consider leaving them at home unless you feel that you will be able to clean up after them sufficiently well.

Also, is your dog up to date on their vaccinations? Customers of the Home Depot often do bring quite young dogs along.

If your dog is very young, make sure their vaccinations are up to date, because you are both likely to get up close with a lot of other dogs in this popular pooch socialization zone.

FAQ about whether dogs are allowed in home depot

By Michelle McDaid